Types of Habitat

One of the amazing things about this area is the variety of habitats that exist in such a small space. A habitat is a particular type of environment that provides food and shelter for species specifically adapted to live there.

Technically, this entire area is known as a ripirian zone. This type of habitat is found along the banks of a river or stream, helping trees and plants that thrive in moist, often naturally flood-prone conditions. Riparian habitats provide a crucial interface between water and land environments. However, there are many individual features inside this ripirian habitat that make up smaller, overlapping mini systems.

There are ponds — small, still bodies of fresh water — that support a diverse community of aquatic plants and animals adapted to still water conditions.

The large trees make up a tall forest habitat. This is characterized by mature, tall trees creating a varied light levels, cooler temperatures, and diverse microhabitats from the forest floor to the treetops.

There are thickets, or dense growths of shrubs or bushes, often so close together they they are difficult for large animals to penetrate, providing excellent shelter for smaller species.

Lastly, you can see grasslands, a habitat characterized by a predominance of grasses and small plants with few or no trees. While other habitats tend to get attention, grasslands provide critical erosion control for topsoil, grazing for a variety of animals, and hiding places for smaller creatures, with most of California's grasslands having been now replaced with invasive species.