Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R150AY740TX
Northern Blackland
Last updated: 9/22/2023
Accessed: 12/06/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 150A–Gulf Coast Prairies
MLRA 150A is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain in Texas (83 percent) and Louisiana (17 percent). It makes up about 16,365 square miles (42,410 square kilometers). It is characterized by nearly level plains that have low local relief and are dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. Elevation ranges from sea level to about 165 feet (0 to 50 meters) along the interior margin. It includes the towns of Crowley, Eunice, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Houston, Bay City, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Robstown, and Kingsville, Texas. Interstates 10 and 45 are in the northeastern part of the area, and Interstate 37 is in the southwestern part. U.S. Highways 90 and 190 are in the eastern part, in Louisiana. U.S. Highway 77 passes through Kingsville, Texas. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and the Fannin Battleground State Historic Site are in the part of the area in Texas.
Classification relationships
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 150A
Ecological site concept
The Northern Blackland ecological site shows an intact grass community with small clumped dispersal of woody species. The soils are very deep, richly black in color, and characterized by their shrink-swell nature. The sites are widely distributed across the uplands and terraces throughout the region. The site is correlated to areas with mean annual rainfall that ranges from 41 to 57 inches.
Associated sites
R150AY741TX |
Northern Loamy Prairie The Northern Loamy Prairie is characterized by very deep loamy soils occurring on uplands. The site is correlated to areas with mean annual rainfall from 48 to 57 inches. They are vegetatively productive and provide good grazing for livestock. This site is typically in a similar landform. |
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R150AY537TX |
Lowland As named, the Lowland ecological site occurs on the lowest part of the landscape. It receives excess water from surround landforms and may stay wet for extended periods throughout the year. This site is in a lower, water receiving, position on the landscape. |
R150AY527TX |
Clayey Bottomland The Clayey Bottomland site has very deep, clayey surface textured soils that occur on flood plains. The areas can be flooded and ponded for lengthy durations throughout the year. This site is not similar in soils, landscape positions or vegetation to any other sites in MLRA 150A. |
Similar sites
R150AY526TX |
Southern Blackland The Southern Blackland ecological site shows an intact grass community with small clumped dispersal of woody species. The soils are very deep, richly black in color, and characterized by their shrink-swell nature. The sites are widely distributed across the uplands in areas with mean annual precipitation from 32 to 41 inches. |
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R150AY013LA |
Clayey Terrace Prairie These sites are low broad flats having clayey-textured soils in MLRA 150A. This site was historically tallgrass prairie but is now predominantly utilized for pasture and cropland. This area is in the thermic soil temperature regime. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Schizachyrium scoparium |
Physiographic features
This site was formed from clayey sediments in the Beaumont Formation of Late Pleistocene age. The nearly level to very gently sloping soils of this site are on the upper Texas coastal plain. Slopes are mainly less than 1 percent but can range up to 8 percent in some areas. Runoff is high . Undisturbed areas exhibit gilgai micro-relief. Elevation ranges from 10 to 100 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms |
(1)
Coastal plain
> Flat
> Circular gilgai
|
---|---|
Runoff class | Medium to high |
Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) |
Flooding frequency | None to rare |
Ponding frequency | None |
Elevation | 3 – 30 m |
Slope | 0 – 8% |
Water table depth | 15 – 89 cm |
Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The climate of MLRA 150A is humid subtropical with mild winters. The average annual precipitation in the northern two-thirds of this area is 45 to 63 inches. It is 28 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area and 30 to 45 inches in the southwestern third of the area. The precipitation is fairly evenly distributed, but it is slightly higher in late summer and midsummer in the western part of the area and slightly higher in winter in the eastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 66 to 72 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 325 days and ranges from 290 to 365 days, increasing in length to the southwest.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 233-265 days |
---|---|
Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 365 days |
Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 1,219-1,448 mm |
Frost-free period (actual range) | 231-365 days |
Freeze-free period (actual range) | 264-365 days |
Precipitation total (actual range) | 1,168-1,524 mm |
Frost-free period (average) | 259 days |
Freeze-free period (average) | 352 days |
Precipitation total (average) | 1,346 mm |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) ALVIN [USC00410204], Alvin, TX
-
(2) HOUSTON CLOVER FLD [USW00012975], Pearland, TX
-
(3) HOUSTON NWSO [USC00414333], Dickinson, TX
-
(4) THOMPSONS 3 WSW [USC00418996], Richmond, TX
-
(5) HOUSTON-PORT [USC00414326], Houston, TX
-
(6) HOUSTON HOBBY AP [USW00012918], Houston, TX
-
(7) SUGAR LAND [USC00418728], Sugar Land, TX
-
(8) SEALY [USC00418160], Sealy, TX
-
(9) HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP [USW00053910], Tomball, TX
-
(10) HOUSTON INTERCONT AP [USW00012960], Houston, TX
-
(11) HOUSTON SAN JACINTO DA [USC00414328], Houston, TX
-
(12) BAYTOWN [USC00410586], Crosby, TX
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(13) ANAHUAC [USC00410235], Anahuac, TX
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(14) BEAUMONT RSCH CTR [USC00410613], Beaumont, TX
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(15) BEAUMONT CITY [USC00410611], Vidor, TX
-
(16) PORT ARTHUR SE TX AP [USW00012917], Port Arthur, TX
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(17) NEW GULF [USC00416286], Boling, TX
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(18) BAY CITY WTR WKS [USC00410569], Bay City, TX
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(19) DANEVANG 1 W [USC00412266], El Campo, TX
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(20) EL CAMPO [USC00412786], El Campo, TX
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(21) PIERCE 1 E [USC00417020], El Campo, TX
-
(22) ANGLETON 2 W [USC00410257], Angleton, TX
Influencing water features
Water enters the soil rapidly when it is dry and cracked and very slowly when it is wet and sealed. Although ponding is not shown as a characteristic for the soils of this site, ponding may occur for brief to long periods during the growing season on micro-lows of gilgai and influence the plant community. Some soils associated with this site are hydric or have hydric inclusions and may be wetlands.
Wetland description
The Beaumont and Bacliff soils are hydric. All other soils associated with this site are hon-hydric. Some sites associated with the non-hydric soils may have small areas of hydric soils. These usually occur in microdepressions, gilgai, or in low lying water receiving areas. Onsite investigation is necessary to determine exact local conditions.
Soil features
This site consists of very deep, poorly drained to moderately well drained, very slowly permeable, very strongly acid to moderately alkaline soils. The surface color is black to very dark gray. Water enters the soil rapidly when it is dry and cracked and very slowly when it is moist. Undisturbed areas exhibit gilgai micro-relief. Disturbed areas may begin to re-form gilgai in as little as 5 years but may take 40 to 50 years to match undisturbed sites. Soils correlated to this site include: Bacliff, Beaumont, Bernard, China, Lake Charles, and League.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material |
(1)
Fluviomarine deposits
–
igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
|
---|---|
Surface texture |
(1) Clay |
Family particle size |
(1) Fine |
Drainage class | Poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained |
Permeability class | Very slow |
Soil depth | 203 cm |
Surface fragment cover <=3" | 0% |
Surface fragment cover >3" | 0% |
Available water capacity (0-152.4cm) |
17.78 – 25.4 cm |
Calcium carbonate equivalent (101.6-152.4cm) |
0 – 5% |
Electrical conductivity (0-152.4cm) |
0 – 4 mmhos/cm |
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-152.4cm) |
0 – 4 |
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
4.5 – 7 |
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-152.4cm) |
0% |
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-152.4cm) |
0% |
Ecological dynamics
The reference plant communities of the Blackland are stable tall and midgrass prairies that were in dynamic equilibrium with the ecological forces that formed them. These forces included grazing by native wild herbivores, natural and anthropogenic fire, and periodic drought and wet cycles. Bison were the primary large ungulates that grazed but companion species included antelope and whitetail deer. The typical bison grazing pattern was short but very intense, followed by total deferment until herds migrated back into the area. Long deferments allowed the tallgrasses time to recover carbohydrate reserves and produce a seed crop. A fire regime and frequency of 3 to 8 years was likely and was a more important factor in shaping this prairie than was grazing.
