Grasslands

Grasslands are areas of land covered with grasses and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants. They occur naturally on every continent except Antarctica and are found in most ecoregions of the world. Grasslands are sometimes referred to as prairies, pampas, savannas, and veldts.

The predominant plants in grasslands are grasses and other herbaceous plants. Grasslands are home to a variety of animals, including many grazing mammals such as bison, antelope, and zebra, as well as a variety of predators such as lions and coyotes.

Grasslands are distinct from other habitats because they are defined by the dominant plants, rather than the dominant animals. Grasslands are formed by the interaction of climate and geology. Grasslands were likely formed during the Mesozoic era, when the earth’s climate was drier than it is today.

In North America, the grasslands are known as the Great Plains. The Great Plains were once covered by a vast temperate grassland. The grassland was home to a variety of animals, including bison, pronghorn, and elk. The grassland was also home to Native Americans, who used the grassland for hunting and gathering.

The North American grassland was drastically changed by the arrival of European settlers in the 1800s. The settlers brought with them a new way of life that depended on the plow and the domestication of animals. The settlers also brought new plants and animals, which changed the grassland ecosystem. The most dramatic change was the near-extermination of the bison, which had once been the dominant grazing animal on the Great Plains.

Today, the Great Plains are a mix of grassland and cropland. The grassland has been greatly reduced in area, and much of what remains is fragmented and degraded. However, the Great Plains still support a variety of animals and plants, and they are an important part of the North American ecosystem.