Grassland Biome
By: Luke Sadd
Vitals of Biome
Locations:
- The praires of the great plains in North America
- Pampas of South America
- Veldt of South Africa
- Steppes of Central Eurasia
- Surrounding desserts in Austrailia
- Other Parts of Austrailia and Africa
Abiotic Factors:
- Temperature: Between -20 and 30 degrees celcius
- Percipitaion: Between 10-30 inches a year
- Climate: Warm and humid during the summers and cold during the winter
Climate of Biome
Temerature:
Between -20 and 30 degrees celcius depending on which part of the world the grassland
Climate:
Hot and muggy during the summer and cold during the winter. It's much colder in some parts of the world than in others for this biome.
Percipitation:
Is usually between 10-30n inches a year. There is a seasonal drought every year. These droughts allow many fires to break out
Plant Life
- There are many different types of plants in the grassland biome; they span from buffalo grass, milkweed, stinging nettles, and much more
- There is very rich soil that is good for supporting plant life
- Soft stem give grass the ability to bend with the wind
- Extensive root systems help keep animals from pulling the roots out of the ground when grazing. These root systems also allow only the grass above the ground to burn in a fire, leaving the roots unharmed so the grass can grow back quickly.
- After a fire, the shrubs can reproduce very quickly
Animals
There are not many trees or heavy shrubs to hide many creatures, so there are many herds of grazing animals in the open landscape
- The color of some animals blend in with the surroundings to protect them from predators
- Many animals have adapted to become active at night to protect themselves from predators
- Bison have adapted digestive systems that enables them to feed on grass
- Over eighty species of animals live in this biome
- There are over 300 species of birds that either live in or migrate too this biome also
Cooperation/Competition
- Lions vs. cheetahs is an example of competition; sometimes the lion will try to steal the meal the the cheetah caught and killed
- Snakes vs. hawks is another example of competition; the snakes and hawks compete over the field mice there are to eat
Predator/Prey Relationships
- Owls prey on mice and other small mamals
- Lions prey on Zebras
- Cheetas prey on gazelles
- Spotted hyenas prey on wildebeest
Additional Info
There are two types of biomes, Tropical Grasslands (Savannas), and temperate grasslands
Ecological Concerns
- One threat to the grasslands is humans. There is an increase of urban areas that is cutting into grassland habitats
- Global warming is another threat. If the amount of rainfall is altered too much, grasslands could easily be turned into deserts.
Endangered Species
- West African Giraffe
- Asian Elephant
Global Importance
Grasslands provide a feeding base for grazing livestock. The livestock can be used for fertalizer, leather, and other goods. Grassland is also the home millions of people (mosly poor).
Works Cited
Works Cited
"Climate:." Grasslands. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Grassland 3." Grassland 3. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Grassland Biome." Animal Facts and Information RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Grassland Threats." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Grasslands Animals." Grasslands Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Grasslands Biome." Grasslands Biome. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Grasslands." Grasslands. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
"Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.