We just got done studying forest biomes Now we will move on to focusing on biomes that have less precipitation These are the grassland biomes because.

GRASSLAND BIOMES

New Biomes!

We just got done studying forest biomes

Now we will move on to focusing on biomes that have less precipitation

These are the grassland biomes because there isn’t enough water to support tree growth

WHAT IS A GRASS?

What happens if you cut off the tops of trees?

What happens if you cut off the tops of grasses?

Which do you think requires more water?

WHAT IS A GRASS?

Vegetation consisting of typically short, woody plants with long narrow leaves that grow vertically and rhizomes.

Other plants that grow in grasslands are shrubs, some trees (depending on water supply), and small soft plants (as opposed to woody) called forbs

Grassland Biomes

The three types of grassland biomes are:

1. Tropical grasslands (savanna, serengeti)

2. Temperate Grasslands (prairies, plains, steppes, etc)

3. Mediterranean grasslands (chaparral)

Intro to Savannas

Savannas are located in tropical and around tropical areas Again – tropical?

So what do we know about the temperature or savannas?

Savannas are hot and near or on the equator

What other biomes would savannas be near?

Savannas

Savannas

Savanna Climate Savannas have two defined

seasons: the wet and dry season

Wet season is defined by drenching rains for months at a time

The dry season can be devoid of rain for months at a time

Savanna Climate During the dry season, fires sweep

across the grasslands

This takes nutrients from the plants and puts them in to the soil

During the rainy season much of the nutrients are stored in plants

In the dry season, fire returns the nutrients to the soil.

Savanna Climate Which month is the

hottest? Temp? March; 21°C

Which month(s) are the coldest? Temp? June, July, Aug, Sept; 16

What is the range of temperatures? About 5°C

Which month(s) make up the dry season? June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct

Savanna Plants Plants must be able to survive

long periods of no water during the dry season

Plants have adapted to the dry season by having large root systems with rhizomes Rhizomes are continuously growing

horizontal UNDERGROUND stems that put out lateral shoots at intervals.

Grasses grow not from the top but from the ground!

Savanna Plants The root systems also allow the

plants to regrow quickly after fires

The roots and rhizomes are deep enough to not get burned in the fire and the plants can grow again

The root systems are thick and form a sod – a dense material that helps hold precious soil and moisture in place.

Savanna Plants

The grass stems grow vertically, which exposes them to less sunlight and allows all neighbors to get sunlight

Some trees lose their leaves during the dry season to conserve water

Grasses are woody, which is hard to eat

Many plants also have sharp thorns to keep herbivores and omnivores from eating them

Layers to the Plants Plants grow at differing heights (short

medium and tall) to avoid being eaten.

Savanna Animals

Many herbivores migrate, or move, with the rainsThis way they are moving

where plants are growing that they can eat

They give birth during the rainy season, so that young will have plenty to eat

Savanna Animals

Herbivores are also adapted to the environment because they eat different heights of plantsGazelle and Zebra graze on the

grassRhinos eat shrubsGiraffes eat tall tree leaves

This adaptation allows all herbivores to live in the savanna with limited competition for food

ALL Grassland Herbivores Grazing animals, such as bison or

giraffes, have special adaptations:• Have broad, flat teeth to crush the woody grasses• Ungulates are herbivore mammals with hooves which allow them to travel far for food and run when predators come.• Ruminants – have special bacteria in their gut to start digestion, regurgitate partially digested cud to reprocess

ALL Grassland Herbivores Grazing animals MIGRATE ,

following the growing grass (following the rains!)

Small animals may not migrate but may, instead, burrow into the ground for protection from predators, food storage, and possibly a way to survive the seasonal fires.

