1. Temperate Grasslands
Chris Zajac

2. Locations North America- prairies of the Great Plains Eurasia
Extend from southern Canada to Gulf of Mexico
Eurasia
South America
Africa

3. Climate Moderate rainfall
Receives between 300 and 1,000 mm of precipitation each year
Amount of annual rainfall influences the height of grassland vegetation
Can experience droughts that last multiple years
Hot summers
Cold winters

4. Features Very rich soil
Deep and dark
Fertile upper layers
Growth and decay of many-branched grass roots
Rotted roots hold soil together
Help to provide a source of food for living plants
Flat, treeless, covered with various types of flowers and grasses.

5. Biology Vegetation Many species of grasses Flowers
Purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta
Flowers
Asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, and wild indigos
Many other herbaceous plants (non-woody)

6. Biology Fauna (do not all occur in same temperate grassland)
Gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, jack rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and spiders

7. Human Influences Cultivate grasslands
Plowed land
Some of the most fertile farm lands on earth
Used to farm and feed the world
Used to raise livestock
For human consumption
Milk production/ dairy products
Soils have lost as much as 35% to 40% of organic matter in last 40 years

8. References
Google. (2009). Google. Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009, from Google. Web site:
Grassland. (2009, August 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17:30, August 31, 2009, from &oldid=
Molles, M C. (2008). Ecology Concepts and Applications Fourth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
SLW, . Retrieved Sep. 06, Web site: /biomes/tempgrass/tempgras.html.
Webber, C. (2002). The Grassland Biome. Retrieved Sep. 06, 2009, from California Academy of Science, California. Web site: slands.php.