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Texas Ecoregions What are Ecoregions? • The natural regions of Texas look different from one another • They differ in: • the living aspects (plant and animal communities) • the non-living attributes (topography, geology, soils). • Texas is divided into 12 natural ecoregions We will explore the Texas Ecoregions and learn the specifics of a few. Understand that each ecoregion has its own characteristics that make it unique. We will use this page Use this chart to fill in missing information – gather this information from the stations around the room Texas Ecoregions Effects of Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Factors Affecting Our Ecoregions Weathering – chemical and physical break down of rocks into sediment Erosion – the movement of sediment from one place to another Deposition – the placement of sediment after being carried from place of origin CHEMICAL WEATHERING THE PROCESS THAT BREAKS DOWN ROCKS BY CHEMICAL CHANGES OR REACTIONS. MECHANICAL WEATHERING THE PROCESS THAT BREAKS DOWN ROCKS BY PHYSICAL MEANS (NO CHANGE IN THE CHEMICAL NATURE OF THE ROCKS). Fill in your chart (mechanical) Type of Mechanical Weathering Explanation Ice Wedging Process that splits rock when water seeps into cracks, then freezes and expands Exfoliation Extreme high temperatures cause the outside of rocks to crack and flake off Root Pry Roots enter cracks in rocks, forcing the cracks further apart Actions of Animals Burrowing in the ground breaks rocks apart Abrasion Grinding away of rock by other rock particles Fill in your chart (chemical) Type of Chemical Weathering Water Explanation Water weathers rock by dissolving it Oxidation Rocks that contain iron, oxidize (rust) and appear red in color Carbonation Carbon dioxide and water mix to form carbonic acid – over time caves form Living Organisms Plants produce a weak acid that dissolves rock Acid Rain Pollutants react chemically with water vapor to form acid rain Video on Types of Weathering • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHi2g Bt7gzc (14 min) • Study Jams – Weathering and Erosion: http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx? VideoID=13256 Piney Woods Weathering: 1. Roots from plants 2. Animal actions like borrowing 3. Plant acid breaking down soil and rock Erosion: 1. Moving water/rain – although number of plants prevents soil runoff Deposition: 1. Movement of water through rivers and streams, slow down in the “curves” and deposit Gulf Coastal Prairies and Marshes 1. Soil in the region is primarily sand-based. 2. If there isn’t enough vegetation to keep the soil in place, rainfall received can cause severe erosion. 3. Catastrophic events such as hurricanes can increase wave erosion and deposition. Edwards Plateau 1. This region is located between dry western plains and moist prairies and woods. 2. Unfortunately, erosion has left most of the region with very shallow soils (less than 10 inches) lined with limestone rock layers. 3. High amounts of rain in a short amount of time can cause flash flooding. High Plains 1. “Texas Panhandle” 2. Largest and most completely flat areas of it size in the world! 3. The region extends to the Palo Duro Canyon-the nation’s 2nd largest canyon. 4. Palo Duro Canyon was formed by water erosion from the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. 5. The water deepens the canyon by moving sediment downstream. 6. Wind and water erosion gradually widen the canyon. Trans-Pecos • Rain does not fall evenly over the area. • “Desert portion” of Texas. • The weathered bedrock in this area has high amounts of calcium. • As a result of erosion and deposition in the area, the soil has high amounts of calcium called caliche. Resources: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w 7000_0030.pdf Ecoregions Folder on desktop – Stations should have: 1. Piney woods 2. Gulf coast 3. Edwards plateau 4. High plains 5. Trans Pecos Each station has 1. info page, 2. Texas color maps for rain fall, 3. pictures of flora and fauna, 4. temperatures (Jan and Jul),