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South Texas Mesquite Upland

EVT 7560Tamaulipan Mesquite Upland Scrub

CES301.984GNRShrubShrubland

Summary

This ecological system occurs in the Tamaulipan region of northeastern Mexico. Its current concept is dominated by thornscrub that was limited to rocky, broken uplands and drainages that has become widespread in the last 100-150 years as the result of disturbance to adjacent mesquite savanna grasslands. Severe overgrazing in the mid-1800s, with subsequent shifts in fire processes and changes in edaphic conditions, has allowed this thornscrub ecological system to be the new steady-state. The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense tall-shrub layer dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with many other species present to codominant such as Acacia berlandieri, Vachellia farnesiana, Acacia rigidula, Amyris madrensis, Amyris texana, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Leucophyllum frutescens, Opuntia spp., Parkinsonia texana, Yucca spp., and Zanthoxylum fagara. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse, but dense graminoids may dominate the herbaceous layer of stands with open shrub canopies or remnant patches of savanna.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense tall-shrub layer dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with many other species present to codominant such as Acacia berlandieri, Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Acacia rigidula, Amyris madrensis, Amyris texana, Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Leucophyllum frutescens, Opuntia spp., Parkinsonia texana, Yucca spp., and Zanthoxylum fagara. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse, but dense graminoids may dominate the herbaceous layer of stands with open shrub canopies or remnant patches of savanna.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is a placeholder for relevant vegetation in the Tamaulipan region of northeastern Mexico.

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.

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Acacia farnesiana, Amyris madrensis, Amyris texana, Celtis pallida, Leucophyllum frutescens, Parkinsonia texana, Prosopis glandulosa, Senegalia berlandieri, Vachellia rigidula, Zanthoxylum fagara

Short shrub/sapling

Opuntia engelmannii

Herb (field)

Bothriochloa laguroides, Eragrostis intermedia

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (6)

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.

Mammals (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Rio Grande Ground Squirrel	Ictidomys parvidens	G5

Birds (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Dryobates scalaris	G5

Reptiles (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Eastern Milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum	G5
Graphic Spiny Lizard	Sceloporus grammicus	G5

Other (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Coachwhip	Coluber flagellum	G5
Western Groundsnake	Sonora semiannulata	G5

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

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.