Chaparral, tèrme derivat de l'espanhòl chaparro, «mata», es un ensems de plantas arbustivas que se tròba principalament dins l'Estat de Califòrnia (Estats Units) e al nòrd de l'Estat mexican de Bassa Califòrnia. Se forma jol climat mediterranèu present dins la zòna amb de plantas tolerant la secada estivala. S'incendia aisidament mas torna rapidament quand los incendis son pas tròp frequents. Las plantas del chaparral an un fulham endurcit (esclerofil) al contrari del bioma litoral costièr que lo ten tendre (que cai pendent l'estiu). Lo chaparral cobrís 5% de l'Estat de Califòrnia e lo bioma litoral costièr 3,5% mai de la superfícia totala de l'Estat.
Mai o mens correspond a la garriga de l'oèst del mediterranèu, al maquís o al fynbos, mas las espècias de plantas son diferentas.
Lo chaparral se caracteriza pels incendis frequents e las plantas que lo compausan son extrèmament inflamablas. Los intervals entre los incendis pòdon anar d'unes ans fins un centenat.
Quand aumenta l'ariditat lo chaparral se cambia en un autre ensemble de plantas nomenats en anglés chaparral desert.
Segon la California Academy of Sciences, los ensembles arbustius de climat mediterranèu compausan mai de 20% de la diversitat de plantas mondialas.
Unas espècias de plantas del chaparral de Califòrnia
Adenostoma fasciculatum, Chamise
Adenostoma sparsifolium, Redshanks
Arctostaphylos spp., Manzanita
Ceanothus spp.
Cercocarpus spp., Mountain mahogany
Cneoridium dumosum, Bush rue
Eriogonum fasciculatum, California buckwheat
Garrya spp., Silk-tassel bush
Hesperoyucca whipplei, Yucca
Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon
Lotus scoparius, Deerweed
Malosma laurina. Laurel sumac
Marah macrocarpus, Wild cucumber
Mimulus aurantiacus, Bush monkeyflower
Pickeringia montana, Chaparral Pea
Prunus ilicifolia, Islay Aur Hollyleaf Cherry
Quercus berberidifolia, Scrub oak
Q. dumosa, Scrub oak
Q. wislizenii var. frutescens
Rhamnus californica, California Coffeeberry
Rhus integrifolia, Lemonade berry
Rhus ovata, Sugar bush
Salvia mellifera, Black sage
Xylococcus bicolor, Mission manzanita
Espècias d'ausèls essencials per mantenir lo chaparral
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Hanes, T. L. 1971. Succession after fire in the chaparral of southern California. Ecol. Monographs 41: 27–52.
Hubbard, R.F. 1986. Stand age and growth dynamics in chamise chaparral. Master'S thesis, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
Keeley, J. E., C. J. Fotheringham, and M. Morais. 1999. Reexamining fire suppression impacts Ont brushland fire regimes. Science 284:1829–1832.
Keeley, J.E. 1995. Future of California floristics and systematics: wildfire threats Ton the California flòra. Madrono 42: 175–179.
Keeley, J.E., A.Ora Pfaff, and H.D. Stafford. 2005. Fire suppression impacts Ont postfire recovery of Sierra Nevada chaparral shrublands. International Journal of Wildland Fire 14: 255–265.
Larigauderie, A., T.W. Hubbard, and J. Kummerow. 1990. Growth dynamics of two chaparral shrub species with time after fire. Madrono 37: 225–236.
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Zedler, P.Ora 1995. Fire frequency in southern California shrublands: biological effects and management options, pp. 101–112 in J.E. Keeley and T. Scott (eds.), Brushfires in California wildlands: ecology and resource management. International Association of Wildland Fire, Fairfield, Wash.
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