Grassland biomes (sometimes called prairies) are large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. A grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees. One-fourth of the world is populated by grasslands, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Types
Grasslands can be divided into two main types: tropical and temperate grasslands.
Tropical grasslands, often called savannas, are scattered outside of tropic regions and mainly in temperate regions. They have some trees, but mainly grass that grows several feet high (2 meters). Some savannas have short rough, dry grass. Examples of these include: shrublands and Savannas.
Temperate grasslands are predominantly vegetation that has short thick, moist grass over a bunch of hills and plains. These grasslands also have shrubs, and are treeless. Examples of these include prairies and farmlands.
Location
Tropical grasslands are located near the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This includes areas like Africa, South Asia, South America, Australia, and Southern North America.
Temperate Grasslands can be found in Australia, South Africa, Hungary, Argentina, Uruguay, Africa, and central North America.
Climate
Tropical grasslands are always found in warm or hot climates all year long. The temperature usually never drops below 18° C during the winter and 27° C during the summer. Although these areas are overall very dry and rainless during the winter, they do have a season of heavy rain (between 20-60 inches of rain per year).
Temperate grasslands have very cold winters and very hot summers, depending on how close it is located to the equator. In the summer the temperature can go as high as 38° C and in the winter as low as 23°C. These grasslands may only receive 12-20 inches of rain yearly.
Ecosystems
Tropical grasslands plant life includes: The predominant vegetation consists of grasses and forbs, Rhodes grass, red oat grass, star grass, and lemon grass.
Tropical grasslands animal life includes: Bison, gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, kangaroos, mice, moles, gophers, ground squirrels, snakes, lions, leopards, hyenas, and elephants.
Temperate grasslands plant life includes: Different types of grass species such as purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta, flowers such as asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, psoraleas, and wild indigos.
Temperate grasslands animal life includes: Hares, mice, prairie dogs, mice, rats, squirrel, kangaroo, bison, pronghorn antelopes, wallabies, snakes, owls, foxes, coyotes, gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, jack rabbits, deer, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, and snakes.
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