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Prairie Rose Chapter

FEBRUARY MEETING

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FEBRUARY 27, 2023  MEETING

Ungulate Conservation/Grasslands Preservation
By Adam Eyres, Director of Animal Care,
of the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Monday, February 27, 6 p.m.
at Glen Rose Citizen’s Center
209 Barnard Street

 

It’s a well-known fact that for conservation to be successful it must include all of the moving parts.  There have been numerous studies showing the benefit to grasslands through the conservation of bison.  Bison, and other prey species, have been successful through the conservation of predators.  We’ll discuss the work that Fossil Rim does for the conservation of species under our care, and extrapolate to how that creates opportunities for success, both within our fences, and in the countries these animals call home.

As the Director of Animal Care at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, Adam has been very fortunate to work his way up at Fossil Rim from Animal Care Specialist, to supervisor, curator, and now director.  He started his career over 30 years ago and has never been a “this is my favorite animal” kind of guy—he’s always been about conservation in the larger scenario.  To that end he’s involved himself with organizations like C2S2 and the International Rhino Foundation (where he serves on their board of directors), and the International Rhino Keeper’s Association (as an advisor to their Board of Directors).  He has also been lucky to participate in the ongoing reintroduction efforts of SaharaConservation and the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi for scimitar horned oryx, addax and dama gazelles.  He has traveled to Chad and Abu Dhabi many times to help with this project—usually as a hands-on animal care person during transports, collaring, captures, or translocations within Chad.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: prairierose

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason