Report Appendices
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A: Acknowledgements
Appendix B: Planning Team Structure
Appendix C: Project Timeline
Appendix D: Map Units in the GCP&M Ecoregion
Appendix E: Portfolio of Conservation Areas in the GCP&M Ecoregion
Appendix F: Conservation Element Selection Criteria
Appendix G: Terrestrial Systems
Appendix H: Freshwater Aquatic Ecological Systems
Appendix I: Viable Conservation Element Occurrences--Progress Towards Portfolio Goals
Appendix J: Definitions of Rarity
Appendix K: Geographic Distribution of Elements
Appendix L: Spatial Scale of Elements
Appendix M: Viability Guidelines
Appendix N: Conservation Goal Default Numbers
Appendix O: Method of Portfolio Assembly
Appendix P: Viable Conservation Element Occurrences by Taxa Type in the Portfolio
Appendix Q: Portfolio Conservation Areas with Captured Elements
Appendix R: Functional Landscapes, Sites and Biological Richness
Appendix S: List of Data Gaps APPENDIX A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The successful completion of the ecoregional conservation plan for the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes would not have been possible without the diligent, flexible, and concerted effort of the numerous individuals who assisted along the way as members of the ecoregional planning team and in other capacities. Of particular note have been the contributions of members of the Core Team who devoted large amounts of time, sometimes under duress, toward the completion of this report: Jorge Brenner, Bill Carr, Amalie Couvillion, Troy Ettel, Steve Gilbert, Ray Johnson, Richard Martin, Latimore Smith, and David Wolfe. Special thanks go to Amalie Couvillon who kept momentum going when no one else would or could. In addition, Steve Gilbert went the “extra yard” regarding data management and GIS analysis with committed and positive spirit. The completion of this plan would not have been possible without their dedication to the project and incredible knowledge of the ecoregion. Thanks also go to the other Conservancy staff who contributed their time and expertise to the plan, including Susan Carr, Heidi Christoffel, Mark Dumesnil, Lee Elliott, Rob Evans, John Karges, Sally Landaal, Bob McCready, Russell McDowell, Cathy Porter, John Prince, Carter Smith, Michelle Smythe, Jim Sulentich, Alan Weakley, Jeff Weigel, Kimberly Wheaton, Wayne Ostlie, Mark Gallyoun, and Lisa Williams.
We would also like to acknowledge the significant contributions made by regional experts not affiliated with The Nature Conservancy. Without the assistance of these individuals, this plan would be an inferior product. Our appreciation goes to David Bezanson (formerly Texas General Land Office, now NAPA), Kathy Bruce (PBS&J Consulting), David Brunet (formerly LA Natural Heritage Program), Mauricio Cotera (Pronatura Noreste), Miguel Angel Cruz (Pronatura Noreste), Duane German (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), Bob Gottfried (formerly LA Natural Heritage Program), Steve Shively (LA Heritage Program), Gary Lester (LA Heritage Program), Julie Noriega (formerly Pronatura Noreste), Cecilia Riley (Gulf Coast Bird Observatory), Jason Singhurst (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), Judy Teague (Natureserve), and Wes Tunnell (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi). In addition to the expertise provided by the above individuals and organizations, much of the work and the distribution of the report would not have been possible without the generous funding for this project by Chevron (particularly, Patrick O’Brien), Equistar, Shiner, Moseley, and Associates (particluarly Joe Moseley), and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (freshwater analysis). We would also like to thank the personnel at the University of Texas – Marine Science Institute, Rockefeller Refuge and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge for hosting and accommodating our team meetings. Finally, appreciation goes to Robert Potts (The Nature Conservancy South Central Division Director and former Texas Chapter State Director), Keith Ouchley (Louisiana Chapter State Director), and Ernesto Enkerlin (former Director of Pronatura Noreste) for their enthusiasm and support which made this endeavor possible.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX B PLANNING TEAM STRUCTURE
CORE TEAM Judy Teague, TNC Southern Resource Office Alan Weakley, TNC Southern Resource Office Jim Bergan, TNC TX (Team Co-Leader) Lisa Williams, TNC TX Jorge Brenner, Pronatura Noreste Amalie Couvillion, TNC TX (Team Co-Leader) ZOOLOGY TEAM Mark Gallyoun, TNC TX Bob McCready, TNC TX Mauricio Cotera, Pronatura Noreste Kimberly Wheaton, TNC SRO Troy Ettel, TNC TX David Wolfe, TNC TX, now ED John Karges, TNC TX Ray Johnson, TNC TX, now Montana Audubon Keith Ouchley, TNC LA Cecilia Riley, Galveston Bay Bird Observatory MARINE TEAM Steve Shively, LA Natural Heritage Program
Mike Beck, TNC Cathy Porter, TNC FRESHWATER TEAM
MEXICO TEAM Ryan Smith, TNC Southern Resource Office Jorge Brenner Ernesto Enkerlin DATA MANAGEMENT TEAM Julia Norriega Miguel Angel Cruz Heidi Christoffel, TNC TX Mauricio Cotera Steve Gilbert, TNC TX Bob Gottfried, LA Natural Heritage Program BOTANY TEAM
David Brunet, LA Natural Heritage Program IMPLEMENTATION TEAM Bill Carr, TNC TX Ray Johnson, TNC TX Richard Martin, TNC LA ECOLOGY TEAM Keith Ouchley, TNC LA Robert Potts, TNC TX Kathy Bruce, PBS&J Consulting Carter Smith, TNC TX Lee Elliott, TNC TX Latimore Smith, TNC LA Rob Evans, TNC Southern Resource Office Jim Sulentich, TNC TX Sally Landaal, TNC Southern Resource Office Diane Schenke, TNC TX Latimore Smith, TNC LA
GCPM Plan APPENDIX C PROJECT TIMELINE
Date Activity
August, 1998 Zoology team meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas.
December, 1998 Project planning meeting at Matagorda Island, Texas
Ecoregional kickoff meeting at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Grand April, 1999 Chenier, Louisiana. Reviewed element lists and set conservation goals.
September, 1999 Community ecology team meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Preliminary site selection meeting at Port Aransas, Texas, based on October, 1999 proto-sites.
April, 2000 Zoology team review of draft portfolio. May, 2000 Botany team review of draft portfolio. June, 2000 Community team review of draft portfolio.
August, 2000 Highest-quality LA marshes identified by Visser et al. for TNC.
October, 2000 Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecoregional Plan released. November, 2000 Freshwater aquatics experts’ workshop held at Mo Ranch, Texas December, 2000 Final draft of portfolio of conservation areas. Implementation team review of portfolio. Threats to ecoregional January, 2001 biodiversity identified. February 2001 Mexico Experts’ Meeting and review of draft portfolio April, 2001 Ecoregional roundtable review of plan.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX D MAP UNITS IN THE GCP&M ECOREGION
TERRESTRIAL STRATIFICATION UNITS IN GCP&M
From a conservation planning perspective, ecoregions are defined as “…relatively large areas of land and water that contain geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities. These communities (1) share a large majority of their species, dynamics, and environmental conditions, and (2) function together effectively as a conservation unit at global and continental scales” (Ricketts et al. 1999). The Conservancy has chosen the U.S. Forest Service ECOMAP framework as the base map of ecoregional planning units in the United States (Bailey 1995; 1998). In ecoregional planning, it is useful to subdivide ecoregions into smaller units to help ensure appropriate stratification of conservation elements in portfolio conservation areas. For instance, if the range of a particular species spans the entire ecoregion, it is preferable to select viable occurrences throughout the ecoregion, rather than clustered in one place, to ensure that the range of variability of the species is being represented in the portfolio of conservation areas. In the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, the ecoregion was stratified into four subregions: Mississippi Delta, Chenier Plain, Texas Bays and Marshes, and Hypersaline Lagoon.
Figure D-1. Terrestrial stratification units in GCP&M.
Beaumont & Lake Port A rthur Charles Lafa yette New Orleans
Houston Chenier Plain
Mississippi Delta
Texas Bays and Marshes
Corpus Christi
Hypersaline Lagoon Brownsville
GCPM Plan FRESHWATER STRATIFICATION UNITS IN GCP&M
Like terrestrial species and communities, aquatic systems are stratified across the ecoregion to ensure that all intra-ecoregional variation in species pools is accounted for when representing biotic assemblages with physical variables. Aquatic system stratification units are called Ecological Drainage Units (EDUs). EDUs are broad-scale watershed units with similar patterns of zoogeography, connectivity, climate, and hydrologic characteristics. Numerical goals for representation of aquatic systems in the ecoregional portfolio are stratified across EDUs. Four EDUs were mapped in the GCP&M by aggregating the USGS 8th field Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC8) according to their inclusion in one of four aquatic zoogeographic units from Maxwell et al. (1995). These EDUs correspond to zoogeographic unit names and are Lower Rio Grande/Gulf Coastal, East Texas Gulf, West Texas Gulf, and Mississippi Embayment (Maxwell et al. 1995).
Figure D-2. Ecological drainage units in the GCP&M.
Lake Mississippi Embayment East Texas Gulf Charles Lafayette New Orleans
Beaumont & Houston Port Arthur
West Texas Gulf
Corpus Christi
Rio Grande
Brownsville
GCPM Plan
APPENDIX F CONSERVATION ELEMENT SELECTION CRITERIA
The hypothesis that a subset of biodiversity, (which we refer to as conservation elements or targets in ecoregional planning) can represent all viable native species and community types, has been referred to as the coarse filter/fine filter approach. In this approach, fine filters are species, particularly those that are rare, endemic, or in decline, and certain very rare community types, particularly those that occur in relatively small patches. On the other hand, coarse filters are all the natural communities characteristic of an ecoregion. By capturing viable examples of all communities, we hope to capture not only the terrestrial or aquatic community itself, but also the suite of biodiversity that resides within that community, including those species that have not been individually included as conservation elements/targets.
Species Animal and plant conservation elements include all G1-G2 species in the ecoregion, several G3 species that are declining, as well as imperiled subspecies ranked T1-T3 (see Appendix I). In addition, several G4 and G5 species were identified as conservation elements due to their vulnerability, declining populations, or endemism in the ecoregion. These selection criteria resulted in 101 plant elements, 127 animal elements, and 7 animal assemblages (e.g., bird rookeries, grassland bird guild).
Natural Communities --Terrestrial The identification of communities is less straightforward than the identification of species elements, since identification is dependent on the development of a consistent community classification that can be applied across the ecoregion. The classification used in the GCP&M was based on The Nature Conservancy’s National Vegetation Classification (NVC) for the Southeastern U.S. (Weakley et al. 1997; Association for Biodiversity Information 2001).
The National Vegetation Classification is a hierarchical classification, allowing the classification to be applied at the appropriate level for the amount of information available (see Appendix G). At the finest level of the hierarchy are plant associations, and at the coarsest scale are ecological groups, or systems.
At the time the team undertook its application, the NVC for the GCP&M was incomplete. As a result, a significant amount of time and work went into its development throughout the planning process, including refining community descriptions, assigning global ranks, and cross-walking known community occurrences to classifications compatible with the NVC.
One hundred and thirteen terrestrial community types were identified as occurring in the ecoregion. Most of the terrestrial community elements in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes are identified at the plant association level. However, ecological groups, a coarser category in the vegetation classification scheme, identified a few community elements when association-level information was not available for particular community occurrence records.
Marshes The Louisiana Chapter of TNC employed a novel solution to a dearth of reliable data on the distribution and quality of marsh communities in their state. They retained a researcher at the Coastal Ecology Institute of the Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources at Louisiana State University to poll marsh experts for their recommendations on the highest-quality marsh communities in the state.
GCPM Plan Electronic messages were sent to 28 marsh ecologists who had worked in Louisiana marshes for at least ten years. Replies were received from 17 ecologists. Each nominated marsh was reviewed for sustainability (a surrogate for viability), and a total of 21 sustainable marsh sites were included in the report to the Conservancy (Visser 2000).
The marsh sites were attributed with community associations, based on descriptions provided by the marsh ecologists, and many of the marsh areas were integrated into the GCP&M portfolio of conservation areas.
Natural Communities --Freshwater Freshwater community elements, or aquatic ecological systems, are dynamic spatial assemblages of ecological communities that occur together in an aquatic landscape with similar geomorphological patterns, are tied together by similar ecological processes (e.g., hydrologic and nutrient regimes, access to floodplains) or environmental gradients (e.g., temperature, chemical and habitat volume), and form a robust, cohesive and distinguishable unit on a hydrography map.
Aquatic ecological systems were identified by developing a coarse-scale classification of riverine and lacustrine environments based on GIS data. These classification units were intended to characterize the potential aquatic communities and species occurring in different stream and lake types. Aquatic ecological systems thus serve as coarse filters for representation and conservation of all species and communities in the ecoregion.
The coarse filter is a community-level conservation strategy whereby natural community types are used as conservation elements to represent 85-90% of species and many ecological processes, without having to inventory and manage each species individually. This community-level strategy is particularly important in freshwater ecosystems (such as those in the GCP&M) where little data exist beyond a few select species.
Marine Systems Marine and estuarine conservation elements were identified in a separate planning process which identified a portfolio of conservation areas for the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Beck et al. 2000). In the GCP&M plan we have illustrated the overlap between terrestrial and marine conservation areas (see Figure 3-4 and Table 3-1). Selection of conservation elements was similar to that used for terrestrial species and communities (e.g., based primarily on global rank and endemism). However, patterns of distribution, abundance, and rarity are very different for marine species relative to terrestrial species. For example, species have much wider distributions in marine systems. There are also approximately twice as many phyla of animals in the marine systems as compared to terrestrial systems. Thus, selection of conservation elements for estuarine and marine systems focused more on important marine and estuarine habitats, such as seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and mud flats.
A focus on habitats is most realistic and appropriate in nearshore marine environments. Many animals have strong affinities to particular types of habitats. A focus on these habitats and the processes that they regulate and those that regulate them, will be sufficient to conserve much of the nearshore diversity. However, a few species appear to be declining faster than their habitats and are the focus of individual attention (e.g., some seahorses appear to be declining faster than the seagrass habitats in which they are found).
GCPM Plan APPENDIX G TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS
All ecological communities known to occur in the ecoregion were considered as conservation elements for this plan. The communities used for the development of this plan were at the association level of the International Classification of Ecological Communities (Association for Biodiversity Information 2001). In order to effectively use this classification, it was necessary to review descriptions of the associations known to occur in the ecoregion. Many recommendations were made to improve the classification with respect to this ecoregion. Association descriptions were often revised or augmented, and several associations were added to the classification as a result of the work done by the planning team. In addition, associations were aggregated into ecological groups to facilitate discussions of the occurrences of these associations on the landscape.
GULF COAST PRAIRIES AND MARSHES ECOREGION Associations by Ecological Group
190 Tropical Seagrass Beds 190-10 Tropical Seagrass Beds CEGL004317 Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004318 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004688 Halophila engelmannii Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004319 Thalassia testudina Herbaceous Vegetation
210 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Forests and Scrub 210-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Mangrove Forests and Scrub CEGL007757 Avicennia germinans / Batis maritima Shrubland CEGL003801 Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland
215 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Shrublands 215-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Shrublands CEGL003924 Borrichia frutescens / Spartina patens - (Juncus roemerianus) Shrubland CEGL004617 Borrichia frutescens / Spartina spartinae Shrubland CEGL004616 Iva frutescens ssp. frutescens / Spartina spartinae Shrubland CEGL003842 Sabal minor - Quercus virginiana - Myrica cerifera / Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana Shrubland
220 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Marshes 220-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Salt and Brackish Tidal Marshes CEGL004186 Juncus roemerianus Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL003985 Scirpus californicus Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002230 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004190 Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata Louisianian Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004755 Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004199 Spartina spartinae - Sporobolus virginicus Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004705 Zizaniopsis miliacea Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan 220-20 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Oligohaline and Fresh Tidal Marshes CEGL007886 Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007885 Paspalum vaginatum - Spartina patens Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007891 Phragmites australis - (Sagittaria platyphylla, Vigna luteola) Deltaic Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007894 Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007889 Sagittaria lancifolia Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007890 Sagittaria latifolia - Sagittaria platyphylla - (Colocasia esculenta) Deltaic Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007887 Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007888 Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007895 Zizaniopsis miliacea - Panicum hemitomon Herbaceous Vegetation
220-30 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Hypersaline Coastal Salt Flats CEGL003956 Batis maritima - Sarcocornia perennis Dwarf-shrubland CEGL007840 Lyngbea spp. Wind-tidal Flat Nonvascular Vegetation CEGL003991 Monanthochloe littoralis Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002278 Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima - Distichlis spicata Dwarf-shrubland CEGL004614 Spartina spartinae - Monanthochloe littoralis - Suaeda linearis Herbaceous Vegetation
230 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Floating Marshes 230-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Floating Marshes CEGL007893 Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007834 Myrica cerifera Flotant Marsh Shrubland CEGL004665 Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation
240 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Beach and Interdune Vegetation 240-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ocean Beach Vegetation CEGL004402 Ipomoea pes-caprae - Ipomoea imperati - (Cakile geniculata) Herbaceous Vegetation
240-30 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Interdune Herbaceous Wetlands CEGL004099 Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004952 Fuirena scirpoidea - Fuirena longa - Rhynchospora microcarpa - Rhynchospora divergens Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007836 Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Paspalum monostachyum) Herbaceous Vegetation
250 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Seagrass and Estuarine Aquatic Beds 250-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Temperate Seagrass Beds CEGL004450 Ruppia maritima Louisianian Zone Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004262 Sagittaria lancifolia Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004634 Vallisneria americana Estuarine Bayou Herbaceous Vegetation
250-20 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Temperate Estuarine Aquatic Beds CEGL007689 Potamogeton pectinatus - Zannichellia palustris Permanently Flooded - Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation [Placeholder]
260 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Grasslands 260-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Grasslands CEGL007764 Maytenus phyllanthoides - Prosopis reptans / Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004970 Panicum amarum - Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan CEGL007935 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004971 Spartina patens - Panicum amarum - Hydrocotyle bonariensis Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002218 Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation
270 Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Forests 270-20 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Broadleaf Maritime Forests and Wet Hammocks CEGL007198 Celtis laevigata - (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, Acacia minuta) / Vitis mustangensis Forest CEGL003523 Quercus virginiana - (Juniperus virginiana) - Zanthoxylum clava-herculis / Sideroxylon lanuginosum Woodland CEGL007466 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest CEGL002156 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata Woodland CEGL007467 Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest CEGL007831 Quercus virginiana Louisiana Barrier Island Forest
