Major threats to biodiversity in the Texas Cross Timbers
Data from: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2012.
Texas Conservation Action Plan 2012-2016. Cross Timbers
Handbook. Editor, Wendy Connally, Texas Conservation
Action Plan Coordinator. Austin, Texas.
1) Habitat destruction
-Cultivation and loss of natural habitats. Conversion of
bottomlands to agricultural sites.
-Incompatible stocking practices of domestic wildlife and
game animals. Some still use to many animals resulting in
overgrazing.
-Reservoir construction and operation. Altered flooding
regime.
-Sand and gravel mining from streams and hills.
Reclamation not required back to native vegetation.
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
2) Habitat fragmentation
-Network of maintenance and access roads from oil
and wind energy as well as electrical line corridors.
-Road and bridge construction
-High game fencing
-Lack of zoning and planning, which allows
unregulated urban sprawl and ranch subdivision
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
3) Habitat degradation and pollution
-Hydraulic fracturing with associated risk of
groundwater contamination and chemical spills
-intense concentrations of animals causing feces,
pesticides, and antibiotics in runoff
-oil and salt water spills from oil extraction sites
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
4) Introduction of exotic species
Non-native Plants and Algae
-Salt cedar along the western edge of region.
-Old world bluestems and cultivated escapes like
Bermuda grass and Johnsongrass.
-Chinaberry, Tree of heaven, and Japanese
honeysuckle
-Golden algae (may be native) in reservoirs
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
4) Introduction of exotic species (cont.)
Non-native Animal
-Feral pets, mostly cats, kill native birds and rodents.
-Feral hogs can uproot large areas and eat many forms of
wildlife.
-Introduced ungulates for hunting displace small
mammals and whitetail deer
-Introduced fish and mollusks like the zebra mussel
displace native species.
-Red imported fire ants are reproductive menace to most
wildlife.
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
5) Invasive native species
-Junipers, mesquite, whitebrush, and pricklypear
are natives that increase due to overgrazing and
lack of fire
-Brown headed cow birds are nest parasites for
native birds like black-capped vireo and golden
cheeked warbler.
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
6) Increased spread of disease
-White-nose syndrome is spread through human
and bat vectors from cave to cave and causes bat
death. Prevention and overall cause is unknown.
-Oak wilt and decline adversely affect native
oaks decreasing nesting sites, browse, and mast.
Major threats to biodiversity in the
Texas Cross Timbers
7) Overexploitation of species for human use
-Unregulated small mammal and reptile hunting
decrease populations.
-Indiscriminate bait harvesting may impact rare
fish species.
-Poaching of game animals can decimate local
populations.
Conservation Actions in Texas
Cross Timbers
1) Habitat destruction
- Cultivation and loss of natural habitats. Buyouts from
farmers, conservation leases, and encourage practices that
retain streamside buffers and use tax benefit programs for
restoration in the Farm bill.
-Incompatible stocking practices of domestic wildlife and
game animals. Encourage best management practices with
conservation easements and provide information about
stocking rates.
-Reservoir construction can be countered by working with
landowners to conserve existing riparian habitat and restore
where feasible.
- Sand and gravel mining from streams and hills. Provide
best practices for restoration and require that native plants be
used.
Conservation Actions in Texas
Cross Timbers
2) Habitat fragmentation
-Reduce roads and study wind energy and
electrical towers for migratory impacts and
reroute.
-Limit road and bridge construction areas.
-Provide best practices and require native plants
for restoration.
-Work with Texas Department of Transportation
to re-route proposed roads through areas with
high biodiversity.
-Plan and zone to regulate urban sprawl and
ranch subdivision.
-Work with landowners to create corridors that
connects lands of high value for biodiversity.
Conservation Actions in Texas
Cross Timbers
3) Habitat degradation and pollution
-Monitor aquifers for pollution from
fracking, coliform bacteria, and
pesticides.
-Develop best practices and restore
areas involved in oil and salt water
spills from oil extraction sites with
native plants
Conservation Actions in Texas Cross
Timbers
4) Introduction of exotic species and 5) Native
invasive species
-Work with adjacent ecoregions to continue
headwater to mainstream salt cedar removal.
-Promote the use of natives and develop best
practices for controlling exotics and carry out
restoration of areas with native species
-Educate landowners on stocking rates and fire
as a management tool.
Conservation Actions in Texas Cross
Timbers
6) Increased spread of disease
Educate public to clean caving equipment and
cutting equipment to slow the spread of whitenose syndrome and oak wilt and decline.
Conservation Actions in Texas Cross
Timbers
Overexploitation of species for human us
-Unregulated small mammal and reptile hunting
should be regulated.
-More game wardens and citizen watch groups.