Under the influences mentioned above, this prairie site was dominated by tall and midgrasses. Major tallgrass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), yellow Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), and plume grasses (Sacchrum sp.). Dominant midgrass species include Florida paspalum (Paspalum floridanum), brownseed paspalum (Paspalum plicatulum), bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), longspike tridens (Tridens strictus), and meadow dropseed (Sporobolus compositus). Perennial forbs important to the site include herbaceous mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa), bundleflower (Desmanthus spp.), button snakeroot (Eryngium yuccifolium), and gayfeather (Liatris spp.). The micro-highs and lows (gilgai micro-relief) on this site contribute to the diverse plant community; the micro-highs are slightly drier and the micro-lows slightly wetter. Elevation differences between highs and lows range from 6 to 15 inches. Vegetation tolerant of moist soil grows on the lower elevations of the gilgai while less water-tolerant vegetation grows on the higher elevations.
Excessive grazing by domestic livestock contributes to the reduction or elimination of eastern gamagrass, big bluestem, yellow Indiangrass, switchgrass, and little bluestem. As the site transitions, species such as brownseed paspalum, bushy bluestem, knotroot bristlegrass (Setaria parviflora), longspike tridens and carpetgrass (Axonopus sp.) increase. Nonnatives such as Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum), smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus), and Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) increase. In addition to site degradation due to excessive grazing, farming has had a significant influence on the site. The site was not only changed through the loss of native plant communities from cultivation, but also through the change in soils, hydrology, and topography by land leveling, ditching, and leveeing.
Continued overuse of the site by livestock, lack of fire, or abandonment of cropping allows woody plants to invade. These woody pioneers include huisache (Acacia farnesiana), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), eastern baccharis (Baccharis halamifolia), hackberry (Celtis sp.), cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), and ash (Fraxinus sp.). Nonnative invaders include McCartney Rose (Rosa bracteata) and Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera). As the plant community transitions from Tallgrass Prairie (1.1) to Tall/Midgrass Prairie (1.2) to Mid/Shortgrass Prairie (1.3) to Shrub/Tree Complex state (2), changes occur in plant composition, biomass production, litter accumulation, and water infiltration and storage. These changes influence most treatment alternatives including the ability to use fire as a management tool. The result has been the transition of from a true prairie to wooded grassland to woodland.
The resulting increase in woody cover signifies that thresholds have been crossed. Once these thresholds are crossed, restoration back to the reference plant community becomes more difficult and expensive. Even though the reference community may be restored using a combination of practices, such as mechanical and herbicidal brush management, planned grazing, and fire, this community cannot be maintained without the use of these tools on a frequent basis.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time |
---|---|---|
T1B | - | Extensive soil disturbance followed by the introduction of non-native species |
R2A | - | Reintroduction of fire and regular disturbance return intervals |
T2A | - | Extensive soil disturbance followed by the introduction of non-native species |
T3A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Grassland
Dominant plant species
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
-
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), grass
Community 1.1
Native Tallgrass Prairie
The reference plant community is a grassland composed of tall and midgrasses. Tallgrasses make up over 60 percent, midgrasses approximately 30 percent, and other associated grasses, forbs, and shrubs make up the remainder of the plant community. Annual forbs occur in differing amounts in response to disturbance from grazing, fire, and/or drought. Chronic overgrazing results in a reduction of biomass, reduced litter accumulation, loss of reference grasses, and less ability to use fire effectively for management. Some mid and shortgrasses increase because of this overgrazing. Prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, application of herbicides, or mowing is necessary to keep invading woody species such as huisache, Macartney rose, or Chinese tallow in check.
