Grasslands

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Temperate grasslands are characterized as having grasses as the dominant vegetation. The major manifestations are the veldts of South Africa, Hungary, the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the steppes of the former Soviet Union, and the plains and prairies of central North America. Summer temperatures can be 38° C (100 degrees Fahrenheit), and winter temperatures can be as low as -40° C (-40 degrees Fahrenheit). The average is about 50.8 to 88.9 cm (20-35 inches). The temperature range is very large over the course of the year. Few natural prairie regions remain because most have been turned into farms or grazing land. They are flat, treeless, covered with grass, and have rich soil. They receive 25.4-50.8 cm (10-20 inches) of rainfall a year. -Leonardo Soriano

 Here is a map of the Grassland Biomes of the World!

__**Threats!!!**__
There are 2 major threats concerning the Grassland Biome. -Agriculture -Global Warming.

The grassland biome is where a lot of Agriculture occurs, and the natural land is being turned into a farming field. Some may become deserts soon due to this. Also, changes to rain pattern may also change the biome. -Chris Pak

The **American Bison (//Bison bison)//** is a famous North American animal that lives in the grassland biome. They used to live on the great plains of the U.S. and Canada, but now they are endangered and live in sanctuaries. Bisons are herbivores and mainly eat grass, shrubs and twigs from trees. The average lifespan of bisons are 20 years. They were the primary prey of Native Americans (not to extinction of course, because Native Americans only killed to survive) before the Europeans arrived and almost got wiped out.

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Tumbleweed ( //Salsola kali//) ** are famous for their roles in old American Western cowboy films, however, they actually come from Mongolia. Their native land are the Steppe biome (a Grassland) in Eurasia. They grow in dry areas, and when mature, the plants detach themselves from the ground and roll around, dropping seeds as it goes(reproduction). (The wooden, rolling, round shrub found in western films are Tumbleweeds when dead). They are very prickly and some even grow spikes on their branches, like roses. Mice, bighorn sheep and pronghorn are the main predators of the Tumbleweed. most frequently seen of all Scorpions in America. They're called "Striped" because of two dark lines running along their carapace (shell) from head to tail. They're also nocturnal and very adaptable to mkany environments, including forests, homes and mountains. They're even usually friendly. Breeding is long; it goes from Autumn until Early Summer, and after gestation, they give birth to about 50 broodlings. They're active foragers, and are known for eating vegetation, human-food leftovers, and logs. They have a waxy cuticle on their shell to prevent water loss, and can extremely lower their metabolism to survive.
 *  Striped Bark Scorpions (//Centruroides vittatus)// ** are scorpions that live in the mid-section of the U.S. They're probably the

-Chris Pak



Monarche Butterfly (Danus plexippus) it feeds on plant leaves and plant nectar as an adult. These feeding groups need grasslands are very important to the monarch habitats because these types of feeding grounds give energy. There winter home is in Mexico. This butterfly is poisionus.

A Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest animal in the world, They are slim with long legs. They are found mostly in the Savana and they rely on tall grasses to camoflage them while hunting. Every evening or morning they hunt and it takes about 20 to 60 seconds to capture their prey. They knock them to the ground and start by suffocating their neck. Their top speed is 70 mph. The main prey of the cheetah are small antelope, birds, hare, and warthogs. Cheetahs eat about 6 lbs of meat per day. A good meal is a gazelle, a gnu, a warthog, an impala, or a wildebeest calf .An adult cheetah weighs 80-140 pounds.



Thistles are a grassland plant found in North America. The seeds are an important source for birds. There are many differnt types. One type is the Yellow Star Thistle, it's deep rooted and has late season soil water in it. Its a member of the sunflower or daisy family. It has yellowish spines like a star and as leaves form around the stem they become shorter and narrower.

Climate: Temperate grasslands have a climate that is cooler than savannas. Temperate grasslands have warm, humid summers with an average temperature of 18° C and cool, dry winters with an average temperature of 10° C. Most of the rain falls are in the summer and sometimes frost and snow may occur in the winter.

-Nicole Schumann



-Mary Colleen Watson

Mary Colleen Watson Animal: Zebra Scientific Name: Equus Burchelli Life Cycle: life expectancy is 20 years Reproductive Period: 360-390 Day gestation period Diet: short green grass Interesting Facts:
 * 1) No two zebras are alike
 * 2) Have a long mouth to hold food
 * 3) Babies have long legs when born to keep up with the herd an hour after birth.



Mary Colleen Watson Animal: Chinese Mantis (Mantid) Scientific Name: Tenodera Aridiflora Life Cycle: An egg, a nymph, then an adult Reproduction: lay eggs in a foamy liquid on a twig, says through winter and hatches in spring Diet: crickets or grasshoppers Interesting Facts: 1. Make great household pets 2. will eat wet cat food if offered 3. can turn head 180 degrees

Mary Colleen Watson Plant: Buffalo Grass Scientific Name: Buchloe Dactyloides Life Cycle: warm season turf or perennial weed Reproduction: It is dioecious meaning that the female and male flowers are located on separate plants Diet: water, nitrogen helps it grow Interesting Facts: 1. requires little fertilization 2. used for turf on football fields 3. fossils show that it was around 7 million years ago in Kansas

Temperate grasslands, however are located in colder climate regions and receive less precipitation on average than savannas. Temperate grasslands and savannas are two types of grassland biomes. Like savannas, temperate grasslands are areas of open grassland with very few trees. Grasslands are ** located **on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Some locations of temperate grasslands include: Hungary – puszta, New Zealand – downs, Central North America - plains and prairies, Russia – steppes, Australia – downs, South Africa – veldts, Argentina – pampas. Low to temperate grasslands a difficult place for tall plants such as woody shrubs and trees to grow. Grasses of this area have adapted to cold temperatures, drought, and can occasional fires. These grasses have deep, massive root systems that take hold in the soil. This allows the grasses to remain firmly rooted in the ground to reduce erosion and to conserve water.(leonardo soriano)
 * Biomes ** are the world's major habitats. They are identified by the vegetation and animals that populate them. The location of each biome is determined by the regional climate.
 * Temperatures ** in temperate grasslands vary according to the season. In summer, temperatures can reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, temperatures can plummet to well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. Temperate grasslands receive low to moderate precipitation on average per year 20-35 in. Most of this precipitation form snow in temperate grasslands of the northern hemisphere.
 * Wildlife **: temperate grasslands are home to many large ** herbivores **. Some of these include bison, gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, and wild horses. ** Carnivores ** like lions and wolves are also found in temperate grasslands. ** Other ** animals of this region include: deer, prairie dogs, mice, jack rabbits, skunks, coyotes, snakes, foxes, owls, badgers, blackbirds, grasshoppers, meadowlarks, sparrows, quails, and hawks.
 * Vegetation **: Temperate grassland vegetation can either be short or tall. Taller grasses can be found in warmer areas that receive more rainfall. Some examples of vegetation in temperate grasslands include: buffalo grass, cacti, sagebrush, perennial grasses, sunflowers, clovers, and wild indigos. In areas that receive little precipitation, grasses remain low to the ground.

Common name: sedge grass Scientific name: carex Life cycle: at the end of the growing season the sedges die back to the grown then re grow by sprouting from underground roots. Reproduction from roots Needs water and shade 1. Sedge grass is used for decoration 2. Grows in shade 3. Grown in rock gardens

The Pronghorn Life cycle: Females give birth to one or two fawns in late May or early June. Babies will join herd when they are about a week old Reproductive cycle: Females give birth to one or two fawns in late May or early June Diet: Eats sagebrush in the winter, grazes on grasses 1. Weighs between 90-120 pounds 2. Deer like body 3. Male horns curve in