280 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Scrubs 280-10 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Scrubs CEGL003932 Acacia minuta ssp. minuta - Opuntia stricta var. dillenii - Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum / Spartina patens Shrubland CEGL007790 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri - Borrichia frutescens Shrubland CEGL004615 Zanthoxylum fagara - Sideroxylon lanuginosum - Forestiera angustifolia - Diospyros texana Shrubland
305 Southeastern Coastal Plain Xeric and Dry-mesic Forests and Woodlands 305-60 Southeastern Coastal Plain Mesic and Dry-mesic Loblolly Pine / Hardwood Forests CEGL007525 Pinus taeda - Quercus alba - Carya alba / Ilex opaca / Callicarpa americana Forest
320 Southeastern Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pinelands 320-10 Southeastern Coastal Plain Xeric Longleaf Pine Sandhill Pinelands CEGL003581 Pinus palustris / Quercus incana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Schizachyrium tenerum - Silphium gracile Woodland
335 Southeastern Coastal Plain Broadleaf/Evergreen Oak Mottes and Hammocks 335-10 Southeastern Coastal Plain Broadleaf/Evergreen Oak Mottes and Hammocks CEGL002117 Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest CEGL002154 Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland CEGL002155 Quercus virginiana - Quercus stellata / Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum Woodland CEGL007024 Quercus virginiana / Ilex vomitoria / Oplismenus setarius Forest
340 Southeastern Coastal Plain Wooded Depression Wetlands 340-20 Southeastern Coastal Plain Flatwoods – Wooded Ponds and Dome Swamps CEGL004578 Panicum hemitomon - Gratiola brevifolia Herbaceous Vegetation
345 Southeastern Coastal Plain Open Ponds and Emergent Marshes 345-05 Southeastern Coastal Plain Open Ponds and Marshes CEGL004621 Nymphoides aquatica Herbaceous Vegetation
345-30 Southeastern Coastal Plain Emergent Ponds and Marshes CEGL007929 Eleocharis quadrangulata - Sagittaria spp. Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan CEGL004137 Typha domingensis Seasonally Flooded Temperate Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004139 Zizaniopsis miliacea Coastal Plain Slough Herbaceous Vegetation
365 Southeastern Coastal Plain Small Stream Forests 365-20 Southeastern Coastal Plain Mixed Hardwood Small Stream Forests CEGL007901 Quercus michauxii - Quercus nigra - Pinus taeda / Carpinus caroliniana Forest
365-40 Louisiana-Texas Coastal Prairie Riparian Forests CEGL004612 Platanus occidentalis - Salix nigra / Conyza canadensis Forest CEGL004610 Quercus nigra / Ilex vomitoria / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Forest
380 Louisiana-Texas Coastal Prairies 380-10 Louisiana-Texas Tallgrass Coastal Prairies CEGL007938 Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - Schizachyrium tenerum - Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007936 Euthamia leptocephala - Helianthus angustifolius - Boltonia asteroides - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007937 Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - (Panicum hemitomon) Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002208 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004519 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Paspalum plicatulum - Carex microdonta - Neptunia lutea Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004135 Spartina spartinae Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation [Placeholder]
380-20 Louisiana-Texas Saline Coastal Prairies CEGL004607 Muhlenbergia capillaris Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002231 Spartina spartinae - Schizachyrium scoparium Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004608 Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002232 Sporobolus wrightii Herbaceous Vegetation
385 Southeastern Coastal Plain Large Alluvial Forests and Shrublands 385-10 Southeastern Coastal Plain Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests CEGL007926 Fraxinus pennsylvanica - (Carya aquatica) / Forestiera acuminata / Phanopyrum gymnocarpon Depression Forest CEGL007429 Nyssa aquatica - Nyssa biflora Forest CEGL007389 Nyssa aquatica Floodplain Forest CEGL002419 Nyssa aquatica Forest CEGL007434 Nyssa biflora / Itea virginica - Cephalanthus occidentalis Depression Forest CEGL007394 Planera aquatica Forest CEGL007422 Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum var. drummondii / Itea virginica Forest CEGL002420 Taxodium distichum / Lemna minor Forest
385-20 Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests CEGL005033 Acer negundo Forest CEGL002427 Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana - Celtis laevigata / Ilex decidua Forest CEGL002423 Quercus lyrata - Carya aquatica - (Quercus texana) / Forestiera acuminata Forest CEGL002424 Quercus lyrata - Liquidambar styraciflua / Forestiera acuminata Forest CEGL007869 Quercus phellos - Quercus nigra / Sabal minor - Sebastiania fruticosa Forest CEGL007921 Quercus phellos - Ulmus crassifolia Forest
GCPM Plan CEGL004619 Quercus texana - Celtis laevigata - Ulmus (americana, crassifolia) - (Gleditsia triacanthos) Forest CEGL002107 Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - (Carya illinoinensis) Forest CEGL002388 Ulmus crassifolia - Carya illinoinensis - Celtis laevigata / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum - Carex cherokeensis Forest
385-25 Southeastern Coastal Plain Floodplain Shrublands CEGL002191 Cephalanthus occidentalis / Carex spp. - Lemna spp. Southern Shrubland
385-30 Southeastern Coastal Plain Riverfront and Levee Bottomland Forests CEGL007312 Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis / Alnus serrulata / Boehmeria cylindrica Forest CEGL004613 Populus deltoides - Salix nigra / Ilex vomitoria Forest CEGL004648 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor Forest CEGL007476 Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - Liquidambar styraciflua / Ilex opaca var. opaca / Viburnum dentatum Forest CEGL007469 Quercus virginiana - Quercus pagoda - Magnolia grandiflora / Cornus florida / Sanicula sp. Forest CEGL007830 Quercus virginiana / Ilex vomitoria - Sabal minor / Carex cherokeensis - Malvaviscus drummondii Forest CEGL002103 Salix nigra Forest CEGL007410 Salix nigra Seasonally Flooded Forest CEGL007928 Taxodium distichum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Gallery Forest
480 Eastern Open Water Herbaceous Marsh and Aquatic Communities 480-10 Eastern Open Marshes and Ponds CEGL007835 Ludwigia peploides Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004323 Nelumbo lutea Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002386 Nuphar lutea ssp. advena - Nymphaea odorata Herbaceous Vegetation
560 Great Plains Riparian and Riverscour Vegetation 560-35 South Central Bottomland Forests CEGL002087 Carya illinoinensis - Celtis laevigata Forest
615 Sonoran Province Grasslands 615-30 Tamaulipan/Texas Sand Sheet Grasslands CEGL002236 Bothriochloa barbinodis - Chloris pluriflora Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007821 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum Texas Sand Sheet Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL002207 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Vegetation
660 Tamaulipan Forests, Woodlands, and Thornscrub 660-10 Tamaulipan Thornscrub CEGL007793 Acacia minuta ssp. minuta - Celtis laevigata - Celtis pallida Woodland CEGL003874 Acacia rigidula Shrubland CEGL002170 Citharexylum berlandieri - Yucca treculeana - Pithecellobium ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland CEGL002169 Pithecellobium ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland CEGL007786 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Acacia greggii - Celtis pallida / Paspalum setaceum - Brachiaria ciliatissima Woodland CEGL007787 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Celtis pallida / Opuntia spp. - Xylothamia palmeri Woodland
GCPM Plan CEGL002132 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / (Celtis pallida, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Ziziphus obtusifolia var. obtusifolia) Woodland CEGL007761 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / Spartina spartinae Shrubland CEGL008409 Prosopis tamaulipana - Pithecellobium ebano Shrubland
660-20 Tamaulipan Riparian and Depressional Forests and Woodlands CEGL002131 Acacia minuta ssp. minuta - (Prosopis glandulosa) Woodland CEGL007782 Celtis laevigata - Ulmus crassifolia - (Fraxinus spp.) / Celtis pallida / Elymus virginicus Forest CEGL002054 Pithecellobium ebano - Ehretia anacua / Condalia hookeri Forest CEGL002056 Sabal mexicana - Pithecellobium ebano Forest
660-30 Tamaulipan and Texas Sand Sheet Woodlands CEGL007832 Prosopis glandulosa / Acanthocereus tetragonus Woodland CEGL007785 Quercus fusiformis - Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / Malvaviscus drummondii Forest
900 SEMI-NATURAL, ALIEN, AND PLANTED COMMUNITIES 900-30 Uplands Dominated by Invasive Tree and/or Shrub Species CEGL007412 Triadica sebiferum Seasonally Flooded Forest CEGL007037 Triadica sebiferum Upland Forest CEGL003799 Schinus terebinthifolius Seasonally Flooded Shrubland CEGL004448 Schinus terebinthifolius Shrubland CEGL004918 Tamarix spp. - (Baccharis halimifolia) Shrubland
900-40 Semi-natural Upland Forests and Woodlands CEGL004657 Baccharis halimifolia Successional Shrubland CEGL007216 Liquidambar styraciflua Forest
900-45 Semi-Natural Riparian/Willow Forests CEGL007437 Salix nigra / Myrica cerifera Forest
900-48 Semi-natural Wetland Exotic Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004141 Phragmites australis Eastern North America Temperate Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL001475 Phragmites australis Western North America Temperate Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation
900-60 Semi-natural Upland Exotic Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL004260 Colocasia esculenta Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007791 Dichanthium annulatum Herbaceous Vegetation
999 ECOLOGICAL GROUP NOT ASSIGNED 999-00 Ecological Group Not Assigned CEGL002275 Distichlis spicata - Spartina spp. Herbaceous Vegetation CEGL007551 Pinus taeda - Quercus (phellos, nigra, laurifolia) Temporarily Flooded Forest [Placeholder] CEGL004044 Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan APPENDIX H FRESHWATER AQUATIC ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
GCPM methodology - Aquatic Communities We employed an approach similar to that developed by the Freshwater Initiative of The Nature Conservancy (Higgins et al. 1998) to represent aquatic communities in the form of coarse filter targets. In this approach, a region-specific, physically-based model is developed by consulting literature and regional experts to determine the most important physical driving variables that distinguish natural aquatic communities in lotic systems. The model is applied in a Geographic Information System (GIS) using digital data layers to represent key variables. Using this model, we developed distinct classes of each of these variables and identified unique combinations. These combinations are called Aquatic Ecological Systems (hereafter “aquatic systems”). Each aquatic system represents a different pattern of physical settings thought to contain a distinct set of biological communities and is therefore a distinct conservation element.
Table H-1. Aquatic ecological system elements in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. Aquatic System Aquatic Systems Description Occurrence in EDUs Code Large and medium rivers with origins in the southern High Plains and Upper Coastal Plain that flow directly to the Gulf of Lower Rio Grande/Gulf Coastal, West A1 Mexico or into embayments, tidal and saline in lower reaches. Texas Gulf, East Texas Gulf
Large rivers with origins in the continental interior that flow A2 directly to the Gulf of Mexico or into embayments, tidal and Mississippi Embayment saline in lower reaches. Large rivers with origins in the Mississippi delta that flow A3 directly to the Gulf of Mexico or into embayments, tidal and Mississippi Embayment saline in lower reaches. Medium rivers with origins in the East Gulf Coastal Plain that B1 flow into saline lakes or directly to the Gulf of Mexico, tidal Mississippi Embayment and saline in lower reaches. Small rivers with origins in the interior plains and upper terraces that flow into the Gulf of Mexico or embayments. C1 West Texas Gulf, East Texas Gulf Moderately alkaline water chemistry. Tidal and saline in lower reaches. Small rivers with origins in the Coastal Plain and upper terraces that flow into the Gulf of Mexico or embayments. West Texas Gulf, East Texas Gulf, C2 Moderately acidic water chemistry. Tidal and saline in lower Mississippi Embayment reaches. Small rivers with origins in the interior plains and upper C3 terraces that connect to large rivers. Moderately alkaline West Texas Gulf water chemistry. Small rivers and large bayous with channels and origins in C4 Mississippi River alluvium that connect to medium or large Mississippi Embayment rivers. Small rivers and large bayous with channels and origins in the East Texas Gulf, Mississippi C5 Mississippi delta and chenier plain that connect to Embayment embayments. Tidal and saline in lower reaches. Low and moderate gradient headwaters and creeks of the D1 West Texas Gulf Pleistocene terraces. Intermittent. Flashy. Connect to rivers. Low and moderate gradient headwaters and creeks of the D2 Pleistocene terraces. Moderately intermittent, better East Texas Gulf groundwater contribution. More stable. Connect to rivers. Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the Pleistocene D3 West Texas Gulf terraces. Intermittent. Flashy. Connect to rivers.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX H (cont’d) Aquatic System Aquatic Systems Description Occurrence in EDUs Code
Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the Pleistocene D4 terraces. Moderately intermittent, better groundwater East Texas Gulf contribution. More stable. Connect to rivers. Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the Pleistocene D5 terraces. Intermittent. Flashy. Connect to bays or Gulf of West Texas Gulf Mexico. Brackish, tidal in lower reaches Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the Pleistocene terraces. Moderately intermittent, better groundwater D6 East Texas Gulf contribution. More stable. Connect to bays or Gulf of Mexico. Brackish, tidal in lower reaches. Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the Pleistocene terraces. Moderate groundwater connection. Connect to D7 Mississippi Embayment natural, saline lakes. Acidic in upper reaches, brackish, tidal in lower reaches. Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the Pleistocene terraces transitioning to alluvial floodplains. Connect to rivers D8 East Texas Gulf, West Texas Gulf and streams. Moderate groundwater connection in lower reaches. Low and gradient headwaters and creeks of Pleistocene terrace loess. Moderate groundwater connection, not D9 East Texas Gulf intermittent, but moderately flashy. Connect to rivers and streams. Low gradient headwaters and small bayous of the Pleistocene terraces and terrace loess transitioning to Mississippi Delta D10 and chenier plain brackish marshes. Poorly drained soils, Mississippi Embayment good groundwater connection. Acidic in upper reaches, brackish and tidal in lower. Connect to embayments. Low gradient headwaters and small bayous of alluvial floodplains. Poorly drained soils, good groundwater D11 connection, but intermittent seasonally. Moderately alkaline East Texas Gulf to acidic in upper reaches, brackish, tidal in lower reaches. Connect to embayments or the Gulf of Mexico. Low gradient headwaters and small bayous of alluvial floodplains. Poorly drained soils, good groundwater D12 East Texas Gulf connection, but intermittent seasonally. Moderately alkaline to acidic. Connect to rivers. Low gradient headwaters and small bayous of alluvial D13 floodplains. Poorly drained soils, good groundwater Mississippi Embayment connection. Acidic water chemistry. Connect to natural lakes. Low gradient headwaters and small bayous in Mississippi alluvium transitioning to Mississippi Delta and chenier plain D14 brackish marshes. Poorly drained soils, good groundwater Mississippi Embayment connection. Acidic in upper reaches, brackish and tidal in lower. Connect to embayments. Low gradient small bayous and marshes in Mississippi Delta and chenier plain brackish marshes. Poorly drained soils, East Texas Gulf, Mississippi D15 good groundwater connection. Brackish to saline, tidal. Embayment Connect to embayments. Low gradient headwaters and creeks of the South Texas silt D16 sheet. Poor groundwater connection, occasionally West Texas Gulf intermittent. Connect to rivers and streams. Intermittent low gradient headwaters and creeks of the South D17 West Texas Gulf Texas sand sheet. Connect to rivers and streams. Low gradient headwaters and small arroyos of the Rio Grande floodplain. Poorly drained soils, good groundwater D18 connection, but highly seasonally intermittent. Moderately Lower Rio Grande/Gulf Coastal alkaline in upper reaches, brackish, tidal in lower reaches. Connect to Laguna Madre.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX I VIABLE CONSERVATION ELEMENT OCCURRENCES—PROGRESS TOWARDS PORTFOLIO GOALS Animal Elements and Goals Geographic # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Global Rank Goal Distribution Occurrences Amphibians Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides Rio Grande Chirping Frog Unknown Widespread G5T? 5 1 campi Hyla cinerea Unknown Peripheral G5 5 Hypopachus variolosus Sheep Frog Intermediate Peripheral G5 5 Leptodactylus labialis White-lipped Frog Local Peripheral G5 5 Leptodactylus melanonotus Unknown Peripheral n/a 8 Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt Intermediate Limited G1 12 8 Phrynohyas venulosa Unknown Limited n/a 5 Pseudacris streckeri streckeri Unknown Peripheral G5T5 5 1 Pseudocaris clarkii Unknown Peripheral n/a 8 Scaphiopus hurterii Unknown Peripheral n/a 8 1 Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) Intermediate Limited G5 5 10 Smilisca baudinii Unknown Peripheral G5 5 Spea hammondi Unknown Widespread G3 5 1 Birds Aimophila botterii Botteri's Sparrow Unknown Widespread G4 5 1 Aimophila botterii texana Botteri's Sparrow Coarse Limited G4T4 5 118 Amazona oratrix Yellow-headed Parrot Unknown Peripheral G? 8 1 Amazona viridigenalis Red-crowned Parrot Unknown Limited G2 8 1 Aratinga holochlora Green Parakeet Unknown Limited n/a 8 1 Cairina moschata Muscovy Duck; Pato Criol Unknown Widespread n/a 5 2 Campephilus guatemalensis Unknown Peripheral n/a 8 2 Camptostoma imberbe Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Intermediate Peripheral G5 5
GCPM Plan Geographic # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Global Rank Goal Distribution Occurrences Birds (cont’d.) Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover Regional Widespread G4T3 5 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover Regional Widespread G3 5 62 Charadrius montanus Mountain Plover Regional Peripheral G2 8 2 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret Regional Widespread G4 5 46 Elanoides forficatus American Swallow-tailed Kite Regional Peripheral G5 5 Falco femoralis septentrionalis Aplomado Falcon Coarse Peripheral G4T2 5 Geothlypis trichas insperata Brownsville Common Yellowthroat Local Endemic G5T2 5 1 Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Intermediate Peripheral G5T3 5 1 Grus americana Whooping Crane Regional Endemic G1 3 3 Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Unknown Widespread G5 5 1 Haliaeethus leucocephalus Bald Eagle Unknown Widespread G4 5 Icterus cucullatus sennetti Sennett's Hooded Oriole Intermediate Peripheral G5TU 5 6 Icterus graduacauda audubonii Audubon's Oriole Intermediate Limited G5T4 5 Mycteria americana Wood Stork Unknown Widespread G4 5 1 Parula pitiayumi nigrilora Tropical Parula Intermediate Peripheral G5TU 5 2 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos White Pelican Regional Widespread G3 5 1 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican Regional Widespread G4 5 9 Sterna antillarum Least Tern Unknown Widespread G4 5 1 Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Attwater's Greater Prairie Chicken Coarse Endemic G4T1 3 Crustaceans Artemia salina Artemia (Brine Shrimp) Unknown Widespread n/a 8 4 Callinectes rathbunae Jaiba Unknown Limited n/a 5 1 Cardisoma guanhumi Blue Land Crab Local Peripheral G? 5 Fallicambarus macneesei Old Prairie Crawfish Intermediate Endemic G2 5 Gecarcinus lateralis Blackback Land Crab, Mangrove Crab Coarse Peripheral G? 5 2 Mercenaria campechiensis Southern Quahog Unknown Widespread n/a 5 6 Fish Awaous tajasica River Goby Intermediate Peripheral G5 5
GCPM Plan Geographic # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Global Rank Goal Distribution Occurrences Fish (cont’d) Etheostoma sp. Dardo Unknown Endemic n/a 12 Fundulus jenkinsii Saltmarsh Topminnow Intermediate Peripheral G3 5 Gobionellus atripinnis Blackfin Goby Intermediate Limited G3 5 Hybognathus amarus Unknown Limited G1G2 8 Notropis orca Unknown Limited GXQ 5 Syngnathus affinis Texas Pipefish Intermediate Endemic G1 5 Insects Austrotinodes texensis Texas Austrotinodes Caddisfly Unknown Endemic G2 10 1 Spharagemon superbum Superb Grasshopper Local Limited G? 5 Stallingsia maculosus Manfreda Giant Skipper Local Limited G2 8 Mammals Blarina hylophaga plumbea Aransas Short-tailed Shrew Local Endemic G5T1Q 5 Choeronycteris mexicana Murciélago Lenguilargo Unknown Peripheral G4 5 Conepatus leuconotus texensis Gulf Coast Hog-nosed Skunk Coarse Limited G5T4 5 Dipodomys compactus compactus Padre Island Kangaroo Rat Intermediate Endemic G4T3 5 2 Dipodomys ordii parvabullatus Ord's Kangaroo Rat Unknown Endemic n/a 5 Geomys attwateri Attwater's Pocket Gopher Coarse Limited G4Q 5 Geomys personatus maritimus Maritime Texas Pocket Gopher Intermediate Endemic G4T2 12 1 Geomys personatus personatus Barrier Island Texas Pocket Gopher Coarse Endemic G4T? 5 3 Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi Coarse Peripheral G4 5 1 Lasiurus ega Southern Yellow Bat Local Peripheral G5 5 Leopardus pardalis Ocelot Coarse Peripheral G3 5 3 Leopardus weidii Margai Unknown Peripheral G4 5 1 Lutra/Lontra canadensis Nutria de Río Unknown Peripheral G5 5 1 Oryzomys couesi aquaticus Coues' Rice Rat Intermediate Peripheral G5T3? 5 Potos flavus Martucha Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 1 Scalopus acuaticus Topo de Agua Unknown Peripheral G5 5 1
