HABITATS
any
season
HABITAT = the native environment of an animal or plant, the kind of place that is natural for it to live, i.e. the PLACE an animal or plant lives.
General habitat names are things like "forest," "swamp," or "prairie." These are modified by more specific names, like redwood, cypress, or tall grass.
In the Arb we have 8 habitats common in Humboldt Co.. Here they are, with some notes and examples of where to see them:
Dune Forest-- forest on sand dunes; in Manila, the Lanphere Dunes, and Samoa
Dune Mat-- the low vegetation on the open dunes nearest the beach, at Lanphere Dunes, Manila, North Spit
Riparian Forest-- along fresh water, such as the Mad River, Trinity River, Eel River, Ruth Lake, Arcata Marsh (freshwater parts). Very important for wildlife.
Coastal Scrub-- the dense, wind-pruned, shrubby vegetation covering the ocean-facing bluffs at Patrick's Pt
Redwood Forest-- in Arcata's Redwood Park, around Prairie Creek, at Wolf Creek
Tanoak Madrone Forest-- around Willow Creek and the Trinity River. Many plants from this and the oak woodland won't grow in Arcata, where the summer is much cooler and damper.
Oak Woodland-- on the west-facing slopes of Lord Ellis and Berry Summits between here and Willow Creek. A "woodland" has scattered trees over a grassy, herby groundcover.
Coastal Prairie-- a meadow, even very large, near the coast, like at Patrick's Pt or Elk Prairie or Dolason Prairie
Group tour: Have kids read the wooden habitat signs, think about whether they have visited each habitat. Sorry, this is not a great attention-holder.
Independent workers: Ask them to find the 8 habitats in the Arb, write each habitat name along with the name of one plant growing in it.
What habitat is your house in?