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