GCPM Plan Geographic # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Global Rank Goal Distribution Occurrences Mammals (cont’d) Ardilla de Tierra (Spotted Ground Spermophilus spilosoma mexicanus Unknown Endemic n/a 5 1 Squirrel) Ardilla de Tierra (Spotted Ground Spermophilus spilosoma oricolus Unknown Endemic n/a 5 Squirrel) Tamandua mexicana Oso Hormiguero Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Trichetus manatus Manatí Unknown Peripheral n/a 12 1 Tursiops truncatus Tonina Unknown Peripheral G5 5 Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear Intermediate Limited G5T3? 5 1 Mollusks Euchemotrema leai cheatumi Palmetto Pillsnail Local Endemic G5T1 5 1 Littorina angulifera Mangrove Periwinkle Snail Intermediate Peripheral G? 5 Orthalicus princeps Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 1 Reptiles Agkistrodon bilineatus taylori Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Caretta caretta Loggerhead Regional Widespread G3 5 5 Cemophora coccinea lineri Texas Scarlet Snake Intermediate Limited G5T2 5 3 Chelonia mydas Atlantic Green Turtle Regional Widespread G3 5 Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus Unknown Limited n/a 5 1 Coniophanes imperialis Black-striped Snake Intermediate Peripheral G3 5 Crocodylus moreleti Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Crotaphytus reticulatus Unknown Peripheral G3 5 Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback (sea turtle) Unknown Peripheral n/a 12 3 Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas Indigo Snake Coarse Limited G5 5 2 Drymobius margaritiferus Speckled Racer Intermediate Peripheral G5 5 Elaphe flavirufa flavirufa Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Eretmochelys imbricata Unknown Peripheral G3 5 3 Eumeces brevirostris dicei Unknown Peripheral G5T5 5 Gopherus berlandieri Texas Tortoise Coarse Limited G4 5 3 Graptemys caglei Cagle's Map Turtle Intermediate Limited G3 5
GCPM Plan Geographic # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Global Rank Goal Distribution Occurrences Reptiles (cont’d) Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi Unknown Peripheral G5T4 5 2 Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis Unknown Peripheral G3T3 5 Holbrookia propinqua Keeled Earless Lizard Coarse Limited G3? 8 2 Kinosternon herrerai Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's Ridley Regional Limited G1 5 5 Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback Terrapin Intermediate Widespread G5 6 1 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin Intermediate Endemic G5T3 5 2 Opheodrys vernalis Western Smooth Green Snake Local Disjunct G5 5 Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus Unknown Disjunct n/a 12 Oxybelis aeneus Unknown Peripheral G5 5 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard Regional Widespread G5 5 7 Senticollis triaspis intermedia Unknown Peripheral G5T4 5 Sibon fasiatus fasiatus Unknown Peripheral n/a 5 Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi Unknown Peripheral G3G4T3T4 5 2 Spilotes pullatus mexicanus Unknown Widespread n/a 5 Tantilla atriceps Mexican Blackhead Snake Intermediate Peripheral G3 5 Terrapene carolina mexicana Unknown Limited n/a 12 1 Terrapene ornata ornata Unknown Peripheral G5T5 5 2 Urosaurus ornatus ornatus Unknown Peripheral n/a 12 1 Rookeries Waterbird Colonies - wading birds Local Widespread n/a 12 35
GCPM Plan Community Elements and Goals Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Atlantic and Gulf Coast Broadleaf Maritime Forests and Wet Hammocks Celtis laevigata - (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, Acacia minuata) / Vitis Small Endemic G3? 25 mustangensis Forest Quercus virginiana - (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana) - Zanthoxylum clava- Small Limited G2G3 13 herculis / Sideroxylon lanuginosum Woodland Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest Matrix Endemic G2 10 8 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata Woodland Large Endemic G2G3 18 Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda - Celtis laevigata / Large Endemic G1 18 4 Sabal minor Forest Quercus virginiana Louisiana Barrier Island Forest Large Endemic G1Q 18 1 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Floating Marshes Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) Herbaceous Matrix Endemic G? 10 3 Vegetation Myrica cerifera Flotant Marsh Shrubland Small Endemic G? 25 Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Limited G3G4 10 15 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Hypersaline Coastal Salt Flats Batis maritima - Sarcocornia perennis Dwarf-shrubland Large Limited G5 9 Lyngbea spp. Wind-tidal Flat Nonvascular Vegetation Matrix Endemic G? 10 1 Monanthochloe littoralis Herbaceous Vegetation Large Limited G2G3 9 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Hypersaline Coastal Salt Flats Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima - Distichlis spicata Dwarf-shrubland Large Widespread G4 10 1 Spartina spartinae - Monanthochloe littoralis - Suaeda linearis Herbaceous Large Endemic G3? 18 Vegetation Vegetacion halofila Large Limited G3G4 5 1 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Interdune Herbaceous Wetlands Fuirena scirpoidea - Fuirena longa - Rhynchospora microcarpa - Rhynchospora Small Endemic G2 25 1 divergens Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Paspalum monostachyum) Small Limited G3G4 13 3 Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Grasslands Dunas costeras Large Linear Limited G3G4 5 1 Maytenus phyllanthoides - Prosopis reptans / Spartina patens Herbaceous Small Endemic G? 25 1 Vegetation Panicum amarum - Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Vegetation Large Linear Endemic G3? 18 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Endemic G1? 10 9 Spartina patens - Panicum amarum - Hydrocotyle bonariensis Herbaceous Large Linear Endemic G2? 18 9 Vegetation Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation Small Linear Endemic G3? 25 3 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Scrubs Acacia minuta ssp. minuta - Opuntia stricta var. dillenii - Lycium carolinianum var. Small Endemic G3? 25 quadrifidum / Spartina patens Shrubland Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri - Matrix Endemic G4? 10 2 Borrichia frutescens Shrubland Atlantic and Gulf Coast Maritime Scrubs Zanthoxylum fagara - Sideroxylon lanuginosum - Forestiera angustifolia - Small Endemic G1G2 25 1 Diospyros texana Shrubland Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ocean Beach Vegetation Ipomoea pes-caprae - Ipomoea imperati - (Cakile geniculata) Herbaceous Small Linear Endemic G3? 25 9 Vegetation Atlantic and Gulf Coast Oligohaline and Fresh Tidal Marshes Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Endemic G? 10 5 Paspalum vaginatum - Spartina patens Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Endemic G? 10 Phragmites australis - (Sagittaria platyphylla, Vigna luteola) Deltaic Herbaceous Matrix Endemic G4? 10 Vegetation Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation Large Endemic G? 18 7 Sagittaria lancifolia Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Endemic G? 10 4 Sagittaria latifolia - Sagittaria platyphylla - (Colocasia esculenta) Deltaic Matrix Endemic G? 10 4 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Endemic G? 10 5 Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Herbaceous Matrix Endemic G? 10 7 Vegetation
GCPM Plan Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Zizaniopsis miliacea - Panicum hemitomon Herbaceous Vegetation Small Endemic G? 25 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Salt and Brackish Tidal Marshes Juncus roemerianus Herbaceous Vegetation Small Peripheral G5 3 Scirpus californicus Herbaceous Vegetation Large Widespread G4G5 3 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Salt and Brackish Tidal Marshes Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline Tidal Large Endemic G4 18 16 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata Louisianian Zone Matrix Limited G5 5 4 Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) Herbaceous Matrix Limited G3? 5 9 Vegetation Spartina spartinae - Sporobolus virginicus Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Small Linear Limited G4G5 13 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Temperate Estuarine Aquatic Beds Potamogeton perfoliatus Permanently Flooded - Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Large Endemic G? 18 1 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Temperate Seagrass Beds Ruppia maritima Louisianian Zone Herbaceous Vegetation Large Limited G4G5 18 Vallisneria americana Estuarine Bayou Herbaceous Vegetation Large Limited G3G5 18 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Mangrove Forests and Scrub Avicennia germinans / Batis maritima Shrubland Small Widespread G3? 6 3 Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland Small Limited G2? 5 2 Manglar Large Widespread G2G3 8 1 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Tidal Shrublands Borrichia frutescens / Spartina patens - (Juncus roemerianus) Shrubland Small Linear Widespread G4 6 Borrichia frutescens / Spartina spartinae Shrubland Large Endemic G4 18 Iva frutescens ssp. frutescens / Spartina spartinae Shrubland Small Endemic G3G4 25 Eastern Open Marshes and Ponds Nelumbo lutea Herbaceous Vegetation Small Widespread G3G4 5 Eastern Open Marshes and Ponds Nuphar lutea ssp. advena - Nymphaea odorata Herbaceous Vegetation Small Widespread G4G5 6 Ecological Group Not Assigned Distichlis spicata - Spartina spp. Herbaceous Vegetation Small Limited G4 13 2
GCPM Plan Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Louisiana-Texas Coastal Prairie Riparian Forests Platanus occidentalis - Salix nigra / Conyza canadensis Forest Small Endemic G4? 25 Louisiana-Texas Saline Coastal Prairies Muhlenbergia capillaris Herbaceous Vegetation Large Endemic G1G2 18 Spartina spartinae - Schizachyrium scoparium Herbaceous Vegetation Large Endemic G3 18 Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Endemic G3? 10 10 Sporobolus wrightii Herbaceous Vegetation Small Endemic G3G4 25 Louisiana-Texas Tallgrass Coastal Prairies Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - Matrix Endemic G1? 25 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Euthamia leptocephala - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation Small Endemic G1 25 4 Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum Herbaceous Small Endemic G1 25 11 Vegetation Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum nutans - Carex Matrix Endemic G1? 10 1 microdonta - Neptunia lutea Vertisol Herbaceous Vegetation Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Matrix Endemic G1 25 17 Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation N/A Macroalgas Large Limited G4 5 1 Matorral alto subinerme Unknown Unknown G4 5 Pastizal climatico Small Limited G4 5 Vegetacion acuatica Small Widespread G4 5 1 Southeastern Coastal Plain Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests Fraxinus pennsylvanica/ Forestiera acuminata/Phanopyron gymnocarpon Small Endemic G2? 25 Depressional Forest Southeastern Coastal Plain Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests Large Peripheral n/a 10 Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum var. drummondii / Itea Large Limited G4? 9 3 virginica Forest Taxodium distichum / Lemna minor Forest Large Widespread G5 5 Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - (Carya illinoinensis) Forest Large Endemic G3 18 2
GCPM Plan Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests Large Peripheral n/a 10 2 Ulmus crassifolia - Carya illinoinensis - Celtis laevigata / Chasmanthium Matrix Limited G2G3 5 1 sessiliflorum - Carex cherokeensis Forest Southeastern Coastal Plain Broadleaf/Evergreen Oak Mottes and Hammocks
Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest Matrix Endemic G3 10 6 Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland Matrix Endemic G2 10 7 Quercus virginiana - Quercus stellata / Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum Matrix Endemic G4 10 1 plicatulum Woodland Southeastern Coastal Plain Broadleaf/Evergreen Oak Mottes and Hammocks
Quercus virginiana / Ilex vomitoria / Oplismenus setarius Forest Small Endemic G3G4 25
Southeastern Coastal Plain Emergent Ponds and Marshes Eleocharis quadrangulata - Sagittaria spp. Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Small Endemic G4? 25 Vegetation Typha domingensis Seasonally Flooded Temperate Herbaceous Vegetation Small Limited G? 13 Zizaniopsis miliacea Coastal Plain Slough Herbaceous Vegetation Small Widespread G4? 6 Southeastern Coastal Plain Flatwoods - Wooded Ponds and Dome Swamps
Panicum hemitomon - Gratiola brevifolia Herbaceous Vegetation Small Limited G2G3 13
Southeastern Coastal Plain Mesic and Dry-mesic Loblolly Pine / Hardwood Forests Pinus taeda - Quercus alba - Carya alba / Ilex opaca var. opaca / Callicarpa Small Limited G4 13 americana Forest Southeastern Coastal Plain Open Ponds and Marshes Southeastern Coastal Plain Open Ponds and Marshes Small Peripheral n/a 10 Southeastern Coastal Plain Riverfront and Levee Bottomland Forests Populus deltoides - Salix nigra / Ilex vomitoria Forest Small Endemic G3? 25 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor Forest Matrix Endemic G2 10 9
GCPM Plan Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - Liquidambar styraciflua / Ilex opaca var. Large Endemic G2G3 18 1 opaca / Viburnum dentatum Forest Quercus virginiana - Quercus pagoda - Magnolia grandiflora / Cornus florida / Large Endemic G2G3 18 2 Sanicula sp. Forest Quercus virginiana / Ilex vomitoria - Sabal minor / Carex cherokeensis - Matrix Endemic G? 10 Malvaviscus drummondii Forest Southeastern Coastal Plain Riverfront and Levee Bottomland Forests Taxodium distichum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Gallery Forest Small Linear Endemic G2Q 25 Southeastern Coastal Plain Xeric Longleaf Pine Sandhill Pinelands Pinus palustris / Quercus incana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Schizachyrium Large Limited G2 9 tenerum - Silphium gracile Woodland Tamaulipan and Texas Sand Sheet Woodlands Prosopis glandulosa / Acanthocereus tetragonus Woodland Large Endemic G2? 18 1 Quercus fusiformis - Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / Malvaviscus Matrix Endemic G3 10 1 drummondii Forest Tamaulipan Riparian and Depressional Forests and Woodlands Acacia minuta ssp. minuta - (Prosopis glandulosa) Woodland Large Endemic G5 18 Celtis laevigata - Ulmus crassifolia - (Fraxinus spp.) / Celtis pallida / Elymus Large Endemic G3G4 18 virginicus Forest Pithecellobium ebano - Ehretia anacua / Condalia hookeri Forest Small Endemic G1 25 1 Vetetacion riparia Small Linear Limited G3G4 5 1 Tamaulipan Thornscrub Acacia rigidula Shrubland Large Limited G4G5 9 2 Matorral espinoso Large Limited G4 5 1 Pithecellobium ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland Large Endemic G1 18 3 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Celtis pallida / Opuntia spp. - Xanthothamia Matrix Endemic G4G5 10 palmeri Woodland Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / (Celtis pallida, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Small Endemic G? 25 Ziziphus obtusifolia var. obtusifolia) Woodland Selva baja Large Limited G3G2 5 1 Selva baja espinosa Large Limited G3G2 5 1 Selva espinosa perennifolia Large Limited G1G2 8 1
GCPM Plan Ecological Group Name Geographic # of Viable Scale Global Rank Goal Ecological Association Name Distribution Occurrences Tamaulipan/Texas Sand Sheet Grasslands Bothriochloa barbinodis - Chloris pluriflora Herbaceous Vegetation Large Limited G2 9 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Matrix Endemic G4? 10 10 Vegetation Tropical Seagrass Beds Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Widespread G4? 10 5 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation Matrix Widespread G4? 10 24 Halophila engelmannii Herbaceous Vegetation Small Widespread G3? 5 Pastos marinos Matrix Limited G3G4 5 3 Thalassia testudina Herbaceous Vegetation Large Widespread G4? 5
GCPM Plan Plant Elements and Goals Geographic Global # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Goal Distribution Rank Occurrences Abronia ameliae Amelia's Sand-verbena Local Endemic G3 5 1 Allium elmendorfii Elmendorf's Onion Local Limited G2 8 Ambrosia cheiranthifolia South Texas Ambrosia Local Endemic G2 12 18 Amorpha nitens Shining Indigo-bush Local Peripheral G3? 5 Amsonia repens Creeping Slimpod Local Endemic G3 5 Asclepias prostrata Unknown Unknown G1 12 Astragalus reflexus Texas Milkvetch Local Widespread G3 5 Astrophytum asterias Unknown Unknown n/a 12 Atriplex klebergorum Kleberg Saltbush Intermediate Endemic G2 12 7 Atriplex matamorensis Unknown Unknown G4 5 Avicennia germinans Mangle Negro Unknown Unknown G5 5 Ayenia limitaris Unknown Disjunct G1G2 12 Boerhavia mathisiana Unknown Unknown G2 8 Bothriochloa exaristata Awnless Bluestem Local Disjunct G3 5 Brazoria arenaria Sand Brazos-Mint Local Endemic G3 5 Caesalpinia drummondii Drummond's Rushpea Local Limited G3 5 Caesalpinia phyllanthoides Unknown Unknown G2 8 Calliandra biflora (U.S.) Two-flower Stickpea Local Limited G3 5 Calliandra biflora (Mexico) Unknown Disjunct G3 5 Callisia micrantha Littleflower Spiderwort Local Limited G3 5 1 Caulerpa ashmeadii Macroalgas Unknown Unknown n/a 5 1 Chamaecrista sp. Unknown Unknown n/a 5 2 Chloris texensis Texas Windmillgrass Local Endemic G2 12 14 Clappia suaedaefolia Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Conocarpus erecta Mangle Botoncill Unknown Unknown G5 5 Coreopsis nuecensis Crown Coreopsis Local Limited G3? 5 Crataegus brazoria Brazoria Hawthorn Local Limited G3Q 5 Crataegus texana Texas Hawthorn Local Limited G3Q 5
GCPM Plan Geographic Global # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Goal Distribution Rank Occurrences Cressa nudicaulis Leafless Alkali-weed Intermediate Disjunct G3 5 1 Croton coryi Cory's Croton Local Endemic G3 10 Cucurbita texana Texas Gourd Intermediate Widespread G3 5 Cuscuta attenuata Marsh-elder Dodder Local Widespread G2 8 Cuscuta exaltata Tree Dodder, Oak Dodder Local Widespread G3 5 Cyperus cephalanthus Giant Sharpstem Umbrella-sedge; Local Endemic G1Q 5 Cryptic Flatsedge Desmanthus reticulatus Netleaf Bundleflower Local Limited G3 5 2 Dioon edule Chamal Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Echeandia chandleri Lila de los Llanos Local Endemic G3 10 14 Echinocereus reichenbachii var. Black Lace Cactus Local Endemic G5T1Q 5 2 albertii Eleocharis austrotexana South Texas Spikesedge Local Limited G3 10 Eleocharis brachycarpa (U.S.) Short-fruit Spikesedge Local Endemic G1 5 Eleocharis brachycarpa (Mexico) Unknown Unknown G1 12 1 Escobaria emskoetteriana Unknown Unknown n/a 12 Eteromorpha linza Macroalgas Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Euphorbia innocua Velvet spurge Local Endemic G3 10 Fuirena longa Coastal Plains Umbrella-sedge; Local Disjunct G3G4 5 2 Longspike Porcupine Sedge Grindelia oolepis (Mexico) Unknown Unknown G2 8 1 Grindelia oolepis (U.S.) Plains Gumweed Local Endemic G2 12 Halodule wrighti Pasto Marino Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Halophila engelmannii Pasto Marino Unknown Unknown G3G5 5 1 Helianthus floridanus Florida Sunflower Local Peripheral G3G4 5 Helianthus occidentalis subsp. Shinners' Sunflower Local Limited G5T3Q 5 plantagineus Heteranthera mexicana (Mexico) Unknown Unknown G3 5 Heteranthera mexicana (U.S.) Mexican Mud-plantain Local Widespread G3 5 Hoffmannseggia tenella Slender Rushpea Local Endemic G1 5 5 Homalocephala texensis Manca Caballo Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Houstonia croftiae Croft's Bluets Local Limited G3 5
GCPM Plan Geographic Global # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Goal Distribution Rank Occurrences Hummia onusta Macroalgas Unknown Unknown n/a 5 1 Hymenoxys texana Prairie-dawn Local Endemic G2 12 44 Justicia runyonii Runyon's Water-willow Local Endemic G2 8 Laguncularia racemosa Mangle Blanco Unknown Unknown G5 5 Leitneria floridana Corkwood Local Widespread G3 5 2 Lenophyllum texanum Texas Stonecrop Local Limited G3 5 5 Liatris bracteata Coastal Gayfeather Local Endemic G2 12 5 Limonium nashii Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Machaeranthera aurea Houston Machaeranthera Local Endemic G2 12 14 Machaeranthera heterocarpa Welder Machaeranthera Local Endemic G2 12 1 Manihot walkereae Unknown Unknown G1 12 Matelea brevicoronata Shortcrown Milkvine Local Limited G3 5 Nymphaea elegans Lampazo Unknown Unknown G4? 5 Paronychia jonesii Jones' Nailwort Local Endemic G3 10 1 Paronychia lundellorum Lundells' Nailwort Local Endemic G1 5 Physalis angustifolia Coastal Ground-cherry Local Peripheral G3G4 5 Physostegia correllii Correll's False Dragonhead Local Widespread G2 8 Polygonum striatulum Kleberg Knotweed Local Endemic G3 5 Polysiphonia gorgonie Macroalgas Unknown Unknown n/a 5 1 Pomaria austrotexana Stinking Rushpea Local Limited G3 5 Porphyra leucosticta Macroalgas Unknown Unknown n/a 5 1 Prunus texana Texas Peachbush Local Limited G3 5 Pteroglossaspis ecristata Crested Fringed Orchid Uknown Limited n/a 8 3 Rhizophora mangle Mangle Rojo Unknown Unknown G5 5 Rhododon angulatus Tharp's Rhododon Local Endemic G1 5 1 Rhynchospora indianolensis Indianola Beakrush Local Endemic G3 10 Salicornia ambigua Unknown Unknown n/a 5 1 Schizachyrium maritimum Gulf Bluestem Local Peripheral G3G4Q 5 Selenia grandis Large Selenia Local Limited G3 5
GCPM Plan Geograhic Global # of Viable Scientific Name Common Name Scale Goal Distribution Rank Occurrences Sesuvium trianthemoides Texas Sea-purslane; Roughseed Sea- Local Endemic GH 5 1 purslane Spigelia texana Texas Pinkroot Local Limited G3 5 Sporobolus silveanus Silveus' Dropseed Local Limited G3 5 Sporobolus tharpii Padre Island Dropseed Local Endemic G3 10 1 Syringodium filiformis Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Tauschia texana Texas Tauschia Local Limited G3 5 1 Thalassia testudinum/testudina Pasto Marino Unknown Unknown G4G5 5 Thalictrum texanum Houston Meadow-rue Local Limited G2Q 8 1 Thelypodiopsis shinnersii Shinners' Rocket Local Endemic G2 12 Thurovia triflora Threeflower Broomweed Local Endemic G2 12 5 Tillandsia baileyi Bailey's Ballmoss Local Limited G2 8 4 Tradescantia buckleyi Buckley's Spiderwort Local Limited G3 5 Trichocoronis wrightii var. wrightii Wrights' Trichocoronis Local Widespread G4T3 5 Varilla texana Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Willkommia texana var texana Texas Willkommia Local Endemic G3 10 Zephyranthes pulchella Unknown Unknown n/a 5 Zephyranthes refugiensis Refugio Rainlily Local Endemic G2G3 5
GCPM Plan APPENDIX J DEFINITIONS OF RARITY
Natural Heritage Element Ranking Definitions
GLOBAL RANKS (G-RANKS) Global conservation status ranks are based on a one to five scale, ranging from critically imperiled (G1) to demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure (G5). Species and communities known to be extinct (GX), or missing and possibly extinct (GH) are also recorded. A numeric range rank is used to denote the range of uncertainty about the exact status of a species or community (e.g., G2G3); range ranks may be assigned in situations where an element has a relatively equal probability of being either, or any, of the ranks included in the range specified. In addition, element rank qualifiers may be used to provide information on uncertainty of a numeric rank (“?”), questionable taxonomy (“Q”), or the captive/cultivated status of an element (“C”).
SUBSPECIES RANKS (T-RANKS) The global conservation status of infraspecific taxa (subspecies or varieties) is indicated by using a “T” subrank as part of the global rank. Rules for assigning “T” subranks follow the same principles outlined above. For example, the global rank of a critically imperiled subspecies of an otherwise widespread and common species would be G5T1. A “T” subrank cannot imply that the subspecies or variety is more abundant than the species’ basic rank (e.g., a G1T2 subrank should not occur).
