Temperate Grassland Biome
By: Will, Jimmie, Brendon, Eric, and Liam
Before we start you might be wondering, what is the
difference between tropical and temperate grassland?
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Location
Rainfall
Grass length
Growing seasons
(We are doing temperate)
GEOGRAPHY
Steppes
Throughout this presentation we will be mostly covering 2 areas of the temperate
grasslands, the the Steppes and the Veldt.
Overview- The Steppes are usually a dry area with hot summers and cold winters, it
is located within the interiors of the Eurasian and North American continents.
Conservation- Like all biomes around the world, the steppes also have
conservation issues. These include, overgrazing, plowing and oil drilling. Because
of irrigation, there are excess salts that are hurting the steppes. Dust storms
typically happen in the Great Plains because of strong winds from the steppes
which blow up the soil that has been recently plowed by farmers, creating these
dust storms.
Steppes continued
The steppes extend some 8000 kilometres from hungary in the was through
ukraine and central asia to manchuria in the east.
Are there any major cities near the steppes?
There are not any cities near the steppes, mostly due to the harsh climate and the
dust storms.
The Veldt/Veld
The veld is a wide open rural landscape in southern africa. It is a flat area covered
in grass or low scrub, with very little to no trees growing in it. The climate is mostly
warm but with wet summers and dry winters with heavy frost.
Human impact
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Humans are taking up the veld for urban area, all animal life and plant life are
being destroyed.
Governments are building transportation through the vled and destroying the
animals habitats
Farmers have land in the veldt and they are using pesticides on their crops,
thus starting to destroy he biome by destroying the soil.
Meteorologist Continued
Geography
This picture above is of the average temperature of 2016, the picture displays the
five latitude lines across the world, the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator,
Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle. Each line has different impacts on the
Earth, the Arctic Circle is the furthermost latitude circle of the Earth and produces
the cold weather for the North. The tropic of cancer is how Mexico and the
Southern United States get their heat, it can still get cold there, it can still snow
however, it doesn't snow often. The last major longitude circle in the world is the
Antarctic Circle which is where a majority of Earth’s net radiation stops spreading
leading to a net radiation deficit in the southernmost points of the southern
hemisphere.Temperate Grasslands can only be found North of the Tropic of Cancer
at 23.5 degrees and South of the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 degrees
When you should visit
The best time to visit the plains is during the summer for the hemisphere that the
area as the only exciting things to do in the winter would be to skate or play
hockey. The dangerous elements of traveling to the plains would be the animals,
such as bobcats, and cheetahs. Some points of interest include most of the veldt,
with the many exotic animals, as well as plants.
Must visits
The Nebraska Prairie Museum is located in Holdrege, Nebraska. It had over an acre of indoor
exhibits. The Mission of the Nebraska Prairie Museum is to be a historical, interactive resource
for the community, through the collection of artifacts, Come visit it yourself! Another very
historical site which is also in Nebraska, is the Scotts Bluff National Monument. This monstrous
monument stands over 800 feet above the North Platte river! This monument is a must to visit,
rich with geological and human history, not to mention you can hike there if you please. The
next amazing place to visit is the Hanford Reach National Monument. This monument is the
last non tidal, free flowing section of the columbia river.
Geologist-Brendon
Grassland biomes are large terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. Latitude, soil and local
climates for the most part determine what kinds of plants grow in a particular grassland. A
grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support
grasses, and in some areas is good enough for a few trees. The precipitation is so unreal
that drought and fires prevent large forests from growing. The prairie soil is rich in nutrients
and is ideal for the growth of the plant life in the grasslands.
Geologist-Brendon
Glaciation has left a mark on the Prairies, flattening the landscape and leaving deposits from
inland seas behind by the melting glaciers. The deposits that were left from the melted
glaciers, are now prairies/grasslands. Temperate grasslands have soils that are nutrient rich
from the growth and decay of deep, many branched grass roots. The rotted roots hold the
soil together and provide a food source for living plants. The world's most fertile soils
underlie the eastern prairies of the U.S., and the steppes of Eurasia.
