Huge areas in both the temperate and tropic regions of the world are covered by grassland biomes. These are typically areas where relatively low annual rainfall or uneven seasonal occurance of rainfall makes conditions inhospitable for forest, but suitable for luxurious growth of grasses. The temperate grasslands are located in the midwestern parts of the United States and the tropical grasslands are located in Africa and South America along the edges of the tropical rainforest. Temperate and tropical grasslands are remarkably similar in appearance, although the particular species they contain may be very different. In both cases, there are usually vast numbers of large and conspicuous herbivores often including ungulates, as the bison and proghorn antelope in the United States. Burrowing rodents or rodent-like animals are often common, such as prairie dogs in the western United States.
Light is the limiting factor for plant growth in the tropical rainforest. However there are areas along the equator where water becomes a limiting factor (seasonal extremes of wet and dry. This area develops into tropical grasslands or savannas. Read the pages indicated by Z-17 and study Behavioral Objectives 25 and 26. The amount of rainfall received in this area prevents trees from becoming established. This biome contains some of the worlds largest herbivores and carnivores because of the large amounts of grasses produced each year. Locate these biomes on the map showing the biomes of the world.
Activity: Write a paragraph describing which environmental factors are responsible for the characteristic adaptations demonstrated by the plants and animals in the savanna and give examples of the flora and fauna which may be found in this ecosystem’s trophic levels.
Read pages indicated by Z-18 and study Behavioral Objectives 28,29,30. Temperate grasslands (prairies) have developed because of low amounts of rainfall and hot and cold temperature extremes.
Activity: Write a paragraph describing which environmental factors are responsible for the characteristic adaptations demonstrated by the plants and animals in the temperate grasslands and give examples of the flora and fauna which may be found in this ecosystem’s trophic levels. Include a description of soil type located here.
The _______ is a tropical habitat in which widely spaced trees are interspersed with grassland.
- a. prairie
- b. savanna
- c. temperate grassland
- d. taiga
Which biome contains soils that are the most rich in organic matter?
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Last modified November 19, 1997.