Location
Temperate grasslands are found in North America in the prairies and great plains of the United States and Canada. Most of these grasslands have been converted to agricultural uses. The desert grasslands of the southwestern United States are considered temperate grasslands, as are some grasslands in California. In Asia the grasslands are known as steppes, stretching from the Ukraine to the eastern parts of Russia. The puszta in Hungary and the South America grasslands in Argentina and Uruguay known as the pampas are both temperate grasslands. In South Africa temperate grasslands are known as the veld or veldt.
Temperate grasslands are found in North America in the prairies and great plains of the United States and Canada. Most of these grasslands have been converted to agricultural uses. The desert grasslands of the southwestern United States are considered temperate grasslands, as are some grasslands in California. In Asia the grasslands are known as steppes, stretching from the Ukraine to the eastern parts of Russia. The puszta in Hungary and the South America grasslands in Argentina and Uruguay known as the pampas are both temperate grasslands. In South Africa temperate grasslands are known as the veld or veldt.
PLANTS
» Grass is clearly the most dominant type of vegetation found in grasslands. » grasslands are characterized by moderate rainfall, hot summers, and cold winters. Fires and seasonal droughts do take place, but not on a large-scale basis. » The droughts, fires, and grazing by animals, prevent the growth of tall trees in such areas. » However, trees such as willows, oaks, and cottonwoods, are observed growing sparsely in certain areas. » Plants in the shortgrass prairie ecosystem include Buffalograss and Blue Grama. Tall grass prairies commonly consist of switchgrass, big bluestem, little bluestem, and Yellow Indiangrass. |
ANIMALS
» The fauna of a grassland includes bison (dominating the North American prairies) and pronghorn. » While springbok and blesbok are the animals found in Highveld, elephants, zebras, wildebeests, hippopotamuses, and rhinos, inhabit the Lowveld region. » The prominent species living in the Pampas grasslands include the pampas fox, armadillo, the White-eared Opossum, and the pampas deer. |