By Brigid Berger, Texas Master Naturalist
The Upland Ecology class for the certification training program of the Mid-Coast Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists was held at the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation near Sinton, Texas on March 31, 2007.
Dr. Selma Glasscock, assistant director, began the day with the history the Welder Ranch and the mission of the foundation. The property was settled in 1833 by Rob Welder’s grandfather and was a normal, working ranch until Mr. Welder’s death in 1953. This excerpt from his will demonstrates his dedication to the protection and understanding of wildlife and the environment:
"It is my desire and my purpose to further the education of the people of Texas and elsewhere in wildlife conservation and in the knowledge of the breeding and living habits of our wild creatures, and in the relationship of wildlife to domestic livestock on our ranches and farms; to afford students and others interested in wildlife betterment and propagation and in the raising of wildlife along with domestic animals, a place for research and an opportunity for the study thereof; and to develop scientifically methods of increasing the wildlife populations of the state and nation for the benefit of future generations of our people who may not have the opportunity to know and appreciate our wildlife, as I have, unless methods of increasing and conserving our wildlife are scientifically developed. For these purposes I here create a foundation to be known as the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation." Rob H. Welder (1890–1953)
Today the foundation fulfills the mission through research and education programs and provides an exemplary library and several fascinating collections, including Frances Lee Jaques dioramas and murals, the premier Don Bowman Bird Collection, and the Quillin Egg Collection.
Dr Selma Glasscock provided information on South Texas and Range Ecology, highlighting each of the major influences on ecosystems: anthropic (people), edaphic (soil), topographic (land structure), pyric (fire), biotic (living organisms) and climate (weather). Some interesting tidbits shared by Dr. Glasscock:
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Average rainfall is 35 inches, usually occurring in two events (May & Sept) |
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Evapo-transporation (evaporation and transpiration of water through plants) exceeds rainfall |
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Up to 365 days frost-free days per year; range from 340-365 |
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Land drains northwest to southeast, clay (inland) to sandy (coast) soil |
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It takes 1000 years to form 1 inch of top soil |
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Dandelions were introduced by Europeans as salad greens |
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Many landowners' revenues have changed from agriculture to hunting supplemented with ecotourism |
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Forbs—broad-leafed, herbaceous, non-woody plants—are “ice-cream” plants to white-tailed deer |
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To support an abundance of wildlife, the land must have a balance of grassland and canopy cover. |
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Welder is an example of land managed for the coexistence of wildlife and cattle ranching. |
Perhaps one of the most fascinating items Dr. Glasscock shared was what she calls “Ecologia de Caca de Vaca” or "Cow Patty Ecology," which purports to explain the overabundance of mesquite trees. As grazing cows strip the land of grass they will also eat mesquite beans. The mesquite beans pass through the cow, are deposited with the cow patty, and are sown into the soil by the cow’s trampling. Most cows defecate 10 – 12 times each day. Of the one hundred seeds deposited per day, perhaps ten percent germinate in the nutrient-rich cow patty. The effect can be as many as 10 mesquite trees per cow per day.
After her lecture, Dr. Glasscock led a hayride and identified birds and plants found in the upland and fresh-water wetlands. Among the wildlife seen or heard were White-eyed vireo, Golden-fronted woodpecker, Spring peeper, and sheep frog.
Dr. Terry Blankenship, also Assistant Director of the Welder Wildlife Foundation, shared fascinating information in his talk “Mammals of the Coastal Bend.” Addressing the most common mammals—white-tailed deer, javelina, feral hog, possum, coyote, mountain lion, gray fox, red fox, bobcat, cottontail rabbit, cotton rat, pygmy mouse, and wood rat—Dr. Blankenship explained the interdependence of species and the techniques scientists at Welder utilize to gather information about mammal health and abundance. For example, examining bobcat scat revealed that in those years in which the cotton rat (common food source for the bobcat) populations were low, bobcat litters also declined.
Dr. Blankenship introduced us to several current issues that challenge today’s landowners, wildlife specialists, and politicians. Regarding the “High Fence” issue, Blankenship posed the question, “Who owns the animals?” Many land owners whose income may depend on hunting leases put up fences to prevent the wildlife from moving to adjacent properties.
Other issues highlighted by Blankenship include deer breeder permits, exotics, and the privatization of wildlife resources. “Are deer wildlife or livestock?” he questioned. Exotic species are only regulated for quarantine for diseases. Fallow, Axis, and other exotic deer and antelope out-compete native species. Additionally, as urban sprawl claims more and more wild spaces, wildlife in turn creates “undesired effects” for human communities. Grazing on yards and gardens and automotive safety are becoming high-profile issues in many suburban areas.
Following lunch in the open-air rotunda, we enjoyed two informative presentations by graduate students Chris McClain and Alyssa Taylor. McClain’s presentation, Herpetofauna, introduced us to the world of Exothermic Tetrapods including amphibians (salamanders, anurans, caecilians), lepidossaurs (lizards, snakes, tuataras), Testudines (turtles, tortoises) and crocodilians. Taylor’s presentation, “Common Herps of Texas,” provided a closer look at local reptiles and amphibians through slides and sound clips of frogs and toads. In the field we examined the setup used to catch the creeping animals (herpetó is greek for creeping thing) for study.
Wrapping up the day, Dr. Glasscock presented “Birds of the Coastal Bend” with a lab and field trip. Her handouts, “Bird Topography,” “Flight and Road Side Silhouettes,” and “Birding by Season,” will no doubt be used as frequent references by this class of Texas Master Naturalists.
Other sights of the day:
