Shrubland

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Shrubland (synonymous with scrubland) is a habitat type dominated by woody shrubs. A shrub is a perennial woody plant that branches at ground level to form several stems. Shrublands form in several different biomes, and may be either a permanent habitat type, stable over time, or a transitional one, caused when another habitat type is disturbed by natural or human causes, like fire or logging. Some shrublands came about as a result of the degradation of forests through over-exploitation by humans.

Tropical and subtropical shrublands are classified with tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas in the Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.

Temperate shrublands are classified with temperate grasslands and savannas in the Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.

Montane shrublands are found in mountainous regions around the world, and are classified with tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas in the Montane grasslands and shrublands biome. The Madagascar ericoid thickets are a montane shrubland ecoregion.

Mediterranean shrublands occur in the five Mediterranean-climate regions around the world. They are known as Chaparral in California, Matorral in Central Chile, Kwongan in Australia, and Fynbos in South Africa. Around the Mediterranean Basin, shrublands are known as maquis, after the shrublands of Mediterranean France, but also as matorral in Spain and macchia in Italy. Mediterranean shrublands are often part of a mosaic landscape, interspersed with forests, woodlands, grassland, and scrublands. They are included in the Mediterranean forests, woobielands, and shrub biome.