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► Temperate Grassland Biome
Grasslands
► Grass Types ► Tree Types ► Soil Types ► The World
Types of Grasslands
Types based on Climatic Dryness
Types based on WWF
Characteristics of Grasslands
Some different kinds of Grasses
Some different kinds of Grassland Flowers
Some Grassland Animals
Origin of Grasslands
Importance of Grasslands
In many areas, Grasslands separate Forests from Deserts. In fact, most Grasslands are
located between Forests and Deserts. Natural Grasslands primarily occur in regions that
receive between 500 and 900 mm (20 and 35 in) of rain per year. Grasslands can exist
naturally in areas with higher rainfall when other factors prevent the growth of Forests, such
as in serpentine barrens, where minerals in the soil inhibit most Plants from growing. Some
of the World's largest expanses of Grassland are found in African Savannah, and these are
maintained by wild herbivores as well as by nomadic pastoralists and their Cattle, Sheep or
Goats. Grasslands are known by different names in different parts of the World: - ‘Steppes’
in Asia; ‘Prairies’ in North America; ‘Pampas’, ‘Llanos’ and ‘Cerrados’ in South America;
‘Savannahs’ and ‘Velds’ in Africa; and ‘Rangelands’ in Australia.
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1. Climatic Savannahs - Savannahs which result from climatic conditions are called
Climatic Savannahs.
2. Edaphic Savannahs - Savannahs that are caused by soil conditions and that are not
entirely maintained by fire are called Edaphic Savannahs. These can occur on hills or
ridges where the soil is shallow, or in valleys where clay soils become waterlogged in
wet weather.
3. Derived Savannah - Svanna which is formed as result of people clearing Forest land
for cultivation is known as Derived Savannah. These originate when farmers clear a
tract of Forest, burn the dead trees, and Plant crops in the ashes for as long as the soil
remains fertile. Then, the field is abandoned and, although Forest trees may recolonize,
Grass takes over on the bare ground (succession), becoming luxuriant enough to burn
within a year or so.
Tropical Grasslands are warm year round with mean monthly temperatures occurring at or
above 64° F.
The annual precipitation averages between 30 and 50 inches. For at least five months of the
year, during the dry season, less than 4 inches of rain, a month is received. The dry season is
associated with the low sun period.
Soils vary according to bedrock and edaphic conditions. In general, however, Laterization is
the dominant soil-forming process and low fertility oxisols can be expected.
Savannahs are covered with Perennial Grasses which often are 3 to 6 feet tall at maturity.
There is a wide range of Grasses but an area is usually dominated by one to two types of
Grasses. They may or may not also have an open canopy of drought-resistant, fire-resistant,
or browse-resistant trees, or they may have an open shrub layer. Trees are only found along
rivers in the Savannah because only drought-resistant Plants can grow well under the long
dry season with thin soils. The appearances of Savannahs change seasonally, in which they
are green in colour in wet seasons and turn golden-brown in dry seasons.
There is a high diversity of Animals in the Tropical Grasslands especially in Africa. Over 40
different Species of Animals are found in African Savannahs, some of which are Eland,
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Impala, Wildebeest, Plains Zebra, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Warthog, Lion, Leopard and
Cheetah. However in South America's Tropical Grassland the Fauna is not as diverse. It
includes Animals like Capybara, Anaconda, Armadillo, Caiman and Termites.
Cerrado of Brazil.
Temperate Grasslands have warm, humid summers with an average temperature of 18° C
and cool, dry winters with an average temperature of 10° C.
These typically receive between 10 and 20 inches of precipitation a year. Much of this falls as
snow, serving as reservoir of moisture for the beginning of the growing season. The
evaporation rate is high, so little rain makes it into the soil.
Trees are rare in the Temperate Grasslands because there is not enough moisture for them
to grow as they have longer life cycles and need longer growing season than Grasses. The
appearances of Grasslands in winter are generally brown in colour because Grasses turn dry
in winter.
Calcification is the dominant soil-forming process these areas. Mild leaching, high organic
content, and concentration of calcium carbonate in the B horizon typifies the dark brown
mollisols developed under the Temperate Grasslands. When this process works on a loess
(silt deposit) that itself is rich in calcium, the World's most fertile soils are created, the
Chernozems (black soil).
Perennial Grasses and Perennial Forbs and Leguminosae, the Sunflower and Pea families are
dominant growth forms.
Veld in Africa.
Grassland Regions
Sudanian Savannahs.
Llanos Savannahs.
Grassland Regions
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3. Flooded Grasslands and Savannah - Flooded Grasslands and Savannahs are a Biome,
generally located at subtropical and tropical latitudes, which are flooded seasonally or year-
round. Everglades, Pantanal, Sahelian flooded Savannahs, Zambezian flooded Savannahs,
and the Sudd are the major Flooded Grasslands and Savannah Ecoregions of the World.
