Famous Grasslands in the world

# List of all Important Grassland around the world:

Name of the Grassland Location Area sq km

# Prairie Grassland North America (USA Canada) 574653

# Pampas Grassland South American (Argentina, Uruguay 750,000

Brazil)

# Downs Grassland Australia 77,388

# savanna Grassland Central Africa 12949940.55

# Campos Grassland Brazil 26,417

# Pustaz Grassland Hungary and it’s surrounding regions –

# Veldt Grassland Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, –

Zimbabwe Botswana)

# Steppe Grassland European Russia, Siberia and Asian 7609000

Russia

# Manchurian Grassland Mongolia, China 887,300

# Canterbury grassland New Zealand 44,508

# Llanos Grassland Colombia and Venezuela 440000

⇒ Grasslands are the area covered by mostly of grasses and where the vegetation is dominated by
grass. There are twelve major grasslands in the world. All these are given above in a tabular form.
There are two types of grassland one is tropical and other is temperate. Example of tropical grasslands
are prairie and savanna. Example of temperate grasslands are Pampas Veldt and Canterbury.
Grasslands are known differently around different part of the world. Prairie is known in North
America, Pampas in South America, Downs in Australia, Savanna and veldt in Africa.
⇒ The Prairie grassland is known as the granaries of the world.
Grasslands

A Grassland is a is a type of Habitat or Biome which is dominated by Grasses and other

Herbaceous (non-woody) Flowering Plants and a variety of scattered Trees and Bushes.
Grasslands occur in areas where there is not enough regular rainfall to support the growth of a
Forest, but not so little as to form a Desert. About one quarter of the Earth's land is covered
with Grasslands. Grasslands may occur naturally or as the result of human activity.
Grasslands created and maintained by human activity are called 'Anthropogenic Grasslands'.
Those formed naturally are called 'Natural Grasslands'.

 Types of Grasslands
o Types based on Climatic Dryness
o Types based on WWF

 Characteristics of Grasslands
o Some different kinds of Grasses
o Some different kinds of Grassland Flowers
o Some Grassland Animals

 Origin of Grasslands
 Importance of Grasslands

In many areas, Grasslands separate Forests from Deserts. In fact, most Grasslands are located
between Forests and Deserts. Natural Grasslands primarily occur in regions that receive
between 500 and 900 mm (20 and 35 in) of rain per year. Grasslands can exist naturally in
areas with higher rainfall when other factors prevent the growth of Forests, such as in
serpentine barrens, where minerals in the soil inhibit most Plants from growing. Some of the
World's largest expanses of Grassland are found in African Savannah, and these are
maintained by wild herbivores as well as by nomadic pastoralists and their Cattle, Sheep or
Goats. Grasslands are known by different names in different parts of the World: - ‘Steppes’ in
Asia; ‘Prairies’ in North America; ‘Pampas’, ‘Llanos’ and ‘Cerrados’ in South America;
‘Savannahs’ and ‘Velds’ in Africa; and ‘Rangelands’ in Australia.

Classification / Types of Grasslands

Basic Types of Grasslands based on Climatic Dryness

1. Tropical Grasslands - Tropical Grasslands are located near the equator, between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Most of the Tropical Grasslands are found in
the interior part of continents between the Tropical Rain Forests and Tropical Deserts.
Tropical Grasslands are also known as 'Savannahs'. Tropical Grasslands have a tropical
continental climate wherein wet and dry seasons come alternately.

There are 3 Types of Savannahs

 1. Climatic Savannahs - Savannahs which result from climatic conditions are called
Climatic Savannahs.
2. Edaphic Savannahs - Savannahs that are caused by soil conditions and that are
not entirely maintained by fire are called Edaphic Savannahs. These can occur on
hills or ridges where the soil is shallow, or in valleys where clay soils become
waterlogged in wet weather.
3. Derived Savannah - Svanna which is formed as result of people clearing Forest
land for cultivation is known as Derived Savannah. These originate when farmers
clear a tract of Forest, burn the dead trees, and Plant crops in the ashes for as long
as the soil remains fertile. Then, the field is abandoned and, although Forest trees
may recolonize, Grass takes over on the bare ground (succession), becoming
luxuriant enough to burn within a year or so.

Tropical Grasslands are warm year round with mean monthly temperatures occurring at or
above 64° F.

The annual precipitation averages between 30 and 50 inches. For at least five months of the
year, during the dry season, less than 4 inches of rain, a month is received. The dry season is
associated with the low sun period.

Soils vary according to bedrock and edaphic conditions. In general, however, Laterization is
the dominant soil-forming process and low fertility oxisols can be expected.

