Vegetation on North and South Slopes of Mountains in Southwestern Texas
Cottle HJ. 1932. Vegetation on North and South Slopes of Mountains in Southwestern Texas. Ecology. 13(2):121-134
A study of the vegetation of the mountains of southwestern Texas shows that there is a very marked difference in the species found on the north and south slopes. Environmental conditions on the south slope are much less favorable to plant growth. Water content of soil is 5 to 16 percent lower; evaporation is 22 to 44 per cent higher; soil temperatures are 10░ to 20░ F higher at the 2-inch level, and also much higher at a depth of 12 inches. Humidity is 5 to 11 percent lower, and wind velocity much greater. The cover of vegetation was found to be less than one-half as great and the production of dry matter only about one-twentieth of that on the north slope. Several factors interact to produce these conditions, the water relation being the controlling one.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Cottle, H
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Evaporation, Habitat, Plant Studies, Productivity, Relative Humidity, Soil Moisture, Soil Temperature, Southwestern Texas, Wind