If the bedrock is the foundation of a landscape then the Soils can be viewd as the flooring,
and together with climate determines in large part what grows and lives in the Loess Hills.
For instance, because the soils here are largely a silt loam and steeply sloped in places,
the plant community found here consists of a diversity of trees, shrubs,perennials, grasses,
and annuals not typically found in prairie.
Habitat, which is largely defined by the plant community, will determine what wildlife
species, including insects, will occur in an area. It is no surprise then that a diversity
of wildlife species occur in Southwest Nebraska as result of the diverse vegetational community.
On the following pages, we will explore the diversity of the above listed members that make
make up the diverse plant and animal communities of the the Loess Hills. It is my hope that the
following pages increase your interest and appreciation for the beauty and uniqueness of the Loess
Hills. Perhaps you'll be so inspired to visit Southwest Nebraska.
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