Savanna Animals Carnivores, like

lions and hyenas, follow the migratory herbivores

Savanna Key Points Climate: Hot and only rainy during rainy

season Soil: Nutrients in plants in rainy season,

fires return nutrients to soil in dry season

Plants: Roots are shallow enough to collect lots of water, but deep enough to regrow plants after fires

Animals: Move with the rains to find plants; eat at different levels of the vegetations (short, medium, high)

To Hand In

Use at least 6 of the organisms in the next picture for a FOOD WEB

Give the ADAPTATIONS each of these animals has to live in the Savanna

BONUS: give at least 2 examples of COEVOLUTION.

Temperate Grasslands

Let’s break it down:Temperate: Where have we heard that before?

Grasslands: Receive less precipitation than forests, so grass is the dominant vegetation

Temperate Grasslands

Temperate Grasslands

Temperate Grassland Climate

Hotter, drier summers than temperate deciduous forests, but similar winters

Usually located in the center of a continent where mountains, etc. keep it from getting a lot of precipitation

Temperate Grasslands

Let’s go to view some smart dudes talking about this!

Common Grassland Names In the US they’re called the

plains or prairies In Asia, they’re called

steppes In South America, they’re

called pampas In South Africa, they’re

called veldt Puszta in Hungary (Europe) The list goes on…

Temperate Grasslands

There are three different types of temperate grasslands:

1. Short grass prairies2. Mixed or middle grass prairies3. Tall grass prairie (may have a

few trees)

Temperate Grasslands– Each depends on the amount of

precipitationWetter = taller grassesDrier = shorter grasses

– Roots are different for each but still have rhizomes and make sod

Why not forest?

Drought and fire keep trees from taking over the grassland

Also, animals graze off the tops – trees can’t live through that.

Fire burns down the plants and returns nutrients to the soil, which allows new growth – just like in savanna

Temperate Grassland Soil

The temperate grassland has the most fertile soil of all the biomes

How does it get that way? From dead and decaying organic

matter, like from roots and leaves.

Unlike the tropical rainforest, it doesn’t get sucked right back out!!

This has resulted in much of the temperate grassland being turned into farm land

Grassland Animals

Grazing animals - see savanna notes

Smaller animals burrow in to the ground for protection from fire, wind and predators – just like savanna

Threats to Temperate Grassland

Temperate Grassland has the richest soil of ANY biome. Makes it natural farmland. This is not good for the ecosystem:

Farming- the plants being grown do not hold the soil together and there is soil erosion

Overgrazing- Animals are eating the grasses before they can regrow

Decrease of Biodiversity- less grassland means that there are less animals that can survive there

Grassland Challenges

Chaparral Chaparral- A temperate shrub-

land biomeHas the least rain of the grassland

biomes, but still more precipitation than a desert

What is the picture below and where is it located?

Chaparral

Chaparral

Chaparral Climate

Has what is called a Mediterranean ClimateIt is the predominant biome around the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa

Climate is hot and dry in the summer

Winters are mild with some rain

Chaparral Location

Chaparrals are found between 30 and 50 degrees North and South of the equator

Like Temperate Rainforest, is on a coast. Usually, a west one. Not quite as far from equator, though.

Chaparral Climate

Which month is the warmest? What is the temp? Aug; 19°C

Which months have less than 5 cm of rain? April, May, June,

July, Aug, Sept, Oct What is the range

of temps in this biome? About 9°C

Chaparral Plants

Most plants are shrubs or small treesNot enough water for larger trees

Plants have small leathery leaves that help retain waterThink of a sponge wrapped in

plastic wrap or open to the airGrapes, olives… what do these areas

produce?

Chaparral Plants Because the temperatures

are so hot and the land is so dry:Plant seeds have become adapted to only sprout when there is a fire

Plants have oils in their leaves that help them burn more quickly

Chaparral Animals Animals of the chaparral,

such as kangaroos and wild dogs use camouflage to hide from predators or sneak up on prey

They also have to accommodate the temperature

The Black-Tailed Jack rabbit also uses it’s large ears to regulate it’s body temp. The kangaroo licks its arms!

Chaparral Threats

The biggest threat to the Chaparral is human development

The Chaparral is usually by the ocean, has little rain and has moderate tempsAll things that make for a great

vacation spot