Resources Found in The Temperate Grasslands
The Prairies/Grasslands mostly contain oil and gas. Resources in the temperate
grasslands include wheat, coal, oil, corn, livestock, gas, and oats. Water and
timber are two primary resources that one can find in the chaparral.
Activities to do in the prairies
Some activities to do in the prairies are Hunting (If you have a hunting license) ,
Driving Tours around the grasslands and major landmarks, and Horseback
Riding. (Around the prairies)
Botanist-Liam
Grasses are the main plaint found in temperate grasslands, with large trees and
shrubs being mostly absent. Only few trees, including the cottonwood, the oak and
the willow do survive, but only near river valleys. It generally rains about 6-8 months
of the year, but for the other 4-6 months there is not much rain in the region, as well
as several fires which kill any large animals. Several of the plants in this region have
gained adaptations to regrow after fires faster.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
Types of grasses
Purple needlegrass grows up to 2 feet tall, remains green throughout the year, and has been pushed
out by non native annual grasses. Their seeds contain long, needlelike awn’s in order to drill into the
ground easier, and is a large bunchgrass. This grass does not like disturbance once settled, and
requires bare ground to reseed, however it will reseed readily, and will extend its range once
expanded. It is well adapted to droughty soils, clays, and serpentine soils. It provides food for deer,
elk, and other wildlife. Purple needlegrass was also at one point nominated to be California’s state
grass. Blue grama grass is a short and tall perennial grass that makes up of 75-90% of all the grasses
found. Blue grama grows up to 18 inches tall, or 45 centimetres.
Trees
Willow trees inhabit temperate areas such as the grasslands. They are often
attributed with immortality and rebirth in China, and grief in several other parts of
the world. Red oak trees are usually 20 to 30 metres tall. The bark of the the tree
grows ridges as it becomes older, however while it is young, it generally has
smooth bark.
Threats
The Largest threat to the grasslands are animals overgrazing, the land being
plowed and turned to farmland. Many grasslands have been converted to farmland
due to the rich soil of the region. Lack of fire and fragmentation, as well as the
eradication of animal species are also large concerns. Turning the temperate
grasslands into farmland can help in feeding people but will cause many animal
species to go extinct.
http://tersekl.blogspot.ca/2011/12/temperate-grassland-biome.html
Meteorology
Climatograph of Temperate Grasslands Around the
World
http://tgrobinandjohn.weebly.com/climatograph.html
Description of the Temperate grassland biome’s
weather and climate
Since temperate grasslands are almost everywhere, there will be a wide range of temperatures, for
instance, we will have colder temperatures in Canada than we will have in Africa or South America. The
southern and northern hemisphere are two completely different places, seasons are reversed and
temperatures are usually warmer in the Southern Hemisphere. If you decide to visit a grassland in the
northern hemisphere you will want to visit during the summer months because the weather is warmer
and you won't have to deal with the snow. If you decide to visit a grassland in the Southern Hemisphere
it is recommended that you visit during their summer months (our winter) but you could visit year round
as the weather is quite warm.
Precipitation
The Northern Prairies have hot summers and cold winters that can produce snow
however, the Southern Prairies usually have warm weather all around cooling down
only a bit when it’s winter. The grasslands of South America could get more than
average amounts of precipitation due to the surrounding rainforests and although
it’s rare South America could get a cyclone which will bring more precipitation to
the area. In the past decade only one cyclone hit South America and that was
Cyclone Catarina which hit the continent in 2004. The grasslands of North America
will roughly get a moderate amount of precipitation receiving roughly 10-35 inches
a year. The steppe biome gets around 10-30 inches of precipitation year round, if it
got anything less than that the steppes biome would become a desert.
Precipitation continued
You might see Africa as a hot, dry place and it is but during Africa’s wet season
which takes place between October and April Africa receives approximately 20-50
inches of rainfall year round. It is crucial that Africa gets all of this precipitation in
those six months as a five month drought period follows.
