Site Description

Location: Eaton Canyon Natural Area

Habitat: Chaparral

Dimensions of Site (the place we were seated): 10ft x 10ft


The ground cover was mainly rocks and dirt, but there were a few species of shrubs and trees. It was a open area, so there was no real canopy. The general feel of the place was very calm. Not much was going on, as it was not a heavily populated area, besides the occasional bird. While on at Eaton canyon, we found an extensive amount of plants, specifcally Agave (Agave americana), White Alder (Alnus rhobifolia), Fleabane Aster (Erigeron foliosus), Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Coastal Prickly Pear, (Opuntia littoralis), Holly-leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius), Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Horsewood (Conyza canadensis), Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), Mule Fat (Baccharis salicifolia), Black Mustard (Brassica nigra), Purple Nightshade (Solanum xanti), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) Little-leaf Redberry (Rhamus crocea), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), Scale-Broom (Lepidospartum squmatum),Creek Senecio (Senecio flaccidus var. douglassi), Laurel Suma (Malosma laurina), Western Cycamore (Platanus racemosa)Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora), Tobacco Tree (Nicotiana glauca), California Black Walnut (Juglans californica),Red Willow (Salix laevigata) Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon crassifolium), and Whipple Yucca (Yucca whipplei ssp. parishii). As well as seeing lots of plants, we saw a few animals, specifically Great Basin Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis longipipes),Gray Tree Squirrel (Sciurus griseus),Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), European honeybee (Apis mellifera) and assorted, unidentifiable birds and butterflies. Evidence of these plants and animals include random fallen leaves, animal waste (both deer and bunnies), and random berries.