GX PRESUMED EXTINCT. Not located despite intensive searches.
GH PRESUMED ELIMINATED (HISTORIC). Presumed eliminated throughout its range, with no or virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered, but with the potential for restoration.
G1 CRITICALLY IMPERILED. Generally 5 or fewer occurrences and/or very few remaining acres or very vulnerable to elimination throughout its range due to other factor(s).
G2 IMPERILED. Generally 6-20 occurrences and/or few remaining acres or very vulnerable to elimination throughout its range due to other factor(s).
G3 VULNERABLE. Generally 21-100 occurrences. Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally, even abundantly, within a restricted range or vulnerable to elimination throughout its range due to specific factors.
G4 APPARENTLY SECURE. Uncommon, but not rare (although it may be quire rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery). Apparently not vulnerable in most of its range.
G5 SECURE. Common, widespread, and abundant (though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery). Not vulnerable in most of its range.
GCPM Plan Table J-1. Rarity of conservation elements in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion.
Element Type G? G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 GH GU GXQ n/a Total
Animals 5 11 9 28 19 42 1 1 1 10 127 (2 subspecies) (5 subspecies) (9 subspecies)
Plants 11 20 52 4 7 1 6 101 (1 subspecies) (2 subspecies)
Terrestrial 16 13 19 29 28 5 3 113 Communities
Total 21 35 48 109 51 54 2 7 1 13 341 (2 subspecies) (6 subspecies) (11 subspecies)
% of Total 6% 10% 14% 32% 15% 16% 1% 2% 0% 4% 100%
* Global ranks with modifiers such as G3G4, or G3S1 were included in the highest group represented first (e.g., G3G4 = G3).
GCPM Plan APPENDIX K GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF ELEMENTS
Each of the 341 terrestrial community, animal, and plant conservation elements was attributed to one of five categories according to its spatial distribution: endemic, limited, peripheral, widespread, or disjunct (see Table 2-1):
Assigning appropriate geographical distributions to the conservation elements aided the planning teams in element selection and goal setting. A large number of endemic species and communities were selected as elements, since their conservation is entirely dependent on efforts in the single ecoregion in which they are found. In addition, 6 zoologically-based assemblages (e.g., neotropical migrant fallout sites) were considered under the animal category.
Table K-1. Geographical distribution of conservation elements in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes.
Geographic Terrestrial Percentage of Animals Plants Total Distribution communities all elements
Endemic 64 16 30 110 32 % Limited 30 26 22 78 23 % Peripheral 4 57 4 65 19 % Widespread 14 26 8 48 14 % Disjunct 0 2 5 7 2 % Unknown 1 0 32 33 10 %
Total 113 127 101 341 100 %
The Cagles’ Map Turtle (Graptemys caglei) is found in the Guadalupe River. It is restricted to non-tidal portions of the river but its fate is imperiled by diminishing water flow and degraded water quality due to nonpoint source pollution and upstream water diversion.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX L SPATIAL SCALE OF ELEMENTS
Because it is impractical to plan for all elements of biodiversity, even all of those that are known, we must select a subset of elements at different spatial scales that will best represent all biological diversity. To inform selection of a portfolio conservation areas that achieves this aim, elements were attributed with a spatial scale. Scale refers to the characteristic range in area of a species or natural community. The planning team used four spatial scales, although different terms were used to describe species and terrestrial communities (Table L-1). Most of the ecoregional conservation elements are defined as local or small patch (Figure 2-2).
Table L-1. Spatial scale criteria for Gulf Coast Prairie and Marshes ecoregional conservation elements.
Natural Species Definitions Communities
Species: Limited movement and dispersal, restricted to a single habitat. Usually Invertebrates and plants. Local Small patch Communities: Small, discrete and occur as a result of specific physical factors and environmental regimes (e.g., Juncus romerianus herbaceous vegetation). Usually less than 2,000 acres.
Species: Depend on several kinds of habitat. For example, floodplain spawning fish use a river’s main channel, flooded backwater areas, and wetlands. Intermediate Large patch Communities: Discrete, defined by distinct physical factors and environmental regimes, and significantly larger than small patch. Historically occur in patches of 1,000 to 50,000 acres.
Species: Require large areas and have very generalized habitat requirements. For example, prairie chickens use large areas of grassland matrix, small patches of wetlands and shrublands, and even various agricultural land uses.
Coarse Matrix Communities: The dominant or historically dominant habitat between patches. Defined by widespread physical gradients, such as elevation, precipitation, and temperature, across broad areas. Marshes and coastal prairie are matrix communities in GCP&M. Historical area required usually ranges from 20,000 to 1,000,000 acres.
Species: Depend on vast areas, including migratory animals and top-level predators, as well as migratory fishes in big rivers, and migratory birds, bats, Regional n/a and insects. To sustain a single poplation, areas often over 1,000,000 acres are necessary, including natural or semi-natural matrix, associated patches, and connecting corridors. Whooping cranes are an example.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX M VIABILITY GUIDELINES
Element occurrences ranked I (Irreplaceable), R (Recommended), or V (Viable) were considered viable for purposes of meeting conservation goals for each element. Priority was given to designing conservation areas to capture the Irreplaceable and Recommended element occurrences. Viable-ranked occurrences are considered to be minimally viable, so the team generally included them when too few high-quality occurrences (“I’s” and “R’s”) were available to meet a goal. The team also considered viable occurrences of large-patch terrestrial communities when Irreplaceable or Recommended communities were imbedded within them, or, alternately, if the Viable community was imbedded within an Irreplaceable or Recommended community. Such nesting of patch communities within matrix communities likely increases biodiversity value and long-term viability of a conservation area.
A large number of element occurrences were ranked as Unknown viability (“U”). This was the case for occurrences that had not been documented for a number of years (> 20). Occurrences ranked as Unknown were not selected unless recent and reliable information regarding viability could be obtained. These occurrences should be the focus of future inventory efforts. If the occurrences are found to be viable, they may warrant changes in the portfolio of sites, especially if the goal for an element has not already been met.
I = Irreplaceable Element occurrences that need to be captured in the portfolio to ensure representation of highly viable species and communities based upon best, present and available data. These occurrences represent the “best of the best” in terms of viability of very rare elements (G1-G2).
R = Recommended More common element occurrences that also need to be captured in the portfolio. Viable occurrences of G3 elements where there are fewer occurrences than the goal number; thus, all known occurrences need to be captured at portfolio sites in order to meet goals. Highly viable (EO rank of A or B, or recommended by the teams) occurrences of G4-G5 elements where there are fewer occurrences than the goal number.
V = Viable Other element occurrences important to the portfolio but where there may be more occurrences than the goal number (i.e., there may be a choice between which occurrences are the best ones for the portfolio). Other viable occurrences of G3-G5 elements where the number of occurrences is greater than the conservation goal number (then occurrences are reviewed by EO rank, stratification, etc., during portfolio assembly). Other occurrences not reviewed by the teams but with current EO ranks of A-C.
U = Unknown Current (1980 or more recent) records whose viability could not be determined.
N = Not Viable Occurrences that are not viable (D, EO ranks or unconfirmed records from 1979 or earlier). Records ranked as “N” will be kept in the database but will not be plotted when the portfolio is assembled.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX N CONSERVATION GOAL DEFAULT NUMBERS
A conservation goal in ecoregional planning has Default conservation goals were also set for two components: the number of occurrences of natural communities. The distribution of species populations or a community needed to communities relative to the ecoregion was conserve a element in an ecoregion, and a considered in setting conservation goals. Five distributional component noting how the categories were used to describe these element occurrences should be distributed or geographic distributions: endemic, limited, stratified across an ecoregion (see Appendix D widespread, disjunct, and peripheral (see Table for a map of stratification units in the GCP&M). 2-1 for geographic distribution definitions and Conservation of multiple, viable examples of Appendix K for distribution of the elements each element, stratified across its geographic and by taxa). Distribution patterns have an obvious ecological range, is necessary to capture the effect on conservation goals. If a community genetic variability of the element and to provide type is endemic to a particular ecoregion, all sufficient replication to ensure persistence in the occurrences necessary to represent that type face of climatic or other environmental changes. must come from that ecoregion. A type that is widespread could be protected in many different Admittedly, the science of population viability ecoregions, so any one ecoregion may need to analysis is still in its infancy; little information is protect only a portion of the occurrences available to guide scientists to the appropriate required to represent the type. As such, the numbers and distribution of populations or number of occurrences needed to protect each community occurrences needed to ensure long- community in an ecoregion was scaled, based on term sustainability. For this reason, the planning the distribution pattern of the community type team generally defaulted to conservation goals across ecoregions, with highest numbers needed developed by the Southern Resource Office of for endemic community types and the lowest for The Nature Conservancy based on rarity and peripheral types. range distribution. It is expected that conservation goals developed for these elements Table N-2. Default community conservation will be adjusted in future iterations of the plan as goals additional information becomes available and Terrestrial Community Conservation Goals conservation theory is improved (see Comer 2001). Spatial Scale
Table N-1. Default species conservation goals Matrix Large Small Patch Patch Species Conservation Goals Distribution Endemic 10 18 25 Global Not Limited 5913 Rank Endemic Endemic Widespread 245 G1 All All Disjunct 123 G2 10 8 Peripheral 123 G3 85 G4 55 G5 55
GCPM Plan APPENDIX O METHOD OF PORTFOLIO ASSEMBLY
GOALS
The overall goal in assembling the portfolio of conservation areas was to identify a suite of conservation sites that ensures the protection of the viable native species and natural communities in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. Design of the portfolio culminated a year of data gathering on the occurrences and viability of elements of conservation concern.
A secondary goal in assembling conservation areas was to design an efficient portfolio. In other words, we sought to capture viable occurrences of conservation elements in the least amount of area, giving priority to occurrences of coarse-scale elements with multiple embedded occurrences of intermediate and small-scale elements. There are two advantages to striving for efficiency in the portfolio design: a) it is more economical and feasible to work at fewer sites; and b) it drives the process toward larger, functional landscape-scale sites. However, small patch sites can, in some cases, possess inordinate numbers of viable species and communities.
Other principles of portfolio design included:
S Functionality. Ensure all areas in a portfolio are functional or feasibly restorable. The conservation areas must maintain the size, condition, and landscape context of the respective elements.
S Coarse-Scale Elements. Capture first in the portfolio all coarse-scale elements (including natural communities and coarse-scale species) in the ecoregion, including those that are feasibly restorable.
S Environmental Gradients. Capture examples of the coarse-scale elements across the diversity of environmental gradients appropriate to the ecoregion (i.e., elevation, topography, geology, climate).
S High Quality Occurrences. Give priority to high-quality occurrences of elements. Where no high- quality occurrences exist, select feasibly-restorable occurrences.
S Integration. Give priority to co-occurrences of high-quality terrestrial and aquatic or marine elements.
S Completeness. Capture all other intermediate and small-scale elements necessary to meet conservation goals where they are in functional sites or are feasibly restorable.
Process
The method of portfolio assembly differed slightly between the U.S. and Mexico, and among terrestrial, freshwater, and marine areas but the results were highly compatible, and an ecoregional portfolio was derived by merging the results of the various portfolio assembly processes.
Texas and Louisiana – Terrestrial Areas
For terrestrial elements in Texas and Louisiana, the starting point of portfolio assembly was a set of proto- sites generated in GIS. To generate proto-sites, buffers were drawn around each viable element occurrence in the ecoregion (prior to drawing buffers, most occurrences were represented only by a point
GCPM Plan indicating the approximate latitude and longitude where the element had been observed). Where buffers intersected, proto-sites were created. Stand-alone occurrences that did not intersect others were also considered proto-sites. Proto-sites were intended to serve as focal areas for the planning team, and were not designed to act as de facto conservation areas in the portfolio.
Buffers gave dimension to proto-sites and helped the planning team design conservation of appropriate scales for the conservation elements within. Buffers were drawn with the element occurrence at the center of a circular polygon of a certain area, depending on the type of element buffered (Table O-1).
Table O-1. Buffer sizes in GCP&M proto-sites. Element type Buffer size Matrix community 5000 acres Large patch community 200 acres Small patch community 10 acres Birds & Mammals 3090 acres (2 km buffer) Amphibians, Reptiles, Fish, 772 acres (1 km buffer) & Invertebrates Plants 193 acres (1/2 km buffer)
Buffer sizes were attempts to account for the historical size and habitat requirements of different elements. Elements such as matrix communities may no longer be found in patches of 5,000 contiguous viable acres, but 5,000 acres was a consensus estimate that promises to ensure some functionality of the community and its associated biodiversity. In practice, buffers probably indicate a great deal of restoration work in store for conservation practitioners.
Each particular element occurrence at the center of a buffered polygon was shaded a color depending on its estimated viability. Furthermore, each type of element (plant, animal, or community) was represented by a different shape. Thus, in reviewing the proto-site map, the planning team could methodically pick out proto-sites with, for example, community occurrences of the highest viability (e.g., red triangles). Since community occurrences act as coarse-filters, it increases efficiency to first choose portfolio areas based on communities and then augment the portfolio with fine-filter occurrences not nested in previously selected sites to capture other elements of conservation concern.
In the first of two phases of terrestrial portfolio design in Texas and Louisiana, the planning team examined each proto-site in the ecoregion for its suitability as a site. In other words, the team asked itself whether that collection of element occurrences made sense as a unit of conservation concern. Based on the consensus opinion, some proto-sites were eliminated from the draft portfolio because there were other, more viable occurrences to meet the conservation goal, or because the area was inappropriate for restoration due to landscape fragmentation or other problems; some proto-sites were merged with others to form more ecologically meaningful conservation areas; and the boundaries of some proto-sites were adjusted using digital topographic maps, Landsat satellite imagery, and expert opinion to better reflect the actual landscape context of the occurrence.
In the second phase of terrestrial portfolio design in Texas and Louisiana, the results of the proto-site review were revisited by each of the plant, animal, and community technical teams. The goal of the second review was to ensure that all appropriate element occurrences had been incorporated into the portfolio. In addition, new data were added as a result of data mining activities. Viable occurrences not
GCPM Plan incorporated in the first phase that were necessary to meet conservation goals were added to the portfolio, and conservation area boundaries were changed if warranted.
Tamaulipas, Mexico – Terrestrial Areas
In order to identify the priority sites in Tamaulipas, a special emphasis was placed upon delineating occurrences and species distributions for conservation targets from available sources due to the lack of information concerning northeast Mexico biodiversity. Distribution information was obtained from literature and expert opinion through local and regional workshops. The first iteration data set consisted of a series of raw polygons for targets with a global rank from G1 to G3, as well as vulnerability criteria (a surrogate used for viability ranking) proposed for species by the Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM- ECOL-059, 1994). During the first stage, species whose ranges overlapped and were peripheral and disjunct to the ecoregion boundaries, were determined. After that, functional ecological processes were incorporated into the analysis, basically from vegetation and geomorphology taken from classified satellite images (1992 scene). Environmental factors that were considered vital to target health were identified. This analysis allowed us to identify conservation areas necessary for maintaining long-term biodiversity viability. The second iteration analysis focused upon those sites where conservation targets were viable and possessed functional processes. Nesting sites for migratory and aquatic birds, freshwater wetlands and remaining Tamaulipan thornscrub patches were captured in the final portfolio.
Due to little available data and the extent of human impacts over this coastal environment, sites were defined by extending boundaries necessary to maintain ecological processes for long-term viability. Therefore, buffers were not used when delineating areas. A supplemental analysis for determining potential conservation areas was conducted by means of analyzing land use and vegetation types. We compared imagery derived from 1984 and 1992. These variables were essentialy used to create a coarse filter for potential conservation area selection. As a fine filter, habitat intactness was linked with conservation capacity. Some areas were dropped due to road densities and agriculture.
The third phase consisted of assigning biodiversity threats, leverage and complementarity ranks to sites by the planning team. The team identified those sites with higher biodiversity and functional processes. Experts then reviewed the sites’ boundaries and their suggestions were incorporated into the final portfolio. The final portfolio design includes one aquatic and four terrestrial sites.
Freshwater Areas Portfolio assembly methods for freshwater conservation areas are described in-depth in Chapter 3, The Ecoregional Portfolio Design.
Marine Areas
Please refer to the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecoregional Plan (Beck et al. 2000) for detailed portfolio assembly methods.
