Characterized by a rich mis of grasses and underlaid by some of the world's most fertile soils, temperate grasslands--such as plains and prairies--once covered vast areas of the midwestern and central United states. Since the development of the steel plow, however, most have been converted to agricultural fields. Periodic fires and heavy grazing by large herbivores maintain the characteristic plant community.
Abiotic Factors: warm to hot summers; cold winters; moderate, seasonal precipitation; fertile soils; occasional fires
Dominant Plants: lush, perennial grasses and herbs; most are resistant to drought, fire, and cold
Dominant Wildlife: predators such as coyotes and badgers-historically included wolves and grizzly bears; herbivores such as mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, rabbits, prairie dogs, and introduced cattle—historically included bison; birds such as hawks, owls, bobwhites, prairie chickens, mountain plovers; reptiles such as snakes; insects such as ants and grasshoppers
Geographic distribution: central Asia, North America, Australia, central Europe, and upland plateaus of South America
Characterized by a rich mis of grasses and underlaid by some of the world's most fertile soils, temperate grasslands--such as plains and prairies--once covered vast areas of the midwestern and central United states. Since the development of the steel plow, however, most have been converted to agricultural fields. Periodic fires and heavy grazing by large herbivores maintain the characteristic plant community.
Abiotic Factors: warm to hot summers; cold winters; moderate, seasonal precipitation; fertile soils; occasional fires
Dominant Plants: lush, perennial grasses and herbs; most are resistant to drought, fire, and cold
Dominant Wildlife: predators such as coyotes and badgers-historically included wolves and grizzly bears; herbivores such as mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, rabbits, prairie dogs, and introduced cattle—historically included bison; birds such as hawks, owls, bobwhites, prairie chickens, mountain plovers; reptiles such as snakes; insects such as ants and grasshoppers
Geographic distribution: central Asia, North America, Australia, central Europe, and upland plateaus of South America