Temperate Grasslands

Lynn Ottaviani and Marie Rhodes

 Climate

• Semiarid
• 20-35 in/yr of
precipitation
• Temperatures vary
from summer to winter
• Large temperature
range
 Locations

• Exist on every continent except Antarctica

• North America (Prairies)
• South America (Pampas)
• Africa (Veld)
• Eurasia (Steppes)
• Australia
 Basics

• Transition between desert and forest

• Frequent fires limit number of trees and
shrubs
• Largest biome in North America
• Many areas used for
agriculture
 Plants

• Perennial grasses
• Composite family
• Legumes
 Animals

• Lack shelter from predators

• Plenty of grass for food
• Populated mostly by ungulates (hoofed animals)
• Other animals include prairie dogs, prairie
falcons, snakes, fox, and more
 Threats
• Soil depletion of organic material
• Crop irrigation during droughts
• Over-grazing of domestic ungulates
• Invasive plant species
• Continual agricultural development and progress