Ecoregions of Texas
What Is An Ecoregion? Ecoregion - a major ecosystem with distinctive geography, characteristic plants and animals, and receiving uniform solar radiation and moisture Sometimes called a bioregion
Where Are They? Region 1: Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Region 2: Piney Woods Region 3: Blackland Prairies Region 4: Oak Woods and Prairies Region 5: Rolling Plains Region 6: High Plains
Where Are They? Region 7: Edwards Plateau Region 8: South Texas Brush Country Region 9: Trans Pecos
Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Region 1 Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Climate: average rainfall of 40 inches a year and warm temperatures Geography: marshes (muddy) near bays and estuaries, and prairies Vegetation: tall grass prairies, live oak woodlands, and mesquite
Region 2 Piney Woods Climate: average annual rainfall of 50 inches and temperatures are typically high Geography: rolling terrain Vegetation: pine and oak tall hardwood forests with scattered areas of cropland and rich bottomlands
Region 3 Blackland Prairies Climate: average annual rainfall of 40 inches Geography: gently rolling to nearly level terrain Vegetation: food and forage crops
Region 4 Oak Woods & Prairies Climate: Average annual rainfall of 40 inches per year Geography: gently rolling to hilly terrain Vegetation: oak savannah, where patches of oak woodland alternate with grassland
Region 5 Rolling Plains Climate: average annual rainfall of 28 inches; dry summers with high temperatures Geography: gently rolling hills and flats are cut by several rivers Vegetation: mesquite and short grass savannah
Region 6 High Plains Climate: extended droughts have occurred several times this century Geography: relatively level high plateau Vegetation: mostly irrigated cropland
Region 7 Edwards Plateau Climate: average annual rainfall is 34 inches Geography: many springs, stony hills, and steep canyons and caves Vegetation: grasslands, plateau with live oak, or mesquite savannah
South Texas Brush Country Region 8 South Texas Brush Country Climate: average annual rainfall of 35 inches increases. Summer temperatures are high Geography: flat plains to gently rolling terrain Vegetation: thorny shrubs, trees, and cactus scattered with patches of palms
Region 9 Trans Pecos Climate: 15 inches of rain; warm, dry winters Geography: salt basins, sand hills, rugged plateaus, Vegetation: desert grassland, desert scrub
My Ecoregion Which region do you live in? Have you ever visited another region?