Final answer:
Landscape and biodiversity differ between southern and northern California due to variations in climate, resulting in different ecosystems and species composition; the south has a Mediterranean climate with chaparral and species adapted to arid conditions, while the north has a diverse climate with rainforests and a higher species richness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three ways in which landscape and biodiversity differ between southern California and northern California include climate, ecosystem types, and species composition.
- The climate of southern California is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, leading to a distinct chaparral ecosystem. In contrast, northern California has a more varied climate with coastal influences and substantial rainfall that supports temperate rainforests along with other ecosystems like redwood forests and oak woodlands.
- Different ecosystems mean different plant and animal communities. Southern California's chaparral is adapted to drought and fire, with species like the coastal sage scrub thriving in these conditions. Northern California's greater rainfall and diversity of ecosystems allow for a wider range of plant species, from the giant coast redwoods to the diverse understory of ferns and herbaceous plants.
- The composition of species varies, with southern California having species adapted to arid and semiarid conditions, such as the California quail and the desert tortoise, while northern California has a higher species richness due to the more hospitable, wetter climate, with species like the northern spotted owl and the Pacific salmon.