• Grassland biomes are unaltered areas of land where grass is the dominant plant life.• Grassland are found around the globe and have served as grazing areas for a large number of animals.• Because of the incredibly fertile earth, grasslands have been exploited as farming grounds or plantations by humans for millennia. Of all biomes, grasslands have the most fertile soil!

What would a What would a grassland become grassland become if it received less if it received less rainfall?rainfall?

Which biome receives a similar amount of Which biome receives a similar amount of rainfall to the grassland?rainfall to the grassland?

What would a What would a grassland become grassland become if it received more if it received more rainfall?rainfall?

farther from the equator -- such as the U.S. prairies -- they have both hot summers and cold winters

Savannas develop in regions closer to the equator, and so are generally warm all year long.

Grasslands are generally semi-arid areas with little or no trees, and are inhabited by grazing mammals, ground-nesting birds, insects, and a few species of reptiles. Where there are grazing mammals, there are always the predators who feed on them.There are generally two seasons in grassland There are generally two seasons in grassland biomes:biomes: The wet seasonThe wet season and the dry seasonand the dry season

• Grassland are found on every continent except Antarctica. Here’s how they’re classified:

Prairies are generally more humid than other grasslands, and are densely covered in tall, or short grass. There are very few trees on prairies, most of them usually found on hill slopes or more humid near springs and rivulets. The prairie soil is rich in nutrients. Grazing animals such as oxen and bison who fed on the prairie grass were also exploited by humans, with the bison being driven to near extinction by white hunters in the 19th Century.

Bison were vital to the prairie biome, and Bison were vital to the prairie biome, and without them, a cascade effect occurred.without them, a cascade effect occurred.KeystoneKeystone

Where do birds build their nests in the Where do birds build their nests in the grasslands?grasslands?

This little burrowing This little burrowing owl nests in owl nests in subterranean areas. subterranean areas. It can dig its own It can dig its own burrow, but many burrow, but many times claims an times claims an abandoned burrow abandoned burrow of a prairie dog, or of a prairie dog, or gopher.gopher. While this is an owl, it While this is an owl, it is active both day and is active both day and night. It will nest in night. It will nest in pairs and colonies.pairs and colonies.They feed on insects, reptiles, and rodents.They feed on insects, reptiles, and rodents.

The steppe grassland is usually found in areas of the world which are less prone to moisture. Steppe vegetation is well suited to this drier climate, and the grass is generally shorter than that which is found on prairie grasslands. Animal life on the steppe is comprised of grazing mammals such as the antelope, and a wide variety of burrowing mammals such as ground squirrels and ferrets.

All these little grazers, of course All these little grazers, of course attract the attention of the attract the attention of the Steppe predators, such as the Steppe predators, such as the Corsac Fox, and the Steppe Corsac Fox, and the Steppe Eagle.Eagle.

Savanna biomes are distinguished by their warmer drier climates, and their seasonal droughts.

They have long taproots that can reach the deep water table, thick bark to resist annual fires, and adaptations that discourage animals from grazing on them.• sharp bitter tastesharp bitter taste• storage organs called bulbs storage organs called bulbs and cormsand corms

Savanna plant life is highly adapted to the hot and dry climate, with trunks that can store water for days, or special built-in mechanisms allowing the plant to lie dormant during periods of drought.

The Tropical Savanna is perhaps the most ecologically diverse of the grasslands.Several species of animals including birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects congregate and feed upon the few trees and grass or each other.

One good example of the tropical savanna is found in Africa, where lions, elephants and warthogs make their home. This savanna is known as the Serengeti.

The Serengeti The Serengeti Plains of Plains of TanzaniaTanzania

Many savannas are transitional between grasslands and forests. They are often described as “woodlands” because trees and shrubs are scattered through these grasslands.

The Sahel is another African savanna worth mentioning.

Savannas also exist in the other places around the world.

World famous gauchos, or cowboys World famous gauchos, or cowboys raise thousands of cattle each yearraise thousands of cattle each year..

They are known as Llanos in Venezuela, Pampas in Argentina, and Cerrado in Brazil

• Brazil’s Cerrado is an open area of short twisted trees, Brazil’s Cerrado is an open area of short twisted trees, grasslands, and savannas. The diversity of faunal life is grasslands, and savannas. The diversity of faunal life is very high.very high.• Because of this biodiversity, it is a global hot spot as Because of this biodiversity, it is a global hot spot as there is an increased danger of extinction.there is an increased danger of extinction.• This area claims This area claims some of Brazil’s and some of Brazil’s and indeed the World’s indeed the World’s most rare and most rare and endangered species.endangered species.

Maned WolfManed Wolf

Giant AnteaterGiant Anteater

Pampas DeerPampas Deer

There is also a savanna in northern Australia.There is also a savanna in northern Australia.

Eucalyptus trees and kangaroos are among the Eucalyptus trees and kangaroos are among the flora and fauna in this less biologically diverse flora and fauna in this less biologically diverse area.area.

• Up to 16 different Up to 16 different species of species of browsersbrowsers and and grazersgrazers can can coexist in one area.coexist in one area.

• Different herbivores Different herbivores provide a wide range provide a wide range of food for carnivores, of food for carnivores, like lions, leopards, like lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals and cheetahs, jackals and hyenas.hyenas.

Besides grasses and trees there are also flowering perennials. The flowers arrive when the season's rainy weather kicks in. Some examples of the flowers that grow in the grasslands are milkweeds, goldenrods, asters, the blazing star, sweet coneflower, and purple coneflower.

Again, humans have exploited many of the animals of the savanna biome, either for sport, fur, or illegal poaching. Rhinos and elephants have become endangered species due to the illegal trading of their horns and tusks. Frequent fires have also contributed to the diminishing savanna biome, and though most occur because of the dry heat, they are more frequent in areas populated by humans. Conservationists Conservationists

estimate that estimate that there are nearly there are nearly 37,000 African 37,000 African elephants elephants poached each poached each year.year.

Their ivory is Their ivory is traded in China, traded in China, where it is legal.where it is legal.

•In many parts of the savannas of Africa, In many parts of the savannas of Africa, people have started to exploit the people have started to exploit the grasslands to graze their cattle and goats.grasslands to graze their cattle and goats. •These peoples are These peoples are sedentarysedentary, as , as opposed to nomadic, so soon the opposed to nomadic, so soon the grasses are completely eaten up.grasses are completely eaten up. •With no vegetation, the With no vegetation, the savanna turns into a savanna turns into a desert. Huge areas of the desert. Huge areas of the Sahel region are lost to Sahel region are lost to the Sahara Desert every the Sahara Desert every year because of year because of overgrazing and farming overgrazing and farming in a process called in a process called desertification.desertification.