- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
African Bush elephants
Black Oat Grass
Purple Prairie Clovers
Some animals, such as bison, have broad, flat-topped teeth and digestive systems especially adapted to feed on grasses.
Soft stems enable prairie grasses to bend in the wind. Narrow leaves minimize water loss.
Primary Producer- Star Grass
Primary Consumer- Harvester Ant
Secondary Consumer- Aardvark
Tertiary Consumer- Hyena
Importance of Biome:
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