J. Sileo
The Basics of the Temperate
Grasslands
• Temperature Ranges -40°F --- +100°F
• Annual Precipitation 20-35 inches, typically in
the form of snow
• Seasons Experiences four seasons, hot
summers, frigid winters
• Limiting Factors Natural and man-made fires,
extreme temperatures, availability of water
Species Diversity
ANIMALS
PLANTS
• Ungulates, or hoofed
mammals, are
especially prevalent
• Falcons, prairie dogs,
insects, fox, gophers
and lynx also
common
• Purple needlegrass,
foxtail, ryegrass, and
buffalo grass
• Shrubs and trees
often destroyed by
fire
• Wide selection of wild
flowers found
Typical Food Chain
Z. Vertsman
Temperate Grasslands
• Temperature: There is a wide range of temperatures throughout the
year. In the summer, temperatures can be well over 38° C (100
degrees Fahrenheit), while during the winter, temperatures can be as
low as -40° C (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Precipitation: In the late Spring and Summer, most of the
precipitation occurs. The annual average is about 20-35 inches.
• Solar Insolation: There are two seasons. The growing season is
when there is no frost and plants can grow (which lasts from 100 to
175 days). The dormant (not growing) season is when nothing can
grow because its too cold.
• Limiting Factors:
– During the winter it is very cold and impossible for plants to
survive.
– The main limiting factor in this biome is the lack of moisture. The
amount of Precipitation is very small and therefore, there is not
much water.
Species Diversity
•A few trees such as cottonwoods, oaks, and
willows grow in river valleys.
•There are hundreds of different species of
flowers and many grasses such as purple
needle grass and buffalo grass.
•There are many different animals that include
herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.
Sparrows, spiders, mice, deer, wild horses,
lions, coyotes, zebras, hawks and gazelles are
all found in this biome.
Food Chain
Coyote
Grass Hopper
Purple Needle
Grass
Prairie
Dog
Lion
Temperate Grasslands
• Many temperate grasslands are now facing
problems because people are starting to build
farms in these biomes.
• The Temperate Grassland is a prefect place for
farms because of the rich soil, which is full of
nutrients.
• Due to the dryness of the temperate grasslands,
there are fires that wipe out some areas of the
land.
• In the United States, temperate grasslands
include the Palouse Prairie of eastern
Washington state, the California grasslands, and
some temperate grasslands in the southwest.
TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS
S. Gottlieb
IB Environmental Systems
TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS
Temperate Grass: Shorter and drier than grass found in tropical areas, temperate grass is
often located in prairies and steppes with more drastic seasonal climate changes than its
taller-grassed relatives
Temperature: Summer temperatures are extremely hot, sometimes reaching over 100°F
(38°C). Winter temperatures, to the contrary, are frigid with the ability to reach
temperatures below -40°F (-40°C).
Precipitation: appx. 10-30 inches per year, although much is snow during the winter
Solar Isolation: Unlike the conventional four season calendar we are used to, Temperate
Grasslands have two unique seasons: (1) growing and (2) dormant. The growing season
lasts approximately 100-175 days and is the period of time when grassland vegetation is
able to grow. The dormant season is the timeframe when frost covers all vegetation, and
nothing is able to grow because of the freezing temperatures.
Limiting Factors: Droughts, wildfires, and grazing by large mammals all contribute to the
prevention of woody shrubs and trees from invading the lands. While grasses are
undoubtedly the majority of all plants, a few trees and non-woody plants do exist.
PLANT & ANIMAL LIFE
Temperate Grasslands are home to a diverse collection of plants and animals.
The biome’s vast array of fauna includes:
gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, prairie dogs,
jack rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds,
grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes,
grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and spiders
However, the biome is undoubtedly know for its seemingly endless list of
indigenous grasses. Some of the plants include:
purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, asters, blazing stars,
coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, psoraleas, and wild indigos
All information extracted from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/grassland.html
Temperate Grasslands feature
many familiar food chains,
such as the one depicted here.
Mice feed on grass, which
serve as prey to snakes.
Hawks are predators to
snakes, and earthworms serve
as a popular grassland
decomposer.
GRASSLAND TRIVIA
1) Why are Temperate Grasslands are often located between Desert
and Tropical Rainforest biomes?
Grasslands receive a moderate amount of rainfall. This actually makes them a
combination, or balance, of deserts and tropical rainforests.
2) What are other names for the Temperate Grassland?
While Americans are used to the terms “prairie” and “grassland”, this biome is actually
known by many different names. In Asia, they are referred to as “steppes”, in South
America “pampas”, and in South Africa “veldts”.
3) Between what two well-known latitudes are the temperate
grasslands located?
Tropic of Capricorn & Tropic of Cancer