1. Grasslands
Biomes of the World

2. Location Grasslands are found in many places around world.
Tropical- warmer climate
Temperate-milder climate

3. Names of Grassland Grasslands have a variety of names
Prairies and plains of North America
Steppes of Asia
Savannas of Africa
Pampas of South America

4. Prairies and Plains

5. Prairies and Plains Both tall-grass and short-grass
Grasses taller and more dense in the east and shorter in the west
The air is moist and humid
This allows for some very tall grasses of up to 10 feet
Summers are warm and humid
Winters are cold but not too extreme

6. Prairies and Plains
Climate caused by mid continental location and border of the Rocky Mtns
Precipitation
Amounts can reach from about 12.6 inches in the short grass prairie to 21.7 inches in the tall grass prairies
Amount of rainfall vary from inches annually decreasing from east to west
The most famous drought occurred in the 1930s, when the prairies were called the "Dust Bowl"
Caused by over farming
Temperature
January average 20° F
70° F in July

7. Prairies and Plains Animals
Most animals have adapted to the open, treeless prairie by digging burrows or nesting on the ground
Prairie Dog
Swift Fox
Bald Eagle

8. Animal Adaptations •Bison - flat teeth to break down grass
-excellent sense of hearing and smell
-travel in herds either as a family or in packs of up to 50 when migrating
• Prairie dogs
- sharp incisor teeth allow them to clip grasses
-strong hind legs to stand upright
-build tunnels underground at an angle to prevent flooding but in case flooding

9. Prairies and Plains Plants
Grasses with deep root systems keep the soil from blowing away
Purple Coneflower
Can survive drought, high temperatures, and poor soil
Big Bluestem Grass- can withstand heavy grazing, stabilizes soil with long roots that can extend up to 10 ft
Indian Grass- below ground structures are unharmed in fires

10. Steppes

11. Steppes The Steppe biome is a dry, cold, grassland
Usually found between the desert and the forest.
Very few people live there because of the climate
Farmers would have a hard time growing crops because the soil is poor and temps can be low

12. Steppes Precipitation Temperature
The Steppe climate tends to go in cycles where there may be 10 years or more of good rains followed by as many years of drought
On average in of rain per year
Temperature
varies a lot between summer and winter
can reach temperatures of 104° F and have heavy thunderstorms in the summer
In the winter there are no clouds to keep heat from escaping into the upper atmosphere. The land gets colder and colder.
Winter temperatures of -40° F are not uncommon

13. Steppes
Animals
A lot of the animals that live in the Steppes are grazing animals
Saiga Antelope- huge nose helps filter out dust and heats up air during the winter to reduce heat loss in its body
Saker Falcon- migrates, feeds on rodents and small birds
Northern Lynx- nocturnal, climb well, and can jump very high

14. Steppes
Plants
There are many plants in the Steppes. The main ones, of course, are different grasses
Milk Vetch
Tumbleweed
Rhubarb

15. Savannas

16. Savannas
A savanna is a rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome. Not enough rain falls on a savanna to support forests.
Periods of drought,
grazing by herbivores,
and occasional fires
prevent forests from
growing

17. Savannas
Animals
Savannas have large herds of grazing, browsing, hoofed animals. Each animal has a specialized eating habit that reduces competition for food.
Grant's Zebra- teeth sharp in the front and flat in the back, teeth keep growing entire life as they wear down by all the chewing
Koala Bear- rough pads to grip the tree, sharp sense of smell
African Elephant- trunk is made up of 150,000 muscles that aid in eating, drinking, water bathing, and communication

18. Savannas
Plants
Plants of the savannas are highly specialized to grow in this environment of long periods of drought.
They have long tap roots that can reach the deep water table, thick bark to resist annual fires, trunks that can store water, and leaves that drop off during the winter to conserve water.
Whistling Thorn
Elephant Grass

19. Pampas

20. Pampas
They are flat, fertile plains that covers an area of 300,000 sq. miles or 777,000 square kilometers, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes Mountains.

21. Pampas Precipitation Temperature
There is an annual precipitation of 10 to 30 inches (100 to 150 cm) of rain.
From December to February hardly any rain falls at all.
Temperature
range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C)
In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C)
In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C).

22. Pampas
Animals
Animals on the Pampas have made adaptations to living in a windy grassland
Many animals browse on grass or burrow in the ground.
Geoffrey's Cat
Greater Rhea

23. Pampas
Plant
Pampas Grass