Res 2003-025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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"The fauna of the region, like the flora of the Blackland Prairie, is represented by species from the surrounding biomes which converge in Texas, including the Edwards Plateau, South Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Plain, Rolling Plains, and Trans-Pecos. As described by Blair (1950), the project is most likely located near the western boundary of what Blair identifies as the Texan Biotic Province. This biotic province is also and a short distance from the Balconian and Tamau1ipan biotic provinces. In terms of wildlife populations, the Texan Biotic Province represents a transitional zone or ecotone between the temperate forest of the southeastern United States, the grasslands of the Great Plains, the desert of the Trans-Pecos, and the thorn forest of the South Texas Plains. The Texan Biotic Province has no endemic vertebrate species."l "About 50 mammals currently occur or have historically occurred in the Texan Biotic province. Of these eight are grassland species encroaching from the west, southwest, south, or north. The remainder of these has Austroriparian affinities."l "Two species of land turtles, the three-toed and ornate box turtles, occur in the Texan Biotic Province and slightly more than one-half (9 of 16) of the lizard species are eastern in origin. The remaining seven are western grassland species. Of the 39 species of snakes, 27 are eastern forest species and 12 are western in affinity." I "For amphibians, the Texan Biotic Province serves as a barrier between the Austroriparian and Balconian Biotic Provinces, the provinces with the largest number of salamanders. Five salamanders and 18 species of frogs and toads occur in the Texan Biotic Province." I "Over 300 bird specIes occur in the Texan Biotic Province. As with 'other vertebrate species, this biotic province is a transition zone for eastern, western, northern, and southern species. Being in the Central Flyway, the region has numerous species of waterfowl as well as Neotropical migrant songbirds." I City of San Marcos Blanco River Preserve, Phase I ENVRIONMENT AL ASSESSMENT Page 3 of 14