Figure 8. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike | 6557 | 8070 | 9583 |
Shrub/Vine | 364 | 448 | 532 |
Forb | 364 | 448 | 532 |
Tree | – | – | – |
Total | 7285 | 8966 | 10647 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX6550, Tallgrass Prairie Community. Warm-season tallgrass dominates the community along with forbs and less than 10% woody canopy..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Community 1.2
Tall/Midgrass Prairie
This community develops as heavy grazing or over haying removes the tallgrass component of the reference community. As tallgrasses decrease, midgrasses such as meadow dropseed, brownseed paspalum, and longspike tridens increase. Vaseygrass (Paspalum urvillei) is an introduced plant that commonly invades. As reduced fuel loads occur, the incidence of accidental or intentional fires decreases. Annual and perennial forbs, sedges, flat sedges, and other grass-likes often increase. Continued heavy grazing contributes to further degradation and loss of more palatable midgrasses. Invasion of woody species begins. Prescribed grazing along with prescribed burning or weed control is necessary to move back towards the tallgrass plant community. Where haying occurs, less frequent cutting (once per year) and timing of cutting (prior to July 1st) may improve species composition and vigor.
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Heavy continuous grazing and lack of fire will transition the site to Community 1.2.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Prescribed grazing with correct stocking rates and a return of fire will transition Community 1.2 back to the reference community.
State 2
Tree/Shrubland Complex
Dominant plant species
-
sweet acacia (Acacia farnesiana), shrub
-
hackberry (Celtis), shrub
Community 2.1
Shrubland/Savannah
This community occurs because of continuous heavy grazing, loss of fire as a tool, greatly altered water and energy cycles, and invasion of woody plants. A threshold has been crossed between Community 1.2 and Community 2.1. If prescribed grazing is implemented, fire re-introduced, and seedling woody plants controlled, this community can be quite productive for cattle and wildlife. To do so will require judicious grazing, periodic fire, and frequent applications of herbicide or mechanical treatments on an individual plant basis. This state offers different resources to a different wildlife community than the reference state because of the increased amount of woody cover and the increased production of both perennial and annual forbs.
Community 2.2
Shrubland/Woodland
Over time, with continued heavy grazing, lack of fire, and/or no brush management, the site will transition into a huisache, hackberry, and elm woodland with canopies more than 90 percent. Chinese tallow is a common introduced invader. The community may be a monoculture of one woody species or a combination of many. The herbaceous community will be greatly reduced and comprised of Texas wintergrass, gaping panicum, winter bentgrass, sedges, and flat sedges. Major inputs, both chemical and mechanical, are required to restore this community to a grassland or savannah. A common practice is the use of aerially-applied herbicides to reduce the canopy followed by prescribed fire or mechanical treatments to remove the woody vegetation and maintain semi-open wooded grassland for several years following treatment. Although these practices kill some of the woody vegetation, much of it remains and re-sprouts from the crown. Often with this community, mechanical treatments such as rootplowing, treedozing, and raking are employed and the land is converted to cropland or pasture.
Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2
Heavy grazing and lack of fire will cause an increase in brush density. The transition occurs when brush canopy cover is over 25 percent.
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1
To return to Community 2.1, brush density needs to be removed below 25 percent. Return of fire and prescribed grazing also help in this transition.
State 3
Converted
Dominant plant species
-
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), grass
-
corn (Zea mays), grass
Community 3.1
Converted Land
This is the most common community and occurs when other communities are manipulated through practices such as mechanical brush control, land leveling, cultivation, and pasture planting. If not converted to crops such as rice, corn, cotton, or soybeans, introduced grasses are planted for livestock forage. Some cropland acres have been converted into pastureland situations. Introduced grasses adapted to the site include Bermudagrass, Dallisgrass, bahiagrass, kleingrass, and yellow bluestems. Cultural practices such as weed control, brush control, and fertility maintenance must be applied to keep this state in a cropable condition or as grassland. Invasion by woody species, sedges, and flatsedges is a continuous threat. Not only is there a long-lived seed source of Chinese tallow, huisache, elm, and other woody species, additional seed are brought in by grazing animals, wildlife and domestic livestock. Macartney rose seed and canes, where present, are also left behind following mechanical control and will re-establish quickly.