GCPM Plan Marine habitats in the Gulf Coast Prairie and Marshes are very diverse and in turn, support the greatest biodiversity in the ecoregion. Declining freshwater inflows, increasing development, and poor water quality lead the list of threats to marine habitat in the GCP&M.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX P VIABLE CONSERVATION ELEMENT OCCURRENCES BY TAXA TYPE IN THE PORTFOLIO Viable Conservation Element Occurrences
Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name
Botany Abronia ameliae Amelia's Sand-verbena 31.49 Laguna Madre Ambrosia cheiranthifolia South Texas Ambrosia 31.48 Cayo de Grullo Atriplex klebergorum Kleberg Saltbush 31.48 Cayo de Grullo Callisia micrantha Littleflower Spiderwort 31.49 Laguna Madre Caulerpa ashmeadii Macroalgas 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Chamaecrista sp. 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Chloris texensis Texas Windmillgrass 31.31 Addicks-Barker Prairie Complex 31.32 Tomball Prairie 31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex Cressa nudicaulis Leafless Alkali-weed 31.38 Aransas Complex Desmanthus reticulatus Netleaf Bundleflower 31.48 Cayo de Grullo Echeandia chandleri Lila de los Llanos 31.49 Laguna Madre Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii Black Lace Cactus 31.01 Welder Refuge 31.48 Cayo de Grullo Eleocharis brachycarpa 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Fuirena longa Coastal Plains Umbrella-sedge; Longspike Porcupine Sedge 31.39 Ingleside Point 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex Grindelia oolepis 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Halophila engelmannii Pasto Marino 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Hoffmannseggia tenella Slender Rushpea 31.02 Petronila Creek 31.48 Cayo de Grullo Hummia onusta Macroalgas 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Hymenoxys texana Prairie-dawn 31.31 Addicks-Barker Prairie Complex 31.32 Tomball Prairie Leitneria floridana Corkwood 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Lenophyllum texanum Texas Stonecrop 31.02 Petronila Creek 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.49 Laguna Madre Liatris bracteata Coastal Gayfeather 31.31 Addicks-Barker Prairie Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.76 Refugio-Coastal Prairie Machaeranthera aurea Houston Machaeranthera 31.31 Addicks-Barker Prairie Complex 31.32 Tomball Prairie 31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex Machaeranthera heterocarpa Welder Machaeranthera 31.48 Cayo de Grullo Paronychia jonesii Jones' Nailwort 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex Polysiphonia gorgonie Macroalgas 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Porphyra leucosticta 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Pteroglossaspis ecristata Crested Fringed Orchid 31.42 Iowa-Fenton 31.71 Elton Prairie Rhododon angulatus Tharp's Rhododon 31.03 Aransas County Airport Salicornia ambigua 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Sesuvium trianthemoides Texas Sea-purslane; Roughseed Sea-purslane 31.49 Laguna Madre Sporobolus tharpii Padre Island Dropseed 31.49 Laguna Madre Tauschia texana Texas Tauschia 31.76 Refugio-Coastal Prairie
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Thalictrum texanum Houston Meadow-rue 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Thurovia triflora Threeflower Broomweed 31.31 Addicks-Barker Prairie Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex Tillandsia baileyi Bailey's Ballmoss 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.49 Laguna Madre
Community Acacia rigidula Shrubland 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.76 Refugio Coastal Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium – Schizachyrium tenerum-Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation 31.16 Kinder Prairie 31.17 Welsh Prairie 31.18 Iowa South Prairie 31.19 Bellevue Prairie 31.20 Vinton Prairie 31.22 Black Bayou Prairie/Marsh 31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 31.42 Iowa-Fenton 31.67 Morse Prairie 31.68 Esterwood Railroad Prairie 31.69 Mermentau-Midland Prairie 31.70 Frey Prairie 31.71 Elton Prairie Avicennia germinans / Batis maritima Shrubland 31.49 Laguna Madre Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland 31.53 Caernarvon Marshes 31.56 Oyster Bayou Marshes Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre Distichlis spicata - Spartina spp. Herbaceous Vegetation 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Dunas costeras 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) Herbaceous Vegetation 31.61 Lake Boeuf 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation 31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex 31.52 Jean Lafitte NP 31.55 Delta Farms Marshes 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex Euthamia leptocephala - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation 31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 31.57 White Lake Marshes/Prairies 31.58 Grand Lake Marsh Fuirena scirpoidea - Fuirena longa - Rhynchospora microcarpa – Rhynchospora divergens Herbaceous Vegetation 31.39 Ingleside Point Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre Ipomoea pes-caprae - Ipomoea imperati - (Cakile geniculata) Herbaceous Vegetation 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.64 Chandeleur Sound Lyngbea spp. Wind-tidal Flat Nonvascular Vegetation 31.49 Laguna Madre Macroalgas 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Manglar 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Matorral espinoso 31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion Maytenus phyllanthoides - Prosopis reptans / Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation 31.49 Laguna Madre Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation 31.09 Grand Bayou 31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 31.50 Lower Sabine Marshes 31.52 Jean Lafitte NP 31.54 Des Allemands Marsh 31.55 Delta Farms Marshes 31.57 White Lake Marshes/Prairies 31.58 Grand Lake Marsh 31.61 Lake Boeuf 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands 31.65 Lake Salvador Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum Herbaceous Vegetation 31.17 Welsh Prairie
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum Herbaceous Vegetation (cont’d) 31.18 Iowa South Prairie 31.19 Bellevue Prairie 31.21 Pine Island Prairie 31.22 Black Bayou Prairie/Marsh 31.42 Iowa-Fenton 31.67 Morse Prairie 31.68 Esterwood Railroad Prairie 31.69 Mermentau-Midland Prairie 31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie Pastos marinos 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Pithecellobium ebano - Ehretia anacua / Condalia hookeri Forest 31.49 Laguna Madre Pithecellobium ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland 31.49 Laguna Madre Potamogeton perfoliatus Permanently Flooded - Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands Prosopis glandulosa / Acanthocereus tetragonus Woodland 31.49 Laguna Madre Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri – Borrichia frutescens Shrubland 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.39 Ingleside Point 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex Quercus fusiformis - Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / Malvaviscus drummondii Forest 31.49 Laguna Madre Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland 31.01 Welder Refuge 31.29 High Island 31.33 Live Oak-Cypress Creek Prairie 31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal Minor Forest 31.04 Fort Jackson/Triumph Woods 31.06 River Aux Chenes Forest 31.08 Jean Lafitte Woods 31.09 Grand Bayou 31.11 Bayou Mauvais Bois Ridge 31.63 Bayou Sauvage Complex
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal Minor Forest (cont’d) 31.65 Lake Salvador Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest 31.07 Abandoned Channel of Bayou Barataria 31.23 Hackberry/East Jetty Woods 31.24 Nunez Woods 31.58 Grand Lake Marsh 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex 31.63 Bayou Sauvage Complex Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda – Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest 31.12 Cote Blanche Salt Dome 31.13 Weeks Island 31.14 Avery Island 31.15 Jefferson Island Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - (Carya illinoinensis) Forest 31.34 Stovall Flats 31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - Liquidambar styraciflua/ Ilex opaca var. opaca/ Viburnum dentatum Forest 31.25 Outside Island Quercus virginiana - Quercus pagoda - Magnolia grandiflora / Cornus florida/ Sanicula sp. Forest 31.25 Outside Island 31.59 Palmetto Island Quercus virginiana - Quercus stellata / Schizachyrium scoparium – Paspalum plicatulum Woodland 31.34 Stovall Flats Quercus virginiana Louisiana Barrier Island Forest 31.05 Grand Isle/Barrataria Bay Complex Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation 31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex 31.52 Jean Lafitte NP 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands Sagittaria lancifolia Mississippi River Deltaic Plain 31.55 Delta Farms Marshes 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands Sagittaria latifolia - Sagittaria platyphylla - (Colocasia esculenta ) Deltaic Herbaceous Vegetation 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima - Distichlis spicata 31.47 Mustang Island Complex Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum – Sorghastrum nutans – Carex microdonta – Neptuna lutea vertisol Herbaceous Vegetation 31.75 Little Bernard Creek Prairie Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum – Sorghastrum nutans – Dichanthelium oligosanthes – Paspalum Setaceum – Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation 31.27 Middleton Prairie
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum – Sorghastrum nutans – Dichanthelium oligosanthes – Paspalum setaceum – Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation (cont’d) 31.28 Robinson-Oyster Bayou 31.35 Parenica-Placedo Prairie 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.72 Moore Prairie 31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie 31.74 Mott Slough Meadow 31.75 Little Bernard Creek Prairie 31.76 Refugio Coastal Prairie 31.77 Monaville Meadow 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation 31.01 Welder Refuge 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.39 Ingleside Point 31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale – Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Vegetation 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Selva baja 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Selva baja espinosa 31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion Selva espinosa perennifolia 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests 31.30 Trinity Delta Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation 31.28 Robinson-Oyster Bayou 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.50 Lower Sabine Marshes
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (cont’d) 31.53 Caernarvon Marshes 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata Louisiana Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.53 Caernarvon Marshes 31.56 Oyster Bayou Marshes Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) – (Paspalum monostachyum) Herbaceous Vegetation 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre Spartina patens - Panicum amarum - Hydrocotyle bonariensis Herbaceous Vegetation 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.64 Chandeleur Sound Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) Herbaceous Vegetation 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex 31.53 Caernarvon Marshes 31.56 Oyster Bayou Marshes 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation 31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 31.50 Lower Sabine Marshes 31.58 Grand Lake Marsh 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain 31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex 31.53 Caernarvon Marshes 31.55 Delta Farms Marshes 31.56 Oyster Bayou Marshes 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.40 Nueces River Delta 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.48 Cayo de Grullo
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation (cont’d) 31.49 Laguna Madre Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum var. drummondii/ Itea virginica Forest 31.09 Grand Bayou 31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands Ulmus crassifolia - Carya illinoinensis - Celtis laevigata / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum – Carex cherokeensis Forest 31.76 Refugio Coastal Prairie Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Vegetacion acuatica 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Vegetacion halofila 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Vetetacion riparia 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Zanthoxylum fagara - Sideroxylon lanuginosum - Forestiera angustifolia – Diospyros texana Shrubland 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex
Zoology Aimophila botterii Botteri's Sparrow 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Aimophila botterii texana 31.49 Laguna Madre Amazona oratrix Yellow-headed Parrot 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Amazona viridigenalis Red-crowned Parrot 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Aratinga holochlora Green Parakeet 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Artemia salina Artemia (Brine Shrimp) 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Austrotinodes texensis Texas Austrotinodes Caddisfly 31.85 Lower Guadalupe River Cairina moschata Muscovy Duck; Pato Criol 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Callinectes rathbunae Jaiba 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Campephilus guatemalensis 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Campephilus guatemalensis (cont’d) 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Caretta caretta Loggerhead 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Cemophora coccinea lineri Texas Scarlet Snake 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.23 Hackberry/East Jetty Woods 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.40 Nueces River Delta 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex 31.64 Chandeleur Sound 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.84 Johnsons Bayou Charadrius melodus Piping Plover 31.05 Grand Isle/Barrataria Bay Complex 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.23 Hackberry/East Jetty Woods 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.43 Bolivar Peninsula 31.45 West Galveston Bay 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex 31.64 Chandeleur Sound 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Charadrius montanus Mountain Plover 31.33 Live Oak-Cypress Creek Prairie Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback sea turtle 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Dipodomys compactus compactus Padre Island Kangaroo Rat 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas Indigo Snake 31.02 Petronila Creek 31.40 Nueces River Delta
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.40 Nueces River Delta 31.43 Bolivar Peninsula 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides campi Rio Grande Chirping Frog 31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion Eretmochelys imbricata 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Euchemotrema leai cheatumi Palmetto Pillsnail 31.86 Neches River Gecarcinus lateralis Blackback Land Crab, Mangrove Crab 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.49 Laguna Madre Geomys personatus maritimus Maritime Texas Pocket Gopher 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex Geomys personatus personatus Barrier Island Texas Pocket Gopher 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Geothlypis trichas insperata Brownsville Common Yellowthroat 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl 31.49 Laguna Madre Gopherus berlandieri Texas Tortoise 31.02 Petronila Creek 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.49 Laguna Madre Grassland bird guild 31.01 Welder Refuge 31.33 Live Oak-Cypress Creek Prairie 31.35 Parenica-Placedo Prairie 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.38 Aransas Complex 31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex 31.45 West Galveston Bay
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Grassland bird guild (cont’d) 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.76 Refugio Coastal Prairie Grus americana Whooping Crane 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.37 Matagorda Complex 31.38 Aransas Complex Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Gulf beaches and dunes - Beach wintering areas 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.49 Laguna Madre Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Holbrookia propinqua Keeled Earless Lizard 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre Icterus cucullatus sennetti Sennett's Hooded Oriole 31.49 Laguna Madre Leopardus pardalis Ocelot 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Leopardus weidii Margai 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's Ridley 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Litorrina ziczac Saltmarsh Snail 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Lutra/Lontra canadensis Nutria de Río 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback Terrapin 31.64 Chandeleur Sound Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin 31.40 Nueces River Delta Mercenaria campechiensis Southern Quahog 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Mycteria americana Wood Stork 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Orthalicus princeps 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Parula pitiayumi nigrilora Tropical Parula 31.49 Laguna Madre Pelecanus erythrorhynchos White Pelican 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican 31.05 Grand Isle/Barrataria Bay Complex 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 31.43 Bolivar Peninsula 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.64 Chandeleur Sound Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard 31.01 Welder Refuge 31.37 Matagorda Island 31.39 Ingleside Point 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 31.49 Laguna Madre Potos flavus Martucha 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Pseudacris streckeri streckeri 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Scalopus acuaticus Topo de agua 31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) 31.49 Laguna Madre 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion 31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Spea hammondi 31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion
GCPM Plan Scientific Name Area ID Conservation Area Common Name Spermophilus spilosoma mexicanus Ardilla de Tierra (Spotted Ground Squirrel) 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Sterna antillarum Least Tern 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Terrapene carolina mexicana 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera
Terrapene ornata ornata 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Trichetus manatus Manatí 31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Urosaurus ornatus ornatus 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear 31.14 Avery Island Waterbird Colonies - seabirds 31.40 Nueces River Delta Waterbird Colonies - wading birds 31.05 Grand Isle/Barrataria Bay Complex 31.09 Grand Bayou 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 31.14 Avery Island 31.40 Nueces River Delta 31.47 Mustang Island Complex 31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex 31.56 Oyster Bayou Marshes 31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex 31.61 Lake Boeuf 31.63 Bayou Sauvage Complex 31.64 Chandeleur Sound 31.65 Lake Salvador
GCPM Plan APPENDIX Q PORTFOLIO CONSERVATION AREAS WITH CAPTURED ELEMENTS Elements Captured by Conservation Areas Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.01 Welder Refuge Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii Black Lace Cactus G5T1Q 2 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Grindelia oolepis Plains Gumweed G2 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland G2 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9
31.02 Petronila Creek Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas Indigo Snake G5 2 Gopherus berlandieri Texas Tortoise G4 3 Hoffmannseggia tenella Slender Rushpea G1 5 Lenophyllum texanum Texas Stonecrop G3
31.03 Aransas County Airport Rhododon angulatus Tharp's Rhododon G1 1
31.04 Fort Jackson/Triumph Woods Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest
31.05 Grand Isle/Barrataria Bay Complex Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland G2? 2 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican G4 9 Quercus virginiana Louisiana Barrier Island Forest G1Q 1 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.06 River Aux Chenes Forest Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.07 Abandoned Channel of Bayou Barataria Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest G2 8
31.08 Jean Lafitte Woods Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest
31.09 Grand Bayou Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum var. drummondii / G4? 3 Itea virginica Forest Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.1 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland G2? 2 Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 5 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Ipomoea pes-caprae - Ipomoea imperati - (Cakile geniculata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican G4 Spartina patens - Panicum amarum - Hydrocotyle bonariensis G2? Herbaceous Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.11 Bayou Mauvais Bois Ridge Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest
31.12 Cote Blanche Salt Dome Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda - Celtis G1 4 laevigata / Sabal minor Forest Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.13 Weeks Island Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda - Celtis G1 4 laevigata / Sabal minor Forest
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.14 Avery Island Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda - Celtis G1 4 laevigata / Sabal minor Forest Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear G5T3? 1 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.15 Jefferson Island Quercus virginiana - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus pagoda - Celtis G1 4 laevigata / Sabal minor Forest
31.16 Kinder Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation
31.17 Welsh Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.18 Iowa South Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.19 Bellevue Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.20 Vinton Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.21 Pine Island Prairie Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.22 Black Bayou Prairie/Marsh Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation
31.23 Hackberry/East Jetty Woods Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback Terrapin G5 1 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest G2 8 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.24 Nunez Woods Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest G2 8
31.25 Outside Island Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - Liquidambar styraciflua / Ilex G2G3 1 opaca var. opaca / Viburnum dentatum Forest Quercus virginiana - Quercus pagoda - Magnolia grandiflora / Cornus 2 florida / Sanicula sp. Forest
31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Euthamia leptocephala - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation G1 4 Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback Terrapin G5 1 Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation G? 7 Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous 5 Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.27 Middleton Prairie Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
31.28 Robinson-Oyster Bayou Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.29 High Island Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland G2 7
31.30 Trinity Delta Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests n/a 2 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds 35
31.31 Addicks-Barker Prairie Complex Chloris texensis Texas Windmillgrass G2 14 Hymenoxys texana Prairie-dawn 44 Liatris bracteata Coastal Gayfeather 5 Machaeranthera aurea Houston Machaeranthera G2 14 Thurovia triflora Threeflower Broomweed 5
31.32 Tomball Prairie Chloris texensis Texas Windmillgrass G2 14 Hymenoxys texana Prairie-dawn 44 Machaeranthera aurea Houston Machaeranthera 14
31.33 Live Oak-Cypress Creek Prairie Charadrius montanus Mountain Plover G2 2 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland G2 7 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.34 Stovall Flats Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - (Carya illinoinensis) Forest G3 2 Quercus virginiana - Quercus stellata / Schizachyrium scoparium - G4 1 Paspalum plicatulum Woodland
31.35 Parenica-Placedo Prairie Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Grus americana Whooping Crane G1 3 Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's Ridley 5 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican G4 9 Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest G3 6 Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland G2 7 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata G5 4 Louisianian Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation 10 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.37 Matagorda Island Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Gecarcinus lateralis Blackback Land Crab, Mangrove Crab G? 2 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Grus americana Whooping Crane G1 3 Gulf beaches and dunes - Beach wintering areas n/a 2 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin G5T3 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 10
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.37 Matagorda Island (cont’d) Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Paspalum G3G4 3 monostachyum) Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation 10 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.38 Aransas Complex Cemophora coccinea lineri Texas Scarlet Snake G5T2 3 Cressa nudicaulis Leafless Alkali-weed G3 1 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Grus americana Whooping Crane G1 3 Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi G4 1 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin G5T3 2 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Opuntia engelmannii var. G4? lindheimeri - Borrichia frutescens Shrubland Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest G3 6 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum G4? 10 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation 10 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.39 Ingleside Point Fuirena longa Coastal Plains Umbrella-sedge; Longspike Porcupine G3G4 2 Fuirena scirpoidea - Fuirena longa - Rhynchospora microcarpa - G2 1 Rhynchospora divergens Herbaceous Vegetation Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest G3 6 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.40 Nueces River Delta Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas Indigo Snake G5 2 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin G5T3 2 Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 10 Waterbird Colonies - seabirds n/a 1 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds 35
31.41 Redhead Pond Complex Fuirena longa Coastal Plains Umbrella-sedge; Longspike Porcupine G3G4 2 Geomys personatus maritimus Maritime Texas Pocket Gopher G4T2 1 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 24 Paronychia jonesii Jones' Nailwort G3 1 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest G3 6
31.42 Iowa-Fenton Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation Pteroglossaspis ecristata Crested Fringed Orchid n/a 3
31.43 Bolivar Peninsula Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican 9 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex Chloris texensis Texas Windmillgrass G2 14 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Machaeranthera aurea Houston Machaeranthera G2 14 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin G5T3 2 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Attwater's Greater Prairie Chicken G4T1 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.45 West Galveston Bay Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi G4 1 Liatris bracteata Coastal Gayfeather G2 5 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin G5T3 2 Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima - Distichlis spicata G4 1 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 10 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata G5 4 Louisianian Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 10 Thurovia triflora Threeflower Broomweed G2 5 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Liatris bracteata Coastal Gayfeather G2 5 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Coastal Herbaceous Vegetation G1? 9 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation 10 Thurovia triflora Threeflower Broomweed G2 5 Zanthoxylum fagara - Sideroxylon lanuginosum - Forestiera G1G2 1 angustifolia - Diospyros texana Shrubland
31.47 Mustang Island Complex Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 5 Dipodomys compactus compactus Padre Island Kangaroo Rat G4T3 2 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.47 Mustang Island Complex (cont’d) Grassland bird guild n/a 10 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 24 Holbrookia propinqua Keeled Earless Lizard G3? 2 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican G4 9 Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima - Distichlis spicata Dwarf-shrubland 1 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum G4? 10 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Paspalum G3G4 3 monostachyum) Herbaceous Vegetation Syngnathus affinis Texas Pipefish G1 Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 3 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.48 Cayo de Grullo Acacia rigidula Shrubland G4G5 2 Aimophila botterii texana Botteri's Sparrow G4T4 118 Ambrosia cheiranthifolia South Texas Ambrosia G2 18 Atriplex klebergorum Kleberg Saltbush 7 Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Desmanthus reticulatus Netleaf Bundleflower G3 2 Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas Indigo Snake G5 2 Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii Black Lace Cactus G5T1Q Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Gopherus berlandieri Texas Tortoise 3 Hoffmannseggia tenella Slender Rushpea G1 5 Lenophyllum texanum Texas Stonecrop G3 Machaeranthera heterocarpa Welder Machaeranthera G2 1 Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt G1 8 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima - Distichlis spicata Dwarf-shrubland G4 1 Spartina spartinae - Schizachyrium scoparium Herbaceous Vegetation G3 Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 10 Tillandsia baileyi Bailey's Ballmoss G2 4
