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Grassland
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Main page This article is about vegetation and landscape. For other uses, see Grassland (disambiguation).
Contents "Greensward" redirects here. For park plan, see Central Park.
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Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae); however,
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sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) families can also be found along with variable
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proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents
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except Antarctica. Grasslands are found in most ecoregions of the Earth. For example, there are
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Recent changes five terrestrial ecoregion classifications (subdivisions) of the temperate grasslands, savannas,
Contact page and shrublands biome (ecosystem), which is one of eight terrestrial ecozones of the Earth's
surface.
Tools Grassland in Magallanes Region,
What links here Contents [hide] Patagonia, Chile
Related changes 1 Vegetation
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2 Evolution
Special pages
3 Climates
Permanent link
Page information 4 Biodiversity and conservation
Wikidata item 5 Human impact and economic importance
Cite this page 6 Types of grasslands
6.1 Schimper (1898)
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6.2 Ellenberg and Mueller-Dombois (1967) A grassland in the Philippines
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6.3 Laycock (1979)
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6.4 Other
6.4.1 Tropical and subtropical
In other projects 6.4.2 Temperate
Wikimedia Commons 6.4.3 Flooded
6.4.4 Montane
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6.4.5 Tundra prairies
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6.4.6 Desert and xeric
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Français 7 Animals
한국어 8 Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregions An Inner Mongolian grassland in
ह ी 9 Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregions the People's Republic of China
Italiano 10 See also
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11 References
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中文 12 Further reading

35 more
Edit links Vegetation [ edit ]

Grassland vegetation can vary in height from very short, as in chalk grassland, to quite tall, as in the case of North American tallgrass
prairie, South American grasslands and African savanna.

Woody plants, shrubs or trees may occur on some grasslands – forming savannas, scrubby
grassland or semi-wooded grassland, such as the African savannas or the Iberian dehesa.[1]

As flowering plants and trees, grasses grow in great concentrations in climates where annual
rainfall ranges between 500 and 900 mm (20 and 35 in).[2] The root systems of perennial
grasses and forbs form complex mats that hold the soil in place.

The Konza tallgrass prairie in the
Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas
bamboo.[3]
Evolution [ edit ]
Graminoids are among the most versatile life forms. They became widespread toward the end of
the Cretaceous period, and fossilized dinosaur feces (coprolites) have been found containing
phytoliths of a variety of grasses that include grasses that are related to modern rice and

The appearance of mountains in the western United States during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, a period of some 25 million years,
created a continental climate favorable to the evolution of grasslands. Existing forest biomes declined, and grasslands became much
more widespread. Following the Pleistocene ice ages, grasslands expanded in range in the hotter, drier climates, and began to become
the dominant land feature worldwide.[1]

Climates [ edit ]

Grasslands often occur in areas with annual precipitation is between 600 mm (24 in) and 1,500 mm (59 in) and average mean annual
temperatures ranges from −5 and 20 °C (Woodward et al. 2004). However, some grasslands occur in colder (−20 °C) and hotter (30 °C)
climatic conditions.[4] Grassland can exist in habitats that are frequently disturbed by grazing or fire, as such disturbance prevents the
encroachment of woody species. Species richness is particularly high in grasslands of low soil fertility such as serpentine barrens and
calcareous grasslands, where woody encroachment is prevented as low nutrient levels in the soil may inhibit the growth of forest and
shrub species.

Biodiversity and conservation [ edit ]

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Grasslands dominated by unsown wild-plant communities ("unimproved grasslands") can be called either natural or "semi-natural"
habitat. The majority of grasslands in temperate climates are "semi-natural". Although their plant communities are natural, their
maintenance depends upon anthropogenic activities such as low-intensity farming, which maintains these grasslands through grazing
and cutting regimes. These grasslands contain many species of wild plants, including grasses, sedges, rushes, and herbs; 25 or more
species per square meter is not unusual.[citation needed] Chalk downlands in England can support over 40 species per square meter. In
many parts of the world, few examples have escaped agricultural improvement (fertilizing, weed killing, plowing or re-seeding). For
example, original North American prairie grasslands or lowland wildflower meadows in the UK are now rare and their associated wild
flora equally threatened. Associated with the wild-plant diversity of the "unimproved" grasslands is usually a rich invertebrate fauna; there
are also many species of birds that are grassland "specialists", such as the snipe and the great bustard. Agriculturally improved
grasslands, which dominate modern intensive agricultural landscapes, are usually poor in wild plant species due to the original diversity
of plants having been destroyed by cultivation, the original wild-plant communities having been replaced by sown monocultures of
cultivated varieties of grasses and clovers, such as perennial ryegrass and white clover. In many parts of the world, "unimproved"
grasslands are one of the most threatened types of habitat, and a target for acquisition by wildlife conservation groups or for special
grants to landowners who are encouraged to manage them appropriately.