Community 3.2
Converted Land Community with Woody Encroachment
The transition from community 3.1 to 3.2 requires only time and the absence of woody seedling control. Due to the seed bank present in the soil and the constant addition of new seed from grazing/browsing animals and seed-eating birds, re-infestation of woody seedlings happens in a relatively short time period of 3 to 5 years. If woody seedlings are controlled on a semi-regular basis, this state can be maintained indefinitely, and the state can switch back and forth from 3.2 to 3.1. If this site has been planted to introduced species such as Bermudagrass, yellow bluestems, or kleingrass, and fertilization and weed control are stopped, pioneer native grasses and forbs will begin to establish and over long periods of time this state will begin to move back towards State 1.3. Some degree of woody plant control would be required for this to occur. If no woody plant management is practiced, then State 3.2 will revert to State 2.2 with a dominance of huisache, Chinese tallow, hackberry, and baccharis species.
Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2
With heavy grazing and no brush control, woody species will encroach the site.
Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1
Seedling brush control, prescribed grazing, and possibly prescribed fire will transition the community back to 3.1.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Heavy grazing, lack of fire, and brush invasion over 10 percent canopy signal the transition to State 2.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Conversion signals this transition by preparing a seedbed and planting to pasture.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Restoration occurs when brush management reduces the canopy cover below 10 percent, prescribed grazing restores correct stocking rates, and once grasses have created enough biomass, prescribed fire returns.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
Conversion signals this transition by clearing brush, preparing a seedbed, and planting to pasture.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 2
Without brush control to manage encroaching woody seedlings, the site will transition to State 2.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
1 | Tallgrasses | 3587–5268 | ||||
big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 3587–5268 | – | ||
switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 3587–5268 | – | ||
shortbeard plumegrass | SABR18 | Saccharum brevibarbe | 3587–5268 | – | ||
little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 3587–5268 | – | ||
Indiangrass | SONU2 | Sorghastrum nutans | 3587–5268 | – | ||
eastern gamagrass | TRDA3 | Tripsacum dactyloides | 3587–5268 | – | ||
2 | Midgrasses | 1345–1849 | ||||
gulfhairawn muhly | MUFI3 | Muhlenbergia filipes | 1345–1849 | – | ||
Florida paspalum | PAFL4 | Paspalum floridanum | 1345–1849 | – | ||
brownseed paspalum | PAPL3 | Paspalum plicatulum | 1345–1849 | – | ||
composite dropseed | SPCO16 | Sporobolus compositus | 1345–1849 | – | ||
3 | Midgrasses | 673–1065 | ||||
buffalograss | BODA2 | Bouteloua dactyloides | 673–1065 | – | ||
silver beardgrass | BOLAT | Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana | 673–1065 | – | ||
longtom | PADE24 | Paspalum denticulatum | 673–1065 | – | ||
marsh bristlegrass | SEPA10 | Setaria parviflora | 673–1065 | – | ||
saltmeadow cordgrass | SPPA | Spartina patens | 673–1065 | – | ||
gulf cordgrass | SPSP | Spartina spartinae | 673–1065 | – | ||
white tridens | TRAL2 | Tridens albescens | 673–1065 | – | ||
longspike tridens | TRST2 | Tridens strictus | 673–1065 | – | ||
4 | Cool-season grasses | 560–841 | ||||
sedge | CAREX | Carex | 560–841 | – | ||
flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 560–841 | – | ||
Virginia wildrye | ELVI3 | Elymus virginicus | 560–841 | – | ||
gaping grass | STHI3 | Steinchisma hians | 560–841 | – | ||
5 | Shortgrasses | 392–560 | ||||
winter bentgrass | AGHY | Agrostis hyemalis | 392–560 | – | ||
fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 392–560 | – | ||
Scribner's rosette grass | DIOLS | Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum | 392–560 | – | ||
panicgrass | PANIC | Panicum | 392–560 | – | ||
