The Grassland
Characteristics/ Description
Grassland biomes are large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. The average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees. The precipitation is so eratic that drought and fire prevent large forests from growing. The soil of most grasslands is also too thin and dry for trees to survive. In the winter, grassland temperatures can be as low as -40° F, and in the summer it can be as high 70° F. There are two real seasons: a growing season and a dormant season. The growing season is when there is no frost and plants can grow (which lasts from 100 to 175 days). During the dormant (not growing) season nothing can grow because its too cold. In tropical and subtropical grasslands the length of the growing season is determined by how long the rainy season lasts. But in the temperate grasslands the length of the growing season is determined by temperature. Plants usually start growing when the daily temperature reached about 50° F.In temperate grasslands the average rainfall per year ranges from 10-30 inches. In tropical and sub-tropical grasslands the average rainfall per year ranges from 25-60 inches per year.
Climatograph
This climatograph compares temperature and precipitation. It shows how this area is quite warm all year round. This biome gets good rain in every month except May through October, where a seasonal drought is expected.
Animal Adaptations
Animals in the grasslands need to be somewhat used to dry weather. Getting away from fires is also important. Many species in grasslands are fast or can fly. If the animal is prey, burrowing or otherwise hiding helps.
1. Bumble Bee
1. Bumble Bee
2. Coyote
3. Prairie dog
4. Bobcat
5. Badger
4. Bobcat
5. Badger
Plant Adaptations
Plants need to be able to make it through that dry season. Many also have roots that can regrow after the plant is burned in a fire because the roots start at the bottom. Some are poisonous, difficult to eat because of spikes, or sting.
1. Purple Coneflower
1. Purple Coneflower
2. Buffalo Grass
3. Milkweed
4. Stinging Nettles
5. June Grass
4. Stinging Nettles
5. June Grass
Keystone Species- Elephants
Elephants are a keystone species because they provide habitat modification. Elephants push over, break, and uproot trees, and create forest areas in Africa. This promotes the growth of grasses and other plants. These plants serve as food or habitats for other organisms. This also accelerates nutrient cycling processes.
Indicator Species- Buffalo Grass
What better than to determine the health of a grassland, but the grass? If the genetics of this plant are altered so they don't grow from the roots up, the grasslands would have a slow time replenishing the land after a fire. If anything changes in the grass, the bottom of the food chain, everything on the way up would also be affected. If the grass is healthy, so is the ecosystem.
K-Strategist- Kangaroo
The kangaroo can live fairly long, and cares for its young in a horizontal pouch, where they keep them for a while and feed them milk. They are nocturnal marsupials. They can live for up to 20 years, and they are quite large. While standing, their tail can be used as an extra leg.
R-Strategist -The Bumble bee
Queen bumble bees are about 3/5 to 1 inch long. The other types, workers and drones, are slightly smaller than that.When the queen first comes out of her winter resting stage, called diapause, she finds an abandoned tunnel. She makes a small mound of pollen, and lays about 5 to 10 eggs in this mound. She then seals it off with a wax cap. When the eggs hatch they are called larvae and will feed from the pollen. The queen forages and feeds the larvae herself until they turn into bees. Then they start caring for the new larvae and forage themselves. Only then does the queen stop foraging and concentrate only on laying eggs. Like the honey bee, bumble bees have workers and drones. They only store enough honey to last them through rainy days or other days that they can't fly.Bumble bee's nests are annual. When the end of summer is near, the queen will lay some queen eggs. When these hatch, the drones fly away with the new queens and mate. The new queens will then find a protected place to spend their diapause. Only the queen survives through the winter, all the other bees die off with the first hard freeze. She wakes up in the spring and starts to make another hive.
They also pollinate plants.
They also pollinate plants.
Environmental Problems or Threats
Interfering with wildfires does't allow the forest to regenerate itself. This can cause the area to become something other than a grassland. Since many animals rely on a constant grassland, this could harm many animals. Also too many animals are being hunted in Africa. Especially elephants. Thsi could have a n impact on all of the animals in the ecosystem. Global warming interferes with the dry period also. Changing this land to land for farming is shrinking the grassland biome.