Types of Grassland
There are two main kinds of grasslands: tropical and temperate. Grasslands in the south tend to get more rain than in the north. Some grasses grow more than 7 feet, and have roots going several feet into the ground.
Tropical grasslands
Tropical grasslands are warm all the time, but usually have a dry and a rainy season. One tropical grassland, the African savanna, is home to some of the world’s most recognizable animals, including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, hyenas, and warthogs.
Temperate grassland
Temperate grasslands, which are usually have between 10 and 30 inches of rain per year, have shorter grasses, sometimes just a few millimeters long. These areas have two seasons: a growing season and a hibernating season. During the hibernating season, no grass can grow because it is too cold.
Ecoregions
Flooded grasslands and Savannas
Flooded grasslands and savannas are a biome, generally located at subtropical and tropical areas, where which are flooded seasonally or year-round.
How it's described:
water : very wet
temperature : warm
soil : lots of nutrients
Montane grasslands and Shrublands
This major habitat type includes high elevation grasslands and shrublands, including the puna and paramo in South America.
Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
Deserts and xeric shrublands receive an average rainfall of ten inches or less, and have an arid climate. Deserts and xeric shrublands occur in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate regions. Desert soils tend to be sandy or rocky, and low in organic materials. Plants and animals in deserts and xeric shrublands are adapted to low moisture conditions. Dry regions almost no vegetation and animal life, and include rocky deserts and sand dunes.
Polar grasslands and Tundra
Region in high latitudes with almost no trees – they cannot grow because the ground is permanently frozen (permafrost). The vegetation consists mostly of grasses and mosses. Polar grassland and tundra stretches in a continuous belt across northern North America and Eurasia.
Tropical grasslands
Tropical grasslands are warm all the time, but usually have a dry and a rainy season. One tropical grassland, the African savanna, is home to some of the world’s most recognizable animals, including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, hyenas, and warthogs.
Temperate grassland
Temperate grasslands, which are usually have between 10 and 30 inches of rain per year, have shorter grasses, sometimes just a few millimeters long. These areas have two seasons: a growing season and a hibernating season. During the hibernating season, no grass can grow because it is too cold.
Ecoregions
Flooded grasslands and Savannas
Flooded grasslands and savannas are a biome, generally located at subtropical and tropical areas, where which are flooded seasonally or year-round.
How it's described:
water : very wet
temperature : warm
soil : lots of nutrients
Montane grasslands and Shrublands
This major habitat type includes high elevation grasslands and shrublands, including the puna and paramo in South America.
Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
Deserts and xeric shrublands receive an average rainfall of ten inches or less, and have an arid climate. Deserts and xeric shrublands occur in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate regions. Desert soils tend to be sandy or rocky, and low in organic materials. Plants and animals in deserts and xeric shrublands are adapted to low moisture conditions. Dry regions almost no vegetation and animal life, and include rocky deserts and sand dunes.
Polar grasslands and Tundra
Region in high latitudes with almost no trees – they cannot grow because the ground is permanently frozen (permafrost). The vegetation consists mostly of grasses and mosses. Polar grassland and tundra stretches in a continuous belt across northern North America and Eurasia.
