Question

Organisms that live in the chaparral have developed unique adaptations that aid in their survival. Coyote brush is a unique plant found in the chaparral of California and Oregon. The shape a coyote brush takes depends on the location in which it is growing, but each coyote brush plant develops a large root system that extends outward many yards from the main plant regardless of the location in which it grows.

A bush with small leaves growing close to the ground.

Photo by J. Smith

In areas with high winds and lower levels of moisture, how might coyote brush plants adapt their shape to the environment?

a.
They would be widely spaced to maximize water collection
b.
They would be closely spaced to form dense ground cover
c.
They would be generally deciduous
d.
They would be adapted to heavy snowfall

Answer 1

a.

In windy, dry sites plants tend to grow low to the ground with small leaves to reduce water loss and are more widely spaced so each plant can access a larger volume of soil moisture rather than competing closely with neighbors.