Temperate grasslands
- 1. TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS DONE BY:ANAMIKA PRIYA GRADE:VIII.A ROLL NO:5
- 2. WHAT ARE GRASSLANDS ? ● Grasslands are generally open and continuous, fairly flat areas of grass. They are often located between temperate forests at high latitudes and deserts at subtropical latitudes. ● The most widespread vegetation in world. ● The origin of mountains during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, came a period favourable to grassland vegetation declining the nearby forests.
- 3. The prairies of the Great Plains of North America, the pampas of South America, the veldt of South Africa, the steppes of Central Eurasia, and surrounding the deserts in Australia
- 5. ● Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers with some rain. ● In temperate grasslands, trees and shrubs are completely absent or rare. ● There are mainly four types of temperate grasslands: velds of africa,prairies of north america,steppes of europe & central asia and pampas of south america. ● The three most prominent features of temperate grasslands are their climate, soil and flora and fauna.
- 7. PRAIRIES: ● Prairies are enormous stretches of flat grassland with moderate temperatures, moderate rainfall, and few trees. When people talk about the prairie, they are usually referring to the golden, wheat- covered land in the middle of North America. ● The Great Plains, in the United States and Canada, has some of the world's most valuable prairies, which grow some of the world’s most important crops. ● The U.S. states of Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta make up the Great Plains.
- 9. Climate of prairies: ● The climate is of continental type with extreme temperatures. ● The summers are warm with around 20 degree celsius and the winters are arid with -20 degree celsius. ● The rainfall is moderate with a local wind known as ‘chinook’.
- 10. Flora and Fauna: ● Areas with moderate rainfall, trees such as willows and alders grow. ● In areas where the soils are fertile, the major crop is maize,soya bean and potatoes. ● In areas where rainfall is sparse, cattles are reared anda are kept in huge farms known as ranches. ● Bison or the american buffalo is the most important animal. ● The other animals found are rabbits,coyotes, grophers and prairie dog.
- 12. People: ● The people in the prairies are very hardworking. ● Their main occupations are animal husbandry and farming. ● Prairies are known as the ’granaries of the world’. ● They grow and harvest their crops using world class technologies. ● Large mineral deposits, especially of iron and coal have helped this region become more industrialised.
- 14. STEPPES: ● A steppe is a dry, grassy plain. Steppes occur in temperate climates, which lie between the tropics and polar regions. ● The largest temperate grassland in the world is the Eurasian steppe, extending from Hungary to China. ● The world's largest steppe region, often referred to as "the Great Steppe", is found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and neighbouring countries stretching from Ukraine in the west through Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the Altai, Koppet Dag and Tian Shan ranges.
- 16. Climate of steppe: ● Steppes experience a semi-arid or continental climate. ● The temperatures rise up to 45 degree celsius and drops to -55 degree celsius during winter, ● It receives upto 250-550 mm of precipitation. ● Possible evapotranspiration can also be take into account.
- 17. Flora and Fauna of steppe: ● The flora of steppe is filled with short grasses and includes plants like blue grama, buffalo grass,cacti, sagebrush and speargrass. ● Wildlife of steppe includes badgers, owls, hawks and snakes. ● Most of the animals are omnivorous. ● Wherein others cattles graze around a lot. ● The saiga antelope is avery unique looking antelope found in eurasian steppe. ● Rhubarb and tumbleweed are other specially seen plants in steppe.
- 19. People: ● The people of steppe like their ancestors lead a nomadic life. ● They also practice animal husbandry and diary farming, although not in an advanced manner. ● There are many shepherds and hunters to be seen in the steppe region. ● They rear horses for horse meat and as a mode of travel.
- 21. VELDS
- 22. ● Veld is a flat area covered in grass or low scrub, especially in the countries of South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Botswana. ● The climate of the veld is highly variable, but its general pattern is mild winters from May to September and hot or very hot summers from November to March, with moderate or considerable variations in daily temperatures and abundant sunshine. ● Velds consist of thorny acacias and aloes, dwarf, drought resistant bushes, and desert scrubs. ● Antelopes , hyraxes, African wild dogs, impalas, zebras, wildebeests are the most common species. ● Sheep rearing is the most important activity of the people.Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions and the dairy products like butter and cheese are produced both for domestic supply and exports.The main crops are maize, wheat, barley, oats and potato. Cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane and cotton are also grown. Coal, iron and diamond mining is also carried on.
- 24. PAMPAS
- 25. ● The Pampas are fertile South American lowlands that covers the Argentine provinces, all of Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul. ● The average temperature in the Pampas is 18° C. The pampas has a 'high sun' or dry season in the summer. The wind blows most of the time. The climate in the pampas is humid and warm. ● Animals of the Pampas include foxes, skunks, guanaco, bush dogs, and bird species like sparrows, hawks, and waterfowl . The pampas deer,giant anteater and crab eating fox is commonly seen. ● The Ombu,Silver Pampas Grass,Reed and Water Lilies are some commonly seen plants. ● The main occupation of the indigenous population is the cultivation of wheat and other cereals including maize, due to fertile soil. They also engage in cattle rearing.