BY: Jenna D, Jessica C & Shannon T

Location Grasslands are located on every continent with the exception of Antarctica.

Climate Temperatures in temperate grasslands vary according to the season. In winter, temperatures can plummet to well below 0 degrees in some areas. In summer, temperatures can reach above 90 degrees. Temperate grasslands receive low to moderate precipitation on average per year (20-35 inches). Most of this precipitation is in the form of snow in temperate grasslands of the northern hemisphere.

Vegetation Low to moderate precipitation makes temperate grasslands a difficult place for tall plants such as woody shrubs and trees to grow, so the main vegetation here is Grasses. They have adapted to cold temperatures, drought, and occasional fires.

Temperate grasslands are home to many large herbivores. Some of these include bison, gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, and wild horses. Carnivores like lions and wolves are also found in temperate grasslands. Some other animals of this region include: deer, mice, jack rabbits, skunks, snakes, foxes, owls, badgers, grasshoppers, sparrows, and hawks

Threats There are two major threats to grasslands - global warming and conversion to agriculture (or urban areas)

Many grasslands are in habitats which on the verge of being deserts. If global temperatures rise, it is predicted that some current marginal grasslands will become deserts as rainfall patterns change.

Another threat is the conversion of grasslands to agriculture (or, worse, cities and urban areas). Many of our grassland areas are relatively flat and the soils are easily converted to agriculture. In most cases this means total elimination of native communities and replacing them with cultivars.