Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie Pond
Summary
This ecological system includes small to moderately large ponds and swales in the coastal prairie of southeastern Texas and adjacent Louisiana. These wetlands contain surface water during much of the year, desiccating only in the driest summer months. They are often fed by water runoff but may result from percolation from adjacent sandy areas. Soils in the basins are finer-textured than surrounding areas and may be underlain by pans that enhance perched water tables in the winter. These wetlands occur within the coastal prairie matrix of southeastern Texas and Louisiana and are wetter than wet prairie dominated by Tripsacum dactyloides and Panicum virgatum. These wetlands may be dominated by Eleocharis quadrangulata. Other species that may be present include Sagittaria papillosa, Sagittaria longiloba, Steinchisma hians, Panicum virgatum, Cyperus haspan, Cyperus virens, Ludwigia glandulosa, Ludwigia linearis, Fuirena squarrosa, Xyris jupicai, Leersia hexandra, Centella erecta, Symphyotrichum subulatum, Sesbania spp., and Rhynchospora spp. Open areas in the ponds may contain floating and submersed aquatic vegetation, including Utricularia gibba, Stuckenia pectinata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Brasenia schreberi, Nymphoides aquatica, Nuphar advena, and Nelumbo lutea.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
This system occurs as ponds or swales within the coastal prairie matrix. These wetlands are primarily herbaceous, sometimes with sparse woody cover, and are composed of various species, including Eleocharis quadrangulata (which may dominate some stands), Fuirena squarrosa, Cyperus haspan, Cyperus virens, Rhynchospora spp., Leersia hexandra, Steinchisma hians, Panicum virgatum, Andropogon glomeratus, Xyris jupicai, Centella erecta, Sagittaria papillosa, Sagittaria longiloba, Ludwigia glandulosa, Ludwigia linearis, Bacopa spp., Hydrocotyle spp., Symphyotrichum subulatum (= Aster subulatus), and Sesbania spp. Large areas of some of the occurrences may be relatively homogeneous, dominated by one or a few species. Areas of open water within the ponds may contain floating and submerged aquatic species, including Stuckenia pectinata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Brasenia schreberi, Nymphoides aquatica, and Nelumbo lutea. Occurrences are wetter than Tripsacum dactyloides- or Panicum virgatum-dominated prairie sites of Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie (CES203.550).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
This small-patch system occurs in shallow depressions (microtopographic lows) on coastal Pleistocene terraces, including the Beaumont and Lissie formations, within the matrix of the generally level landscape of the Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie (CES203.550). Soils tend to be fine-textured, or are characterized by a relatively impermeable subsurface horizon (Elliott 2011). Examples of this system are often fed by water runoff but may result from groundwater percolation from adjacent sandy areas. Studies have shown that coastal prairie ponds may collectively occupy a large percentage of the land area within the coastal prairie (Enwright et al. 2011).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
These wetlands are part of the larger hydrologic cycle of the coastal prairie ecosystem. They store surface water and in some cases groundwater during much of the year, desiccating only in the driest summer months. Soils in the basins are finer-textured than surrounding areas and may be underlain by pans that enhance perched water tables in the winter. They have been shown to play a role in landscape-level water quality regulation (Forbes et al. 2012). The herbaceous wetlands are maintained by fire.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Threats
A major threat to this system is conversion of the matrix ecological system within which this system occurs to other land uses (agriculture, pasture, and residential and commercial development). Historic loss of this matrix is estimated to be greater than 99% (USFWS and USGS 1999, LDWF 2005). A 29% loss of this wetland system occurred between 1955 and 1992 (Moulton et al. 1997). Other threats include alteration of the natural fire and hydrologic regimes, damage to the herbaceous ground cover, and invasion by the exotic tree Triadica sebifera. Other impacts include grading and filling, contamination by chemical runoff, disturbance by off-road vehicles, rooting by feral hogs (Sus scrofa), road maintenance, and development and maintenance of utility corridors. Lack of fire has been a widespread threat, and generally only sites which are managed with prescribed fires conserve the biological diversity of this herbaceous wetland habitat. The lack of fire can lead to shrub and tree encroachment, increased shading and evapotranspiration, accumulation of leaf litter, and a drying out of the depression wetland during drier times of year.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system is restricted to the coastal prairie of southeastern Texas and Louisiana.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species
Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.
Herb (field)
Centella erecta, Cyperus haspan, Cyperus virens, Eleocharis quadrangulata, Fuirena squarrosa, Leersia hexandra, Ludwigia glandulosa, Ludwigia linearis, Panicum virgatum, Sagittaria longiloba, Sagittaria papillosa, Steinchisma hians, Symphyotrichum subulatum var. subulatum, Tripsacum dactyloides, Xyris jupicai
Floating aquatic
Brasenia schreberi, Nelumbo lutea, Nuphar lutea ssp. advena, Nymphoides aquatica
Submerged aquatic
Ceratophyllum demersum, Stuckenia pectinata
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (4)
Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (6)
Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.
| Name | G-Rank | |
|---|
| Brasenia schreberi Eastern Aquatic Vegetation | G4 | NatureServe |
| Eleocharis quadrangulata - Sagittaria spp. Marsh | G3 | NatureServe |
| Nelumbo lutea Aquatic Vegetation | G4 | NatureServe |
| Nuphar advena - Nymphaea odorata Aquatic Vegetation | G4 | NatureServe |
| Potamogeton nodosus Aquatic Vegetation | GNR | NatureServe |
| Stuckenia pectinata - Ceratophyllum demersum Texas Coastal Marsh | G3 | NatureServe |
State Conservation Ranks (2)
Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.
Methodology and Data Sources
Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.
Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.
Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.
IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.
Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.
State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.