These areas support numerous Plants and Animals which are adapted to the unique
hydrologic regimes and soil conditions. These support large population of migratory and
resident water-birds along with various Reptiles and Amphibians. The temperature in these
regions is warm with nutrient rich soil.
Grassland Regions
4. Montane Grasslands and Shrubland - Montane Grasslands and Shrublands are a Biome
which are located above the tree line and are commonly known as Alpine Tundra, which
occurs in mountain regions around the World. It includes high elevation (montane and
alpine) Grasslands and shrublands, including the Puna and Paramo in South America, sub-
alpine Heath in New Guinea and East Africa, Steppes of the Tibetan Plateaus, as well as
other similar sub-alpine habitats around the World. The Plants and Animals of Tropical
Montane Paramos display striking adaptations to cool, wet conditions and intense sunlight.
Characteristic Plants of these habitats display adaptations such as rosette structures, waxy
surfaces, and hairy leaves. A unique feature of many wet tropical montane regions is the
presence of giant rosette Plants from a variety of Plant families, such as Lobelia (Afrotropic),
Puya (Neotropic), Cyathea (New Guinea), and Argyroxiphium (Hawaii). The most extensive
Montane Grasslands and shrublands occur in the Neotropic Paramo of the Andes
Mountains. This biome also occurs in the mountains of east and central Africa, Mount
Kinabalu of Borneo, highest elevations of the Western Ghats in South India and the Central
Highlands of New Guinea. Where conditions are drier, one finds Montane Grasslands,
Savannahs, and Woodlands, like the Ethiopian Highlands, and Montane Steppes, like the
Steppes of the Tibetan Plateau.
Grassland Regions
Distribution
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Fast Growth of Grass - Grasses are specialists when it comes to regrowth. Their growing
points are situated low down near the soil enabling them to grow back in spite of grazing or
overgrazing. Many Grass Species can grow back quickly after a fire has swept through the
Grassland, and some have seeds that can grow after being burned in a fire Grasslands tend
to produce larger amounts of new growth if subjected to some type of repeated disturbance,
usually grazing or fire, that prevents the accumulation of a thick layer of dead litter. Where
such a layer is allowed to develop, it retains nutrients in a form not immediately available to
roots and acts as a physical barrier for new shoots growing from the soil surface toward the
light; in temperate Grasslands this layer acts as thermal insulation, slowing the spring
warming of the soil. This has obvious implications for grazing management of these systems.
Grasslands can therefore support a high density of grazing Animals.
Mostly Hot and Dry Areas - Grassland climates are varied, but all large regions of Natural
Grassland are generally hot, at least in summer, and dry. In general, Tropical Grasslands
receive 500 to 1,500 millimetres (20 to 60 inches) of rain in an average year and in every
season experience temperatures of about 15° to 35° C (59° to 95° F). The dry season may
last as long as eight months. An excess of rainfall over evaporation, leading to ephemeral
river flow, occurs only during the wet season. The tropical Grassland climate overlaps very
broadly with that of Savannah. Temperate Grasslands have cold winters and warm summers
with rain or some snow.
Specialised Plants - The Plants of Grasslands have adapted themselves to survive the
prevalent conditions. Grasses generally have pollen that is spread by the wind and are as
such not much dependant on other organisms for pollination. Some Plants have bad-tasting
and poisonous chemicals which prevent them from being eaten by Animals. They also have
thick latex sap contained in their leaves or stem and upon breakage, they ooze the gummy
sap. If this is tapped by an insect , it hardens in the air and gums up the insect's mouth parts.
Milkweeds and Dogbane are such Plants. The Stinging Nettle Plant can cause a painful
feeling in the Animal that touches it. Also, a kind of Grass can cut the tongue of the Animal
that eats it. In addition, there is also a kind of Poison Ivy. During a fire, while above-ground
portions of Grasses may perish, the root portions survive to sprout again as Grasses grow
from near their base, not from tip, thus are not permanently damaged from grazing Animals
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or fire. Extensive root systems prevent grazing Animals from pulling roots out of the ground.
Cocksfoot.
Upright Brome.
Tor Grass.
Sheep's Fescue.
Crested Dog's-Tail.
Common Quaking-Grass.
Common Fox-Tail.
Rough Meadow Grass.
False Oat-Grass.
Blue Moor-Grass.
Yorkshire Fog.
Salad Burnet.
Meadow Buttercup.
Red Campion.
Cuckoo Flower.
Cowslip.
Sainfoin.
Field Gentian.
Meadow Saffron.
Harebell.
