Chapter 5: Biogeography, Distribution of Plants & Animals

A Breathtaking Assemblage of Living Organisms

Chapter 5 explores California’s astounding variety of biotic communities with their diverse collections of plants and animals. The living laboratory we call California is so enormous and biologically diverse that the study of it poses some problems.  Where do we start? How do we organize our study? How do we classify the various living environments?

Of course, these same problems confront botanists, zoologists, and biogeographers around the world. However, scientists studying California’s plants and animals have engaged in exceptionally fascinating and controversial debates involving these problems and other related issues. Their debates often revolve around the diversity, connections, and changes that are major themes throughout this book.

You can find out more about the haunts and habits of California’s critters by exploring the map below.

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