Texas%20Ecoregions

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Texas Ecoregions

• Effects of Weathering, Erosion and Deposition

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I. Factors Affecting Our Ecoregions

• a. Weathering chemical and physical break down
  of rocks into sediment
• b. Erosion the movement of sediment from one
  place to another
• c. Deposition the placement of sediment after
  being carried from place of origin

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d. CHEMICAL WEATHERING

• THE PROCESS THAT BREAKS DOWN ROCKS BY CHEMICAL
  CHANGES OR REACTIONS.

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II. Texas Ecoregions
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Piney Woods
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Piney Woods

• This ecoregion is found in East Texas.
• ii. It is the wettest region of the state. This
  allows for a high rate of decomposition to occur
  resulting in healthy, nutrient-rich soils.
• iii. The topography is gently rolling to near
  flat through out the region.
• iv. Pine trees, woody vines, and hardwood trees
  dominate the vegetation.
• v. If a wildfire was to occur the positive effect
  would be that the pine trees can maintain
  dominance.
• vi. Negative effects would be loss of habitat and
  vegetation,
• vii. Unless an area has been clear-cut of
  vegetation for construction, the amount of trees
  and plants can prevent erosion.

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Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
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Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes

1. Soil in the region is primarily sand-based.
2. If there isnt enough vegetation to keep the soil
   in place, rainfall received can cause severe
   erosion.
3. Catastrophic events such as hurricanes can
   increase wave erosion and deposition.

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Blackland Prairie
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Blackland Prairie

1. These areas have nutrient-rich soils and receive
   good amounts of rainfall through the year.
2. If the land is clear-cut of natural vegetation
   for construction, nutrients can easily be eroded.
3. If the land is used for farming and it is not
   managed well, nutrients will be quickly used up.

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Edwards Plateau
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Edwards Plateau

1. This region is located between dry western plains
   and moist prairies and woods.
2. Unfortunately, erosion has left most of the
   region with very shallow soils (less than 10
   inches) lined with limestone rock layers.
3. High amounts of rain in a short amount of time
   can cause flash flooding.

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Rolling Plains
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Rolling Plains

1. This region is part of the Great Plains of the
   North Central Texas.
2. Soils in this area are most fertile and sought
   after for crop production.
3. Periods of drought and then sudden increase in
   rainfall causes large amounts of erosion and
   deplete the soil of nutrients.

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Oak Woods and Prairies
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Oak Woods and Prairies

• This is a small, thin region running North to
  South on either side of the prairies and plains.
• The soil is not as prone to flooding because it
  allows water to infiltrate very easily.
• The region is described as rough, hilly terrain.

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High Plains
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High Plains

1. Texas Panhandle
2. The region extends to the Palo Duro Canyon-the
   nations 2nd largest canyon.
3. Palo Duro Canyon was formed by water erosion from
   the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River.
4. The water deepens the canyon by moving sediment
   downstream.
5. Wind and water erosion gradually widen the
   canyon.

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South Texas Brush Country
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South Texas Brush Country

1. The area is known as Brush Country due to the
   shorter trees and many shrubs.
2. Overgrazing of the land has allowed nutrient-rich
   topsoil to erode way.
3. Rocky, dry soil cannot support grasses, trees can
   thrive because of their deeper root system.

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Trans-Pecos
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Trans-Pecos

• This area is found in West Texas.
• Rain does not fall evenly over the area.
• It is the Desert portion of Texas.
• The weathered bedrock in this area has high
  amounts of calcium.
• Soils are shallow and rocky. Weathering
  continues to play a role in developing soil and
  will for thousands of years to come.
• Soils in the canyon bottoms and valleys are
  deeper as a result of deposition.

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Coastal Sand Plain
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Coastal Sand Plain

• This region is found along the coastal shoreline.
• It is composed of grasslands and coastal oak
• It is the unstable, windblown sand that produces
  the characteristic dunes of this ecoregion

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Marine Environment
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Marine Environment

1. This region runs along the Gulf Coast of Texas
2. It consists of salt water.
3. It is an ocean environment.
4. High tides and low tides continuously change the
   face of the Texas Coast line through erosion and
   deposition.