Savannahs are covered with Perennial Grasses which often are 3 to 6 feet tall at maturity.
There is a wide range of Grasses but an area is usually dominated by one to two types of
Grasses. They may or may not also have an open canopy of drought-resistant, fire-resistant,
or browse-resistant trees, or they may have an open shrub layer. Trees are only found along
rivers in the Savannah because only drought-resistant Plants can grow well under the long dry
season with thin soils. The appearances of Savannahs change seasonally, in which they are
green in colour in wet seasons and turn golden-brown in dry seasons.

There is a high diversity of Animals in the Tropical Grasslands especially in Africa. Over 40
different Species of Animals are found in African Savannahs, some of which are Eland,
Impala, Wildebeest, Plains Zebra, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Warthog, Lion, Leopard and
Cheetah. However in South America's Tropical Grassland the Fauna is not as diverse. It
includes Animals like Capybara, Anaconda, Armadillo, Caiman and Termites.

Areas of Tropical Grasslands

 Llanos of the Orinoco basin of Venezuela and Colombia.

 Cerrado of Brazil.

 Pine Savannahs of Belize and Honduras.

2. Temperate Grasslands - Temperate Grasslands are located in the mid-latitudes, north

of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn. They generally lie between
Deserts and Temperate Forests. Temperate Grasslands have a temperate continental climate,
which is cooler than Savannahs.

Temperate Grasslands have warm, humid summers with an average temperature of 18° C and
cool, dry winters with an average temperature of 10° C.

These typically receive between 10 and 20 inches of precipitation a year. Much of this falls as
snow, serving as reservoir of moisture for the beginning of the growing season. The
evaporation rate is high, so little rain makes it into the soil.

Trees are rare in the Temperate Grasslands because there is not enough moisture for them to
grow as they have longer life cycles and need longer growing season than Grasses. The
appearances of Grasslands in winter are generally brown in colour because Grasses turn dry
in winter.

Calcification is the dominant soil-forming process these areas. Mild leaching, high organic
content, and concentration of calcium carbonate in the B horizon typifies the dark brown
mollisols developed under the Temperate Grasslands. When this process works on a loess
(silt deposit) that itself is rich in calcium, the World's most fertile soils are created, the
Chernozems (black soil).

Perennial Grasses and Perennial Forbs and Leguminosae, the Sunflower and Pea families are
dominant growth forms.

The Temperate Grassland is very low in diversity in terms of Animals, especially in

comparison with the Tropical Grasslands. Some of the Animals include North American
Bison, Pronghorn Antelope, Pocket Gopher, Ground Squirrels, Prairie Dog, Coyote, Badger
and Black-Footed Ferret. Some of the Animals of Russia include European Bison (wisent),
Wild Horse, Saiga Antelope, Mole Rats and Polecats.

6 Areas of Temperate Grasslands

 Pampas in South America.

 Veld in Africa.

 Canterbury Plains in New Zealand.

 Murray-Darling Basin in Australia.

 Prairies in North America.

 Steppes in Central Asia.

Types of Grasslands according to WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

1. Tropical & Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs & Shrubland - Thess type of

Biomes are located in semi-arid to semi-humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical
latitudes. These are characterized by rainfall levels between 90-150 centimetres per year.
There may be great variability in soil moisture throughout the year. Grasslands are
dominated by Grass and other Herbaceous Plants. Savannahs are Grasslands with scattered
Trees, most of which are Acacia and Baobab. Shrublands are dominated by Woody or
Herbaceous Shrubs. These are in habited by large Mammals that have evolved to take
advantage of the ample forage found in these Habitats. The fauna is richest in African
Savannahs and Grasslands. Restoration potential in these systems is high but ploughing,
overgrazing by domestic livestock, and excessive burning can quickly degrade and alter
natural communities.

Grassland Regions

 Horn of Africa Acacia Savannahs.

 East African Acacia Savannahs.

 Central and Eastern Miombo Woodlands.

 Sudanian Savannahs.

 Northern Australia and Trans-Fly Savannahs.

 Terai-Duar Savannahs and Grasslands.

 Llanos Savannahs.

 Cerrado Woodlands and Savannahs.

2. Temperate Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrubland - Temperate Grasslands,

Savannahs and Shrublands is a Biome whose predominant vegetation consists of Grasses
and/or shrubs. The climate is temperate and semi-arid to semi-humid. They differ largely
from Tropical Grasslands in the annual temperature regime as well as the types of Species
found here. Generally speaking, these regions are devoid of trees, except for riparian or
gallery Forests associated with streams and rivers. The soil here is fertile with rich nutrients
and minerals. The Fauna here includes large grazing Mammals, Carnivores and Birds.

