The Post Oak Belt is
part of the Gulf Coastal Plain that begins just outside of San Antonio and stretches north to the Red River
. The Post Oak Savannah is a transition zone between the Blackland Prairies to the west and the Pineywoods to the east.
What is the Post Oak belt known for?
The Post Oak Savanah region is
a transitional area for many plants and animals whose ranges extend northward into
the Great Plains or eastward into the forests. This region, sometimes called the Cross-Timbers, was named by early settlers, who found belts of oak forest crossing strips of prairie grassland.
Where is Post oak belt?
The Post Oak Belt subregion begins
just outside of San Antonio and stretches north to the Red River
, covering a considerable area in eastcentral Texas. The Post Oak Belt lies west of both the Piney Woods and the Gulf Coast Plain. The belt has a similar climate to the Piney Woods but receives a little less rainfall.
What cities are in the Post Oak belt?
- Brenham.
- Bryan-College Station.
- Cameron.
- Cuero.
- Gonzales.
- Luling.
- Seguin.
- Weimar.
How was the Post Oak belt formed?
The Blackland prairie and Post Oak Savannah landscapes were formed and maintained by two major forces:
frequent fire and grazing of bison
. Recurrent fires ignited either by lightning or humans (American Indian) were the major force that molded the prairie and savannah landscapes.
What animals live in the Post Oak Savannah?
1)
White-tailed deer, wild turkeys and squirrels
enjoy the protein-rich acorns produced by the long-living post oak tree, a slow-growing species that thrives in sandy, rocky, well-drained soils.
What animals live in the oak woods and prairies?
According to written accounts from early explorers and settlers in 1800s,
white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bison, black bear, squirrel, mountain lion, and red wolf
were once common in the Post Oak Savannah.
What crops are grown in the Post Oak subregion?
Cotton, grain, vegetables, and citrus fruits
are the principal crops. Cattle production is significant, with the famed King Ranch and other large ranches located here. The deep alluvial soils and distinctive economy cause the Lower Rio Grande Valley to be classified as a subregion of the Gulf Coastal Plains.
What is the driest ecoregion in Texas?
Desert or montane woodlands: Montane means mountainous. the
Trans-Pecos
area is the only ecoregion with both mountains and desert. is an area of great variety. It contains desert valleys, rugged highlands, sand hill, clear springs, and many unique plants and animals. The Trans-Pecos is the driest area of Texas.
What animals live in the Rolling Plains?
Bobwhites, scaled quail, mourning doves, collared peccary
, and a variety of song birds, small mammals, waterfowl, shorebirds, reptiles, and amphibians are found in this region.
What unique natural resources come from the Post Oak belt?
Few part of the Post Oak Belt are covered in
trees
such as post oak, blackjack oak, elm, hickory, pecan and walnut trees. Mesquite trees are becoming more common. The area’s soil is sandier and the land is mostly flat.
How is the land used in the Post Oak belt?
Cattle ranching and hay production
are the primary uses for this area along with development for residential property. These land uses have caused a reduction in the number of acres representative of the Post Oak Savannah today.
What is the average temperature in the post oak woods and prairies?
Annual average temperatures range from
65°F to 70°F.
Soils of the Post Oak Savannah are interesting and complex.
What is the climate like in the Post Oak Savannah?
This approximately 8,500,000 acres of gently rolling to hilly land receives an annual rainfall of 35 to 45 inches per year. While much of this area is
somewhat arid
due to the clay pan soils, a notable exception occurs in Bastrop County, the home of the Lost Pines.
What biome is Texas part of?
| Texas Blackland Prairies | Biome Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands | Borders East Central Texas forests (area 33 on the map), Edwards Plateau (area 30 on the map) and Cross Timbers (area 29 on the map) | Bird species 216 | Mammal species 61 |
|---|
Which ecoregion in Texas is most affected by water erosion?
The Blackland Prairie ecoregion
is dominated by tall grasses and gets its name from its black, fertile soils. If these ecosystems experience clear cutting of their trees and grasses, their soils become easily eroded by wind and water.