31.49 Laguna Madre Abronia ameliae Amelia's Sand-verbena G3 1 Aimophila botterii texana Botteri's Sparrow G4T4 118 Avicennia germinans / Batis maritima Shrubland G3? 3 Callisia micrantha Littleflower Spiderwort G3 1 Caretta caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtle 5 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover 62
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.49 Laguna Madre (cont’d) Coniophanes imperialis Black-striped Snake Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 5 Dipodomys compactus compactus Padre Island Kangaroo Rat G4T3 2 Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas Indigo Snake G5 Echeandia chandleri Lila de los Llanos G3 14 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Falco femoralis septentrionalis Aplomado Falcon G4T2 Gecarcinus lateralis Blackback Land Crab, Mangrove Crab G? 2 Geomys personatus personatus Barrier Island Texas Pocket Gopher G4T? 3 Geothlypis trichas insperata Brownsville Common Yellowthroat G5T2 1 Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl G5T3 Gopherus berlandieri Texas Tortoise G4 3 Gulf beaches and dunes - Beach wintering areas n/a 2 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 24 Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi G4 1 Holbrookia propinqua Keeled Earless Lizard G3? 2 Icterus cucullatus sennetti Sennett's Hooded Oriole G5TU 6 Lenophyllum texanum Texas Stonecrop G3 5 Leopardus pardalis Ocelot 3 Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle G1 5 Lyngbea spp. Wind-tidal Flat Nonvascular Vegetation G? 1 Maytenus phyllanthoides - Prosopis reptans / Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt G1 8 Parula pitiayumi nigrilora Tropical Parula G5TU 2 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican G4 9 Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard G5 7 Pithecellobium ebano - Ehretia anacua / Condalia hookeri Forest G1 1 Pithecellobium ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland 3 Prosopis glandulosa / Acanthocereus tetragonus Woodland G2? 1 Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - Opuntia engelmannii var. G4? 2 lindheimeri - Borrichia frutescens Shrubland Quercus fusiformis - Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / G3 1 Malvaviscus drummondii Forest Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum G4? 10 Herbaceous Vegetation Sesuvium trianthemoides Texas Sea-purslane; Roughseed Sea-purslane GH 1 Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) G5 10 Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Paspalum G3G4 3 monostachyum) Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 10
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.49 Laguna Madre (cont’d) Sporobolus tharpii Padre Island Dropseed G3 1 Sporobolus wrightii Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 Tillandsia baileyi Bailey's Ballmoss G2 4 Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 3 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.50 Lower Sabine Marshes Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum G4? 10 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 3 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.51 White Kitchen/Lower Pearl River Complex Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation 7 Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain G? 7 Herbaceous Vegetation Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum var. drummondii / G4? 3 Itea virginica Forest Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.52 Jean Lafitte NP Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation G? 7
31.53 Caernarvon Marshes Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland G2? 2 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.53 Caernarvon Marshes (cont’d) Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata G5 4 Louisianian Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain G? 7 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.54 Des Allemands Marsh Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.55 Delta Farms Marshes Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Sagittaria lancifolia Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Herbaceous Vegetation G? 4 Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain 7 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.56 Oyster Bayou Marshes Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland G2? 2 Spartina alterniflora - Juncus roemerianus - Distichlis spicata G5 4 Louisianian Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain G? 7 Herbaceous Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.57 White Lake Marshes/Prairies Euthamia leptocephala - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation G1 4 Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15
31.58 Grand Lake Marsh Euthamia leptocephala - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation G1 4 Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest G2 8 Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous Vegetation G? 5
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.58 Grand Lake Marsh (cont’d) Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.59 Palmetto Island Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest G2 8 Quercus virginiana - Quercus pagoda - Magnolia grandiflora / Cornus G2G3 2 florida / Sanicula sp. Forest Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.60 Atchafalaya/Vermillion Complex Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback Terrapin G5 1 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest G2 8 Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation G? 7 Sagittaria latifolia - Sagittaria platyphylla - (Colocasia esculenta) G? 4 Deltaic Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina patens - Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous G? 5 Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.61 Lake Boeuf Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) G? 3 Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) G? 3 Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Potamogeton perfoliatus Permanently Flooded - Tidal Herbaceous G? 1 Vegetation Sagittaria lancifolia - Typha spp. - Ludwigia spp. Herbaceous Vegetation 7 Sagittaria lancifolia Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Herbaceous Vegetation 4
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.62 Lake Pontchartrain/Wetlands (cont’d) Spartina patens - Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain 7 Herbaceous Vegetation Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum var. drummondii / G4? 3 Itea virginica Forest Vallisneria americana Estuarine Bayou Herbaceous Vegetation G3G5
31.63 Bayou Sauvage Complex Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest 8 Spartina patens - Scirpus (americanus, pungens) - (Distichlis spicata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.64 Chandeleur Sound Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland G2? 2 Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation G4? 5 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation 24 Ipomoea pes-caprae - Ipomoea imperati - (Cakile geniculata) G3? 9 Herbaceous Vegetation Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback Terrapin G5 1 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican G4 9 Spartina patens - Panicum amarum - Hydrocotyle bonariensis G2? Herbaceous Vegetation Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.65 Lake Salvador Panicum hemitomon Semipermanently Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation G3G4 15 Quercus virginiana - Celtis laevigata - Quercus pagoda / Sabal minor G2 9 Forest Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.66 Mermentau Basin Fallicambarus macneesei Old Prairie Crawfish G2
31.67 Morse Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.67 Morse Prairie (cont’d) Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.68 Esterwood Railroad Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.69 Mermentau-Midland Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation
31.70 Frey Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation
31.71 Elton Prairie Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - G1? 16 Schizachyrium tenerum -Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation Pteroglossaspis ecristata Crested Fringed Orchid n/a 3
31.72 Moore Prairie Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi G4 1 Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - Panicum hemitomum G1 11 Herbaceous Vegetation Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland G2 7 Quercus virginiana - Quercus nigra - (Carya illinoinensis) Forest G3 2 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie (cont’d) Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.74 Mott Slough Meadow Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
31.75 Little Bernard Creek Prairie Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1? 1 nutans - Carex microdonta - Neptunia lutea Vertisol Herbaceous Vegetation Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
31.76 Refugio Coastal Prairie Acacia rigidula Shrubland G4G5 2 Grassland Bird Guild n/a Prunus texana Texas Peachbush G3 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation Tauschia texana Texas Tauschia G3 1 Ulmus crassifolia - Carya illinoinensis - Celtis laevigata / G2G3 Chasmanthium sessiliflorum - Carex cherokeensis Forest Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35
31.77 Monaville Meadow Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation
31.78 Columbia Bottomlands Distichlis spicata - Spartina spp. Herbaceous Vegetation G4 2 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret 46 Leitneria floridana Corkwood G3 2 Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle G1 5 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas Diamondback Terrapin G5T3 2 Quercus virginiana - Carya illinoinensis Woodland G2 7
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands (cont’d) Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Sorghastrum G1 17 nutans - Dichanthelium oligosanthes - Paspalum setaceum - Aster sericeus var. microphyllus Alfisol Herbaceous Vegetation Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale - Paspalum monostachyum G4? 10 Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata - Spartina patens Mesohaline G4 16 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Thalictrum texanum Houston Meadow-rue G2Q 1 Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation G3? 3 Waterbird Colonies - wading birds n/a 35 Willkommia texana var. texana Texas Willkommia G3
31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera Aimophila botterii Botteri's Sparrow G4 1 Artemia salina Artemia (Brine Shrimp) n/a 4 Callinectes rathbunae Jaiba 1 Cemophora coccinea lineri Texas Scarlet Snake G5T2 3 Chamaecrista sp. n/a 2 Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14 Charadrius melodus Piping Plover G3 62 Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus n/a 1 Dunas costeras G3G4 Eleocharis brachycarpa G1 Eretmochelys imbricata G3 3 Geomys personatus personatus Barrier Island Texas Pocket Gopher G4T? Geothlypis trichas insperata Brownsville Common Yellowthroat G5T2 1 Grindelia oolepis G2 Litorrina ziczac Saltmarsh snail n/a 6 Lutra/Lontra canadensis Nutria de Río G5 1 Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt G1 8 Orthalicus princeps n/a 1 Pastos marinos G3G4 3 Pseudacris streckeri streckeri G5T5 1 Salicornia ambigua n/a Scaphiopus hurterii Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) G5 10 Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi G3G4T3T4 2 Sterna antillarum Least Tern G4 1 Terrapene carolina mexicana n/a Terrapene ornata ornata G5T5 2 Urosaurus ornatus ornatus n/a 1
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.79 Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera (cont’d) Vegetacion halofila G3G4
31.80 Rancho Los Ebanos - Anacahuitas e Islas de Anidacion Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides campi Rio Grande Chirping Frog G5T? 1 Matorral espinoso G4 Scalopus acuaticus Topo de Agua G5 Selva baja espinosa G3G2 Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) G5 10 Spea hammondi G3 1
31.81 Complejo Laguna las Nacha-Anda La Piedra y Delta del Rio San Fernando Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane G5 1 Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi G5T4 2 Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt G1 8 Selva espinosa perennifolia G1G2 1 Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) G5 10 Vegetacion acuatica G4 1 Vetetacion riparia G3G4
31.82 Manglares de la Boca del Rio Soto la Marina Amazona oratrix Yellow-headed Parrot G? 1 Amazona viridigenalis Red-crowned Parrot G2 Aratinga holochlora Green Parakeet n/a Campephilus guatemalensis 2 Caretta caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtle G3 5 Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Sea Turtle n/a 3 Eretmochelys imbricata G3 Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle G1 5 Selva baja G3G2 1 Trichetus manatus Manatí n/a
31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas Artemia salina Artemia (Brine Shrimp) n/a 4 Cairina moschata Muscovy Duck; Pato Criol 2 Campephilus guatemalensis Caretta caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtle G3 5 Caulerpa ashmeadii Macroalgas n/a 1 Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret G4 46 Eretmochelys imbricata G3 3 Halophila engelmannii Pasto Marino G3G5 1 Herpailurus yaguarondi Jaguarundi G4
GCPM Plan Area ID Conservation Area Name Global Rank # of Viable Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name 31.83 Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas (cont’d) Hummia onusta Macroalgas n/a Leopardus pardalis Ocelot G3 3 Leopardus weidii Margai G4 1 Litorrina ziczac Saltmarsh Snail n/a 6 Macroalgas G4 1 Manglar G2G3 Mercenaria campechiensis Southern Quahog n/a 6 Mycteria americana Wood Stork G4 1 Pastos marinos G3G4 3 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos White Pelican G3 1 Polysiphonia gorgonie Macroalgas n/a Porphyra leucosticta Potos flavus Martucha Siren sp. 1 Lesser Siren (Rio Grande) G5 10 Spermophilus spilosoma mexicanus Ardilla de tierra (Spotted Ground Squirrel) n/a 1
31.84 Johnson’s Bayou Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover G4T3 14
31.85 Lower Guadalupe River Austrotinodes texensis Texas Austrotinodes Caddisfly G2 1
31.86 Neches River Euchemotrema leai cheatumi Palmetto Pillsnail G5T1 1
GCPM Plan APPENDIX R FUNCTIONAL LANDSCAPES, SITES, and BIOLOGICAL RICHNESS
It is generally acknowledged that to effectively conserve biological diversity, it is necessary to work at multiple spatial scales, from the very large to small. This concept played an integral role in the development of this ecoregional plan. The role of differing spatial scales is the key to understanding the concept of functional landscapes, and the application of this concept to the design of an ecoregional portfolio (The Nature Conservancy, 2000). Although concepts related to spatial scale are inherently complex, their inclusion within this report is essential to the full understanding of its role in developing the GCP&M ecoregional plan
Designing Functional Conservation Areas
Ecoregional planning represents a shift away from conservation based primarily on rarity to conservation based on ecosystem- and landscape-level concepts. It is thought that functional conservation areas achieve this by conserving not only multiple elements of conservation concern but also the processes that sustain the elements. This provides an increase in efficiency over traditional conservation site design because functional landscapes are designed to both endure and enable ecosystem processes within their natural range of variation over the long term (i.e., the amount of fluctuation expected under minimal or no influence from human activities over time frames relevant to conservation planning and management, e.g., 100 years). In other words, functional conservation areas are designed with change in mind, with the intent that they will persist longer through time.
Although many functional conservation areas are large, it is inappropriate to assume that a small area is not functional. The size and configuration of a functional conservation area is dictated by the conservation elements and their sustaining ecological processes. For example, many nature preserves were established to conserve imperiled local-scale species, such as rare plants. Such areas are functional if they conserve (or restore through management) the elements and supporting processes within their natural ranges of variability at the appropriate scales, from a hundred acre small-patch community to watersheds consisting of thousands of acres.
Because the scale of functional conservation areas has such a wide range, it is useful to refer to different categories of functional conservation areas. The Nature Conservancy currently recognizes three types of functional conservation areas: sites, landscapes, and networks. The difference among them are the elements that they seek to conserve. The following are definitions of each conservation area type:
Functional Sites
A functional site aims to conserve a small number of elements -- systems, communities, or species -- at one or two scales below regional (see Appendix L, Spatial Scale of Elements). Although they are not necessarily easy to conserve, elements are relatively few and often share similar sustaining ecological processes (e.g., fire-dependent prairie plants and butterflies; a wetland and its rare species; and assemblage of rare fish).
GCPM Plan Functional Landscapes
A functional landscape seeks to conserve a large number of elements at all scales below regional (i.e., coarse, intermediate, and local scales). Conservation elements in functional landscapes are often both terrestrial and aquatic and require a diversity of sustaining ecological processes. Typically, functional landscapes have a high degree of ecological intactness and retain most or all of their key components, processes, and patterns. The distinction between functional landscape sites and all other functional conservation sites is not always clear cut. The operational difference is the degree to which the conservation elements are intended to represent other biodiversity and that the elements occur at coarse, intermediate, and fine scales. Because they include coarse-scale elements, functional landscape sites are typically large.
Functional Networks
A functional network is an integrated set of sites and landscapes designed to conserve regional-scale species with or without finer-scale biodiversity. Sites or landscapes within functional networks can be arranged contiguously over one or more regions to protect wide-ranging species. Conversely, sites or landscapes may form a series of stepping-stones spread over a large area to conserve migratory shorebirds or neotropical migrants. In additional to conserving biodiversity at local, intermediate, and coarse scales, a well designed ecoregional portfolio should serve as a functional network for regional-scale species within the ecoregion; collectively, ecoregional plans should provide functional networks for species that span multiple ecoregions.
The attention to functional conservation areas is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation work. Compared to functional sites, functional landscapes typically provide more habitat, greater habitat diversity, and larger populations of known and unknown species. Because of their complex and comprehensive environmental gradients, they also offer greater protection against global change. Yet functional landscapes are also exponentially more complex, and understanding and measuring them requires substantial resources. Although all portfolio sites should be functional, not all sites will be functional landscapes.
Biological Richness
Biological richness of conservation areas was evaluated in two ways. First, the number of different types of conservation elements represented at each conservation area was calculated. Second, the actual number of viable elements was calculated for each conservation area, regardless of diversity.
This analysis identified Laguna Madre as the conservation area with the highest diversity of elements as well as the conservation area with the highest number of viable elements. Two Mexican sites ranked in the top ten (for a complete listing, see Table R-2). Overall size of conservation areas in the portfolio ranged from Petronila Creek, Texas (2,967 acres) to Laguna Madre, Texas (1,521,730 acres).
Of the 86 conservation areas in the GCP&M, 18 (21%) met the definition of a functional landscape (Table R-1). In other words, each of the 17 functional landscapes contains viable occurrences of elements at all three scales below regional. How this compares to other coastal ecoregions is not readily known due to inconsistent reporting relative to functional landscapes within ecoregions.
GCPM Plan Table R-1. Functional landscapes in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion.
Terrestrial and Area ID Sit e Nam e Acreage Marine/ Aquatic? 31.10 Central Louisiana Barrier Islands and Beaches 205,109 31.14 Avery Island 5,025 31.26 Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 160,962 31.28 Robinson-Oyster Bayou 104,729 31.36 Powderhorn Lake Complex 86,909 31.37 Matagorda Island 101,228 31.38 Aransas Complex 84,751 31.40 Nueces River Delta 51,197 31.41 Redhead Pond Complex 11,155 31.44 Galveston Bay Prairie Complex 69,594 31.45 West Galveston Bay 139,305 31.46 Mad Island - Oyster Lake Complex 51,149 31.48 Cayo de Grullo 96,629 31.49 Laguna Madre 1,521,730 31.50 Lower Sabine Marshes 164,426 31.51 White Kitchen/ Lower Pearl River Complex 26,331 31.59 Palmetto Island 11,860 31.60 Atchafalaya/ Vermillion Complex 749,296 31.64 Chandeleur Sound 61,839 31.73 Nash-Vaught Prairie 104,860 31.78 Columbia Bottomlands 1,269,586
GCPM Plan Table R-2. Summary of conservation areas within GCP&M with the highest diversity of elements.
Number of Percent of Number of Percent of Total Element Conservation Area Viable Total Viable Conservation Conservation Diversity Occurrences Occurrences Elements Elements Rank
Laguna Madre 267 30.0 47 9.9 1
Complejo los Rabones - el Baril e lslas de Barrera 40 4.5 29 6.1 2
Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas 33 3.7 24 5.0 3
Cayo de Grullo 42 4.7 19 4.0 4
Matagorda Island 21 2.4 17 3.6 5
Aransas Complex 16 1.8 15 3.1 6
Mustang Island Complex 24 2.7 15 3.1 7
Powderhorn Lake Complex 11 1.2 14 2.9 8
Columbia Bottomlands 15 1.7 14 2.9 9
West Galveston Bay 15 1.7 13 2.7 10
The conservation areas identified in the portfolio have a skewed distribution in terms of their relative biological richness. The top 10 occurrence-rich sites contain over 55% of the viable element occurrences in the ecoregion (Table R-2). Most of the portfolio conservation areas that are occurrence-rich are also rich in element diversity.
GCPM Plan APPENDIX S LIST OF DATA GAPS
Botanical Data Gaps
Table S-1. Known plant occurrences with unknown viability needing re-inventory (also see Table S-4)
Number of Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name with Unknown Viability Grindelia oolepis Plains gumweed 1 Helianthus occidentalis subsp. Shinners’ sunflower 1 plantagineus Justicia runyonii Runyon’s water willow 1 Prunus texana Texas peachbush 3 Selenia grandis Large selenia 1 Trichocoronis wrightii var. wrightii 1 Willkommia texana var. texana Texas willkommia 3
C Two top priorities for botanical inventory are Ambrosia cheiranthifolia and Hoffmannseggia tenella. Both species are listed endangered, but neither is known from any sites that can be considered viable in the long term. Prospects for formal conservation with cooperative landowners are unknown but certainly merit investigation (Carr 2000). C There is a significant data gap regarding plants in Louisiana and Mexico. Almost all the plant occurrences in the portfolio fall in Texas. A concerted effort to locate viable examples of plant elements in Louisiana and Mexico should be initiated. C Additional priorities should be to initiate landowner contact to conduct rapid status assessments of rare species of the Holocene Sand Sheet in coastal South Texas (including Kenedy and Brooks counties and northern tips of Hidalgo and Willacy counties). Rare species deserving inventory in these areas are: Sesuvium trianthemoides, Matelea radiata, Paronychia lundellorum, Rhododon ciliatus, and Atriplex klebergorum (Carr 2000). C The Holocene Sand Sheet of coastal South Texas provides habitat for numerous but still somewhat rare (mostly G3) plant taxa of interest to The Nature Conservancy, including (Carr 2000):
C Abronia ameliae C Polygonum striatulum C Brazoria arenaria C Pomaria austrotexana C Cressa nudicaulis C Prunus texana C Croton coryi C Sporobolus tharpii C Eleocharis texana C Thelesperma burridgeanum C Euphorbia innocua C Tillandsia baileyi C Matelea brevicoronata C Trichocoronis wrightii C Matelea parviflora C Vaseyochloa multinervosa C Panicum nodatum C Willkommia texana C Paronychia jonesii
GCPM Plan TABLE S-2. Botanical Element Comments, Data Gaps, and Site Information
Element Comments, Data Gaps, and Site Info Comments
Botany Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Abronia ameliae (Amelia's sand-verbena) Fairly widespread, locally common on roadsides but not None known. known from any managed area. Allium elmendorfii (Elmendorf's onion) G2; endemic to Texas. Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988); Enchanted Rock SNA Ambrosia cheiranthifolia (South Texas Listed Endangered. NAS Kingsville (Carr, 1992a) ambrosia) Amorpha nitens (Shining indigo-bush) Globally widespread. LA taxon. Information incomplete Amsonia repens (Creeping slimpod) Aparently locally common in some parts of Texas. Brazos Bend SP (TPWD, 1996). Astragalus reflexus ( Texas milkvetch) Widely scattered small populations; threats uncertain. None known. Atriplex klebergorum (Kleberg saltbush) Narrow endemic confined to limited habitat. None known. Bothriochloa exaristata (Awnless bluestem) Status and significance unknown. Armand Bayou Nature Center (Anonymous, 1989); Brazoria NWR (Fleetwood, 1973b). Brazoria arenaria (Sand brazos-mint) Patchily distributed; status unclear-- need census Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988), NS Ingleside during wet years. (Carr, 1997e). Caesalpinia drummondii (Drummond's rushpea) Small, scattered populations; threats uncertain. None known. Calliandra biflora (Two-flower stickpea) Restricted to small area in Texas None known. Callisia micrantha (Littleflower spiderwort) Endemic to the small portions of two ecoregions but Laguna Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); rather weedy. NALF Waldron (Carr, 1997d). Chloris texensis (Texas windmillgrass) Declining in Greater Houston area; status elsewhere Brazoria NWR (Fleetwood, 1973b). unclear. Coreopsis nuecensis (Crown coreopsis) Patchily abundant on highway r-o-w; status on Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988). grazed lands unknown. Crataegus brazoria (Brazoria hawthorn) Since the identification of any one specimen can Brazos Bend SP (TPWD, 1996). require weeks of research, I recommend an “innocent until proven quilty” attitude toward hawthorns. Crataegus texana (Texas hawthorn) Since the identification of any one specimen can Brazos Bend SP (TPWD, 1996). require weeks of research, I recommend an “innocent until proven quilty” attitude toward hawthorns. Cressa nudicaulis (Leafless alkali-weed) Narrow endemic in restricted habitat; threats may be Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988); Laguna low. Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973; Ideker, 1992); Loma Preserve Tract, LRGVNWR (Carr 14102, 14109); Sal del Rey Tract, LRGVNWR (Carr, 1995b). Croton coryi (Cory's croton) Endemic but probably without serious threat. Padre Island NS (Rabelais, 1975). Cucurbita texana (Texas gourd) Status survey needed. None known. Cuscuta attenuata (Marsh-elder dodder) Perceived rarity probably the result of disinterest; wide- None known. ranging, parasitic on a weed abundant in ecoregion.
GCPM Plan Botany Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Cuscuta exaltata (Tree dodder, oak dodder) Locally common on Ingleside Barrier. Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988); Goose Island SP (TPWD, 1996); NS Ingleside (Carr, 1997); Dolan Falls Ranch (Carr, 1997f). Cyperus cephalanthus (Giant sharpstem Poorly understood; only verified extant populations None known. umbrella-sedge; cryptic flatsedge) are in LA. Desmanthus reticulatus (Netleaf bundleflower) Widespread but perhaps threatened by agriculture. Government Canyon SP (TPWD, 1995); Lake Corpus Christi SRA (TPWD, 1995). Echeandia chandleri (Lila de los llanos) Narrow endemic; probably stable within LRGVNWR, Laguna Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); but facing extirpation at northern end of range. Loma Preserve Tract and Tulosa Ranch Tract, LRGVNWR (Carr, 1995b) Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii (Black Listed endangered; few populations; perhaps threatened None known; introduced at Mesquite Brushlands lace cactus) by exotic grasses. Preserve. Eleocharis austrotexana (South Texas Probably overlooked and/or undercollected. Laguna Atascosa NWR (A. Traverse 1059, spikesedge) TEX-LL); Seguin Auxiliary Airfield (W. R. Carr 12974, TAES). Eleocharis brachycarpa (Short-fruit spikesedge) No known extant populations. None known. Euphorbia innocua (Velvet spurge) Need status survey. Goose Island SP (TPWD 1996); Padre Island NS (Rabelais, 1975). Fuirena longa (Coastal Plains umbrella-sedge; Restricted in Texas to wetlands on the Ingleside Barrier. NAS Corpus Christi (Carr, 1997b); NS Ingleside longspike porcupine sedge) (Carr. 1997e). Grindelia oolepis (Plains gumweed) Narrow endemic; no protected sites. None known. Helianthus floridanus (Florida sunflower) Fairly widespread. Helianthus occidentalis subsp. plantagineus (Shinners' sunflower) Need status survey. None known. Heteranthera mexicana (Mexican mud-plantain) Restricted to freshwater wetlands; no protected sites. None known. Hoffmannseggia tenella (Slender rushpea) Listed Endangered; no protected sites. None known. Houstonia croftiae (Croft's bluets) Perhaps G4. None known. Hymenoxys texana (Prairie-dawn) Listed Endangered. Addicks and Barker Reservoirs-- results of annual surveys available from US Army Corps of Engineers. Justicia runyonii (Runyon's water-willow) Narrow endemic; records from north of LRGV Resaca de la Palma Unit of Las Palomas WMA; probably erroneous. Santa Ana NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); Laguna Atascosa NWR (Ideker, 1991); Noriega and Ranchito tracts, LRGVNWR (Carr, 1995b). Leitneria floridana (Corkwood) Few Texas populations; need status survey. Peach Point WMA; introduced at Galveston Island SP, San Jacinto Battleground SHP, and Varner-Hogg SHP (X) in 1972. Lenophyllum texanum (Texas stonecrop) Narrow endemic; threats unclear. Alto Bonito, Loma Preserve, Los Olmos and Vista del Mar tracts of LRGVNWR (Carr, 1995b); Laguna Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973). Liatris bracteata (Coastal gayfeather) Ecoregional endemic; need status survey. Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988); Addicks Reservoir (Carr, 1995a); Mad Island Marsh Preserve (Bruce & Carr, 1998).
