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16 Grassland Facts for Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on January 9, 2015 - 10:00 am in Fun Facts for Kids

What are the grasslands? Grasslands have many different names that they are called. In the US the midwestern states are well known for their “prairies”. In Africa the grasslands are called the “savannas”while in South America they are referred to as “pampas”.

Facts

1. Sadly much of the grasslands in the US are under siege from livestock! Cattle that are left to graze on the grasslands are not native to this fragile ecosystem and they have after years of grazing caused some serious damage.

2. The grass is not given enough time to regrow because of the vast number of cattle that graze. When the new grass does grow it is quickly consumed. This has not only changed the face of the grasslands but it has changed the soil.

3. Without deep rooted grass to keep the soil from eroding the grasslands are losing actual land mass. There is also an effect on the human population as well. Without the grass the soil becomes loose and causes “dust storms” that can be quite powerful and cause quite a bit of property damage.

4. The savanna in Africa is losing land mass because of “urban sprawl”. Although the sprawl is not really urban there are more and more people populating the area. With people comes progress. A big chunk of the savanna is becoming home to small communities that clear away the grasses and use the flat land to farm.

5. The grasslands are important features in the ecosystems around the globe and it is important that we insure that the grasslands remain intact.

6. Conservationists are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve use and to protect these lands to keep them alive and thriving.

7. Fires are very common on grasslands in the northern hemisphere and while it does sound scary to think of acres and acres of land being burned down it is actually helpful to the grasslands. The grass will come back stronger and thicker after a fire.

8. Grasslands make the best farmland and in the US a huge sector of this natural biome is used as farm land.

9. The US has made an effort to plant native grasses in areas within the biome that were once used for farming to help restore the natural balance.

10. There are actually thousands of different types of grasses that grow in the grasslands around the world. Grasslands are also home to wildflowers and other plants but the grasses are the prominent features in the grasslands.

11. Prairie dogs are one of the best known residents of the grasslands in the US. They burrow under the ground and actually are a necessity in keeping the grasslands healthy. It was thought at one time that the US grasslands were home to over 1 billion of these rodents. Their decline in population is another negative when it comes to preserving these biomes.

12. The grasslands have served the world well. They have provided rich farm lands to help the human population grow food.

13. Grasslands are called different things in different areas of the world but they have plenty in common. When you hear the term “grasslands” what do you think of? You would be right if you said you thought of grass billowing in the breeze.

14. Grasslands also have their location in common. They are always located between forests and desserts. They depend on a climate where there is not enough sun and rain to create a forest yet there is too much rain to be considered a desert.

15. In other words the climate plays a huge roll in how and where grasslands develop. About ¼ of all the of the land masses on earth were at one time grasslands but many have been lost to agriculture because they are easiest to farm. They are usually flat and barren of many trees which is an ideal situation for farming.

16. There is only one continent that does not enjoy the beauty and usability of the grasslands. Antartica is the only continent in the world that does not have grasslands.

Two Types

you know that there are two types of grasslands? There is tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands. They type of grassland gives you a good idea of where you may find the grasslands. Tropical grasslands are found in the southern hemisphere while temperate grasslands are found in the northern hemisphere.

The African savanna is a prime example of tropical grasslands. While it always stays warm there are two very distinct seasons. The rainy season and the dry season. The grass on the savanna can range from short grasses to grass that grows over 7 feet tall with deep roots. The savanna is home to a slew of animals that graze the grasses.

Temperate grasslands can typically see about 10 inches of rain each year and also have two seasons the growing and the dormant seasons. During the growing season the grass will grow anywhere from ¼ inch to feet.

During the dormant season the grass will die back and will not grow.

Both tropical and temperate grasslands are home to many different animal and they are a very important part of the global eco system.

Facts About the Savanna

The savanna is very easily one of the most popular grasslands around the world. It is home to many much loved animals that have been used to raise awareness about wildlife. Animals like elephants, zebras , gazelles and other grazing animals are abundant in the savanna. The grazing animals of course bring predators like the big cats. The savanna in Africa makes up about half the countries land mass. It is made up of mostly grass but there are some trees present as well.

The dry season can be a killing season for the animals that live on the savanna because many of them cannot make it through the dry season when the ground is arid and their watering holes are dried up. Of course many of the animals have adaptations that allow them to go long periods of time without any water.

The Prairie

In the United States in the middle of the country most commonly referred to as the Midwest there are long stretches of land that are often referred to as “The Prairie”. This is the grasslands of the US. In the early days of the migration of the colonists from east to west they crossed these vast lands that were rich with grazing animals like buffalo and deer.

Today the life in the grasslands has changed. The herds of buffalo that once roamed are gone however the grasslands are still home to wild mustangs, deer and other wildlife. There are also many ranches that use the grasslands for their livestock.

These temperate grasslands do not experience the same extremes as the tropical grasslands. During the dormant season when the grasses are not growing food can be scarce for wild life and domestic livestock but the dormant season is typically short lived and is quickly replaced by fresh new grass.

The grass on the Prairie can easily reach amazing heights. During the dormant season some of the grasses that die back can become very sharp and dangerous enough to leave cuts behind when you walk through it.

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