Biomes - Grasslands. Relation to moisture and temp.
Transcript of Biomes - Grasslands. Relation to moisture and temp.
Grasslands
• Two main types – – Tropical grasslands or savannas– Temperate grasslands
– Based on the names – which do you think has the better climate (not too hot, not too cold…..)
Savanna
• A grassland with scattered individual trees
• Make up almost ½ Africa, large areas of Australia, South America and India
Savanna
• Always warm or hot with annual rainfall 50.8 to 127 cm.
• Rainfall during only 6-8 months of the year, followed by drought
Drought
• “A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions.”
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
Savanna
• Soil has rapid drainage• There is only a thin layer of litter (raw organic matter)
http://envirosci.net/111/soil/the_soil.htm
Savanna
• Predominant vegetation is grasses and forbs – specific on the amount of precipitation and soil conditions
Drought
• Keep moisture in their trunks above ground.
• Baobab tree – can store up to 31,000 gallons of water in its trunk!
Drought
• Jackal berry tree (the seeds are often found in jackal poop) – also known as ebony
• Grow in termite mounds – the mounds help maintain moisture
Savanna
• Fire plays a critical role • During the dry season
(January) may be started by thunderstorms or poachers
Fires• The grasses?
• Tops are burned but the deep roots remain unharmed.
• Grasses grow from the roots, they have large starch reserves and will start to grow again once there is moisture.
March
• Rains come• Grasses grow quickly, some
up to 1 inch in 24 hours!• Animals time their birthing
times to when food is plentiful (antelopes)
Temperate grassland
• Grasses are the dominant vegetation• Few or no trees and shrubs• Temperatures vary more from summer to
winter• Less rainfall than in savannas
Temperate grasslands
• South Africa (veldts)• Hungary (puszta)• Argentina (pampas)• The former Soviet Union (steppes)• Central North America (prairies and plains)
Temperate grasslands
• Hot summers (up to 38°C) and cold winters (-30°C)
• Moderate rainfall: 50.8 cm (20”)- 88.9cm (35”) – Amount decides the types of grasses– Wetter area = taller grasses
• Soil: deep and dark, fertile upper layers– Thanks to the growth and decay of the grass roots– Grass roots also hold the soil together
Not just grasses
• Wildflowers! Including asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers and wild indigos.
Grassland animals – North America
• Grazing animals (large, flat back teeth for chewing)
• American Bison• Pronghorn
Grassland animals - predators
• Coyote – poop?• About the size and
shape of a cigar• Will contain feathers,
bone, fur, and insect parts.
• Will be black or grey in color
Grassland animals – prairie chicken
• Member of the grouse family
• Males have large yellow neck patch
• Territorial birds that do not migrate
Grassland animals – prairie chicken
• Booming – sound made by inflating their neck sacks
• Booming grounds - for mating rituals
Prairie Chicken
• Study at Kansas State University– Females won’t have nests within ¼ mile of power
lines or 1/3 miles of an improved road
• Major threat - development!
Konza Prairie• Konza Prairie Long-term
ecological Research (LTER)• Research, education and
outreach program• Began in 1982• Focus on fire, grazing and
climatic variability
http://www.konza.ksu.edu/
Konza Prairie
• Co-owned by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University
Photo by Jim Richardson