Introduction to the Prairies

1. Introduction to the Prairies

2. Where are the Prairies located? Go to link below for information from NASA http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biograssland.php

3. Description of the Prairies • Divided into 3 types of grasses: tall grass (true prairie), mixed (mid) grass, and short grass. • tall-grass prairie formed a narrow band from Canada south to the Gulf Coast Prairie in Texas on the East side • Mid/mixed prairie formed a band from Canada south to Texas in the middle between the tall and short grass prairies • Short grass prairie is bordered by the mountains on the West side

4. Tall, mixed and short grasses Short-grass prairie Mixed-grass prairie Tall-grass prairie

5. Climate of the Prairies • Variable climate with periodic droughts, usually bunched into spans of multiple years • Semi-arid, precipitation varies from east to west • 320mm Greeley Colorado-900mm Kansas City, Kansas • Dominated by four seasons, temps vary from north to south • Temps to -40 in the winter in the North and +110 in the Summer in the South Grasslands of the World, Suttie, Reynolds, Batello, 2005

6. Human Impacts • Before European influence prairies were basically not impacted by Native Americans • Due to modern agriculture and urbanization experts estimate 70-95% of the native prairies have been converted to other uses.

7. Fauna of Prairies-Past • At time of early exploration bison, pronghorn (antelope) were dominant herbivores. • Estimated that 40-60 million bison and antelope present on prairies • Also habitat for small mammals prairie dogs, jack rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers and voles • Habitat for invertebrates grasshoppers, beetles, ants and sap feeders • Birds included western meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, horned lark, chestnut-collared longspur, hawks, eagles and owls Pronghorn (antelope) Western Meadowlark Bison

8. Fauna of the Prairies-Present • Cattle have replaced bison, pronghorn numbers dramatically reduced • Prairie dog numbers reduced by 98% • Prairies provide stopping grounds for migrating birds • Populations of white tail deer and coyotes have greatly expanded their range and increased their numbers skolaiimages.com free-extras.com

9. Flora of the Prairies • Native grasses have been nearly replaced by agricultural crops: wheat, corn, soybeans, millet, rye, flax etc. • The prairies used to include many grasses some of which included: big blue-stem, little blue-stem, Indian grass, switch grass, needle and thread, wheat grass, blue grama and buffalo grass. • Some trees on the prairie included: cottonwood, ash, juniper, aspen, oak and others • Most of the cottonwoods have been reduced in number due to dams placed along the Upper Missouri Basin, urbanization and agriculture. Blue Grama Grass Cottonwood Tree

10. Activities • Students may choose from the following list: • Prepare a short presentation or report on the contents of the prairie of the past • Prepare a short presentation or report on where native (pristine) prairie can be found in your area or an area near you • Prepare a photo album of prairie flora or fauna or both • Compile a presentation or report on one of the types of prairie include range (original and current), contents and climate • Research and prepare report on organization and agencies involved with preserving native prairies • Prepare a short presentation or report on the Tribal Nations of the Great Plains • Presentations and reports will be evaluated using included rubric