Chris Zajac

North America- prairies of the Great Plains North America- prairies of the Great Plains ◦ Extend from southern Canada to Gulf of MexicoExtend from southern Canada to Gulf of Mexico

EurasiaEurasia South AmericaSouth America AfricaAfrica

Moderate rainfallModerate rainfall Receives between 300 and 1,000 mm of Receives between 300 and 1,000 mm of

precipitation each yearprecipitation each year◦ Amount of annual rainfall influences the Amount of annual rainfall influences the

height of grassland vegetationheight of grassland vegetation◦ Can experience droughts that last multiple Can experience droughts that last multiple

yearsyears Hot summers Hot summers Cold wintersCold winters

Very rich soilVery rich soil◦ Deep and darkDeep and dark◦ Fertile upper layersFertile upper layers

Growth and decay of many-branched grass rootsGrowth and decay of many-branched grass roots Rotted roots hold soil together Rotted roots hold soil together Help to provide a source of food for living plantsHelp to provide a source of food for living plants

Flat, treeless, covered with various types of Flat, treeless, covered with various types of flowers and grasses.flowers and grasses.

VegetationVegetation◦ Many species of grassesMany species of grasses

Purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and Purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galletagalleta

◦ FlowersFlowers Asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, Asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods,

sunflowers, clovers, and wild indigossunflowers, clovers, and wild indigos◦ Many other herbaceous plants (non-woody)Many other herbaceous plants (non-woody)

Fauna Fauna (do not all occur in same temperate grassland)(do not all occur in same temperate grassland)

◦ Gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, Gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, jack rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, wolves, prairie dogs, jack rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and spiders grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and spiders

Cultivate grasslandsCultivate grasslands◦ Plowed landPlowed land◦ Some of the most fertile farm lands on earthSome of the most fertile farm lands on earth◦ Used to farm and feed the worldUsed to farm and feed the world◦ Used to raise livestockUsed to raise livestock

For human consumptionFor human consumption Milk production/ dairy productsMilk production/ dairy products

Soils have lost as much as 35% to 40% of Soils have lost as much as 35% to 40% of organic matter in last 40 yearsorganic matter in last 40 years

Google. (2009). Google. Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009, from Google. Web site: http://www.google.com.

Grassland. (2009, August 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17:30, August 31, 2009, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grassland &oldid=311113528

Molles, M C. (2008). Ecology Concepts and Applications Fourth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.

SLW, . Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009. Web site: http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tempgrass/tempgras.html.

Webber, C. (2002). The Grassland Biome. Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009, from California Academy of Science,

California. Web site: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php.