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Grasslands are lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees. In the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, which covered a period of about 25 million years, grasslands began to expand as mountains rose in western North America and created a continental climate favorable to the growth of grasslands. Ancient forests also decreased as grasslands expanded more and more. After the last ice age, grasslands proliferated as hotter and drier climates advocated its expansion and glaciers decreased.



Grasslands are divided into two main divisions:

  • tropical grasslands, called savannas
  • temperate grasslands.

    Savannas

    Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees. They can be found mostly in Africa, large areas of Australia, South America, and India. Savannas are always found in warm or hot climates where the annual rainfall is from about 50.8 to 127 cm (20-50 inches) per year.

  • Savannas has both a dry and a rainy season. Seasonal fires, most likely occuring in January, are often set by poachers who are clearing away dead grass to see their prey. However, these fires doesn't disturb the community because most of the animals killed by the fires are insects with short life spans. Sometimes, animals such as birds feast on a fire by eating the grasshoppers, insects, beettles, mice and lizards that are killed or driven out by the fire. Although dry stems and leaves of grasses are consumed by fire, the grasses' deep roots remain unharmed. During March, violent thunderstorms bring in the rainy season. When the rains come, grasses grow vigorously. Some of the larger grasses grow an inch or more in 24 hours. The savannas are experiencing a rapid growing period during this time. For example, many antelope calves are born. With so much grass to feed on, mothers have plenty of milk. Calves die if the rains fail to come.

    • Animals that live in the Savannas:

  • giraffes
  • zebras
  • buffaloes
  • kangaroos
  • moles
  • gophers
  • lions
  • leopards
  • hyenas
  • elephants

    Temperate Grassland

    Temperate grasslands are characterized as having grasses as the dominant vegetation. This basically means that you probably won't find any trees or shrubs in this type of grassland. Temperatures in temperate grasslands vary more from summer to winter, and the amount of rainfall is less, in temperate grasslands than in savannas. Temperate grasslands can be found in the veldts of South Africa, the puszta of Hungary, the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the steppes of the former Soviet Union, and the plains and prairies of central North America. Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. Rainfall is moderate. The amount of annual rainfall influences the height of grassland vegetation, with taller grasses in wetter regions. Although temperate grasslands are predominantly covered by grasses, you might find a few trees, such as cottonwoods, oaks, and willows growing in river valleys.

    Types of grasses in Temperate Grasslands:

  • purple needlegrass
  • blue grama
  • buffalo grass
  • galleta.

    Flowers in Temperate Grasslands:
  • asters
  • blazing stars
  • coneflowers
  • goldenrods
  • sunflowers
  • clovers
  • psoraleas
  • wild indigos.


  • Precipitation in the temperate grasslands usually occurs in the late spring and early summer. The annual average is about 50.8 to 88.9 cm (20-35 inches). The temperature range is very large over the course of the year. Summer temperatures can be well over 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), while winter temperatues can be as low as -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).

    • Animals that live in the Temperate Grassland:

  • gazelles
  • zebras
  • rhinoceri
  • 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.

    Temperate grasslands can be further divided into two types:

  • Prairies
  • Steppes

    • Prairies are grasslands with tall grasses while steppes are grasslands with short grasses. Prairies and steppes are very similar to each other. The information given above specifically describes prairies. Description of Steppes is illustrated below.

    Steppes

    Dry areas of grassland with hot summers and cold winters. They receive 25.4-50.8 cm (10-20 inches) of rainfall a year. Steppes occur in the interiors of North America and Europe. Plants growing in steppes are usually greater than 1 foot tall. They include blue grama and buffalo grass, cacti, sagebrush, speargrass, and small relatives of the sunflower. Steppe fauna includes badgers, hawks, owls, and snakes. Today, people use steppes to graze livestock and to grow wheat and other crops. Overgrazing, plowing, and excess salts left behind by irrigation waters have harmed some steppes. Strong winds blow loose soil from the ground after plowing, especially during droughts. This causes the dust storms of the Great Plains of the U.S.