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Section 8.2 Steppes & Prairies
Chapter 8 Grasslands Section 8.2 Steppes & Prairies
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Steppe Steppe- grasslands of short bunchgrasses that get less than 50 cm of rain each year
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Steppe location Western and southwestern edges of the grasslands
Large areas of steppes exist within the wetter areas of the deserts of the Southwest and Great Basin
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Steppe
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Steppe climate Rapid evaporation High temperatures & winds
25cm + rain per year
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Steppe grasses Short-grass prairies
Bunchgrasses- short, fine-bladed grasses that grow in a clump Clumping helps save water and holds in water---roots are shallow like deserts
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Prairies Prairie- grasslands characterized by rolling hills, plains, and sod-forming grasses Great Plains Large, fertile areas where we get most of our foods Breads and cereals
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Prairie
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Prairie climate 50-75cm rain per year
Rainy seasons could supply more rain
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Prairie grasses Soil can hold water well because animals create air spaces Roots form mats called sod Sod-forming grasses- grasses that form a mat of soil and roots
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Prairie grasses Humus- as the roots of the grasses die, they form a layer of organic matter Humus holds moisture and provides nutrients
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Steppe & Prairie Animals-adapted by migrating, hibernating, or burrowing underground Plants- adapted by using the wind for seed dispersal
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Steppe & Prairie How might animals and plants react to colder areas of these biomes? How might animals and plants react to hot areas of these biomes?
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Steppe & Prairie Over-grazing occurs when grazing animals eat too much in one place, which ruins the land
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Over-grazing
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Farmers Farmers needed more grazing animals, so they began to push out animals such as grizzly bears, bison, deer, and wolves
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REVIEW!!! How are steppes & prairies similar?
How are steppes & prairies different? How does desertification occur? Where could we see it happening in these biomes?
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