Grasslands
Sally R.
Description:
- Grasslands are characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees and they have many flowers.
- Grasslands are found where there is not enough regular rainfall to support the growth of a forest, but not so little as to form a desert.
- They are generally open and flat.
- There are two types of grasslands- (1) Savanna (2) Temperate
- Grasslands are located between forests and deserts. They are found in North & South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia. (every continent except Antartica) They are in the interior parts of the continents where its dry.
Abiotic Factors:
- The average rainfall per year is 500-900 mm.
- They range from cool to hot summers and ice in winter.
- The average temperature varies from - 20°C to 30 °C.
Parental material and soil:
- Parental material refers to the bedrock where the soil is formed.
- They have a thick layer of humus soil on the top layer of the surface.
Topography:
- It is the variety of landscapes present and is determined by slopes, elevation and aspects.
- Natural disturbances alter grasslands in many ways. They affect their species diversity, distribution, community formations, successions, etc.
Biotic Factors
Animals:
Bison
Antelope
Prairie Dogs
Chipmunks
Birds
Zebras
Anteaters
African Bush elephants
Plants:
Blue-Eyed Grass
Shrubs
Black Oat Grass
Mountain Mint
Indian Grass
Common Strawberries
Purple Prairie Clovers
Cattails
Adaptations:
Animal-
Some animals, such as bison, have broad, flat-topped teeth and digestive systems especially adapted to feed on grasses.
Plant-
Soft stems enable prairie grasses to bend in the wind. Narrow leaves minimize water loss.
Interactions:
Primary Producer- Star Grass
Primary Consumer- Harvester Ant
Secondary Consumer- Aardvark
Tertiary Consumer- Hyena
Importance of Biome:
Human Impact:
Sources:
The Grassland Biome. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/grassland.html
Abiotic and Biotic Factors of the Grasslands. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://www.tutorvista.com/biology/abiotic-and-biotic-factors-of-the-grasslands
Biotic Factors - Grasslands. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from https://sites.google.com/site/grasslandbiome123/biotic-factors
Biology of Plants: Plant Adaptations. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/adapt.html
Grassland Ecosystem Food Chain in Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/grassland-ecosystem-food-chain-africa-38411.html
Grassland Facts: Why Grasslands Are Important - Infographic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://www.mercola.com/infographics/grasslands-facts.htm
Human Impact. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://grasslandsbiome3.weebly.com/human-impact.html