habitats
With 39 separate plant community classifications, the Tulare Basin encompasses greater natural diversity than either the nearby Carrizo Plain National Monument or Merced County's Grassland Ecological Area.
Thirty four of the 39 habitat descriptions provided in this website follow A Manual of California Vegetation, by J.O. Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf, 1995, which defines habitats based on the plant associations found in a series or particular plant community. The descriptions of alkali meadow and wildflower field follow the Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California, Non-game Heritage Program by R.F. Holland, 1986. The description for California rose riparian scrub and silver bush lupine scrub follow the California Natural Diversity Database. The habitat description for quailbush scrub follows the List of California Terrestrial Natural Communities described by the California Department of Fish and Game's wildlife habitat data analysis branch, September 2003. Thirty six of the 39 habitats occur naturally in the Tulare Basin; three, the giant reed, tamarisk series, and eucalyptus naturalized forest, are non-native habitats.
Herbaceous plants dominate 14 of the 39 habitats, of which 10 feature wetlands, three are found in upland areas, and one is found in either upland or wetland conditions. Grasses dominate seven habitats; six feature wetland reeds, tules, and sedges, and one habitat hosts floating plants. Learn More
Shrubs dominate 13 of the 39 habitats. Four are upland habitats, one is a transitional habitat found both in wetland and upland areas, and eight feature wetlands. Learn More
Trees dominate 10 of the 39 habitats; seven feature wetlands and three are found in upland conditions. Learn More
Vernal pools dominate two of the 39 habitats; both feature wetlands. Learn More
This total of 39 habitats does not include agricultural plant communities such as vineyards, orchards, pasture, and annual crops.
The California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) considers 67% of these habitats to be rare and tracks changes in their status over time. Habitats not tracked by CNDDB include: alkali meadow, California annual grassland series, duckweed series, giant reed, sedge series, bladderpod - California ephedra - narrowleaf goldenbush scrub, Mexican elderberry, mulefat series, quailbush scrub, tamarisk series, blue oak woodland, California buckeye woodland, and eucalyptus naturalized forest.
Glossary of Terms
Habitat
The natural area or environment where an organism or ecological community of plants and animals normally lives or occurs.
Wetland
A low-lying area with that is permanently, seasonally, or intermittently saturated with moisture; examples include marshes, floodplains, creeks, and ponds.
Native
Plants or animals that naturally originate, grow, feed, and reproduce in a particular habitat or environment.
Non-native
Plants or animals originating in a part of the world that is different from where they are growing; also called exotic, alien, introduced, or invasive species.
Riparian
Relating to or inhabiting the banks of a natural course of water; examples include areas along streams, creeks, and rivers.
Upland
Land that lies above the level where water flows or where flooding occurs; examples include hills, hummocks, and mounds where grasses, shrubs, and trees grow.