Grassland Regions

 Northern Prairie of North America.

 Patagonian Steppe in South America.

 Daurian Steppe in Asia.

3. Flooded Grasslands and Savannah - Flooded Grasslands and Savannahs are a

Biome, generally located at subtropical and tropical latitudes, which are flooded seasonally or
year-round. Everglades, Pantanal, Sahelian flooded Savannahs, Zambezian flooded
Savannahs, and the Sudd are the major Flooded Grasslands and Savannah Ecoregions of the
World. These areas support numerous Plants and Animals which are adapted to the unique
hydrologic regimes and soil conditions. These support large population of migratory and
resident water-birds along with various Reptiles and Amphibians. The temperature in these
regions is warm with nutrient rich soil.

Grassland Regions

 Sudd-Sahelian Flooded Grasslands and Savannahs in Central Africa.

 Zambezian Flooded Savannahs in in Africa.

 Rann of Kutch Flooded Grasslands in India and Pakistan

 Everglades Flooded Grasslands in North America.

 Pantanal Flooded Savannahs in Central South America.

4. Montane Grasslands and Shrubland - Montane Grasslands and Shrublands are a

Biome which are located above the tree line and are commonly known as Alpine Tundra,
which occurs in mountain regions around the World. It includes high elevation (montane and
alpine) Grasslands and shrublands, including the Puna and Paramo in South America, sub-
alpine Heath in New Guinea and East Africa, Steppes of the Tibetan Plateaus, as well as other
similar sub-alpine habitats around the World. The Plants and Animals of Tropical Montane
Paramos display striking adaptations to cool, wet conditions and intense sunlight.
Characteristic Plants of these habitats display adaptations such as rosette structures, waxy
surfaces, and hairy leaves. A unique feature of many wet tropical montane regions is the
presence of giant rosette Plants from a variety of Plant families, such as Lobelia (Afrotropic),
Puya (Neotropic), Cyathea (New Guinea), and Argyroxiphium (Hawaii). The most
extensive Montane Grasslands and shrublands occur in the Neotropic Paramo of the Andes
Mountains. This biome also occurs in the mountains of east and central Africa, Mount
Kinabalu of Borneo, highest elevations of the Western Ghats in South India and the Central
Highlands of New Guinea. Where conditions are drier, one finds Montane Grasslands,
Savannahs, and Woodlands, like the Ethiopian Highlands, and Montane Steppes, like the
Steppes of the Tibetan Plateau.

Grassland Regions

 Ethiopian Highlands in North-eastern Africa.

 Southern Rift Montane Woodlands in South-eastern Africa.

 East African Moorlands in Eastern Africa.

 Drakensberg Montane Shrublands and Woodlands in Southern Africa.

 Central Range Subalpine Grasslands in Central New Guinea.

  Kinabalu Montane Scrub in South-east Asia.

 Northern Andean Paramo in Northwestern South America.

 Central Andean Dry Puna in Western South America.

 Tibetan Plateau Steppe in Central Asia.

 Middle Asian Montane Steppe and Woodlands in Central Asia.

 Eastern Himalayan Alpine Meadows in South-Central Eurasia.

Distribution

Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica.

General Characteristics of Grasslands

Domination of Short Plants - Grasslands generally have very short season, the climate
is too dry and the soil too poor. This condition limits the growth of woody and large Plants.
However this condition favours the growth of small Plants like Grass and Shrubs which
dominate this type of Habitat. Another factor which favours short Plants is the maintenance
of these habitats by fire and grazing, which prevent the succession of the Grassland
vegetation toward Tropical Deciduous Forest or Temperate Forest. However in the absence
of heavy Mammalian grazing and especially of regular fires Woody Plants, shrubs or trees,
may occur on some Grasslands forming Savannahs, Scrubby Grassland or Semi-Wooded
Grassland, such as the African Savannahs or the Iberian Dehesa. Such Grasslands are
sometimes referred to as Wood-Pasture or Woodland. Grassland vegetation can vary in
height from very short, as in chalk downland where the vegetation may be less than 30 cm
(12 in) high, to quite tall, as in the case of North American tall-grass Prairie, South American
Grasslands and African Savannah.

