3.1 Woodlands 



Among coastal upland community types, the most extensive conse- 

 quences to the largest variety and number of consumers appar- 

 ently result from the loss of acorn-producing oaks, especially 

 the mature live oak. This species, in all its various life 

 stages, is an important regulator by virtue of its consistent 

 food-producing and variable cover-producing capacities. The 

 following consumer groups are dependent at some point on the 

 live oak for food or cover: hoofed mammals, small mammals, 

 granivorous songbirds and gamebirds, insectivorous songbirds, 

 predatory mammals and birds, reptiles, and various inverte- 

 brates. 



3.2 Grasslands 



Recovery times are relatively rapid in grasslands (usually 

 within two yr). Restoration to near original conditions can 

 be easily accomplished with application of known management 

 techniques. Notable examples of specific consumer populations 

 intimately linked to the coastal grassland community are the 

 red wolf and Attwater's prairie chicken. 



3.3 Brush-grass complex 



Recovery by grasses is rapid with woody species requiring more 

 time for reestablishment. Woody shrubs may be excluded for 

 long intervals if fire occurs frequently. Depending upon the 

 degree of plant group interspersion, the brush-grass complex 

 may support extremely diverse consumer populations. Notable 

 associates are the white-tailed deer, javelina, coyote, bobcat, 

 Rio Grande turkey, bobwhite quail, red-tailed hawk, and great 

 horned owl. Vegetational alterations creating further habitat 

 diversification are probably of minor consequence to ecotonal 

 consumers. At the Aransas Refuge whooping cranes occasionally 

 seek protective cover and food from portions of this community 

 type. 



Disturbance factors should be recognized as an important consid- 

 eration because they extend the project impacts beyond the 

 boundaries of the immediate site. 



Key attribute alterations 



The key attribute alterations involve primary and secondary effects. 

 The primary effect is the direct long-term removal of plant 



159 



