 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 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?

 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

 The three types of grassland biomes are: 1. Tropical grasslands (savanna, serengeti) 2. Temperate Grasslands (prairies, plains, steppes, etc) 3. Mediterranean grasslands (chaparral)

 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 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

 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.

 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

 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!

 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.

 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

 Plants grow at differing heights (short medium and tall) to avoid being eaten.

 Many herbivores migrate, or move, with the rains  This 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

 Herbivores are also adapted to the environment because they eat different heights of plants  Gazelle and Zebra graze on the grass  Rhinos eat shrubs  Giraffes eat tall tree leaves  This adaptation allows all herbivores to live in the savanna with limited competition for food

 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

 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.

 Carnivores, like lions and hyenas, follow the migratory herbivores

 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)

 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.

 Let’s break it down:  Temperate: Where have we heard that before?  Grasslands: Receive less precipitation than forests, so grass is the dominant vegetation

 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

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

 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…

 There are three different types of temperate grasslands: 1. Short grass prairies 2. Mixed or middle grass prairies 3. Tall grass prairie (may have a few trees)

– Each depends on the amount of precipitation Wetter = taller grasses Drier = shorter grasses – Roots are different for each but still have rhizomes and make sod

 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

 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

 Grazing animals - see savanna notes  Smaller animals burrow in to the ground for protection from fire, wind and predators – just like savanna

 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

 Chaparral- A temperate shrub-land biome  Has the least rain of the grassland biomes, but still more precipitation than a desert  What is the picture below and where is it located?

 Has what is called a Mediterranean Climate  It 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

 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.

 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

 Most plants are shrubs or small trees  Not enough water for larger trees  Plants have small leathery leaves that help retain water  Think of a sponge wrapped in plastic wrap or open to the air  Grapes, olives… what do these areas produce?

 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

 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!

 The biggest threat to the Chaparral is human development  The Chaparral is usually by the ocean, has little rain and has moderate temps  All things that make for a great vacation spot