Human impact and economic importance [ edit ]

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Grassland vegetation often remains dominant in a

particular area usually due to grazing, cutting, or natural
or man-made fires, all discouraging colonization by and
survival of tree and shrub seedlings. Some of the
world's largest expanses of grassland are found in the
African savanna, and these are maintained by wild
herbivores as well as by nomadic pastoralists and their
A restored grassland ecosystem at cattle, sheep or goats.
Morton Arboretum in Illinois Grassland in Cantabria, northern
Grasslands may occur naturally or as the result of Spain
human activity. Grasslands created and maintained by
human activity are called anthropogenic grasslands. Hunting peoples around the world often
set regular fires to maintain and extend grasslands, and prevent fire-intolerant trees and shrubs from taking hold. The tallgrass prairies in
the U.S. Midwest may have been extended eastward into Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio by human agency. Much grassland in northwest
Europe developed after the Neolithic Period when people gradually cleared the forest to create areas for raising their livestock.

The professional study of grasslands falls under the category of rangeland management, which focuses on ecosystem services
associated with the grass-dominated arid and semi-arid rangelands of the world. Rangelands account for an estimated 70% of the
earth's landmass; thus, many cultures including those of the United States are indebted to the economics that the world's grasslands
have to offer, from producing grazing animals, tourism, ecosystems services such as clean water and air, and energy extraction.

Types of grasslands [ edit ]

Schimper (1898) [ edit ]

Grassland types by Schimper (1898, 1903):[5]

meadow (hygrophilous or tropophilous grassland)

steppe (xerophilous grassland)
savannah (xerophilous grassland containing isolated trees)

Ellenberg and Mueller-Dombois (1967) [ edit ]

Grassland types by Ellenberg and Mueller-Dombois (1967):[6]

Formation-class V. Terrestrial herbaceous communities

A. Savannas and related grasslands (tropical or subtropical grasslands and parklands)
B. Steppes and related grasslands (e.g. North American "prairies" etc.)
C. Meadows, pastures or related grasslands
D. Sedge swamps and flushes
E. Herbaceous and half-woody salt swamps
F. Forb vegetation

Laycock (1979) [ edit ]

Grassland types by Laycock (1979):[7]

(1) tallgrass (true) prairie;

(2) shortgrass prairie;
(3) mixed-grass prairie;
(4) shrub steppe;
(5) annual grassland;
(6) desert (arid) grassland;
(7) high mountain grassland.

Other [ edit ]

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to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2012)
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Tropical and subtropical [ edit ]

These grasslands are classified with tropical and subtropical savannas and shrublands as the tropical and subtropical grasslands,
savannas, and shrublands biome. Notable tropical and subtropical grasslands include the Llanos grasslands of South America.

Temperate [ edit ]

Mid-latitude grasslands, including the prairie and Pacific grasslands of North America, the Pampas of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay,
calcareous downland, and the steppes of Europe. They are classified with temperate savannas and shrublands as the temperate
grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. Temperate grasslands are the home to many large herbivores, such as bison, gazelles,
zebras, rhinoceroses, and wild horses. Carnivores like lions, wolves and cheetahs and leopards are also found in temperate grasslands.
Other animals of this region include: deer, prairie dogs, mice, jack rabbits, skunks, coyotes, snakes, fox, owls, badgers, blackbirds (both
Old and New World varieties), grasshoppers, meadowlarks, sparrows, quails, hawks and hyenas.

Flooded [ edit ]

Grasslands that are flooded seasonally or year-round, like the Everglades of Florida, the
Pantanal of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay or the Esteros del Ibera in Argentina, are classified with
flooded savannas as the flooded grasslands and savannas biome and occur mostly in the
tropics and subtropics.

Watermeadows are grasslands that are deliberately flooded for short periods.

Montane [ edit ] Negri-Nepote temperate grasslands

in New Jersey
High-altitude grasslands located on high mountain ranges around the world, like the Páramo of
the Andes Mountains. They are part of the montane grasslands and shrublands biome and also
constitute tundra.

Tundra prairies [ edit ]

Similar to montane grasslands, polar Arctic tundra can have grasses, but high soil moisture
means that few tundras are grass-dominated today. However, during the Pleistocene ice ages, a
polar grassland known as steppe-tundra occupied large areas of the Northern Hemisphere.
These are in the tundra biome.

