What is a grassland ecosystem?

What is a grassland ecosystem?

• Grasslands- ecosystems in which grasses are the main
plant life.
• Rainfall is irregular and usually not plentiful.
• Temperatures are cool in winter and warm in the
summer.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• Some of the world’s most fertile soil is found in
the grasslands.
• For this reason grasslands are often used for
farming.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• The roots of grassland plants hold soil in place.
• If the plants are removed, the soil can be
blown away by winds.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• During the dry season, it is common for natural fires to occur in
grasslands.
• These fires help clear out dead leaves and branches and prevent
trees and shrubs from growing.
• The roots of plants in the grasslands are deep. For this reason, the
environment recovers quickly.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• Grasses are the producers of the grassland ecosystem.
• They provide a rich food source for herbivores. In tall
grass prairies, bluestem and switchgrass plants grow to
heights of 3 meters (12 feet).
• Below the ground, the roots of these plants can grow
just as deep or even deeper.
Ecosystem Functions And Services

1. Carbon Storage

2. Nutrient re-cycling

3. Habitat For Grazers

4. Buffer Between Deserts and Forests

5. Useful For Grain Crop Agriculture

 Technical Note for Grasslands and Shrublands Indicator: Carbon Storage  

The Indicator

This indicator seeks to track long-term changes in carbon sequestration in grasslands and

shrublands. Measurements of this indicator through time can provide information on whether

the ecosystem is a net source or a net sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. An ecosystem

accruing carbon is one contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gases. White et al. (2000)

have estimated that grassland ecosystems worldwide store an amount of carbon that is about

of that stored by the world’s forests and roughly equivalent to that stored by agricultural systems.

http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/grass_technotes/grass_crbn_strg.shtml
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• The plants and animals in grasslands vary from place to place.
• In North America, herbivores such as bison, gophers, ground
squirrels, and prairie dogs live together in the grasslands.
• Carnivores there include coyotes, badgers, and black-footed
ferrets.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• The grasslands of central Russia, known as
steppes have different animals, such as
Siberian chipmunks and wild boars.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• The grasslands of Argentina, known as the
pampas, are home to pampas deer.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• Savanna- a type of grassland that stays warm
all year.
• The soil is not as fertile as the soil of other
grasslands.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• Savannahs receive more rainfall than other
grasslands, though not enough to support a dense
growth of trees.
• Savannas have long, dry winters and very wet
summers.
 What is a grassland ecosystem?
• Africa has large savannas dotted with acacia
trees, which provide shade for animals.
• Animals in the African savannas include lions,
giraffes, zebras, and antelope.