crowngrass | PASPA2 | Paspalum | 392–560 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
6 | Forbs | 280–364 | ||||
Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 280–364 | – | ||
whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 280–364 | – | ||
wedgeleaf prairie clover | DAEM2 | Dalea emarginata | 280–364 | – | ||
Illinois bundleflower | DEIL | Desmanthus illinoensis | 280–364 | – | ||
velvet bundleflower | DEVE2 | Desmanthus velutinus | 280–364 | – | ||
blacksamson echinacea | ECAN2 | Echinacea angustifolia | 280–364 | – | ||
Engelmann's daisy | ENPE4 | Engelmannia peristenia | 280–364 | – | ||
button eryngo | ERYU | Eryngium yuccifolium | 280–364 | – | ||
beeblossom | GAURA | Gaura | 280–364 | – | ||
coastal indigo | INMI | Indigofera miniata | 280–364 | – | ||
lespedeza | LESPE | Lespedeza | 280–364 | – | ||
prairie blazing star | LIPY | Liatris pycnostachya | 280–364 | – | ||
littleleaf sensitive-briar | MIMI22 | Mimosa microphylla | 280–364 | – | ||
powderpuff | MIST2 | Mimosa strigillosa | 280–364 | – | ||
yellow puff | NELU2 | Neptunia lutea | 280–364 | – | ||
fogfruit | PHYLA | Phyla | 280–364 | – | ||
white milkwort | POAL4 | Polygala alba | 280–364 | – | ||
upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 280–364 | – | ||
violet wild petunia | RUNU | Ruellia nudiflora | 280–364 | – | ||
green feathershank | SCDR | Schoenocaulon drummondii | 280–364 | – | ||
Baldwin's ironweed | VEBA | Vernonia baldwinii | 280–364 | – | ||
7 | Forbs | 67–101 | ||||
spiny chloracantha | CHSP11 | Chloracantha spinosa | 67–101 | – | ||
eastern annual saltmarsh aster | SYSU5 | Symphyotrichum subulatum | 67–101 | – | ||
8 | Forbs | 17–67 | ||||
great ragweed | AMTR | Ambrosia trifida | 17–67 | – | ||
partridge pea | CHFAF | Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata | 17–67 | – | ||
Dakota mock vervain | GLBIB | Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida | 17–67 | – | ||
annual marsh elder | IVAN2 | Iva annua | 17–67 | – | ||
bagpod | SEVE | Sesbania vesicaria | 17–67 | – | ||
herb of the cross | VEOF | Verbena officinalis | 17–67 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
9 | Shrubs/Vines | 364–532 | ||||
eastern baccharis | BAHA | Baccharis halimifolia | 364–532 | – | ||
sorrelvine | CITR2 | Cissus trifoliata | 364–532 | – | ||
southern dewberry | RUTR | Rubus trivialis | 364–532 | – | ||
greenbrier | SMILA2 | Smilax | 364–532 | – |
Interpretations
Animal community
The Coastal Prairie communities support a wide array of animals. Cattle and many species of wildlife make extensive use of the site. White-tailed deer may be found scattered across the prairie and are found in heavier concentrations where woody cover exists. Feral hogs are present and at times abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Attwater’s pocket gophers are abundant and have an important impact on the ecology of the site. The badger is present but not abundant in locations at the southern extent of the site. Locally unique species alligators and bullfrogs.
The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Two important endangered species occur in the area, the whooping crane and Attwater’s prairie chicken. Many other species of avian predators including northern harriers, ferruginous hawks, red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, kestrels, and, occasionally, swallow-tailed kites utilize the vast grasslands. Many species of grassland birds use the site, including blue grosbeaks, dickcissels, eastern meadowlarks, several sparrows, including, vesper sparrow, lark sparrow, savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and Le Conte’s sparrow.
Hydrological functions
Peak rainfall periods occur in May and June from thunderstorms and in September and October from tropical systems. Rainfall events may be high (3 to 5 inches per event) and intense. Because of the flat topography of this site, erosion is minimal; however, on more sloping aspects (greater than 3 percent), erosion may be very significant. This site provides little water for aquifer recharge because when wet, infiltration is very slow.
Recreational uses
The site may be used for hunting, camping, hiking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicle use.
