Grassland Biome

The grassland biome is made up of large open areas of grasses.

They are maintained by grazing animals and frequent fires. Types
of grasslands include savannas and temperate grasslands.

Rothschild's Giraffes
There are a ridiculous number of giraffes in this photograph. They are standing in a
grassland nibbling on trees. Words cannot describe how awesome this is.

Grassland biomes consist of large open areas of grass. Trees can

be present, but they are infrequent. The animals found
in grasslands range from African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
to various species of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.).

Low rainfall, wildland fires, and grazing by animals are three

factors that maintain grasslands. In grassland regions,
the climate is ideal for the growth of grasses only. The
low precipitation rates are enough to nourish grasses but not
enough for a forest of trees. Frequent fires also play a role in
maintaining grassland ecosystems. Grasses are well adapted to
grow back after a fire. Grassland animals are also prepared for
fires, fleeing or burrowing underground to wait out the flames.
Large animals, such as African elephants, can also trample the
ground and discourage the growth of trees.

The two distinct types of grasslands are savannas and temperate

grasslands. These two types of grasslands may look similar, but
they differ in some significant ways. For example, elephants are
found in African savannas but not in the temperate grasslands of
the United States. In contrast, burrowing animals, such as prairie
dogs, are commonly found
in temperate grasslands. Temperate grasslands also are known to
have richer soils than savannas.

Savannas are present in areas that have a warm climate with a

rainy season and a dry season. Most of the precipitation falls
during just a few months of the year. This results in a long dry
season that inhibits the growth of trees. Savannas and their
abundant wildlife are famous in Africa, but savannas can also be
found in South America, Asia, and Australia.

Temperate grasslands, on the other hand, are known for their rich
soil that yields abundant growth of grasses. Temperate grasslands
are found in places such as North America and Eastern Europe.

Humans have had a dramatic impact on the grassland biome.

Because temperate grasslands have rich soil, most of
the grasslands in the United States have been converted into
fields for crops or grazing land for cattle. The loss
of grasslands due to agriculture has affected several species,
including monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). During their
long migration to Mexico, the butterflies depend on the grasslands’
wildflowers for food. Consequently, monarch butterfly populations
have begun disappearing as more and more grasslands have
been converted into farmland.

In the African savannas, illegal hunting has resulted in the loss of

many large animals, including elephants. The elephants protect
the grasses of the savanna by crushing trees and shrubs. Without
large animals around to stomp down the trees, they can more
readily overtake the grasses, causing savannas to turn into
forests. The resulting loss of the grasses would mean less food
for grazing animals such as Grevy’s zebras (Equus grevy).