Climate Change
Climate change has affected grasslands all across the world, at one point in time
over ¼ of Earth used to be grasslands but this has since diminished because of
farming which has resulted in a widespread loss of wildlife. Sometimes farming can
ruin the soil forcing the farmer to move and leave behind a lifeless, barren patch of
land, we correct this by rotating crops every few seasons. Only five percent of the
prairies in North America still remain. We have started to see more and more areas
fall victim to drought and what follows after drought… Swarms of locusts or
grasshoppers, when there is a drought locusts and grasshoppers become
gregarious (hang out in large groups) to feed on any crops that they can find. These
insects can decimate an entire farm field and cripple the farmer financially. In the
end hurting us as consumers.
Zoology- Will
A zoologist is a scientist who specializes in animals and wildlife. The conduct
studies on animals and they are the ones who run and manage zoos. They often
have sub-specialties such as primates or amphibians, but in this presentation I will
have to talk about all specialties and sub-species. My purpose in this presentation
is to talk about the non- plant wildlife within a region and their niche. I will cover
important creatures and events involving animals. I will talk
About two of the biomes because of time restrictions. The other biomes includeSteppes of Asia and Pamamas of South Asia.
Grasslands around the world
Information on grasslands biome animal
Grasslands animals are very unique and diverse in many ways. Grassland animals
usually consist of Ungulates and small mammals. These grasslands stretch across
every continent on earth (Except Antarctica). With the sheer size and numbers of
the grasslands the numbers of the animals inhabiting said biome are beyond
numerous. During the Presentation I will be including the Velds of Africa, Steppes
of Asia, Pampas of South America. These Biomes are each unique in their wildlife.
The Velds and of Africa
The Velds of Africa is a small expanse of land mainly lying within the boundaries of
South Africa. For such a small expanse of land it is one of the most diverse places
on earth. With species only found in the small slice of territory. Since the
environment is so sacred to many species this area is heavily protected and
guarded. The animals of these Biomes are Specialized to this one Biome and can
only survive in the Velds or similar terrain.
Great Wildebeest migration.
Annually, thousands of people flock to the Velds of Africa to witness a great
migration. As 1.5 million wildebeests rampage through the veld on a great
migration. These wildebeest are on a quest to find fertile land and water to birth
their new offspring. This migration is vital to the survival of the velds as it feeds
predators and increases the population of the wildebeest. This event is often called
the “Greatest show on earth” and attracts thousands annually.
Veldt Animals
The Veldt animals usually consist of large carnivores and ungulates. Since the Veldt
consists of large, vast spaces of fertile and prosperous land prey and carnivores.
Encroachment of farmland and the illegal poaching that often occurs in the area
has driven many of the species within the area to be threatened or extinct.
Considering many of the animals that dwell in the veldt are typically large creatures
there is fierce competition for prey and water between the species so the species
usually aren't that numerous.
Endangered animals of the Veldt
Although there are very committed foundations dedicated to protecting the animals
of the veldt, their numbers are still dwindling due to poaching and habitat loss. The
giraffe and elephant are two commonly known animals of the veldt, but they are
slowly dying due to trophy hunting and poaching for their valuable tusks and skin.
The South African and Zimbabwean government have set aside vast tracts of land
to preserve this unique environment. All these efforts resulted in the incline of
these species. The giraffe numbers are still declining and sadly, the giraffes have
been predicted to be extinct in the next five years. The wild ostrich, although found
almost everywhere around the world in zoos, Ostriches have almost been
eliminated completely from the veldt.
Numbers of endangered animals.
Ostrich- (10 million around the world) Status- Least Threatened
Elephant- 415 thousand (Decline from 2000s 3-5 million) Status-vulnerable but pop
increasing.
Giraffe- 80 thousand Status Threatened (steady decrease)
Cheetahs- 100,000 left in the wild- Vunerable (Big decrease).
