WHAT IS A GRASSLAND?
Grasslands are areas of land whose vegetation is dominated by grasses, wildflowers, and herbs, but some trees may be present as well[1]. Grasslands receive moderate amounts of rain that is just enough to sustain the grasses growing in these areas, but grasslands are still often very dry, and consequently prone to fires[3]. Despite any destruction a wildfire may cause, grass can rejuvenate because grass grows from its roots, which are deep in the soil, where they're safe from fire[1]. Being able to regenerate like this also enables grasslands to support many grazing animals[1]. Grasslands are divided in to two general categories: tropical (also called tall-grass) and temperate (also called short-grass) [1]. Tropical grasslands are generally warm year round and have a dry and rainy season[2]. Tropical grasslands often have porous soil, which makes these kind of grasslands dry during the dry season because the soil can retain little water[2]. The soil of tropical grasslands is often very nutrient-poor, which is why mostly grass and few trees grow in these areas[2]. Some animals that might like in a tropical grassland, like the African savannah, would be elephants, griaffes, zebras, lions, termites, hyenas, and water buffalo, [1]. Instead of having dry and rainy seasons, temperate grasslands have cold winters and hot summers, which affects growing seasons tremendously[3]. Temperate grasslands, unlike tropical grasslands, tend to have nutrient-rich soil, but similarly to tropical grasslands, temperate grasslands have few trees and other larger plants due to wildfires and heavy grazing[2]. Animals that might live in a temperate grassland, like the Great Plains in the United States, would be bison, hawks, mice, deer, rabbits, rattlesnakes, badgers, and skunks[3]. Some other grasslands in t he world are the pampas of Argentina, and the Russian steppes, which stretch from Ukraine to Siberia[1].
[1]http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm [2]http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/grassland.html [3]http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/grasslands.html [4]http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php [5]http://www.solpass.org/7ss/standards/StudyUSII.2.htm [6]http://apassionforscience.pbworks.com/w/page/51432368/1E2_2012%20Group%201%20-%20African%20Savannah |
The above map indicates where the Great Plains, a temperate grassland, is located in North America[5].
Local wildlife graze in the African savannah, a tropical grassland[6].
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