Grasslands Biome

Grassland biomes are large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. Latitude, soil and local climates for the most part determine what kinds of plants grow in a particular grassland. A grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees. The precipitation is so eratic that drought and fire prevent large forests from growing. Grasses can survive fires because they grow from the bottom instead of the top. Their stems can grow again after being burned off. When the settlers of the United States moved westward, they found that the grasslands, or prairies as they called them, were more than just dry, flat areas. There are two different types of grasslands; tall-grass, which are humid and very wet, and short-grass, which are dry, with hotter summers and colder winters than the tall-grass prairie. Grassland biomes can be found in the middle latitudes, in the interiors of continents. by Sam M. 2000 Bibliography:

Science for Kids: Grasslands Biome The grasslands biome can be divided up into the temperate grasslands and tropical grasslands. On this page we will discuss the temperate grasslands. Tropical grasslands are also called savannas. What are grasslands? Grasslands are wide expanses of land filled with low growing plants such as grasses and wildflowers. Where are the major world grasslands? Grasslands are generally located between deserts and forests. Types of Temperate Grasslands Each major area of grasslands in the world has its own characteristics and is often called by other names: Prairie - Grasslands in North America are called the prairies. A variety of animals live in the grasslands. The North American plains were once full of bison. Plants in the Grasslands Different kinds of grass grow in different areas of the grasslands. Types of grasses that grow here include buffalo grass, blue grama grass, needle grass, big bluestem, and switchgrass. Fires Wildfires can play an important role in the biodiversity of the grasslands.

Grasslands Grasslands go by many names. In the U.S. Midwest, they're known as prairies. In South America, they're called pampas. Central Eurasian grasslands are referred to as steppes, while in Africa they're named savannas. What they all have in common is grass as their naturally dominant vegetation. In fact, most grasslands are located between forests and deserts. There are two different kinds of grasslands: tropical and temperate. Tropical grasslands are warm year round, but usually have a dry and a rainy season. Temperate grasslands, which average between 10 and 30 inches (25 and 75 centimeters) of rain per year, have shorter grasses, sometimes just a few millimeters. The animals that live in temperate grasslands have adapted to the dry, windy conditions. When rainy season arrives, many grasslands become coated with flowers, some of which can survive well into winter with the help of underground storage organs and thick stem bases.

sweet clovers cone flower Downland Views flower KDE Santa Barbara Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Links LOCATION: The name for this biome, temperate grasslands, is a great description for what it is like here. WEATHER: Temperatures in this biome vary greatly between summer and winter. PLANTS: Grasses dominate temperate grasslands. ANIMALS: All grasslands share a lack of shelter from predators, and an abundance of grass for food; therefore, grassland animal populations are similar throughout the world. PEOPLE AND THE TEMPERATE GRASSLAND: One of the main environmental concerns regarding temperate grasslands is the conversion of grassland to farmland. The Grassland Biome Geography for Kids: Grassland Biomes Grassland Explorer Blue Planet Biomes: Grasslands Prairies in the Prairie State What’s it like where you live? Back to Biomes Index

Grasslands impacts > ecosystems > Grasslands are the most endangered habitat in Manitoba. Less than 1% of Manitoba’s original 6,000 square kilometers of tall-grass prairie remain. Climate change may expand existing grasslands as the average global temperature climbs. But will it help or hinder the plants and animals that call these rare habitats home? General Circulation Models (complex computer programs that predict changes in Earth’s climate) predict a variety of climate impacts for southern Manitoba as greenhouse gases trap more heat in the atmosphere. These impacts include: higher summer temperatures increased rates of evaporation less summer rain decreased soil moisture an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts These combined impacts are projected to press the southern boundary of the boreal forest north between 150 and 200 km. top of page Wetlands Among the hardest hit will be those species that rely on prairie wetlands. Wildlife The fate of other animals is more difficult pinpoint.

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