Glossary

Eco-Region:

An ecologically and geologically

defined area

Fauna:

All of the animal life of any particular

region or time 

Geography:

A field of science devoted to the study of

the earth

Economy:

The wealth and resources of a country

or region

Sedimentary:

Rock that has formed from sediment deposited

by water or air

Biome:

Formation of organisms that have common characteristics

due to similar climates

Fertility:

The quality of being fertile; productiveness

Annual:

Occurring once every year

Elevation:

Height above a given level, especially

sea level

Flora:

The plant life occurring in a particular

region or time

Bedrock:

The lithified rock that lies under the loose,

softer material

Eco-zone:

The broadest biogeographic division on earths

land

Igneous:

Rocks formed by the cooling and solidifying

of earths materials 

Chapter 2-Gulf Prairies and Marshes pg. #5

Chapter 3-Edwards Plateau pg. #6

Chapter 4-Rolling Plains pg. #7

Chapter 5-The Trans Pecos pg. #8

Q & A's-pg. #9

Glossary-pg. #10

Citations & References-pg. #11

Chapter 1: The Piney Woods

    Dense, thick, and thriving with wildlife, the Piney Woods is definitely a site to see. The piney woods covers over 54,000 square miles of land across east Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

                                                                                                 

Flora & Fauna

     The Piney Woods is known for it consisting mass amounts of hard oaks. Much of which are pine trees, oak, cypress, magnolia, and sweet gums. Some of the more exotic include purple bladderwort, a small carnivorous plant that can live in lakes and marshlands.

     Fauna in the Piney Woods ranges from turkey vultures, to prairie kingsnakes. With the eco-region covering so much land, it allows for a wide variety of different wildlife. Common wildlife, such as the White-Tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail Rabbits, American Alligator, and Bobcats can be found throughout the eco-region.

                                                    

Weather & Climate

     The Piney woods is a tropical and subtropical coniferous forest. It receives an annual precipitation rate of 40-52 inches, and in some areas, 60 inches, making flash flooding common.

     The Piney Woods has a cool to moderate temperature year round, but can reach freezing during cold winters. High humidity is also very common during spring/summer.

Landmarks & Sightseeing

     One of the most iconic landmarks is the Big Thicket. Covering an area of 109,085 acres, it’s hard to miss. It’s a national reserve established in 1974 to protect the wildlife within. In 2011, Big Thicket had over 137,000 tourists visit the reserve.

Chapter 2: Gulf Prairies & Marshes

     The gulf prairies is the most populated of the five eco-regions, and has a good reason for being so. With a booming economy in oil, fishing, and importing goods, it’s no surprise why people are attracted.        

Geography & Landscape

      The soil in the gulf prairies is sandy and acidic, this brings very little crop production in the sand plains. The coast is scattered with barrier islands and marshes. There are also natural bays and ports, which benefit’s the economy tremendously.

Native Plants and Animals

     The majority of the plants consist of small brush and extensive oak, but a large portion of the plants are foreign to the area. An example of this is the carpet grass and Bermuda, which can be seen almost everywhere in the eco-region.Common fauna, such as the blue crab and the coyote, can be seen anywhere along the Texas coast. This also includes the muskrat, bullfrog, seagull, pelicans, and even minks.

Chapter 3: Edwards Plateau

     Bounded by the Balcones Fault, Edwards Plateau is the Texas hill country. From caves to mountain ranges over 3000 feet, Edwards Plateau is definitely the most geographical diverse eco-region.

Flora & Fauna

     Nearly all of the plants in Edwards Plateau (That are native) are shallow rooted, making the animals rely on grazing. These animals consist of buffalo, cows, rams, sheep, etc.

     Trees aren’t abundant in Edwards Plateau like they are in the Piney Woods and the Gulf Prairies, making the landscape very vast with tall brush and rolling hills. Yet, Pecan trees and Juniper Oak are common near rivers and streams.

Geography

     Bedrock in Edwards Plateau is mainly limestone, making the landscape vary in elevation, and caves numerous. One benefit from a limestone bedrock is aquifers. Since the area is well drained, the water all flows into what is called Edwards Aquifer. Edwards Aquifer plays a huge role in supplying people with fresh water.

Weather & Climate

     Edwards Plateau has the perfect climate for year-round farming. With a moderate temperature and a annual rainfall of 15-33 inches, it’s no surprise why agriculture is concentrated in this eco-region.