Desert and xeric [ edit ] Grassland in the Antelope Valley,

California
Also called desert grasslands, this is composed of sparse grassland ecoregions located in the
deserts and xeric shrublands biome.

Animals [ edit ]

Mites, insect larvae, nematodes and earthworms inhabit deep soil, which can reach 6 metres (20 ft) underground in undisturbed
grasslands on the richest soils of the world. These invertebrates, along with symbiotic fungi, extend the root systems, break apart hard
soil, enrich it with urea and other natural fertilizers, trap minerals and water and promote growth. Some types of fungi make the plants
more resistant to insect and microbial attacks.

Grassland in all its form supports a vast variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects. Typical large mammals include the blue
wildebeest, American bison, giant anteater and Przewalski's horse.

While grasslands in general support diverse wildlife, given the lack of hiding places for predators, the African savanna regions support a
much greater diversity in wildlife than do temperate grasslands.[8]

There is evidence for grassland being much the product of animal behaviour and movement;[9] some examples include migratory herds
of antelope trampling vegetation and African bush elephants eating acacia saplings before the plant has a chance to grow into a mature
tree.

Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregions [ edit ]

The grassland Ecoregions of the Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Biome are:
Afrotropic Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Al Hajar Al Gharbi montane woodlands Oman

Amsterdam and Saint-Paul Islands temperate Amsterdam Island, Saint-Paul
grasslands Island
Tristan da Cunha-Gough Islands shrub and grasslands Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island
Australasia Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Canterbury-Otago tussock grasslands New Zealand

Eastern Australia mulga shrublands Australia
Southeast Australia temperate savanna Australia
Nearctic Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

California Central Valley grasslands United States

Canadian aspen forests and parklands Canada, United States
Central and Southern mixed grasslands United States
Central forest-grasslands transition United States
Central tall grasslands United States
Columbia Plateau United States
Edwards Plateau savanna United States
Flint Hills tall grasslands United States
Montana valley and foothill grasslands United States
Nebraska Sand Hills mixed grasslands United States
Northern mixed grasslands Canada, United States
Northern short grasslands Canada, United States
Northern tall grasslands Canada, United States
Palouse grasslands United States
Texas blackland prairies United States
Western short grasslands United States

Neotropic Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Argentine Espinal Argentina

Argentine Monte Argentina
Humid Pampas Argentina
Patagonian grasslands Argentina, Chile
Patagonian steppe Argentina, Chile
Semi-arid Pampas Argentina
Palearctic temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Altai steppe and semi-desert Kazakhstan
Central Anatolian steppe Turkey
Daurian forest steppe China, Mongolia, Russia
Eastern Anatolian montane
Armenia, Iran, Turkey
steppe
Emin Valley steppe China, Kazakhstan
Faroe Islands boreal grasslands Faroe Islands, Denmark
Gissaro-Alai open woodlands Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Kazakh forest steppe Kazakhstan, Russia
Kazakh steppe Kazakhstan, Russia
Kazakh Uplands Kazakhstan
Middle East steppe Iraq, Syria
Mongolian-Manchurian grassland China, Mongolia, Russia
Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine,
Pontic steppe
Bulgaria
Sayan Intermontane steppe Russia
Selenge-Orkhon forest steppe Mongolia, Russia
South Siberian forest steppe Russia
Tian Shan foothill arid steppe China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregions [ edit ]

Afrotropic Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V · T · E

Angolan Miombo
Angola
woodlands
Angolan Mopane
Angola, Namibia
woodlands
Ascension scrub and
Ascension Island
grasslands
Central Zambezian Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi,
Miombo woodlands Tanzania, Zambia
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic
East Sudanian savanna Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia South Sudan, Sudan,
Uganda
Eastern Miombo
Mozambique, Tanzania
woodlands
Guinean forest-savanna Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
mosaic Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo
Itigi-Sumbu thicket Tanzania, Zambia
Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea
Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe
woodlands
Mandara Plateau mosaic Cameroon, Nigeria
Northern Acacia-
Commiphora bushlands Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda
and thickets
Northern Congolian forest- Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of
savanna mosaic the Congo, South Sudan, Uganda
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali,
Sahelian Acacia savanna
Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan
Serengeti Kenya, Tanzania
Somali Acacia-
Commiphora bushlands Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia
and thickets
Southern Acacia-
Commiphora bushlands Kenya, Tanzania
and thickets
Southern Africa bushveld Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Southern Congolian
Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
forest-savanna mosaic
Southern Miombo
Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
woodlands
Saint Helena scrub and
Saint Helena
woodlands
Victoria Basin forest- Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania,
savanna mosaic Uganda
Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast,
West Sudanian savanna
Niger, Nigeria, Senegal
Western Congolian forest- Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
savanna mosaic Congo
Western Zambezian
Angola, Zambia
grasslands
Zambezian and Mopane Botswana, eSwatini (Swaziland), Malawi, Mozambique,
woodlands Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zambezian Baikiaea
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
woodlands