Conservation Programs
http://www.marlothparkhonoraryrangers.co.za/index.php/wildlife-and-the-veldt/about-the-veldt-and-your-property
http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/ostrich
Veldt food web
(Talk about this will)
Some veldt animals
Cheetah- The cheetah or Acinonyx Jubatus is the world's fastest land mammal, a magnificent feat for such
a beautiful cat. It hunts large ungulates and small rodents found within the veldt and savannah. They are
numerous throughout Africa and are categorized as “Least Concerned” which means they are not
threatened or faced with the possibility of extinction. The cheetah helps with keeping the population of
antelope and hare down to keep the population of Antelope and Hares down to a stable level. These
Cheetahs have adapted to life in Africa by developing a dark yellow coat and spots to blend in to the fauna
and tall grass of the grasslands. As these cheetahs are not so big or powerful compared to other predators
of the Veldt so they have developed a special ability to combat the other carnivores. There extreme speed
allows them to catch prey without the use of force. Of course their teeth and claws help bring down their
prey but the most credit goes to their super speed. They are essential for keeping the peace for the fragile
eco-system of the Veldt. They provide food for the region's many scavengers as well as the pest eating
birds of the land that clear away the cats pests for a free meal.
Canadian Grasslands Animals
The Canadian Grassland is a rich and prosperous expanse of land in which farming and small settlements
dominate the area. Many large and small animals alike roam the area. This huge expanse stretches down
into america where many of the same animals roam the area. There are large ungulate but not and many
big carnivores so prey runs rampant across the prairies. These prairies support a vast amount of Animals
and Fauna alike. The prairies is home to many small mammals and ungulates but because of the cold
Canadian climate there is not as much diversity as there are in warmer regions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHF7UvLaOzU
Canadian grasslands animals
Many Canadian animals are heavily coated and armed with survival skills for the
frozen winters. There are a majority of mammals living here as they are usually
larger and more suited to the environment than amphibians or insects. These, the
most numerous of animals that inhabit this land are Deer, Rabbits and Gophers. The
adaptations suited to the ice age have more or less stayed the same or altered very
little for these northerner animals. The animals here are often not specialized to this
particular environment and range across the world. Birds and avian species prefer
to migrate south to the warmer areas of the world as the winters up north are too
cold and there is far too little food for survival.
Industries
The main industries that go on in the grasslands are both farming and industrial
industry. This interferes greatly with the native wildlife as it disrupts the natural
order. They take away native habitat and view these animals as pest and often
seek to eradicate them. Farmers do help sometimes by keeping certain pests
population levels down such as, Gophers, Coyotes and Deer Mice. Farmers also
introduce new animals such as cats or domesticated animals for the farmers
benefit. This act can take away tracts of land for the natural occurring animals. The
Resources that are native to Alberta all lie up north in the woodlands or in the hills
close to the rocky mountains. There still is agriculture but the effect on the native
animals in minimal.
Canadian Animals examples
Prairie Bison- These massive beasts are the epitome of Prairie herbivores. Big, furry and herd animals. These Bison used
to roam the plains in huge numbers, ranging in the millions across the prairies. After the colonization of Canada the
british monarchy looked to the west to expand their empire. Canada then ceded and headed to the west independently
to expand their rule. The white colonists then saw these beasts as a supposedly limitless resource based on their
numbers. When the colonists first started exploiting this animal they used the animal for food and resources but the
killing took a more sinister turn. As the colonists progressed into the west by the means of train they shot the bison from
the side of the trains for sport. This decimated the bison population within a short time. This also affected relations with
the native tribes as they viewed the bisons as an important species and cherished them for food and shelter as they
fashioned teepees with their hides. The pest eating birds usually delight in eating the bugs on their fur. Although the
herds used to graze on miles of grassland, their population has been severely reduced for a number of reasons such as
hunting, farmland and sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7UelfBhe5E
Threatened plain animals.
Burrowing Owl- fewer than 1000 pairs Status- Endangered
Bull trout- Vulnerable. Numbers unknown, Extinct in many American states.
Greater Sage Grouse- Near Threatened- 500,000 to a million left in the wild.
