The Vegetation of the Western Cross Timbers

Drought and fire suppression lead to rapid forest composition change in a forest-prairie ecotone

“…However, our findings and previous studies supported the conclusion that a dramatic increase in J. virginiana was dependent on fire suppression (Dyksterhuis, 1948;Snook, 1985;Engle and Kulbeth, 1992). Lacking fire to reduce competition from other woody species and stimulate sprouting from exposed dormant buds, Quercus regeneration slowed while regeneration of fire-intolerant J. virginiana increased (Schmidt and Leatherberry, 1995;Gedalof et al, 2006;Bartolomé et al, 2008;Belden and Pallardy, 2009).…”

“…west to east (Court, 1974;Bell and Hulbert, 1976;Sutherland, 1977). Fine-grained clay soils with limestone and shale parent material generally support grasslands and coarse-grained sandy soils with sandstone parent material generally support forests (Dyksterhuis, 1948;Powell and Lowry, 1980;Rhodes, 1980). Q. marilandica and Q. stellata were the dominant woody species with J. virginiana subdominant and limited to riparian sites and rocky outcrops sheltered from fire (Johnson and Risser, 1972;Hoagland et al, 1999).…”

Echoes of the Chisholm Trail: Texas: A Biological Crossroads

“…They have similar herbaceous vegetation to the Grand Prairie; little bluestem is the ubiquitous dominant across both regions and most ecological sites (Table 3). The Cross Timbers have more of a tree /shrub component because of the deeper loamy and sandy Alfisols that favor woody species (Dyksterhuis 1948). Post oak and blackjack are the major tree species with the former being most abundant.…”

“…Post oak and blackjack are the major tree species with the former being most abundant. The abundance of trees and shrubs is determined largely by local soil type, burning history, and grazing history (Dyksterhuis 1948). Much of the Cross Timbers remains in rangeland; however, soil conditions are generally more favorable for tame pasture and crop production than the Grand Prairies.…”

Historical Botany of the Romero Cabin: A Family Homestead on the Pajarito Plateau

“…Succession in his model was accompanied by increased floristic composition. Dyksterhuis (1948) determined that fields with little or no grazing and those protected from excessive erosion would recover more quickly than those that had been grazed. He listed four successional stages including weed, annual three-awn, bluestem, and little bluestem.…”