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Dallas Chapter

Dallas Chapter May 20, 2024 meeting. Native Bee Landscapes, with Laurel Treviño-Murphy

Did you know that Texas is a diversity hotspot for native bees?
This talk will introduce you to the fascinating world of native bees and explain their vital roles in ecosystems. It invites you to observe their nesting and foraging habits, whets your appetite to learn more about their six families, and guides you through the best management practices to conserve bee habitat. Come discover the educational resources we have for you to identify the native bees in your backyard.
To view our outreach pages for naturalists and land-owners, visit https://w3.biosci.utexas.edu/jha/native-bees.

About Laurel Treviño-Murphy
Laurel built an Outreach Program in the Integrative Biology Department at UT Austin*.  She has a bachelor’s in biology (National University of Mexico) and masters in botany and wildland resource sciences (UC Berkeley). Before practicing environmental education at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, she wrote natural science curricula and taught biology. In Shalene Jha’s lab, she collaborated with biologists and educators to produce educational resources on native bees, plants, and pollinator conservation. She loves native-plant gardening, managing Hill Country land for wildlife, local music, and Masterpiece Theatre.

*The official title is too long to read: Laurel Treviño, Outreach Program Coordinator for the Conservation Biology, Landscape Genetics, Agroecology, Plant-Animal Interactions Lab, UT Austin, AKA “The Jha Lab.”

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason