Terrestrial Grassland By:Connor Ruch, Kelsey Timte and Luke McKeogh

Map This is a map of where the terrestrial grasslands are in the world.

What is it like? Grasslands are big open spaces. It is mainly a big sea of grass. There are trees found by rivers and streams. Grasslands receive about 20 to 30 inches of rain annually. Grasslands have soil ideal for the growth of grass and small plants. Grasslands cannot generally support large shrubs and trees.

Temperature The temperature can change dramatically in this environment. In the summer it could range well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, temperatures can dip down to below -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Milkweed Sweet Coneflower Prairie Blazingstar Big Bluestem Grass(Turkeyfeet) All of the different types of grasses change color throughout the seasons, looking like a sea of beauty. In the autumn, for example, shades of tan, orange, and yellow cover the vast area.

Bison Deer Antelope Great Prairie Chicken Warthog Ostrich African Elephant (in Africa) Some of these animals were forced almost to extinction because of their loss in habitat and/or hunting

Adaptation Monarch butterfly and milkweed, butterfly eats plant and becomes poisonous Nettle plant, 3 feet tall with painful sting Animals in prairie, adapted to severe changes in temperature throughout the year. How it Helped The butterfly is now protected form birds since it is poisonous It is protected from grazers and humans The animals can thrive in grasslands if their eating habits are good

Though valuable, the land itself does not cost as much as the organisms living in grasslands. Some plants/animals, especially larger ones, can cost a lot of money. Bison, for example can sell up to $10,000 each depending on their condition. This is just one species. There are several rare plants and animals that could probably come close in value, but everything starts to add up and with the amount of organisms, there is a greater value than at first thought.

Human Impact Humans have made a severe impact on grasslands. We have turned this land into farmland because of its nutrient rich soil. Though we are using the land for help in farming, we are taking away the homes of several organisms. Humans have also hunted some of these animals in the environment, forcing some of the close to extinction. If we want to help grasslands, the easiest thing to do would be to stop taking land away from the animals and stop hunting. These are the two biggest impacts that we, humans, have on grasslands.

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