var1=&lt;font face=&quot;Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif&quot; size=&quot;11&quot; color=&quot;#FFFFFF&quot;&gt;Cabrillo NM supports a diversity of animal life. Not only is there life on the peninsula, but also in the adjacent Pacific Ocean. All of these animals have adapted to the changing temperatures and weather conditions of the coastal sage scrub habitat and the ocean habitat. There are temperature changes in the water, some (such as El Nino) which can cause significant changes to ocean life. The temperature differences on land are not extreme from season to season, but the changes in rainfall are and the lack of rain in the summer has led to some amazing adaptations. The terrestrial animals at Cabrillo NM thrive in a dry environment with cool breezes coming off the cold ocean currents. Reptiles and amphibians can coexist in this habitat because of the mix of hot temperatures and moist air in this habitat. There are both diurnal and nocturnal animals; some prefer the warmth of the day, while others prefer the cool night. Many species of small mammals, and insects, spiders and other invertebrates enjoy scavenging for food during the cool night. Their adaptations to the night environment include large eyes, fur for protection from the cold air, or camouflage to blend in with the night shadows. Other animals are more active during the day, such as many of the birds. The diversity of birds at Cabrillo NM is an attraction for visitors. The bird checklist for both the monument and <a href="/keyword/point-loma/" >point loma</a> peninsula lists 346 species. The diversity of birds is a result of the peninsulas elevation, 129 meters (422 feet) above the adjacent ocean, and its location along the Pacific Flyway. The marine animals at Cabrillo NM live in an ocean where cold water currents mix with warm water currents. This increases the diversity of animals found in this part of the Pacific Ocean. From December thru February the Pacific gray whale migration from Alaska to Baja California can be seen from the monument. These large mammals migrate to the warmer waters of Baja California to give birth and rear their young. Other mammals seen in the waters off the peninsula are harbor seals and sea lions. Fish, sea urchins, and sea stars inhabit the kelp forests along the western coast of the peninsula. In the intertidal zone, visitors watch hermit crabs, sea slugs, and fish move around, while the mussels, limpets, and barnacles save themselves from retreating waves by enclosing their body in their hard shells. This prevents them from losing moisture. All of these animals are part of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems Cabrillo NM preserves. As part of its effort to preserve these resources, the National Park Service also monitors the health of the ecosystems by studying the animal and plant species living in the park. By looking at the numbers of plants and animals, as well as their health, park biologists can make recommendations for further preservation and long-term management of these species and their habitats. The plants of Cabrillo NM inhabit two ecosystems: the coastal sage scrub habitats on the peninsula and the marine ecosystem off the peninsula. The coastal sage scrub plants have adapted to warm, dry summers with cool winters with a few storms lasting a few days at a time. To survive through the dry season some plants found in the habitats have large roots, or bodies, where they store water and use when needed. Other plants have leaf adaptations that prevent the loss of water. These adaptations include leaves that fall off during dry seasons, leaves that curl up and make a small moisture chamber within the leaf, leaves with a waxy coating that protects them from evaporation, leaves with hairs that reflect light penetrating the plant, or leaves that are small in size so there is not a lot of area for evaporation. The coastal sage scrub habitat is not known for having strong winds, so animals pollinate plants. The seeds of some plants are easily caught in animals fur so a fox, coyote, rabbit, or mouse carries it to a new germination spot. The plants are also highly aromatic, but not visually vivid, so they can attract moths in the dark of night through the moths sense of smell rather than their vision. Not only does the aroma of the plant attract pollinators, but it also deters foragers. Animals that would otherwise eat some of these plants are averted by the strong odors they emit. The animals are further discouraged by some plants tough leaves and branches and other plants spines. The marine habitat also contains numerous species of plants. These are non-vascular plants called algae, more commonly called seaweed. The seaweeds in the intertidal zone at Cabrillo NM are very important to the sea life. They provide food for most of the sea slugs, snails, and crabs, but equally important the plants also provide shelter for the animals. Most often the seaweeds are homes for the juvenile animals. In the seaweeds the young are protected from strong currents, crashing waves, and foraging predators. All this protection and plenty of food surround them. Seaweeds have also adapted to their environment. These plants are exposed to the dry air during low tide and are submerged under the water during high tide. To adapt to this condition, different plants have developed different adaptations. To keep from being eaten, some plants have developed tough branches that are hard to bite into some have adapted so well that they have a calcareous shell that cannot be bitten into by small snails and crabs, not to mention the unpleasant taste of calcium carbonate. Some plants are very dense and spongy keeping in the moisture, others are succulent and sometimes woody preventing moisture loss, and some are so small and grow close to one another that they all keep each other moist by storing the water in their colony. &lt;/font&gt;