Resource

VIDEO

Resource

VIDEO

Exploring Life in the Santa Monica Mountains

Students get outside at the 2009 National Geographic BioBlitz in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Grades

3 - 12+

Subjects

Biology, Ecology

Join Wild Chronicles in Southern California's Santa Monica National Recreation Area for a National Geographic BioBlitz. The event, co-sponsored by the National Park Service and in collaboration with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and California State Parks, took place May 30 and 31, 2008. During the 24-hour species inventory, teams of scientists, naturalists, and volunteers combed more than 60,700 hectares (150,000 acres), observing and recording as many species as possible.

Fast Fact

More than 1,000 plant species provide habitat for approximately 500 mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species.

Fast Fact

Mountain lions roaming the Santa Monica Mountains are increasingly threatened by secondary poisoning. They are poisoned by feeding on animals like coyotes, which have consumed poisoned rodents.

Fast Fact

Chumash and Tongva Native American groups lived in the Santa Monica Mountains for thousands of years before this region became heavily urbanized.

Fast Fact

Ranchos, large sections of land used to raise cattle and sheep, comprised most of the land cover in the area after the arrival of Europeans in the 1700s. Initially, ranchos were not available for purchase because the land, roads, and trails belonged to the King of Spain.

Fast Fact

The Santa Monica Mountains are home to one of the largest protected areas of Mediterranean-type ecosystem.

Credits

Media Credits

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Editor

Sean P. O'Connor

Page Producer

Tara Messing

other

Last Updated

September 27, 2022

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