coastal scrub along Mt. Vision Road, Point Reyes National Seashore

As in other plant communities of the Point Reyes Peninsula, plant association among the northern coastal scrub community is greatly affected by the micro-climates and soil formations throughout its range. It is found in patchy strips extending from southern Oregon to Monterey County. The Coastal Scrub community of the Peninsula is dominated by coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) or bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus) (Bakker 1984; Evens 1993; Shurford & Timossi).

Coastal scrub, or chaparral as it is commonly referred to, is typically characterized by "tough-leaved evergreen shrubs that are adapted for life in a relatively dry habitat" (Kozloff and Beidleman p. 15, 1994). As we discover on the Peninsula, however, not all chaparral habitat is very dry which is reflected in the variety of plant associations found in its micro-habitats (Evens 1993).

For instance, on wet, north-facing slopes, the open canopy of the dominant coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) creates a suitable habitat for the western sword fern (Polystichum munitum), salal (Gaultheria shallon), California hazel (Corylus californica), western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens), blackberry (Rubus ursinus) and Pacific wild rye (Leymus pacificus). California coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) and thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) are not as frequent. The average canopy height is 5 feet and maintains less than 4% deciduous plant cover (Bakker 1984; Evens 1993; Shuford & Timossi 1989).

In contrast, the drier, south-facing slopes share a relatively equal distribution of coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) and California coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) along with some California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). The understory includes sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), yerba buena (Satureja douglasii), and western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens). The reduced moisture availability limits the canopy height average to only 3.3 feet with 13% of the plant species being deciduous (Bakker 1984; Evens 1993; Shuford & Timossi 1989).

As the coastal scrub community extends westward toward Drake's Bay, chamisso dune lupine (Lupinus chamissonis) becomes the dominant chaparral species. B. pilularis is also present, although, it has smaller leaves and grows low to the ground. L. chamissonis is also associated with the Drake's Bay Formation (Evens 1993), unlike the flora of the north and south-facing micro-habitats which tend to be associated with Monterey Shale.

Fauna

The dense understory of the northern coastal scrub provides considerable protection for small rodents and rabbits including Trowbridge's shrew (Sorex trowbridgii), Sonoma chipmunk (Eutamias sonomae), and the black-tailed hare (Lepus californicus). The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the occasional badger (Taxidea taxus) are also not strangers to this dry habitat. While the formadable undergrowth acts as a deterrent and barrier from predators, the gray fox (Mephitis mephitis), bobcat (Lynx rufus) and infrequent coyote (Canis latrans) easily make their way through the maze of trails in search of prey (Evens 1993; Ingles 1992; Jameson & Peeters 1988).