California

===Flora and fauna===
{{Main|Fauna of California|California Floristic Province}}
{{see also|List of California native plants}}
[[File:Grizzly Giant Mariposa Grove.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Sequoiadendron giganteum|Giant Sequoias]], native to California, are the [[List of tallest trees|largest trees in the world]]. Shown is the [[Grizzly Giant]] in Yosemite.]]

California boasts several superlatives in its collection of flora: the [[giant sequoia|largest trees]], the [[coast redwood|tallest trees]], and the [[pinus longaeva|oldest trees]]. California's native grasses are [[perennial plant]]s,<ref name="Restoring Native Grasses">{{Cite journal |last=David Elstein |date=May 2004 |title=Restoring California's Native Grasses |url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may04/grass0504.htm |journal=Agricultural Research Magazine |volume=52 |issue=5 |page=17 |access-date=December 25, 2009}}</ref> and there are close to hundred succulent species native to the state.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} After European contact, these were generally replaced by [[invasive species]] of European annual grasses; and, in modern times, California's hills turn a characteristic golden-brown in summer.<ref name="The California Invasive Species List">{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2010 |title=The California Invasive Species List |url=http://www.iscc.ca.gov/docs/CaliforniaInvasiveSpeciesList.pdf |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=iscc.ca.gov (California Invasive Species Advisory Committee)}}</ref>

Because California has the greatest diversity of climate and terrain, the state has six life zones which are the lower [[Sonoran Desert]]; upper Sonoran (foothill regions and some coastal lands), transition (coastal areas and moist northeastern counties); and the Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic Zones, comprising the state's highest elevations.<ref name="California: flora and fauna">{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=California: flora and fauna |url=http://www.city-data.com/states/California-Flora-and-fauna.html |access-date=September 7, 2010 |publisher=city-data.com}}</ref>

Plant life in the dry climate of the lower Sonoran zone contains a diversity of native cactus, mesquite, and paloverde. The [[Yucca brevifolia|Joshua tree]] is found in the Mojave Desert. Flowering plants include the dwarf desert poppy and a variety of [[aster (genus)|asters]]. [[Fremont cottonwood]] and [[valley oak]] thrive in the Central Valley. The upper Sonoran zone includes the chaparral belt, characterized by forests of small shrubs, stunted trees, and herbaceous plants. ''[[Nemophila]]'', [[Lamiaceae|mint]], ''[[Phacelia]]'', ''[[viola (plant)|Viola]]'', and the California poppy (''[[Eschscholzia californica]]'', the state flower) also flourish in this zone, along with the lupine, more species of which occur here than anywhere else in the world.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />

[[File:California sea lion in La Jolla (70568).jpg|thumb|right|A [[California sea lion]] in [[La Jolla]]]]

The transition zone includes most of California's forests with the redwood (''[[Sequoia sempervirens]]'') and the "big tree" or giant sequoia (''[[Sequoiadendron giganteum]]''), among the oldest living things on earth (some are said to have lived at least 4,000 years). [[Tanbark oak]], [[California laurel]], [[sugar pine]], [[Arbutus|madrona]], [[Acer macrophyllum|broad-leaved maple]], and [[Douglas-fir]] also grow here. Forest floors are covered with [[Polystichum|swordfern]], alumnroot, [[barrenwort]], and [[trillium]], and there are thickets of [[huckleberry]], [[azalea]], elder, and wild currant. Characteristic wild flowers include varieties of mariposa, [[tulip]], and [[Lilium columbianum|tiger]] and [[Lilium pardalinum|leopard]] lilies.<ref name="Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.">{{Cite web |title=Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl |url=http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm |access-date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=fed.us (U.S. Forest Service) |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216063912/http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm }}</ref>

