Texas Ecoregions
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Transcript of Texas Ecoregions
Texas Ecoregions
• Ecoregion - a major ecosystem with distinctive geography, characteristic plants and animals, ecosystems, and receiving uniform solar radiation and moisture – Sometimes called an ecological region or
bioregion– Smaller than a biome
What is An Ecoregion?
Piney Woods
Location East Texas
Precipitation Regional Average Rainfall:40-52 in./ yr
Temperature Jan-50-60 degreesJul 85 degrees
CharacteristicsThick forest of pines, bottomlands (swampy), hardwood trees”Big Thicket” southern most regionHigh HumidityTimber and cattle productionSwamps are common
Gulf Coast Prairies & Marshes
Location Gulf Coast—Gulf of Mexico
Precipitation 40-60 inches
Temperature Jan 55 degreesJul 85 degrees
CharacteristicsIncludes marshes, barrier islands, estuaries, and baysSlowly drained plains, less than 150 feet in elevationHigh humidity, warm temperaturesNative habitat has been lost to agriculture & urbanization but still provides habitat for migratory birds and spawning areas fro fish and shrimp
Edwards Plateau
Location Central Texas-Hill Country
Precipitation 15-34 inches
Temperature Jan 55 degreesJul 85 degrees
CharacteristicsLand of springs, stony hills and steep canyonsHome of rare plants and animalsThe limestone is honeycombed with thousands of cavesRanching is the primary ag industrySurrounds the Llano Uplift
Llano Uplift
Location Center of Edwards Plateau
Precipitation 24-32 inches
Temperature
CharacteristicsCentral mineral regionHome to some of the oldest rocks in TexasEnchanted RockOak-hickory or oak-juniper woodlands, mesquite-mixed brush savannah and grasslandsRanching
High Plains
Location Most of the Panhandle
Precipitation 15-22 inches
Temperature Jan 35 degreesJul 100 degrees
CharacteristicsRelatively level high plateauElevations are from 3000 to 4500 feetExtended droughts are normal Short grass Prairie, Juniper and Shinneryoak and Sand Sage are commonBuffalo and Pronghorn Antelope once populated the area, today mostly irrigated cropland and native vegetation
Trans Pecos
Location Extreme Western part of the state eastward of the Pecos River
Precipitation Less than 12 inches
Temperature Jan 45 degreesJul 95 degrees
CharacteristicsMany vegetation's types exist due to the diversity of soil and elevationsCreosote-tar bruch desert scrub, desert grassland, yucca and juniper savannahs, montane forests of pine and oakThere are various sub regions that reflect the diversity of the Trans PecosRanching in a primary industry