Short Growing Season - Natural Grasslands, whether Tropical or Temperate occur in

environments in which growing conditions are favourable for only a short season.
In Tropical Grasslands the growing season is usually the rainy season or, in some cases, the
season when the ground is not waterlogged or submerged. In Temperate Grasslands the
growing season is usually the short period between the cold, damp winter and the hot, dry
summer. Perennial Grasses, relying on subterranean reserves of stored food for rapid shoot
growth, are well adapted to exploiting such brief growing seasons, reaching their maximum
size and completing their seeding within a few weeks. Their aboveground parts then die back,
providing potential fuel for the Grass fires that typify these environments. The underground
perennating (surviving from one season to the next) roots and rhizomes of the Grasses,
however, are relatively well protected from fire.

Fast Growth of Grass - Grasses are specialists when it comes to regrowth. Their growing
points are situated low down near the soil enabling them to grow back in spite of grazing or
overgrazing. Many Grass Species can grow back quickly after a fire has swept through the
Grassland, and some have seeds that can grow after being burned in a fire Grasslands tend to
produce larger amounts of new growth if subjected to some type of repeated disturbance,
usually grazing or fire, that prevents the accumulation of a thick layer of dead litter. Where
such a layer is allowed to develop, it retains nutrients in a form not immediately available to
roots and acts as a physical barrier for new shoots growing from the soil surface toward the
light; in temperate Grasslands this layer acts as thermal insulation, slowing the spring
warming of the soil. This has obvious implications for grazing management of these systems.
Grasslands can therefore support a high density of grazing Animals.

Mostly Hot and Dry Areas - Grassland climates are varied, but all large regions of
Natural Grassland are generally hot, at least in summer, and dry. In general, Tropical
Grasslands receive 500 to 1,500 millimetres (20 to 60 inches) of rain in an average year and
in every season experience temperatures of about 15° to 35° C (59° to 95° F). The dry season
may last as long as eight months. An excess of rainfall over evaporation, leading to
ephemeral river flow, occurs only during the wet season. The tropical Grassland climate
overlaps very broadly with that of Savannah. Temperate Grasslands have cold winters and
warm summers with rain or some snow.

Balance between different Plants - A dynamic balance commonly exists between

Grasslands and related vegetation types. Droughts, fires, or episodes of heavy grazing favour
Grassland at some times, and wet seasons and an absence of significant disturbances favour
woody vegetation at others. Changes in the severity or frequency of these factors can cause a
change from one vegetation type to another.

Changing Appearances - Grasslands change their appearance throughout the year. In

winter (or in the tropical dry season), Grasslands look drab and lifeless. In the Temperate
Grasslands, spring brings about a transformation as tender shoots emerge, the Grass starts
growing, and the first flowers bloom. A similar change is seen in Tropical Grasslands when
the onset of the rainy season changes the landscape from dull brown to bright green.

Specialised Plants - The Plants of Grasslands have adapted themselves to survive the
prevalent conditions. Grasses generally have pollen that is spread by the wind and are as such
not much dependant on other organisms for pollination. Some Plants have bad-tasting and
poisonous chemicals which prevent them from being eaten by Animals. They also have thick
latex sap contained in their leaves or stem and upon breakage, they ooze the gummy sap. If
this is tapped by an insect , it hardens in the air and gums up the insect's mouth parts.
Milkweeds and Dogbane are such Plants. The Stinging Nettle Plant can cause a painful
feeling in the Animal that touches it. Also, a kind of Grass can cut the tongue of the Animal
that eats it. In addition, there is also a kind of Poison Ivy. During a fire, while above-ground
portions of Grasses may perish, the root portions survive to sprout again as Grasses grow
from near their base, not from tip, thus are not permanently damaged from grazing Animals
or fire. Extensive root systems prevent grazing Animals from pulling roots out of the ground.

Some of the different kinds of Grasses

 Cocksfoot.
 Upright Brome.
 Tor Grass.
  Sheep's Fescue.
 Crested Dog's-Tail.
 Common Quaking-Grass.
 Common Fox-Tail.
 Rough Meadow Grass.
 False Oat-Grass.
 Blue Moor-Grass.
 Yorkshire Fog.

Some of the different kinds of Grassland Flowers

 Salad Burnet.
 Meadow Buttercup.
 Red Campion.
 Cuckoo Flower.
 Cowslip.
 Sainfoin.
 Field Gentian.
 Meadow Saffron.
 Harebell.
 Knapweed
 Bee Orchid.