Wood products
In the prairie state, no wood products are available. Most species of woody vegetation found on this site have no commercial use although yaupon may be harvested for landscape plantings.
Other products
Fruit from dewberries may be harvested.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Vegetative data for this site was obtained from existing Range Site Descriptions and SCS-417 data. SCS-417’s were available for this site in ten different counties. Extensive field work was done on-site to catalog the plant community. Several range-trained personnel with state and federal agencies and in private enterprise were consulted on the plant communities as well. Personal contact with ranchers and foreman was utilized to ascertain the use of plants by both cattle and wildlife.
Other references
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Archer, S. 1994. Woody plant encroachment into southwestern grasslands and savannas: rates, patterns and proximate causes. Ecological implications of livestock herbivory in the West, 13-68.
Archer, S. 1995. Herbivore mediation of grass-woody plant interactions. Tropical Grasslands, 29:218-235.
Archer, S. 1995. Tree-grass dynamics in a Prosopis-thornscrub savanna parkland: reconstructing the past and predicting the future. Ecoscience, 2:83-99.
Archer, S. and F. E. Smeins. 1991. Ecosystem-level processes. Grazing Management: An Ecological Perspective. Edited by R.K. Heischmidt and J.W. Stuth. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
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Bailey, V. 1905. North American Fauna No. 25: Biological Survey of Texas. United States Department of Agriculture Biological Survey. Government Printing Office, Washington D. C.
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Box, T. W. 1960. Herbage production on four range plant communities in South Texas. Journal of Range Management, 13:72-76.
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Drawe, D. L. and T. W. Box. 1969. High rates of nitrogen fertilization influence Coastal Prairie range. Journal of Range Management, 22:32-36.
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Everitt, J. H. and D. L. Drawe. 1993. Trees, shrubs and cacti of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, TX.
Everitt, J. H., D. L. Drawe, and R. I. Lonard. 1999. Field guide to the broad-leaved herbaceous plants of South Texas used by livestock and wildlife. Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, TX.
Foster, J. H. 1917. Pre-settlement fire frequency regions of the United States: A first approximation. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, 20.
Foster, W. C. 2010. Spanish Expeditions into Texas 1689-1768. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX.
Frost, C. C. 1995. Presettlement fire regimes in southeastern marshes, peatlands, and swamps. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, 19:39-60.
Frost, C. C. 1998. Presettlement fire frequency regimes of the United States: A first approximation. Fire in ecosystem management: Shifting the paradigm from suppression to prescription. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, 20:70-81.
Fulbright, T. E. and S. L. Beasom. 1987. Long-term effects of mechanical treatment on white-tailed deer browse. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 15:560-564.
Fulbright, T. E., D. D. Diamond, J. Rappole, and J. Norwine. 1990. The Coastal Sand Plain of Southern Texas. Rangelands, 12:337-340.
Fulbright, T. E., J. A. Ortega-Santos, A. Lozano-Cavazos, and L. E. Ramirez-Yanez. 2006. Establishing vegetation on migrating inland sand dunes in Texas. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 59:549-556.
Gould, F. W. 1975. The Grasses of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.
Grace, J. B., T. M. Anderson, M. D. Smith, E. Seabloom, S. J. Andelman, G. Meche, E. Weiher, L. K. Allain, H. Jutila, M. Sankaran, J. Knops, M. Ritchie, and M. R. Willig. 2007. Does species diversity limit productivity in natural grassland communities? Ecology Letters, 10(8):680-689.
Grace, J. B., L. K. Allain, H. Q. Baldwin, A. G. Billock, W. R. Eddleman, A. M. Given, C. W. Jeske, and R. Moss. 2005. Effects of prescribed fire in the coastal prairies of Texas. USGS Open File Report, 2005-1287.
Grace, J. B., L. Allain, C. Allen. 2000. Factors associated with plant species richness in a coastal tall-grass prairie. Journal of Vegetation Science, 11:443-452.
Graham, D. 2003. Kings of Texas: The 150-year saga of an American ranching empire. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY.