Bison
Bison are large, heavily coated animals with horns. Bison roam the great plains which stretches from the
border of Mexico up to Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Bisons number were greatly reduced to the near
point of extinction during the 1800s and 1900s were they were hunted for food, horns and sport. There
numbers are on a steady incline and have reached stable. Bisons are herbivores and ungulates. They are
herd creatures, so their main defence is the numbers of the herd. Bison also have a secondary defence,
their horns are most often used for fights between males and digging up roots in the snow for food. When
threatened they may also use their horns for defence against predators, such as wolves or mountain lions.
There is usually fierce competition for mates so fights between male bison, called “bulls”, for the right to
breed. The more mature bulls usually take the right, up front with their chosen cow but may be challenged
by other, more juvenile bulls.
Symbiosis
Bisons have a good relationship to a small bird called the “CowBird”. As Bison
wander the fields they stir up parasitic insects which latch onto the bison and
irritate them. The CowBirds then land on the Buffalo and eat the parasites while
feeding themselves in the process.
The Bobcat can be affected by the tapeworm. This parasitic flatworm lives in the
Bobcats stomach and feeds on the catskills. This symbiosis is a parasitic
relationship in which the tapeworm benefits but negatively affects the Bobcat and
can sometimes kill the host.
Bobcat
The Bobcat is a medium sized carnivore or the feline family. These cats are masters
of stealth, they are known to hear someone coming down a hiking path, and lie flat
on their stomach to go unnoticed when the person is just a couple of feet or even
inches away from the predatory cat. As their size prohibits them from hunting large
ungulates and they are not pack hunter they must hunt small rodents, lizards, birds,
calves and fawns. Bobcats rarely pose threats to humans but some victims say they
were stalked or even attacked by desperate or feral bobcats. Even though these
cats seem harmless, they can inflict serious damage and pose a great threat,
especially to small children.
Bobcat
The bobcat is heavily coated in fur with tufted ears and large feet. Bobcats have large feet to pad on the
snow with ease, their large feet distribute the weight to spread out the pressure being applied to the snow.
This evolutionary feat allows the Bobcat to glide effortlessly along light snow without falling in. Another
feature of the Bobcat is their great ability of stealth. Like many cats the Bobcat is very agile and equipped
with sharp teeth and claws so they don't have to rely on brute strength alone. Their fur is designed to blend
into the surrounding trees and grass to further aid in the hunt. The Bobcats biggest threat is humans
through habitat loss. Although seldom seen by humans the Bobcat is greatly affected by habitat loss
because they require forested and tall grass to hunt effectively. Bobcats compete with other carnivores
such as wolves and bears. This relationship is more beneficial than harmful to the Bobcat as they are not
above scavenging the remains of kill left to rot by wolves or other carnivores. The Bobcat is closely related
to the lynx.
Food web
Snakes
Ball Python- The Smallest of African Pythons, they are the most docile and often
valued as pets. These snakes usually grow to 5 or six feet and lay 3-12 eggs. They
are often worshiped in sub- saharan Africa in which the family that come across this
snake will, build it a house, feed it and worship it. The head of the snaky is usually
smooth while the body is scally. The Ball Python has many genetic alterations and
mutations so there is many variants such as the two pictures below. The Ball Python
eats small rodents such as, mice rabbits and rats.
Corn snake
The corn snake is a small docile snake found in the Veldts of Africa. These snakes
are often desired as pets because of their size and temperament. Corn snakes are
often found in or around grain storages, as they eat the small rodents that live
around these silos. These snakes come in many colors and variations such as
albino or bright red. Corn snakes are very thin and usually grow to 4-5 five feet
when they reach maturity.
Why are the grasslands important?
They serve as a transitional biome between diverse areas, and
it also supports very high amount of herd animals, providing
food for consumption.
Grasslands
Even though the grasslands seem benign many interesting aniumnals live here.
Lange preditors and herbavors alike roam the plaions, adding a little danger to this
seemily calm enviroment.
Why you should choose this biome
The Veldt is very attractive towards tourist from Europe and North America. The
safaris are the most attractive hot spot of any african country. Safaris provide
tourists the danger element and close up encounter with exotic and exciting
animals. The warm weather and equatorial location is a popular winter getaway
for the northern countries. The Veldt also hosts many beaches and exotic
Animals contributing to its appeal.