Physiographic zone boundaries are typically determined by physical factors of the region such as geology, soil type, annual rainfall, and climate. These factors also control the distribution and the vitality of the habitat building blocks; vegetative cover (shelter) and wildlife food sources. The climate in North Central Texas is somewhat uniform with small differences in annual rainfall, annual averages increasing toward the east. The primary controller for habitat diversity in our region is the geology. Distinct soil types controlled by the local, underlying rocks determine the plant life it can support.
The easily-eroded Cretaceous shales and marls of the Blackland Prairie produce the rich, black soils in flat to gently rolling topography where grasslands predominate. The more erosion-resistant rocks underlying the Cross Timbers areas produce soils more conducive to supporting mixed oak woodlands and prairies. Increasing elevation coupled with decreasing annual rainfall westward is a secondary controlling factor in habitat distribution throughout North Central Texas.
Stewardship
A large portion of native wildlife habitat in North Central
Texas has been given over to urbanization and agriculture.
Many of these precious resources are gone forever. The
Urban and suburban culture can coexist, however, with
its wild, natural counterpart, but only if wise resource
management is applied. Each of us as citizens of North
Central Texas is responsible and accountable to our creator
for the
of our natural heritage by working toward
sustainability within our
communities.
We typically operate by allowing government to act as our accountable, responsible proxy in management of
our resources (yes, the natural resources belong to us, the citizens of Texas).
Do you know how your representatives are doing with the management of your natural resources?
The
Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and local branches of the
Texas Agriculture Extension Service are excellent information resources in this regard.