GCPM Plan Botany Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Machaeranthera aurea (Houston Endemic to Greater Houston area. Addicks Reservoir (Carr, 1995a). machaeranthera) Machaeranthera heterocarpa (Welder Narrow endemic, but apparently not palatable to Welder Wildlife Refuge (Hartman 3785, TEX- machaeranthera) livestock. LL; Jones 6900, TEX-LL). Matelea brevicoronata (Shortcrown milkvine) Narrow endemic, but apparently not palatable to None known. livestock. Paronychia jonesii (Jones' nailwort) Probably not distinct from P. drummondii. None known. Paronychia lundellorum (Lundells' nailwort) One known extant population. None known. Physalis angustifolia (Coastal ground-cherry) Weedy within limited global range? Physostegia correllii (Correll's false No known extant populations in Texas; status in None known (in Texas). dragonhead) Louisiana.? Polygonum striatulum (Kleberg knotweed) Need status survey. None known. Pomaria austrotexana (Stinking rushpea) Need status survey. None known. Prunus texana (Texas peachbush) Fairly widespread; need information about browsing Goose Island State Park (TPWD, 1996). pressure. Rhododon angulatus (Tharp's rhododon) Extremely narrow endemic; no protected sites. None; need to contact Aransas County Airport re possible habitat management. Rhynchospora indianolensis (Indianola Common on Mad Island Marsh Preserve, but Mad Island Marsh Preserve (Bruce & Carr, beakrush) essentially unknown elsewhere; need status survey. 1998). Selenia grandis (Large selenia) Patchily distributed; may be adversely effected by None known. alteration of natural hydrologic regimes on floodplains. Sesuvium trianthemoides (Texas sea-purslane; Known only from type specimen; no known extant None known. roughseed sea-purslane) populations. Spigelia texana (Texas pinkroot) Fairly widely distributed but rare throughout range; Big Thicket NP (Brown, 1995); Brazos Bend SP need threat assessment. (TPWD, 1996); Lake Somerville WMA (Carr 15080, TEX-LL); Varner-Hogg SHP (TPWD, 1989). Sporobolus silveanus (Silveus' dropseed) Locally abundant in parts of the state; overlooked. TNC preserves in NE Texas [No TPWD parks] Sporobolus tharpii (Padre Island dropseed) Apparently common on barrier island dunes. Brazoria NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); Laguna Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); Padre Island NS (Rabelais, 1975). Tauschia texana (Texas tauschia) Restricted to deciduous riparian woodlands, but often Brazos Bend SP (TPWD, 1996); Palmetto SP abundant where present. (Carr, 1998a; TPWD, 1990); Brazoria NWR (Fleetwood, 1973b); San Jacinto Battleground SP (Brown, 1985). Thalictrum texanum (Houston meadow-rue) Few extant populations. Brazos County Park; see BCD Thelypodiopsis shinnersii (Shinners' rocket) Need status survey; very few collections indicate None known. narrow jendemism but probably weed within range. Thurovia triflora (Threeflower broomweed) Threatened by urban expansion in Greater Houston Aransas NWR (McAlister, 1988); Addicks area; status to the south unknown. Reservoir (Carr, 1995a).
GCPM Plan Botany Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Tillandsia baileyi (Bailey's ballmoss) Need status survey on private lands in the South Resaca de la Palma Unit of Las Palomas WMA; Texas Sand Sheet. Santa Ana NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); Laguna Atascosa NWR (Ideker, 1991); Noriega and Ranchito tracts, LRGVNWR (Carr, 1995b). Tradescantia buckleyi (Buckley's spiderwort) Need status survey; threatened by brush-clearing? NALF Cabaniss (Carr, 1997c). Trichocoronis wrightii var. wrightii (Wrights' Need status survey; restricted to ephemeral wetlands. Laguna Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973). trichocoronis) Willkommia texana var texana (Texas Need status survey. Brazoria NWR (Fleetwood 9106 and Fleetwood willkommia) 9274, TEX-LL); Laguna Atascosa NWR (Fleetwood, 1973); Welder Wildlife Refuge (8606, TEX-LL; Jones 5752, CCM); Armand Bayou Nature Center (Anonymous, 1989). Zephyranthes refugiensis (Refugio rainlily) Taxonomic status uncertain; abundance uncertain due None known. to short erratic bloom period.
GCPM Plan Zoological Data Gaps
Table S-3. Known animal occurrences with unknown viability needing re-inventory (also see Table S-5)
Number of Occurrences Scientific Name Common Name with Unknown Viability C Amphibians Siren intermedia pop 1 Rio Grande lesser siren 1 C Birds Aimophila botterii texana Botteri’s sparrow 6
Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy plover 1
Egretta rufescens Reddish egret 1 Falco femoralis septentrionalis Aplomado falcon 1 Brownsville common Geothlypis trichas insperata 5 yellowthroat Icterus cucullatus sennetti Sennett’s hooded oriole 2 Parula pitiayumi nigrilora Tropical parula 1 Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Attwater’s prairie chicken 1 C Fish Syngnathus affinis Texas pipefish 1 C Mammals Felis pardalis Ocelot 9 Felis yagouaroundi Jaguarundi 10 C Reptiles Coniophanes imperialis Black-striped snake 2 Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas indigo snake 6 Drymarchon margaritiferus Speckled racer 1 Gopherus berlandieri Texas tortoise 1 Lepidochelys kempii Kemp’s ridley 3 Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback terrapin 21 Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Texas diamondback terrapin 18 C Crustaceans Fallicambarus macneesei Old prairie crawfish 8
C Sea turtles Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)G3 Atlantic Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)G3 Kemp’s Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)G1
With gulf-front real estate at a premium and development engulfing Mustang and South Padre Islands, it is of great importance to determine where the most important potential nest sites for these species exist amongst the Texas barrier islands. This may not require survey effort from the Texas Conservation Data Center, since the USFWS has data on nesting locations; an agreement with the USFWS to share data on
GCPM Plan the nesting locations of turtles in Texas over recent decades should be pursued. Primary nesting habitat for these species occurs exclusively on barrier islands along the Texas coast (Ettel 2000).
C Texas Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea lineri) G5T2
This taxon resides in deep sands and most collections have been made in the sand plain of South Texas in Brooks and Kenedy counties. Collections have also been made from the Encinal Peninsula near Corpus Christi and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Although this subspecies has a relatively high rarity rank (G5T2), and its primary habitat in the South Texas sand plain remains virtually intact, there are several reasons for concern. No specimens are known to the scientific community since 1981. Personal communications with private collectors have indicated that this species was formerly seen much more commonly and has not been observed in recent years. Speculations on reasons for decline have included fire ant invasion of the area. Principal habitat for this taxon lies in the Wild Horse Desert or South Texas Sand Sheet (Ettel 2000).
C Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) G2
This species has witnessed steep population declines in recent years. It is known to winter along the Texas coast, but it is poorly known what percentage of the population actually winters in Texas and what locations along the Texas coast harbor large aggregations of this species. From TNC’s perspective, this species might be lower priority for inventory because it tends to utilize cultivated fields in small flocks in winter. However, this is a species high on the USFWS radar screen and one for which inventory work could be done in winter when other inventory needs cannot be addressed (Ettel 2000).
C Gulf coast Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus texensis) G5T4
This subspecies was formerly known from South Texas but has not been reported in recent decades. No specimens collected after the late 1960s exist in collections. Specimens in Texas are recorded from Kleberg and Brooks counties. A photograph of a roadkill specimen taken between Rivera and Falfurrias that would provide a more contemporary record is reportedly held by A. H. Chaney. Collections from Tamaulipas, Mexico date into the late 1970s. Habitat for this species appears to remain intact; however, no reports of the subspecies have been issued. This subspecies was formerly a USFWS C2 (Ettel 2000).
C Old Prairie Crawfish (Fallicambarus macneesei) G2
The Louisiana Natural Heritage Program is knowledgeable about this species, but no occurrence information exists for this G2 species in Texas. As it may occur in the extreme northeastern portion of the state, Texas should coordinate with LA NHP to identify high-priority sites for inventory (Ettel 2000).
C Saltmarsh Topminnow (Fundulus jenkinsii) G3
Records dating back to 1891 exist for this species in Dickinson Bayou, Texas, but no recent collection records from Texas are known. Survey effort should be expanded around Galveston Bay. Surveys could possibly be undertaken by students from the University of Houston or by a class led by the Texas City Prairie Preserve education director (Ettel 2000).
GCPM Plan C Brownsville Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas insperata) G5T2
A report by Rappole and Klicka (1991) stated that G. t. insperata “suffers from a restricted range and a critically low population size.” They “strongly” recommended immediate listing of the subspecies as Federally Endangered. Inventory priority should be given to sites where Rappole and Klicka found populations during their survey. This should include resaca habitats currently under protection (in Texas, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Southmost Preserve, TPWD property, LRGV NWR, and Boca Chica areas) as well as resaca habitats on private lands. A good place to initiate permission for inventory would be the resaca on the portion of Southmost Ranch not acquired by TNC, as well as other resaca habitat between Southmost and Sabal Palm Sanctuary. A canoe trip between these two properties to census riverine habitat would also likely provide valuable data (Ettel 2000).
C Maritime Pocket Gopher (Geomys personatus maritimus) G4T2
This subspecies is a former USFWS C2 with a high T-rank, G4T2. Although locally common in Texas in the Corpus Christi and Flour Bluff areas, habitat for this subspecies is rapidly being swallowed up by urban development. Thus far, the gopher seems to be adapting, appearing in yards and vacant lots, but such habitats can hardly be deemed secure. This subspecies is endemic to the Encinal Peninsula, which extends southward to the northern portion of the King Ranch. The subspecies has never been collected from the King Ranch, but has probably never been surveyed. If confirmed on the King Ranch, the population there (and therefore the taxon itself) could be considered far more secure than those persisting within suburban Corpus Christi (Ettel 2000).
C Southern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus ega) G5
This species is not uncommon globally (G5) but apparently only occurs naturally in only one place in the United States: a highly threatened habitat, the sabal palm groves of South Texas. Inventory priorities should include Southmost Preserve and the Sabal Palm Sanctuary (Ettel 2000).
C Black-spotted newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis) G1
Several status surveys and reports have been conducted and published for this species. Most were done in the 1980s and earlier. A general consensus is that this species is not widespread and that it has likely declined from historic populations levels. A tremendous survey effort (over 220 survey sites) conducted by Frank Judd (1985) only found newts in 2 locations. This species tends to occur in ephemeral water sources absent of fish, but is typically not found in canals. Resaca and ephemeral pond and stock tanks in Kenedy, Kelberg, Willacy, and Cameron counties, Texas, should be inventory priorities, but other South Texas counties should also be inventoried, as should resaca habitats of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Speculation about seeming populating declines of this species implicate alteration and draining of natural wetland habitats, development of resacas, and pesticide contamination. Judd (1985) recommended listing this species as Federally threatened (Ettel 2000).
C Rio Grande Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia texana) G5T?
In recent years, separate analyses have come to two conclusions on this taxon. One report concluded that this subspecies is not a valid taxon separate from others. A more recent report, yet unpublished, concludes that it might actually be a full species separate from S. intermedia. Inventory priority should be
GCPM Plan given to Kleberg and Kenedy counties and resaca habitats of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Stock ponds and other standing water habitats on the King and Kenedy Ranches may harbor large populations of this species. These habitats are likely absent from many of the threats to this subspecies’ habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Ettel 2000).
C Texas Pipefish (Syngnathus affinis) G1
The Texas pipefish is a G1 taxon with virtually no occurrence data. There is one 1952 record from Nueces County near Harbor Island, and one 1976 record with locality listed as Gulf of Mexico (Ettel 2000).
C Manfreda Giant Skipper (Stallingsia maculosa) G2
There are reports of the Manfreda giant skipper being collected within the last five years at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, Sullivan City, and Corpus Christi State Park (Quinn 2001). These reports should be obtained and included in the portfolio, if appropriate. In addition, the host plant of the skipper, Manfreda maculosa, or spotted tube rose, should be added to the list of plant elements of conservation concern.
C Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) G5T3?
The largest global population of this subspecies occurs in the GCP&M ecoregion. The existing conservation area is probably not of sufficient size to sustain a healthy population of bear, and additional viable sites need to be located.
Other overall data gap topic areas that need to be fully addressed :
C endemic animals in Texas C Better assess validity of exclusion/inclusion of avian species for the GCP&M to provide a more complete rangewide, (i.e., throughout the Great Plains) goal setting process (also, see Elphick 2000) C Invertebrates (including insects, arthropods, mollusks) C Full inclusion of species of animals of conservation concern or importance that occur no farther north in the ecoregion than the State of Tamaulipas in Mexico are not well represented, perhaps even on the element list, not to mention EORs.
GCPM Plan TABLE S-4. Zoological Element Comments, Data Gaps, and Site Information
Element Comments, Data Gaps, and Site Info Comments
Zoology Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Aimophila botterii texana (Botteri's Sparrow) Localized but widespread in coastal scrub grassland. Relationship with prescribed fire and natual fire regimes Laguna Atascosa NWR, Welder PIF=31 needs study for utility as tool to increase habitat. Perhaps Wildlife Refuge data gaps in Mexico? Need to consolidate EORs into primary and secondary EORs. Austrotinodes texensis (Texas Austrotinodes Target added from experts Aquatic Workshop San Felipe Springs Caddisfly) informaiton. Awaous tajasica (River Goby) Found in freshwater habitats primarily in West Indies and Distributional range and specimens summarized in Edwards Caribbean coast of Central America to Brazil, northward et al.(1986)- Tex.J.Sci.38(2):191-192. Have an '86 citation along both Florida coasts, western Gulf record at Rio Soto from Robert Edwards -- should attempt to get EOR from La Marina (Edwards, et al. 1986). this, or contact him for location and any updates. Blarina hylophaga plumbea (Aransas Short-tailed Recommend removing Q, Aransas Co. endemic, named Needs assessment of range, current status, trends, rarity Aransas NWR Shrew) population isolated by approx. 250 miles from other ranking. Found on Aransas NWR; need to obtain those known subspecies (Schmidly and Brown, 1979; George et EORs. S. Georges & D. Schmidly's paper might point to al., 1981). additional locations. Texas A&M papers also need to be reviewed for EOR possibilities. Callinectes rathbunae (Jaiba) Assumed that End. Al Golfo de = Limited Camptostoma imberbe (Northern Beardless- Peripheral Neotropical species in several U.S. Laguna Atascosa NWR should have additional records. Laguna Atascosa NWR Tyrannulet) southwestern ecoregions. Oak motte/mesquital Explore literature work by Tim Brush. community guild indicator. Restricted to oak motte, oak mesquite forests and thorn forest patches in ecoregion and adjacent Tamaulipan Thornscrub. PIF =24. Cardisoma guanhumi (Blue Land Crab) Peripheral Neotropical species. Common to abudant Rio Need to create EORs from Matagorda. Has also been found Matagorda Island NWR Grande south into Mexico. around Boca Chica. Species deserves inventory. Caretta caretta (Loggerhead) Is also a Mexico Target/Threatened by nesting beach Information exists; data collection is a priority. Contact Chandeleur Island NWR, Padre Island disturbances and shrimp trawler mortality. Conservation Donna Shaver at Padre Island National Seashore. Nat. Seashore priority lies in protection of beach communities. Cemophora coccinea lineri (Texas Scarlet Snake) Is also a Mexico Target/Threats unknown but presumed to Compilation of museum specimens and distribution map Aransas NWR; Goose Island SP? be habitat loss. Elusive and furtive taxon: rarely collected needed. Inventory priorities are King and Kenedy Ranches. and difficult to assess. Endemic to Hypersaline Lagoon Assumption is that large tracts of relatively undisturbed and Texas Bays and Marshes subregions. habitat will conserve taxon. Charadrius alexandrinus (Snowy Plover) Is also a Mexico Target/Combined subspecies; LA More data are available from other sources. Bird-related Chandeleur Island NWR, Last Island breeding population not understood (only one recent organizations have studied this species, and data should be WMA, Grand Island SP (wintering) record); subspecies differentiation questioned. Breeds in available. Would be priority for winter season data Boliver Flats, San Luis Pass, Padre TX and Tamaulipas beaches, high vegetation flats and collection. Goal should be separated into breeding and Island NS, Laguna Atascosa NWR, MX dredged material deposition areas. wintering populations. Laguna Madre (breeding and wintering) Charadrius melodus (Piping Plover) Is also a Mexico Target Louisiana records from islands and beaches; status in Padre Island NS, Mustang Island SP, Mexico unknown. Continue to collect EORs at sites to keep Laguna Atascosa NWR, Aransas NWR, database current. Matagorda Island NWR
GCPM Plan Zoology Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Charadrius montanus (Mountain Plover) Questionable habitat needs; conservation strategy Pronatura for MX EORs. TAMU-Kingsville/Caesar Possibly good sites for partner groups, questionable; may be landscape level conservation issue -- Kleberg Foundatation. Federal Register listing. Survey such as Katy Prairie Conservancy. i.e., link to shortgrass prairie habitat restoration which Welder, King, Kenedy Ranches & Aransas NWR for info includes burning regime. on pop's after burning. Work w/ TX Birds to report wintering locations. Not high priority data gap. Chelonia mydas (Atlantic Green Turtle) seagrass beds historically important foraging areas; many Get data from NBS and Donna Shaver (Padre Isl NS). Chandeleur Island ?, Laguna Madre ? use Mansfield Pass on Padre Island Likely to occur in LA too -- data gaps should be filled. Redfish Bay / Harbor Island is a high FWS protects data to prevent nest site disturbance. conservation priority for other groups. Inventory should be in and around seagrass beds, estuarine sites. Conepatus leuconotus texensis (Gulf Coast Hog- Although subspecies is given low t-rank, no extant Confirm presence; may be extirpated. Inventory priority nosed Skunk) populations are widely known. Likely needs re-ranking, South Texas Sand Sheet. may be extirpated. Coniophanes imperialis (Black-striped Snake) Peripheral, occurs southward along Gulf coastal Status unknown. Compilation of museum records needed. Laguna Atascosa NWR (?); Sabal Palm woodlands of Mexico to Honduras. On occasion found in Must document occurrences on federal landsTNC property - grove (NAS) urban areas of Brownsville. Southmost Ranch, Sabal Palm Grove, Boca Chica, Bahia Grande. Dipodomys compactus compactus (Padre Island Is also a Mexico Target/Locality data are summarized in Obtain EORs from South Padre Isl and Mustang Isl. Mustang Island State Park, Padre Island Kangaroo Rat) Sealander, et al.(1962), Schmidly and Hendricks(1976) Inventory new SPI acquisition for this species. National Seashore and Baumgardner and Schmidly (1981). Taxon. status currently follows the latter. Current cons. status and local abundance unknown but ranked S3. Drymarchon corais erebennus (Texas Indigo Also widespread in Tamaulipan Thornscrub Obtain EORs from Kenedy and King Ranches, from Karges Laguna Atascosa NWR, Welder Snake) and from Dixon. Species occurrences probably fall in sites Wildlife Refuge; Site 55 (Baffin Bay, selected for other reasons; data collection could verify this. TAMU-Kingsville) Drymobius margaritiferus (Speckled racer) In U.S., endemic in this ecoregion and possibly adjacent Chaney reports frequent sightings from Southmost Nursery Sabal Palm Refuge (?) [NAS] Tamaulipan Thornscrub; southward as well. -- obtain EORs. Inventory priorities are Southmost Ranch and Bosque de la Palma. Contact Pat Burchfield for EORs, also snake-associated interest groups. Egretta rufescens (Reddish Egret) Is also a Mexico Target/50-75% of world's population in South Laguna Madre touted as epicenter (especially SPI). Padre Island NS spoil islands; Aransas U.S., Laguna Madre supports significant portion of Need to turn reports from Audubon into EORs. Inventory NWR complex, Green Island (NAS), population. Species requires many miles of foraging TNC SPI property. Breton NWR, Three Island spoil other habitat - wind tidal flats on back side of barrier islands. coastal refuges Elanoides forficatus (American Swallow-tailed Target as declining nesting species in ecoregion; of See SWAN and C. Shackleford articles for recent Texas Pearl River WMA (shared with EGCP), Kite) concern in migrant guild. Habitat of concern includes nesting records. Formerly common in riparian woodlands Trinity River NWR, Barataria Unit of wetland savannas for hunting and talll trees (200') for in coastal forests of TX near Columbia Bottomlands and Chalmette NHP nesting. Currently records are in woodlots near urban near Houston. Migrant in GCPM, except NE portion of LA areas. delta. Low inventory priority. Euchemotrema leai cheatumi (Palmetto Pillsnail) Target added from experts Aquatic Workshop info. Veg Terrestrial along the stream banks consists of watercress, RORIPPA NASTURTIUM AQUATICUM, bald cypress, TAXODIUM DISTICHIUM, spanish moss, TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES, and ball moss, TILLANDSIA RECURVATA (Bowles, 1995).
