INTRODUCTION TO THE PRAIRIES

Where are the Prairies located?

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biograssland.php

Go to link below for information from NASA

Description of the Prairies

Divided into 3 types of grasses: tall grass (true prairie), mixed (mid) grass, and short grass. tall-grass prairie formed a narrow band from

Canada south to the Gulf Coast Prairie in Texas on the East side

Mid/mixed prairie formed a band from Canada south to Texas in the middle between the tall and short grass prairies

Short grass prairie is bordered by the mountains on the West side

Tall, mixed and short grasses

Short-grass prairie

Tall-grass prairie

Mixed-grass prairie

Climate of the Prairies

Variable climate with periodic droughts, usually bunched into spans of multiple years

Semi-arid, precipitation varies from east to west 320mm Greeley Colorado-900mm Kansas City, Kansas

Dominated by four seasons, temps vary from north to south Temps to -40 in the winter in the North and +110 in the Summer in the South

Grasslands of the World, Suttie, Reynolds, Batello, 2005

Human Impacts

Before European influence prairies were basically not impacted by Native Americans

Due to modern agriculture and urbanization experts estimate 70-95% of the native prairies have been converted to other uses.

Fauna of Prairies-Past

At time of early exploration bison, pronghorn (antelope) were dominant herbivores. Estimated that 40-60 million bison

and antelope present on prairies Also habitat for small mammals

prairie dogs, jack rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers and voles

Habitat for invertebrates grasshoppers, beetles, ants and sap feeders

Birds included western meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, horned lark, chestnut-collared longspur, hawks, eagles and owls

Pronghorn (antelope)

Western Meadowlark

Bison

Fauna of the Prairies-Present Cattle have replaced

bison, pronghorn numbers dramatically reduced

Prairie dog numbers reduced by 98%

Prairies provide stopping grounds for migrating birds

Populations of white tail deer and coyotes have greatly expanded their range and increased their numbers

skolaiimages.com

free-extras.com

Flora of the Prairies

Native grasses have been nearly replaced by agricultural crops: wheat, corn, soybeans, millet, rye, flax etc.

The prairies used to include many grasses some of which included: big blue-stem, little blue-stem, Indian grass, switch grass, needle and thread, wheat grass, blue grama and buffalo grass.

Some trees on the prairie included: cottonwood, ash, juniper, aspen, oak and others Most of the cottonwoods have been

reduced in number due to dams placed along the Upper Missouri Basin, urbanization and agriculture.

Blue Grama Grass

Cottonwood Tree

Activities

Students may choose from the following list: Prepare a short presentation or report on the contents of the

prairie of the past Prepare a short presentation or report on where native

(pristine) prairie can be found in your area or an area near you Prepare a photo album of prairie flora or fauna or both Compile a presentation or report on one of the types of prairie

include range (original and current), contents and climate Research and prepare report on organization and agencies

involved with preserving native prairies Prepare a short presentation or report on the Tribal Nations of

the Great Plains Presentations and reports will be evaluated using included

rubric