In the Texas Hill Country, the drought’s effects on the environment are apparent, including a loss of drought-tolerant plants; deer grazing on deer-resistant plants; and trees that are in distress or appear to be dead.
According to Drought.gov, “The term ecological drought has been employed recently to capture this emphasis on how drought impacts ecosystems. It encompasses and emphasizes the environmental consequences of drought, which include losses in plant growth; increases in fire and insect outbreaks; altered rates of carbon, nutrient, and water cycling; and local species extinctions.”
Mary Kay Pope, a horticulturist and certified arborist at Backbone Nursery, will present an overview of past drought conditions in Central Texas and the long-term ramifications it may have on tree health at Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society’s (HLBWS) next meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6.