Grassland Adapted Animals - The Animals that live in Grasslands have adapted
themselves to dry, windy conditions. Most of the Animals found in Grasslands are grazers
which eat a variety of Grasses and other Plants. Some Animals, such as Bison, have broad,
flat-topped teeth and digestive systems especially adapted to feed on Grasses. The colour of
many Grassland Animals blends in with the Plants helping them to catch a prey or escape a
predator. Most of the Animals on the Savannah have long legs or wings to be able to go on
long migrations. Many burrow under ground to avoid the heat or raise their young. The
Savannah is a perfect place for birds of prey like hawks and buzzards. The wide, open plain
provides them with a clear view of their prey, hot air updrafts keep them soaring, and there is
the occasional tree to rest on or nest in. Animals don't sweat to lose body heat, so they lose it
through panting or through large areas of exposed skin, or ears, like those of the elephant.
Grasslands also benefit other Animals by providing them with their habitats and food. With
the interaction between Grasslands and Animals, the existence of Grasslands is made possible
because without the grazing by Animals, they will be colonized by shrubs quickly and
become woodland.

Some of the Grassland Animals

 Chaffinch.
 Skylark.
 Rook.
 Pronghorn Antelope.
  Gray Wolf.
 Badger.
 Red Kangaroo.
 Mole.
 Woodmouse.
 Leaf Bug.
 Ladybirds.
 Ground Beetles.
 Greenflies.
 Earwigs.
 Earthworms.
 Centipedes.

Origin of Grasslands

Grasslands arose during the period of cooling and drying of the global climate, which
occurred during the Cenozoic Era (65.5 million years ago). In the Miocene and Pliocene
Epochs (5.332 million to 2.588 million years ago), which spanned a period of about 25
million years, mountains rose in western North America and created a continental climate
favourable to Grasslands. Ancient Forests declined and Grasslands became widespread.
Following the Pleistocene Ice Ages (2 million to 11 thousand years ago), Grasslands
expanded in range as hotter and drier climates prevailed Worldwide. The Grass family itself
(Poaceae or Gramineae) evolved only early in this era. The date of earliest appearance of
Grasslands varies from region to region. In several regions a succession of vegetation types
can be recognized in the Cenozoic fossil record, as climate dried out progressively. For
example, in central Australia during the past 50 million years Tropical Rainforest gave way
successively to Savannah, Grassland, and, finally, Desert. In some places expansion of
Grasslands to something approaching their modern extent occurred only during the extremely
cold, dry intervals—called ice ages in north temperate regions—of the past two million years.
Other Grassland types occur in places too cold for trees to grow—i.e., beyond the Forest
limits of high mountains or at high latitudes. A characteristic type of Grassland in cool, moist
parts of the Southern Hemisphere is Tussock Grassland, dominated by tussock or bunch
Grasses that develop pedestals of matted stems, giving the vegetation a lumpy appearance.
Tussock Grasslands occur at various latitudes.

However not all natural Grasslands, however, arise from climate-related circumstances.
Woody Plants may be prevented from growing in certain areas for other reasons, allowing
Grasses to dominate. One cause is seasonal flooding or water-logging, which is responsible
for the creation and maintenance of large Grasslands in parts of the highly seasonal
subtropics and in smaller areas of other regions. One of the best examples of a seasonally
flooded subtropical Grassland is the Pantanal in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil. Across an
area of 140,000 square kilometres (54,000 square miles), dry Grasslands prevail for half of
each year and shallow wetlands for the other, with small Forest patches restricted to low rises
that do not flood during the wet season. In many other areas where climate is suitable for
Forest growth, very shallow or infertile soils may prevent tree growth and result in
development of Grassland.
Importance of Grasslands

 Grassland are an important part of ecosystem as they cover nearly one

third of the earth’s land surface and supply three quarters of the energy
that the World needs. They support an amazing variety of Animals and
Plants which are important components of the Grassland Habitat and
maintain a rich biodiversity. Some Species are endemic to these Habitats
and as such these Habitats should be conserved.

 No other habitat is as agriculturally useful to humans as Grasslands. Soils

tend to be deep and fertile, perfect for crop land or pastures. Much of the
North American Prairie lands have been converted into one of the richest
agricultural regions on Earth. According to an estimate one hectare of
natural Grassland can provide four persons’ requirements of Wheat. If
properly managed Grasslands can be mutually beneficial to Humans as well
as to local Fauna and Flora.

 Grasslands separate Forests from Deserts. Grasslands act as barrier

towards desertification of land as they have Plants which bind the soil and
prevent erosion of the land.

 Grasslands are a source of income through Tourism as well. The increasing

number of tourists add to the revenues of most countries where they are
found.

 Grassland are important for researchers and scientists as Grasslands are

needed to be fully understood so that they can benefit Humans in
innumerable ways. Certain adaptations of Plants towards harsh climates
are and can be utilised to develop better quality of Plants.

 Certain Animal Species use various strategies and techniques to survive in

Grasslands and these can be applied in scientific research and development
for the benefit of mankind.