The high elevations of the Canadian zone allow the [[Jeffrey pine]], [[red fir]], and [[lodgepole pine]] to thrive. Brushy areas are abundant with dwarf [[manzanita]] and ceanothus; the unique [[Calvatia sculpta|Sierra puffball]] is also found here. Right below the timberline, in the Hudsonian zone, the whitebark, foxtail, and silver pines grow. At about {{convert|10500|ft|m}}, begins the Arctic zone, a treeless region whose flora include a number of wildflowers, including [[Primula suffrutescens|Sierra primrose]], [[Aquilegia flavescens|yellow columbine]], [[Ranunculus|alpine buttercup]], and [[Dodecatheon alpinum|alpine shooting star]].<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /><ref name="Life Zones of the Central Sierra Nevada">{{Cite web |title=Life Zones of the Central Sierra Nevada |url=http://www.sierrahistorical.org/archives/lifezones.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301063716/http://www.sierrahistorical.org/archives/lifezones.html |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=sierrahistorical.org}}</ref>

[[Palm trees]] are a well-known feature of California, particularly in [[Southern California]] and [[Los Angeles]]; many species have been imported, though the ''Washington filifera'' (commonly known as the ''California fan palm'') is native to the state, mainly growing in the [[Colorado Desert]] oases.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/a-brief-history-of-palm-trees-in-southern-california |title= A Brief History of Palm Trees in Southern California |last= Masters|first= Nathan |date=December 7, 2011 |website= kcet.org |publisher= Public Media Group of Southern California/[[KCET]]/[[PBS]] |access-date= August 16, 2023}}</ref> Other common plants that have been introduced to the state include the [[eucalyptus]], [[acacia]], [[Schinus|pepper tree]], geranium, and [[Scotch broom]]. The species that are federally classified as endangered are the [[Erysimum capitatum|Contra Costa wallflower]], [[Oenothera deltoides subsp. howellii|Antioch Dunes evening primrose]], [[Tuctoria mucronata|Solano grass]], [[Delphinium variegatum|San Clemente Island larkspur]], [[Cordylanthus maritimus|salt marsh bird's beak]], [[Arabis blepharophylla|McDonald's rock-cress]], and [[Dudleya traskiae|Santa Barbara Island liveforever]]. {{As of|1997|12}}, 85 plant species were listed as threatened or endangered.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />
[[File:Tule Elk - Merced National Wildlife Refuge Bill Leikam 12-03-2010.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Tule Elk]] in the [[San Joaquin Valley]]]]
In the deserts of the lower Sonoran zone, the mammals include the [[jackrabbit]], [[kangaroo rat]], squirrel, and opossum. Common birds include the [[owl]], [[roadrunner]], [[cactus wren]], and various species of hawk. The area's reptilian life include the [[Crotalus cerastes|sidewinder viper]], [[desert tortoise]], and [[horned toad]]. The upper Sonoran zone boasts mammals such as the [[Pronghorn|antelope]], [[Dusky-footed woodrat|brown-footed woodrat]], and [[ring-tailed cat]]. Birds unique to this zone are the [[California thrasher]], [[Psaltriparus minimus|bushtit]], and [[California condor]].<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /><ref name="California Condor">{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=California Condor |url=http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Condor/id |access-date=October 3, 2010 |publisher=The Cornell Lab of Ornithology}}</ref><ref name="CalPhotos: Browse Mammal Common Names">{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2010 |title=CalPhotos: Browse Mammal Common Names |url=http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/fauna/com-Mammal.html |access-date=October 3, 2010 |publisher=calphotos.berkeley.edu (BSCIT University of California, Berkeley)}}</ref><ref name="Quail Ridge Reserve: UC Davis Natural Reserve System">{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2007 |title=Quail Ridge Reserve: UC Davis Natural Reserve System |url=http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/quail/natural/birds_bushtit.htm |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=nrs.ucdavis.edu (University of California at Davis: Natural Reserve System) |archive-date=June 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610063556/http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/quail/Natural/Birds_bushtit.htm }}</ref>