GCPM Plan Zoology Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Falco femoralis septentrionalis (Aplomado No naturally extant populations in ecoregion. Genetic Contact Angel Montoya for EORs. Semi-viable reproducing Laguna Atascosa NWR (re-established Falcon) stock of S. TX birds is from outside GCPM. Individuals population on Matagorda section of Aransas and in Laguna breeding population), attempts from captive breeding program released in S. TX from Atascosa. Welder and Mad Isl may become reintroduction underway to establish breeding Mexican ecoregion south of GCPM. areas. Support efforts of FWS and Peregrine Fund. population at Aransas NWR Fallicambarus macneesei (Old Prairie Crawfish) Ecoregional endemic; limited distribution but relatively Known only from LA; all known records are historic. limited distribution but relatively common common; no obvious threats; no clearly identified sites Fundulus jenkinsii (Saltmarsh Topminnow) Known from Dickinson Bayou in Galveston Bay (Hubbs, Data gaps difficult to fill; difficult to sample. Misidentified et al. 1991). Habitat: estuaries, salt marsh. at Mad Island. Highest priority are landscape-scale sites with estuarine and terrestrial components. Ideal research for small grants student research. Gecarcinus lateralis (Blackback Land south Texas mangroves; no sites identified Document and protect mangrove communities to use as Crab,Mangrove Crab) surrogate for protection of this species. Geomys attwateri (Attwater's Pocket Gopher) near-endemic in U.S., locally abundant, conservation Populations on TPWD lands and other potential protected Goose Island SP, Aransas NWR status/concern undetermined areas need characterization and assessment, including Goose Island, Aransas NWR, Powderhorn Ranch. Inventory priority for off-season. Geomys personatus maritimus (Maritime Texas ecoregional endemic, local populations along roadsides See TPWD recent survey. Status on King Ranch, public Corpus Christi NAS, Waldron Field, Pocket Gopher) appear to be dense and numerous lands in Flour Bluff, CC Naval Air Station need Barney Davis fisheries facility; Flour quantification. Bluff Geomys personatus personatus (Barrier Island Is also a Mexico Target/Should be recognized as distinct Survey gopher mounds on Mustang and Padre Islands, Cohn Mustang Island State Park, Padre Island Texas Pocket Gopher) subspecies from mainland forms as insularization tract. National Seashore disallows dispersal between island and mainland forms. Geothlypis trichas insperata (Brownsville Is also a Mexico Target/Ecoregional endemic. Habitat EORs from Southmost Ranch, Sabal Palm. Ecological Sabal Palm (NAS) Common Yellowthroat) includes grassy/shrubby resacas, cane and cattails. assessment of habitat requirements and remnants needed, including quantification and aerial survey of Rio Grande corridor. Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum (Cactus Near-endemic in U.S. Apparently stable populations Cecilia Riley re: Kenedy Ranch. Follow up with Proudfoot's Laguna Atascosa NWR Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl) distributed in mosaic of savanna woodlands. Suitable literature to obtain EOR or primary EOR site habitat in mesquite/oak mott savanna might be sufficient to conserve metapopulation across Kenedy and King Ranches and other ranches in area. Gobionellus atripinnis (Blackfin Goby) ecoregional endemic in U.S., known only from estuaries Confirm presence. in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico (Hubbs, et al., 1991). Rio Grande delta (type locality is Rio Grande valley). Full distribution unknown. Gopherus berlandieri (Texas Tortoise) near-endemic in south Texas and northern Tamaulipas State lands and other conservation areas with viable Laguna Atascosa NWR, Welder populations need to be identified, incl. Laguna Atascosa, Wildlife Refuge; King Ranch, Kenedy South TX Sand Sheet. Create EORs from known Ranch, Martinez Ranch, Southmost occurrences. Areal extent of contiguous metapopulation Ranch corridors and linkages needs assessment. Graptemys caglei (Cagle's Map Turtle) tri-ecoregion endemic; Guadalupe River system Contact David Bowles for update on TPWD status survey. Locate other viable populations and protected stretches of river. One of largest populations is near Victoria - obtain records.
GCPM Plan Zoology Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Grassland bird guild Assoc. spp: White-tailed hawk, burrowing owl (early seral We assume that conservation of viable examples of various Refugio-Coastal Prairie stages) Henslow's sparrow, ferruginous hawk, Sprague's grassland communities (with due consideration for inclusion pipit (early seral stages), migrant loggerhead shrike, short- of dynamic nature of communities and all seral stages) will eared owl. Grassland species are primarily wintering effectively capture all listed and unlisted grassland birds. birds. Grus americana (Whooping Crane) Is also a Mexico Target/wintering ecoregion endemic Goal of 3 sites must be checked against recovery plan. The Aransas NWR, Matagorda Island NWR northern population in database may be aberrant, an accidental population. Potential EOR from Powderhorn? Gulf beaches and dunes - Beach wintering areas Numerous species with strong affinity to these habitats (see sites listed for neotropical migrant (e.g. Peregrine Falcon); both insular and mainland bird fallout sites) + King Ranch and beaches. Boca Chica. Herpailurus yaguarondi (Jaguarundi) Is also a Mexico Target/Peripheral in U.S, at northern EORs from Anacahuitas? Inventory/assessment needed. Conservation initiatives assumed to be limit of Neotropical distribution; US, TX, TOES - E. Contact NWRs for EORs. Mike Tullis (Kleberg similar to those for ocelot. Foundation) reports none seen in TX since 1986. Verify TX Corridors/connectivity important. records from Brazoria; likely wrong. Holbrookia propinqua (Keeled Earless Lizard) near-endemic; common on sands of southern barrier Question raised to change rank to G2/S2. Inv priorities are Padre Island NS, Mustang Island SP. islands (Mustang southward); curiously absent on the Kenedy, King Ranches, Padre NS, and Mustang Island. northern barrier islands Hypopachus variolosus (Sheep Frog) Northeastern extension of primarily Neotropical Some Not Viable occurrences captured in sites; these sites Site 55 (TAMU- Kingsville research distribution; populations only ephemerally detectable should be inventory priorities for viable occurrences. Old station, Baffin Bay) during and following rains and flooding. Flooded records need to be re-inventoried. grasslands south of Kingsville, ranges from Duval Co southward. Icterus cucullatus sennetti (Sennett's Hooded near-endemic in U.S.; peripheral, conservation status Rappole and Clicker report will provide EORs. Sabal Palm Forest (NAS); King & Oriole) poorly known; subspecific determinations and ranges of Kenedy Ranches cucullatus and sennetti are to be clarified. Consider species in oak motte guild of species. Icterus graduacauda audubonii (Audubon's near-endemic in U.S., peripheral, more in Tamaulipan Kenedy, King, Martinez(?) Ranches. Data is available; Sabal Palm Refuge (?) [NAS]; Laguna Oriole) Thornscrub must contact Tim Brush (UT PanAm), Cecilia Riley, Paul Atascosa NWR, King and Kenedy Palmer (TAMU Kingsville), Cliff Shackleford (TPWD) Ranches Lasiurus ega (Southern Yellow Bat) near-endemic in U.S., widespread in Neotropics; Inventory Southmost, Sabal Palm, Boscaje del la Palma. Southmost Ranch; Sabal Palm Forest peripheral habitat specialist. Protection strategy is (NAS) sustained palm stands on public land. Leopardus pardalis (Ocelot) Is also a Mexico Target/Peripheral at northern dist. Contact Mike Tullis (CKWRI) for current records. Consult Laguna Atascosa NWR, and perhaps limits;restricted to remnant thornscrub habitats in with Lower Rio Grande NWR for data and maps showing some large South Texas ranches, ecoregions (Shindle & Tewes,1998), status and abundance corridor design. Kenedy Co. in Tamaulipas undocumented. Sites must include consideration for corridors and connectivity. Lepidochelys kempii (Kemp's Ridley) Is also a Mexico Target/Regional endemic in U.S. and Allow for potential recovery sites for nesting arribadas. Padre Island National Seashore; northeastern Mexico; records of beach strandings and Lauro Villar/Washington Beach; Tepehuaje (Tamaulipas). Mustang Island SP nesting attempts maintained at PAIS Natl. Seashore Consult Donna Shaver about obtaining records; consider data exchange with USFWS, NBS.
GCPM Plan Zoology Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Leptodactylus labialis (White-lipped Frog) Is also a Mexico Target/Near-endemic in U.S., records Same as sheep frog; surveys needed. May be in Tamaulipan mostly from adjacent Tamaulipan thornscrub, three Texas Thornscrub, may be extirpated. 3 TX locales, all relatively counties Cameron, Hidalgo and Starr. Species ranges to old records needing confirmation. Nicaragua Litorrina ziczac (saltmarsh snail)) Added to ET represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Littorina angulifera (Mangrove Periwinkle Snail) endemic to ecoregion in U.S.; habitat specialist (fide J. W. Consult Wes Tunnell at TAMU-CC for records. Boca Tunnell, pers. com.) Chica, Cameron Co, TX. Malaclemys terrapin (Diamondback Terrapin) Target includes both M.t. littoralis (TX &LA) and M.t. Viable populations in Chenier Plain. Breton NWR, Isle Derniers, Aransas pileata (Louisiana only) NWR, Elmers Island, Goose Island SP, Grand Terre Malaclemys terrapin littoralis (Texas Target includes both M.t. littoralis (TX &LA) and M.t. Inventory Johnson Ranch Marsh Breton NWR, Isle Derniers, Aransas Diamondback Terrapin) pileata (Louisiana only) NWR, Elmers Island, Goose Island SP, Grand Terre, Mangrove communities Assoc. spp: Littorina angulifera lateralis. Full zonation of Larger examples in Mexico are important to consider. Black mangrove abundant in Lower all mangrove commensal species begins at La Pesca/Rio Laguna Madre and Harbor Island / Soto La Marina southward. Redfish Bay area. Mercenaria campechiensis (Southern Quahog) Added to ET represent the listed EORs for this species. -- 03/26/01 TNC Neotropical migrant bird fallout sites Sites along the coast that are considered important stop- Sea Rim SP, Sabine Woods, TX Point over habitat with special attention paid to representation NWR, Anahuac NWR, High Island, across ecoregion Bolivar Pen., Galveston Island SP, Brazos Bend SP, Brazoria and San Bernard NWRs, Matagorda Island SP, Aransas NWR, Goose Island SP, Packery Channel Co. Park, Padre Island NS. Notophthalmus meridionalis (Black-spotted Is also a Mexico Target/Near-endemic in U.S. Occurs in See TAMU and other museum collections for further Newt) assemblages with Siren intermedia texana and available data. Laguna Salado (in Baffin Bay) inventory Hypopachus variolosus. priority. Re-survey the old records in TX Bays and Marshes - likely extant. Survey Welder after rains, or inquire about presence. Opheodrys vernalis (Western Smooth Green Species widely distributed but TX pop'n highly disjunct, Last known site is Middleton Prairie inlate 1960s Snake) separated from nearest population by > 500 miles. May be extirpated or may be more common than encountered. Level of isolation from other extant pop's warrants higher priority than Grank indicates. Oryzomys couesi aquaticus (Coues' Rice Rat) Found in U.S. south of Baffin Bay; perhaps in adjacent See Benson and Gelhbach (1979) and Schmidt and Green Island (NAS) fide Schmidt and Tamaulipan Thornscrub to the southwest and further Engstrom (1994) for locations. Inventory at Southmost. Engstrom (1994); Laguna Atascosa south. NWR Parula pitiayumi nigrilora (Tropical Parula) limited to oak mottes in ecoregion; scattered distribution See Coastal Oak Motte assemblage below. Survey King and in suitable habitat patches Kenedy Ranches. Tim Brush (UT Pan Am) and Cecilia Riley
GCPM Plan Zoology Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (White Pelican) Is also a Mexico Target South Padre Island. Must get info on the 2 known nesting Padre Island NS, coastal national colonies. Must locate, EO, and protect Mexican population. wildlife refuges, state parks and wildlife management areas. Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican) Additional threats include personal watercraft and Check EOR that reports 2 nesting sites in Mexico (001). Pelican and Sundown Islands and other recreational boat disturbance, entanglement with Locate other colonies and nesting sites (quality and size) in coastal islands managed and owned by monofilament, causeway/flyway mortalities. TX Bays and Marshes subregion. Lee Elliott Texas General Land Office; in Lousiana: Isle Denier, Grand Terre, Queen Bess, Brenton Phrynosoma cornutum (Texas Horned Lizard) Declines in harvester ant spp. used for food and loss of Better documentation of status needed. Obtain records from Aransas NWR, MIMP, Matagorda habitat. Widespread in other ecoregions. Mark Dumesnil, Axtell's book. NWR, Kennedy and King Ranches Siren sp. 1 (Lesser Siren (Rio Grande)) Is also a Mexico Target/Currently not considered valid Inventory old oxbow lakes and flooded depressions, resaca taxon, see Flores and Brandon 1992. In recent years corridors (including Southmost and Sabal Palm). Coordinate tracked as Siren intermedia POP 1 by TX Heritage. with USFWS to see whether they have done inventories. Range of species overlaps black spotted newt. Spharagemon superbum (Superb Grasshopper) Contact TPWD for information and/or EORs. Stallingsia maculosus (Manfreda Giant Skipper) Host plant in genus Manfreda. Known from Hill Country Need recent confirmation. Contact TPWD for information. to Rio Grande Valley. Syngnathus affinis (Texas Pipefish) Habitat similar to saltmarsh topminnow, but requires Presence in Louisiana and Mexico needs confirmation. shallow grass flats and less estuarine areas than topminnow. Tantilla atriceps (Mexican Blackhead Snake) Need to examine museum specimen records and draft Use Principal EO concept to conserve taxon. Not likely summary map. Not known outside of ecoregion. extant. Tympanuchus cupido attwateri (Attwater's Ecoregion endemic GBPP (TNC), Attwater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken) NWWR, private lands. Ursus americanus luteolus (Louisiana Black Near endemic to ecoregion (see also MSRAP and West Presence in TX not recently substantiated. Consideration Weeks Island (salt dome); St. Mary Bear) Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregions) must be given to corridors between populations and Parish, agricultural/forested wetland potential habitat. Work with FWS to get data from radio matrix. collar survey to locate additional poulations. Waterbird Colonies - seabirds () seabird colonies of 10,000 pairs, or more distributed Check to ensure that colonies adequately capture all species across ecoregion (LA deltaic plain, LA/TX chenier plain, TX bays and estuaries, TX/MX hypersaline lagoons) Waterbird Colonies - wading birds () wading bird colonies 5,000 pairs or more distributed we will check to ensure that colonies capture all species across ecoregion (same division as above)
GCPM Plan Natural Communities Data Gaps
A significant amount of work remains to be done to locate and assess the viability of the natural communities and ecological systems of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes. The classification framework developed by the Southern Resource Office of The Nature Conservancy should make the inventory of the natural communities more consistent not only within, but across adjacent, ecoregions. Below are a few natural communities for which The Conservancy has locational information but no information regarding quality or viability. These communities should be priorities for inventory.
Table S-5. Known natural community occurrences with unknown viability needing re-inventory (also see Table S-6) Number of Occurrences Name with Unknown Viability Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests 2 Quercus virginiana – Carya illinoinensis Woodland 2 Pithecellobium ebano – Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland 8 Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale – Paspalum monostachyum 1 Herbaceous Vegetation Uniola paniculata – (Panicum amarum) Herbaceous Vegetation 1 Spartina alterniflora – Distichlis spicata – Spartina patens Mesohaline 1 Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Spartina spartinae – Schizachyrium scoparium Herbaceous Vegetation 1 Sporobolus wrightii Herbaceous Vegetation 1 Sarcocornia perennis - Batis maritima – Distichlis spicata Dwarf- 2 shrubland Avicennia germinans / Spartina alterniflora Shrubland 31 Spartina alterniflora – Juncus roemerianus – Distichlis spicata 5 Louisianan Zone Salt Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Cymodocea filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation 7 Halodule beaudettei Herbaceous Vegetation 1 Vallisneria americana Estuarine Bayou Herbaceous Vegetation 4 Spartina patens – Scirpus (americanus, pungens) – (Distichlis spicata) 7 Herbaceous Vegetation Quercus virginiana – Celtis laevigata / Sabal minor Forest 5 Spartina patens – Typha spp. Chenier Plain Oligohaline Herbaceous 5 Vegetation Spartina patens – Vigna luteola Mississippi River Deltaic Plain 6 Herbaceous Vegetation Sagittaria latifolia – Sagittaria platyphylla (Colocasia esculenta) Deltaic 2 Herbaceous Vegetation
Some natural communities were identified by the planning team as being in particular need of inventory and research:
C Lower stream forests where bottomland hardwoods grade into tidal marsh C Chenier wetlands C Mixed hardwood-pine flatwood in Lake Charles area C Near coastal shrublands C Mesic hardwood forests
GCPM Plan TABLE S-6. Community Element Comments, Data Gaps, and Site Information
Element Comments, Data Gaps, and Site Info Comments
Community Scientific Name Target Comments Data Gaps Site Info Comments Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Dunas costeras data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Macroalgas data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Manglar data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Matorral alto subinerme data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Matorral espinoso data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Pastizal climatico data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Pastos marinos data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Selva baja data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Selva baja espinosa data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Selva espinosa perennifolia data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Southeastern Coastal Plain Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests Includes target CEGL007434
Southeastern Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forests Includes targets CEGL007312 & CEGL005033
Southeastern Coastal Plain Open Ponds and Marshes Includes target CEGL004621 Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Vegetacion acuatica data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Vegetacion halofila data. -- 03/26/01 TNC Added to ET to represent the EORs created to support species in Mexico polygon Vetetacion riparia data. -- 03/26/01 TNC
GCPM Plan Marine Data Gaps:
Within the Northern Gulf of Mexico ecoregional plan (Beck et al. 2000), several data gaps and areas of applied conservation research were listed and are pertinent to the GCP&M ecoregion. These are:
1) Oyster reefs---Very little work has been done to assess fish and other marine organism community structure around oyster reefs. Generally, this habitat type is difficult to sample. However, oyster reefs are critical habitat for many species and a better understanding of their ecology would improve management and restoration. In Louisiana, in particular, there is very little information on the distribution of this ecologically and economically important species and habitat type.
2) Tidal Freshwater Grasses---Second only to sponge and soft coral habitats, tidal freshwater grasses are the least studied habitat in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. It is also one of the most threatened habitats. Freshwater grasses may play a more important role in marine organism food chains that previously thought. Exotic plants are a key threat to this habitat type. In certain areas Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) has impacted over 50% of the extant tidal freshwater grass beds.
3) Habitat Classification Schemes---There are well developed classification schemes for terrestrial communities, but only coarse level classifications for most marine habitats and communities. A robust classification approach is needed to help identify consistent and recurring assemblages of plants and animals. An understanding of these assemblages and the processes that shape them is essential to efficient and adequate conservation action.
4) Identification of Nursery Habitat---Presently it is common for agencies and conservation organizations to consider all seagrass and estuarine wetlands as nursery habitat for marine organisms. This generalization may be effective for generating public interest and support but more focused work needs to be done in order to conserve the best nursery habitats that may contribute the most to annual recruitment. Not all seagrass beds or estuarine emergent marshes are created equal. We need a better understanding of nursery habitats to help non-governmental organizations to better direct resources to most productive areas in terms of long-term viability and overall contribution to annual recruitment of marine organisms. This information would also assist federal and state agencies to better protect key marine habitats, design better regulatory frameworks for fisheries management, and allow them to direct conservation, mitigation, and restoration activities to areas that are the most important.
Freshwater Data Gaps:
Data gaps in freshwater ecosystems in the GCP&M are pronounced. The freshwater conservation areas included in this iteration of the GCP&M portfolio were selected on the basis of their terrestrial features; for subsequent iterations, freshwater sites must be chosen on the merits of the freshwater systems, without regard to their terrestrial components. This will necessitate inventory and analysis of the freshwater ecosystems of the ecoregion, as well as further research into the locations and viability of freshwater species.
GCPM Plan Geographic Area Data Gaps:
C Welder Wildlife Refuge C Ingleside Barrier C Columbia Bottomlands C King Ranch C Kenedy Ranch C Existing portfolio of conservation areas should be overlain by digital map layers of other priority areas in the ecoregion, such as other conservation areas (i.e., other land trust holdings, conservation easements, Wetland Reserve Program sites, USFWS/Ducks Unlimited Prairie Wetland projects), General Land Office priority oil spill sites, and Texas Parks and Wildlife GEMS sites.
GCPM Plan