Knapweed
Bee Orchid.
Grassland Adapted Animals - The Animals that live in Grasslands have adapted themselves
to dry, windy conditions. Most of the Animals found in Grasslands are grazers which eat a
variety of Grasses and other Plants. Some Animals, such as Bison, have broad, flat-topped
teeth and digestive systems especially adapted to feed on Grasses. The colour of many
Grassland Animals blends in with the Plants helping them to catch a prey or escape a
predator. Most of the Animals on the Savannah have long legs or wings to be able to go on
long migrations. Many burrow under ground to avoid the heat or raise their young. The
Savannah is a perfect place for birds of prey like hawks and buzzards. The wide, open plain
provides them with a clear view of their prey, hot air updrafts keep them soaring, and there is
the occasional tree to rest on or nest in. Animals don't sweat to lose body heat, so they lose
it through panting or through large areas of exposed skin, or ears, like those of the elephant.
Grasslands also benefit other Animals by providing them with their habitats and food. With
the interaction between Grasslands and Animals, the existence of Grasslands is made
possible because without the grazing by Animals, they will be colonized by shrubs quickly
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Chaffinch.
Skylark.
Rook.
Pronghorn Antelope.
Gray Wolf.
Badger.
Red Kangaroo.
Mole.
Woodmouse.
Leaf Bug.
Ladybirds.
Ground Beetles.
Greenflies.
Earwigs.
Earthworms.
Centipedes.
Origin of Grasslands
Grasslands arose during the period of cooling and drying of the global climate, which
occurred during the Cenozoic Era (65.5 million years ago). In the Miocene and Pliocene
Epochs (5.332 million to 2.588 million years ago), which spanned a period of about 25 million
years, mountains rose in western North America and created a continental climate
favourable to Grasslands. Ancient Forests declined and Grasslands became widespread.
Following the Pleistocene Ice Ages (2 million to 11 thousand years ago), Grasslands
expanded in range as hotter and drier climates prevailed Worldwide. The Grass family itself
(Poaceae or Gramineae) evolved only early in this era. The date of earliest appearance of
Grasslands varies from region to region. In several regions a succession of vegetation types
can be recognized in the Cenozoic fossil record, as climate dried out progressively. For
example, in central Australia during the past 50 million years Tropical Rainforest gave way
successively to Savannah, Grassland, and, finally, Desert. In some places expansion of
Grasslands to something approaching their modern extent occurred only during the
extremely cold, dry intervals—called ice ages in north temperate regions—of the past two
million years. Other Grassland types occur in places too cold for trees to grow—i.e., beyond
the Forest limits of high mountains or at high latitudes. A characteristic type of Grassland in
cool, moist parts of the Southern Hemisphere is Tussock Grassland, dominated by tussock or
bunch Grasses that develop pedestals of matted stems, giving the vegetation a lumpy
appearance. Tussock Grasslands occur at various latitudes.
However not all natural Grasslands, however, arise from climate-related circumstances.
Woody Plants may be prevented from growing in certain areas for other reasons, allowing
Grasses to dominate. One cause is seasonal flooding or water-logging, which is responsible
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for the creation and maintenance of large Grasslands in parts of the highly seasonal
subtropics and in smaller areas of other regions. One of the best examples of a seasonally
flooded subtropical Grassland is the Pantanal in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil. Across an
area of 140,000 square kilometres (54,000 square miles), dry Grasslands prevail for half of
each year and shallow wetlands for the other, with small Forest patches restricted to low
rises that do not flood during the wet season. In many other areas where climate is suitable
for Forest growth, very shallow or infertile soils may prevent tree growth and result in
development of Grassland.
Importance of Grasslands
Grassland are an important part of ecosystem as they cover nearly one third of the
earth’s land surface and supply three quarters of the energy that the World needs.
They support an amazing variety of Animals and Plants which are important
components of the Grassland Habitat and maintain a rich biodiversity. Some Species
are endemic to these Habitats and as such these Habitats should be conserved.
Grasslands are a source of income through Tourism as well. The increasing number of
tourists add to the revenues of most countries where they are found.
Grassland are important for researchers and scientists as Grasslands are needed to be
fully understood so that they can benefit Humans in innumerable ways. Certain
adaptations of Plants towards harsh climates are and can be utilised to develop better
quality of Plants.
Certain Animal Species use various strategies and techniques to survive in Grasslands
and these can be applied in scientific research and development for the benefit of
mankind.
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List of Grasslands
Deserts Grasslands
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/deserts/)
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/grasslands/)
Forests Mountains
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/forests/)
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/mountains/)
Islands Oceans
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/islands/)
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/oceans/)
Wetlands
(http://targetstudy.com/nature/habitats/wetlands/)
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