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Grasslands

Grasslands. By: Aaron Espere Jeremy Maurice William Niedbala Daniel Pisarski. Grasslands. A grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees .

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Grasslands

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  1. Grasslands By: Aaron Espere Jeremy Maurice William Niedbala Daniel Pisarski

  2. Grasslands • A grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees. • The environment is subject to frequent fires, which is why many trees are absent; but hardy grasses can survive the high temperatures. • The two types of grasslands are short-grass and long-grass. • Long-grass: Humid climates with wet summers and mild winters • Short-grass: Hotter summers, and colder winters.

  3. Map • Grasslands cover about one quarter of the earth’s surface, but most of this has been turned into farmland In this map, grasslands are yellow.

  4. Animals Many animals are found in the grassland biome, some include: • Coyotes • Roadrunners • Eagles • Bobcats • Wild Turkey • Prairie Dogs • Giraffes • Lions • Zebras • Wildebeests • Bison

  5. Plants • Due to the harsh environmental conditions, not many plants can grow there. Some of them are: • Big Bluestem Grass • Blue Grama Grass • Buffalo Grass • Fleabane • Purple Coneflower • Stinging Nettle • June Grass

  6. Problems Affecting Grasslands Problems that affect grasslands include: • Desertification • Overgrazing • Over farming

  7. Desertification • Grasslands are transition biomes, meaning they are mainly between tropical and desert biomes. • Due to recent droughts, the desert area is expanding, forcing grasslands into thinner and thinner areas.

  8. Overgrazing • In the Sahel region of central Africa, cattle farmers allow their cattle to graze the grass down to the roots. • When there are no more roots holding the soil together, the ground quickly erodes, also expanding the desert area.

  9. Over farming • In the U.S., the prairies of the Midwest are being plowed over, also exposing the soil to the harsh winds. • Farmers are taking precautions, however, such as planting trees next to fields as a natural barrier against winds, and allowing some fields to lie fallow for several years to let the native plants compact the soil.

  10. Semi-Fun Facts • Grasslands are called different names on each continent: • In Africa, the savanna • In the U.S., the prairie • In South America, the pampas • In Asia, the steppes • Grass in this biome can grow up to 7 feet tall • Some grasslands can support 81 species of plants per every 1,000 square meters.

  11. Resources • Grasslands offer a supreme environment for growing cash crops. • They offer a habitat for farmers to graze their cattle as well. • Also, in Africa they draw in tourists with the native wildlife.

  12. Sources • http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm • http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id6.html • http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/grassland-profile/

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