Grasslands
Grasslands are large areas of flat land and rolling hills between forests and deserts. Many living and non-living things make up the ecosystem of the grasslands. Colorful wildflowers, bushes and some types of trees grow in grasslands. Hawks and eagles fly in the sky while deer, antelope, snakes, and prairie dogs make their homes in the tall grasses. There are grasslands all over the world. Grasslands are divided into two groups - tropical and temperate. Tropical grasslands are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. Temperate grasslands are found in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Some people who live on the grasslands make their livings from ranching and some farming. Sheep and cattle do very well on the grasslands.
During the warm dry summer months, grasslands are in danger of catching fire. Some fires may be caused naturally by lighting, but some fires are started by people. Fire is and good and a bad thing for the grasslands.
Some grasslands have been set aside by the government. These grasslands are called preserves. This means that they are protected by the government. Ranchers and farmers have protected fields that have become habitats for native plants and animals.
Some people who live on the grasslands make their livings from ranching and some farming. Sheep and cattle do very well on the grasslands.
During the warm dry summer months, grasslands are in danger of catching fire. Some fires may be caused naturally by lighting, but some fires are started by people. Fire is and good and a bad thing for the grasslands.
Some grasslands have been set aside by the government. These grasslands are called preserves. This means that they are protected by the government. Ranchers and farmers have protected fields that have become habitats for native plants and animals.
Population
Population: All the members of one species that live in an ecosystem.
Examples: prairie dogs rattle snakes mountain lions deer antelope coyotes Competition
Competition
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Community
Community: All the different populations that interact with each other in the same area.
Examples: In a field, prairie dogs and rattlesnakes make their homes underground. Coyotes scavenge these fields for food. In a tree/brush area, hawks and squirrels may nest in the same tree. Deer will also hide from predators. |
Grasslands in South Dakota
Grasslands in Nebraska
Food Chain
Consumer
Producer
Predator
Prey
Producer
Predator
Prey
Food Web
Food Web
Glossary
ecosystem - a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environmentgrassland - land where grass or grass like vegetation grows and is the dominant form of plant lifepreserves - an area maintained for the protection of wildlife or natural resources |
temperate - having a climate intermediate between tropical and polar; moderate or mild in temperaturetropical - relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator); "tropical islands"; "tropical fruit" |