September 6 marks the beginning of California Biodiversity Week. From coastal estuaries and redwood forests to desert landscapes and alpine meadows, September 6 to 14 is a time to celebrate the wide variety of species and habitats across our state.
These events highlight the importance of protecting California’s biodiversity. They aim to inspire communities and encourage action through education and stewardship.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living things on Earth and is crucial for ecosystem health and stability. California is one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots, and home to more than 30% of the plant and vertebrate species in the U.S.
In California alone you can find:
- 1,000+ species of vertebrates: 650 birds, 220 mammals, 100 reptiles, 75 amphibians, 70 freshwater fish, and 100 marine fish and mammals (65% of which are native to California)
- 6,500+ types of plants, with 2,000+ native to California
- 52 types of conifer trees (14 of which are native to California), making it the state with the most conifer species
- 30,000+ species of insects, including 1,600 species of native bees
The Science Behind California’s Biodiversity
California’s biodiversity is due to a unique combination of factors including its size, geology, and climate. As the third largest state, California contains a variety of ecosystems including deserts, grasslands, coastal habitats, mountain ecosystems, and forests.
As one of five regions in the world with a Mediterranean climate, California weather is characterized by mild wet winters and warm dry summers. The richness of species in Mediterranean climates like California are largely due to the mildness of the climate and the large variety of landforms and habitats.
With Death Valley at an elevation of –282 feet and Mt. Whitney at 14,505 feet, California has the greatest elevation range of any state in the continental U.S. This variation in elevation contributes to California’s diverse topography (deserts, valleys, mountains, rivers, forests, etc.). These changes in landscape also lead to the formation of microclimates which are small areas with unique weather patterns.
In areas along the California Central Coast like San Luis Obispo County, the interaction between coastal winds, ocean currents, and varied terrain can result in vastly different microclimates. As highlighted in the Santa Maria Times article by John Lindsey, it’s not uncommon to experience foggy, cool conditions just a few miles from sunny, hot temperatures in our watershed. These microclimates not only shape local weather but also support a wide variety of plants and animals in specific ecological niches.
Biodiversity at Morro Bay
In addition to well-known animals like the southern sea otter, Morro Bay and the surrounding watershed provide habitat for many other special species.
While small in size, the Morro Bay National Estuary Preserve is home to more than 250 species of land, sea, and shorebirds including bald eagles and the endangered peregrine falcon.
Additionally, the Morro Bay watershed is home to numerous rare species, including Morro manzanita, splitting yarn lichen, and the Morro shoulderband snail.
Just as California’s diverse topography, climate, and soil types contribute to its rich biodiversity, the variety of habitats within the Morro Bay estuary and watershed support their own unique species and ecological characteristics.
The Morro Bay estuary and watershed encompass over a dozen habitats including grassland, estuarine, maritime chaparral, creek corridor, sand dune, oak woodland, salt marsh, and coastal scrub habitat.
From nudibranchs to mountain lions, habitats in our watershed are home to a wide variety of species.
Find 30 Species For California Biodiversity Week Challenge
Want to explore local flora and fauna while contributing to biodiversity science? Join the “Find 30 Species for California Biodiversity Week Challenge.” To learn more, check out this blog post or visit this link to sign up for a training event hosted by the Estuary Program.
Help us protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary!
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