Australasia Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V · T · E

Arnhem Land tropical savanna Australia
Brigalow tropical savanna Australia
Cape York tropical savanna Australia
Carpentaria tropical savanna Australia
Einasleigh upland savanna Australia
Kimberley tropical savanna Australia
Mitchell grass downs Australia
Trans Fly savanna and grasslands Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Victoria Plains tropical savanna Australia
Indomalaya Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V · T · E
Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands Bhutan, India, Nepal

Nearctic Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Western Gulf coastal grasslands Mexico, United States

Neotropic Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Aripo Savannas Trinidad

Beni savanna Bolivia
Campos rupestres Brazil
Cerrado Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay
Clipperton Island shrub and grasslands Clipperton Island is an overseas territory of France
Córdoba montane savanna Argentina
Guianan savanna Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela
Gran Chaco Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
Los Llanos Venezuela, Colombia
Uruguayan savanna Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay

Oceania Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands V·T·E

Hawaiian tropical high shrublands Hawaiʻi

Hawaiian tropical low shrublands Hawaiʻi
Northwestern Hawaii scrub Hawaiʻi

See also [ edit ]

This "see also" section may contain an excessive number of Wikimedia Commons has
suggestions. Please ensure that only the most relevant links are media related to Grasslands.

given, that they are not red links, and that any links are not already
in this article. (April 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template
message)

Appalachian bald Pacific grasslands

Biomes Pampa
Bunch grass Pasture
Bushveld Plain
Cerrado Plateau
Coastal plain Prairie
Dambo Savanna
Desert Sods
Field Steppe
Flood-meadow Taiga
Flooded grasslands and savannas Tundra
Llanos Veld
Lowland semi-natural grassland Water-meadow
Meadow Wet meadow

References [ edit ]

1. ^ a b University of California Museum of Paleontology Grasslands 6. ^ Ellenberg, H. & D. Mueller-Dombois. 1967. Tentative
website . Ucmp.berkeley.edu. Retrieved on 2011-12-01. physiognomic-ecological classification of plant formations of the
2. ^ NASA Earth Observatory webpage . Earth [based on a discussion draft of the UNESCO working group
Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. Retrieved on 2011-12-01. on vegetation classification and mapping.] Berichte des
3. ^ Piperno, D. R.; Sues, HD (2005). "Dinosaurs Dined on Grass". Geobotanischen Institutes der Eidg. Techn. Hochschule, Stiftung
Science. 310 (5751): 1126–8. doi:10.1126/science.1121020 . Rübel, Zürich 37 (1965-1966): 21—55, [2] .
PMID 16293745 . 7. ^ Laycock, W.A. 1979. Introduction, pp. 1-2, in: French. N R. (ed.).
4. ^ EO Experiments: Grassland Biome . Perspectives in Grassland Ecology. Springer, New York, 204 pp.,
Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. Retrieved on 2011-12-01. [3] .
5. ^ Schimper, A. F. W. 1898. Pflanzen-Geographie auf 8. ^ University of California – Santa Barbara Temperate Grasslands
physiologischer Grundlage. Fisher, Jena. 876 pp. English website . Kids.nceas.ucsb.edu. Retrieved on 2011-12-01.
translation, 1903, [1] . 9. ^ How can grazing heal land? . ManagingWholes.com. Retrieved
on 2011-12-01.

Further reading [ edit ]

Courtwright, Julie. 2011. Prairie Fire: A Great Plains History. University Press of Kansas. 274 pp.
French, N. R. (ed.). 1979. Perspectives in Grassland Ecology. Springer, New York, 204 pp., [4] .
Suttie, J. M.; Reynolds, S. G.; C. Batello. 2005. Grasslands of the world. Rome: FAO. [5] .

V·T·E Biogeographic regionalisations [show]

V·T·E Phytogeography: Vegetation classification [show]

Authority control NARA: 10638949 · NDL: 01025306

Categories: Grasslands Grasses Poaceae Ecoregions Agricultural land Plains

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