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Temperate Grasslands

Temperate Grasslands. Chris Zajac. Locations. North America- prairies of the Great Plains Extend from southern Canada to Gulf of Mexico Eurasia South America Africa. Climate. Moderate rainfall Receives between 300 and 1,000 mm of precipitation each year

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Temperate Grasslands

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  1. Temperate Grasslands Chris Zajac

  2. Locations • North America- prairies of the Great Plains • Extend from southern Canada to Gulf of Mexico • Eurasia • South America • Africa

  3. Climate • Moderate rainfall • Receives between 300 and 1,000 mm of precipitation each year • Amount of annual rainfall influences the height of grassland vegetation • Can experience droughts that last multiple years • Hot summers • Cold winters

  4. Features • Very rich soil • Deep and dark • Fertile upper layers • Growth and decay of many-branched grass roots • Rotted roots hold soil together • Help to provide a source of food for living plants • Flat, treeless, covered with various types of flowers and grasses.

  5. Biology • Vegetation • Many species of grasses • Purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta • Flowers • Asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, and wild indigos • Many other herbaceous plants (non-woody)

  6. Biology • Fauna • (do not all occur in same temperate grassland) • Gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, jack rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and spiders

  7. Human Influences • Cultivate grasslands • Plowed land • Some of the most fertile farm lands on earth • Used to farm and feed the world • Used to raise livestock • For human consumption • Milk production/ dairy products • Soils have lost as much as 35% to 40% of organic matter in last 40 years

  8. References • Google. (2009). Google. Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009, from Google. Web site: http://www.google.com. • Grassland. (2009, August 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17:30, August 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grassland &oldid=311113528 • Molles, M C. (2008). Ecology Concepts and Applications Fourth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. • SLW, . Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009. Web site: http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235 /biomes/tempgrass/tempgras.html. • Webber, C. (2002). The Grassland Biome. Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009, from California Academy of Science, California. Web site: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/gras slands.php.

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