Hamilton, W. and D. Ueckert. 2005. Rangeland woody plant control: Past, present, and future. Brush management: Past, present, and future, 3-16.
Hansmire, J. A., D. L. Drawe, B. B. Wester, and C. M. Britton. 1988. Effect of winter burns on forbs and grasses of the Texas Coastal Prairie. The Southwestern Naturalist, 33(3):333-338.
Harcombe, P. A. and J. E. Neaville. 1997. Vegetation types of Chambers County, Texas. The Texas Journal of Science, 29:209-234.
Hatch, S. L., J. L. Schuster, and D. L. Drawe. 1999. Grasses of the Texas Gulf Prairies and Marshes. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.
Heitschmidt, R. K. and J. W. Stuth. 1991. Grazing management: An ecological perspective. Timberline Press, Portland, OR.
Hughes, G.U. 1846. Memoir Description of a March of a Division of the United States Army under the Command of Brigadier General John E. Wool, From San Antonio de Bexar, in Texas to Saltillo, in Mexico. Senate Executive Document, 32.
Inglis, J. M. 1964. A history of vegetation of the Rio Grande Plains. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Bulletin, 45.
Jenkins, J. H. 1973. The Papers of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836. Presidential Press, Austin, TX.
Johnson, M. C. 1963. Past and present grasslands of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Ecology 44(3):456-466.
Joutel, H. 1906. Joutel’s journal of La Salle’s last voyage, 1686-1687. Edited by H. R. Stiles. Joseph McDonough, Albany, NY.
Kennedy, W. 1841. Texas: The rise, progress, and prospects of the Republic of Texas. Lincoln’s Inn, London, England.
Kimmel, F. 2008. Louisiana's Cajun Prairie: An endangered ecosystem. Louisiana Conservationist, 61(3):4-7.
Le Houerou, H. N. and J. Norwine. 1988. The ecoclimatology of South Texas. In Arid lands: today and tomorrow. Edited by E. E. Whitehead, C. F. Hutchinson, B. N. Timmesman, and R. G. Varady, 417-444. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.
Lehman, V. W. 1965. Fire in the range of Attwater’s prairie chicken. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, 4:127-143.
Lehman, V. W. 1969. Forgotten Legions: Sheep in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. Texas Western Press, El Paso, TX.
Lusk, R. M. 1917. A history of Constantine Lodge, No. 13, ancient free, and accepted Masons, Bonham, Texas. Favorite Printing Co., Hilbert, WI.
McDanield, H. F. and N. A. Taylor. 1877. The coming empire, or, two thousand miles in Texas on horseback. A. S. Barnes & Company, New York, NY.
McGinty A. and D. N. Ueckert. 2001. The brush busters success story. Rangelands, 23:3-8.
McLendon, T. 1991. Preliminary description of the vegetation of south Texas exclusive of coastal saline zones. Texas Journal of Science, 43:13-32.
Mutz, J. L., T. J. Greene, C. J. Scifres, and B. H. Koerth. 1985. Response of Pan American balsamscale, soil, and livestock to prescribed burning. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, B-1492.
Norwine, J. 1978. Twentieth-century semiarid climates and climatic fluctuations in Texas and northeastern Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, 1:313-325.
Norwine, J. and R. Bingham. 1986. Frequency and severity of droughts in South Texas: 1900-1983, 1-17. Livestock and wildlife management during drought. Edited by R. D. Brown. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX.
Olmsted, F. L. 1857. A journey through Texas, or a saddle trip on the Southwest frontier: with a statistical appendix. Dix, Edwards, and co., New York, London.
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Contributors
Mike Stellbauer, RMS, NRCS, Bryan, TX
Approval
Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023
Acknowledgments
Reviewers:
Justin Clary, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TX
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) | |
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Contact for lead author | |
Date | 12/06/2024 |
Approved by | Bryan Christensen |
Approval date | |
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time |
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T1B | - | Extensive soil disturbance followed by the introduction of non-native species |
R2A | - | Reintroduction of fire and regular disturbance return intervals |
T2A | - | Extensive soil disturbance followed by the introduction of non-native species |
T3A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time |