GRASSLAND

GRASSLANDEvan Bell Dawson Wagner

DescriptionLarge, rolling terrains of flowers, grasses, and herbs

Rainfall50.8 to 88.9 cm per year

Rainfall is important in determining which grassland area it is

Late spring and early summerLatitudeLocated between high latitudes and subtropical latitudesGrassland Plants

Grassland Plants AdaptionsPrairie trees have thick bark to resist from firePrairie shrubs grow right after a firePlants take advantage of the wind and are wind pollinated

Big Bluestem GrassAlso know as Turkey Feet because the shape of the seed head looks like turkey feet or Beard GrassBlooms from June through SeptemberGrow to 3-10 ft.Food for American bison

MilkweedProduces red and yellow blossoms in the springHas a white poisonous sap which is where it gets its name fromAttracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

FleabaneBlooms from April through JuneLooks like a daisyAbout 100 ray-like petals being either pink or whiteGrow in clusters

Indian GrassKnown as season grass starting to grow in MayHas yellow seed heads that have white hairsLong, flat, narrow leaves

June GrassPale slivery colored flowers1-2 ft.Grows in the summerEaten by grazing livestock and wild animals

Grassland Herbivores

GiraffeEats leaves, twigs, fruit of the treesCan close its nostrils to keep out dust and sand4-6 meters tall

ElephantEats grass, leaves, twigs, and fruitEats great quantities to compensate for their low absorption of nutrients2.5-4 meters tall

ZebraEats short grassKeen sense of hearing, stripes make it difficult for a predator to pick out one zebra from another1.2-1.6 meters tall

AntelopeEats low vegetation and grass Better hearing and smell allowing them to notice any predators sneaking up on them60-90 cm tall

RhinocerosEats leafy plants, reeds, and fruitHas a pointy lip to grasp twigs of woody plants1.4-1.8 meters tall

Grassland Carnivores

LionEats zebra, antelope, and giraffeOpen its mouth wide to kill with one bite1meter tall

CheetahEats small antelopeClaws help maintain grip when sprinting and like baseball cleats75-90 cm tall

LeopardEats birds, monkeys, jackal, and antelopeSpotted fur provides camouflage to hide in trees1 meter tall

HyenaEats antelope, zebra, cheetah cub, and wildebeestHunt mostly at night in packs1.4 meters tall

African Hunting DogEats rat, bird, antelope, and warthogWhen one hunting pack is tired the other one takes over60-76 cm tall

Food Web

Ecolological Pyramid

Predator/PreyCheetah and Antelope

Lion and Zebra

ParasitsmTicks on a lionThe ticks could possibly kill the lion if it carries a disease but it usually doesn't

CompletionPlants compete to get sunlight, water, nutrients, and spaceRoots of the plants are the big competitors

MutualismA bird will eat ticks off of BuffaloThe buffalo will benefit in getting the ticks off of itThe bird will benefit in getting a tasty meal

BenefitsGreat soil comes from the grassland. Beautiful plants grow. Tasty food from the animals that live in a grassland. Basically any plant can be grownThreatsFarmers not rotating crops causing the soil not letting things grow there for about 3 years. Development for urban areas destroying the grassland. Over killing of the amazing animals that live in the grassland.