By Danie Cojocaru, Cara Carlucci, Nevin Varghese, Victor Veras C ALIFORNIA F LORISTIC P ROVINCE

A BOUT T HE H OT S POT  Location: California, west of the deserts and small areas in Oregon, Nevada, and Mexico.  Climate: Mediterranean-type climate- hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters  Ratio: 121:2 (human population to number of extinct species)  Additional information:  four coastal mountain ranges

CALIFORNIA FLORISTIC PROVINCE IS A H OT S POT BECAUSE …. o Declining Numbers – o Endemic Kangaroo rat, endemic Desert Slender Salamander, California Condor o Condor- little more than 100 o Kangaroo rat and Slender Salamander- both endangered in California o Great Biodiversity because it has organisms such as the Grey Wolf, Elk, Jaguar and Grizzly bear which can be found in other places locations around the world o Only location where California Condor, 50+ amphibians, the giant Sequoia and other organisms can be found

U NIQUE B IODIVERSITY Vertebrates Birds- 340 species 8 endemic species Ex: California Condor Mammals- 157 species 18 endemic species Ex: Grey wolf Reptiles- 69 species 4 endemic species Ex: Western Ring neck Snake Invertebrates Insects- 28,000 species 9,000 endemic species Plants- 3,488 species 2,124 endemic species 3,500 vascular Ex: Giant Sequoia Coastal Redwood

H UMAN I MPACTS  Population Pressures - Human impact drives all the other threats to these hotspots. - Estimated at 35 million people in  Loss of Habitat - Deforestation, unsustainable farming and hunting, pollution, and development. - Fastest growing state in the US.  Unsustainable Resource Use – Too much fossil fuel use, less and less freshwater water sources  Introduced Non-native Species - Invasive species beat or become prey on native species.

C ONSERVATION A CTIONS  37 percent of the total land area of the California Floristic Province is under official protection  In the California Floristic Province, there are almost 50 wilderness areas, 16 national wildlife refuges and 107 state parks.  The hotspot includes two of the oldest national parks established in the US: Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park  In the last several decades, California has spent more money on conservation and set aside more habitat for protection than any other state in the US. (Sequoia National Park)

C ALIFORNIA F LORISTIC P ROVINCE - C ONCLUSION J A C O B U S  Abiotic Factors –  Has Mediterranean type climate  Soil and water for the autotrophs  Plant families –  Large biodiversity of autotrophs  Known for its large biodiversity of trees  Large biodiversity of animals because of autotrophs  61 percent of autotrophs are endemic FOOD CHAIN