In the transition zone, there are Colombian [[black-tailed deer]], [[American black bear|black bears]], [[gray fox]]es, [[cougar]]s, [[bobcat]]s, and [[Roosevelt elk]]. Reptiles such as the garter snakes and rattlesnakes inhabit the zone. In addition, amphibians such as the [[Proteidae|water puppy]] and [[Batrachoseps attenuatus|redwood salamander]] are common too. Birds such as the [[kingfisher]], chickadee, [[towhee]], and hummingbird thrive here as well.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /><ref name="Black-tailed Deer of California">{{Cite web |date=2000 |title=Black-tailed Deer of California |url=http://www.westernhunter.com/Pages/Vol02Issue24/blacktail.html |access-date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=westernhunter.com}}</ref>

The Canadian zone mammals include the [[mountain weasel]], [[snowshoe hare]], and several species of chipmunks. Conspicuous birds include the [[Steller's jay|blue-fronted jay]], [[mountain chickadee]], [[hermit thrush]], [[American dipper]], and [[Townsend's solitaire]]. As one ascends into the Hudsonian zone, birds become scarcer. While the [[gray-crowned rosy finch]] is the only bird native to the high Arctic region, other bird species such as [[Anna's hummingbird]] and [[Clark's nutcracker]]. Principal mammals found in this region include the Sierra coney, [[white-tailed jackrabbit]], and the [[bighorn sheep]]. {{As of|2003|04}}, the bighorn sheep was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fauna found throughout several zones are the [[mule deer]], [[coyote]], [[mountain lion]], [[northern flicker]], and several species of hawk and sparrow.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />
[[File:Methuselah Walk USA Ca.jpg|thumb|[[Methuselah (pine tree)|Methuselah]] is the [[List of oldest trees|oldest tree in the world]], found in the [[Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest]] of [[Inyo National Forest]].]]
Aquatic life in California thrives, from the state's mountain lakes and streams to the rocky Pacific coastline. Numerous trout species are found, among them [[Rainbow trout|rainbow]], [[Golden trout|golden]], and [[Cutthroat trout|cutthroat]]. Migratory species of salmon are common as well. Deep-sea life forms include [[White seabass|sea bass]], [[yellowfin tuna]], [[barracuda]], and several types of whale. Native to the cliffs of northern California are seals, sea lions, and many types of shorebirds, including migratory species.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />

{{as of|2003|April}}, 118 California animals were on the federal endangered list; 181 plants were listed as endangered or threatened. Endangered animals include the [[Vulpes macrotis|San Joaquin kitfox]], [[Aplodontia rufa nigra|Point Arena mountain beaver]], [[Pacific pocket mouse]], [[salt marsh harvest mouse]], [[Morro Bay kangaroo rat]] (and five other species of kangaroo rat), [[California vole#Subspecies|Amargosa vole]], [[California least tern]], [[California condor]], [[loggerhead shrike]], [[Bell's sparrow|San Clemente sage sparrow]], [[San Francisco garter snake]], five species of salamander, three species of chub, and two species of pupfish. Eleven butterflies are also endangered<ref>{{Cite web |title=California's Endangered Insects—Formally Listed Insects |url=http://essig.berkeley.edu/endins/listed.htm |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=berkeley.edu}}</ref> and two that are threatened are on the federal list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Threatened and Endangered Invertebrates |url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=DFG.CA.gov |publisher=California Department of Fish and Wildlife |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524215006/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Species Search Results |url=https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/pub/SpeciesReport.do?groups=I&listingType=L&mapstatus=1 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=Environmental Conservation Online System |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}</ref> Among threatened animals are the coastal [[California gnatcatcher]], [[Paiute cutthroat trout]], [[Sea otter#Subspecies|southern sea otter]], and [[northern spotted owl]]. California has a total of {{convert|290821|acre|km2}} of National Wildlife Refuges.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /> {{As of|2010|09}}, 123 California animals were listed as either endangered or threatened on the [[US Fish & Wildlife Service|federal list]].<ref name="U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California">{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2010 |title=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California |url=http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/stateListingAndOccurrenceIndividual.jsp?state=CA&s8fid=112761032792&s8fid=112762573902&s8fid=24012838822503 |access-date=September 7, 2010 |publisher=ecos.fws.gov}}</ref> Also, {{as of|2010|alt=as of the same year}}, 178 species of California plants were listed either as endangered or threatened on this federal list.<ref name="U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California" />