Grassland Biome
Grassland Characteristics
Grasslands make up 25% of the Earth's land surface. Different types of grasslands share similar characteristics. Savannas have scattered trees and predominate certain parts of Africa, South America, Australia, and Asia. Temperate grasslands are largely devoid of trees, receive less rainfall than savannas and endure broader temperature ranges. The three types of temperate grasslands are steppes, prairies, and pampas. Steppes have shorter grasses and prairies have taller grasses due to higher precipitation. Both of these types of grasslands can be found throughout North America and Europe. Pampas are found in Argentina and characterised by large, flat, fertile plains.
Fires are an important grassland characteristics. Regular fires promote the growth or native grasses but limit the growth of trees. Native grasses have deeper root systems that can survive fires, but invasive plants tend to have shallow roots that succumb to fires. A lack of seasonal fires threatens the health of the world's grasslands. Only 5% of the 25% are being protected or maintained leaving a good portion of this biome and its inhabitants at risk.
Precipitation: Grasslands are often found near mountain ranges that cause rain shadows over the adjacent open range lands, which decreases the amount of precipitation received and prevents forest growth. Savannas typically receive the highest annual rainfall at 30-40 inches, and Steppes are the driest receiving annual rainfalls of 10-20 inches. Prairies fall in between Savannas and Steppes receiving annual rainfalls of 20-35 inches.
Temperature: Temperatures vary much more in temperate grasslands than they do in savannas. Savannas are in warm climates with average annual temperatures that only vary between 70-78F. They typically have two seasons, a wet and dry season. Temperate grasslands have hot summers where temperature can exceed 100F and cold winters that can drop below freezing (32F) and reach -40F.
Animals: Savannas are home to some of the largest herbivores on Earth including elephants, rhinos, and zebras, along with some top carnivores like lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Temperate grasslands are also home to large animals such as bison and horses. A variety of reptiles like snakes and lizards, and birds can also be found in grassland habitats.
Egyptian Spine Tailed Lizard Uromatsytx aegyptia
Description: Is one of the largest members of the genus aegyptia reaching average lengths of 30 inches for males. Can be light brown, yellow, often with a dark throat, orange head area and spots the neck and back. Their colors change with the temperatures - they are dark and dull in cool temperatures and brightly colored in warmer temperatures. The tail has district fold or ridges giving it a spiny appearance. This spiny tail is large and heavy (used as a fat resevoire), and is swung at potential predators as a defensive mechanism.
Conservation: Vulnerable by ICUN.
Natural Range: Found in Egypt, Libya, Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle East but is rarely found today due to reduction of habitat. The remaining natural population mostly inhabits the gravel plains of northern Oman and some parts of the eastern United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. They are adapted to live in dry and arid areas with little rainfall. They escape from the daytime heat by digging deep long burrows in which there is a constant, much lower temperature and increased humidity.
Reproduction: They can lay 5-40 eggs at a time. They hatch after a 70-80 day incubation period. After hatching the young will leave the burrow in search of sustainable food sources.
Diet: These large lizards are herbivores eating whatever vegetation they can find.
Our Lizard: King Tut, male, age unknown
African Pancake Tortoise Malacochersus tornieri
Description: Also known as the crevice tortoise, softshell tortoise, and Tonier's tortoise - has a thin, flat shell. As a result, their shell does not offer much protection from predators, so pancake tortoises use speed and flexibility to evade danger.
A pancake tortoise's shell is generally different shades of brown with patterns that provide camouflage in their rocky habitat. It's plastron is pale yellow, and its head, limbs, and tail are generally yellow-brown.
Pancake tortoises spend most of their time in crevices in the rocky hillsides. They are generally solitary, but crevices may be occupied by pairs or sometimes small groups.
They will typically live around 30 years, sometimes more.
Conservation: Critically Endangered by ICUN.
Natural Range: Native to East Africa and found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. They inhabit rocky outcrops, called kopjes (KOP-eez), or rocky hills in arid thorn scrub and savannah regions. These habitats are generally 100 to 6,000 ft above sea level.
Reproduction: Mating occurs throughout the year, but the peak of mating season occurs in January and February. Males fight for the opportunity to mate with females. Note: We often see this behavior in our collection at the Aquarium.
Nesting tends to occur in late spring and early summer. Females dig nests in loose soil or lay their eggs in a crevice. They only lay one egg at a time, but may lay many throughout the nesting season. Their incubation period lasts four to six months.
Diet: Dry grasses and vegetation, including succulents make up the bulk of their wild diet. They may also eat seeds, nuts, and sometimes insects. They get most of their hydration from the food they eat.
Our pancake tortoises: Mix of males and females, we have adult and juvenile individuals.
Burrowing Owls Athene cunicularia
Description: Adults are brown birds mottled with sandy-pale spots on the upper parts. The breast is spotted, grading to a dark brown bars on the belly. They have a bold white throat and eyebrows, and yellow eyes. The brown juveniles are less mottled than adults, with puffy yellow underparts and wing patches. Both adult males and females can have a wing span up to 21.5 inches and weigh an average of 5.3oz (150 g).
Conservation: Least Concern, but the population is declining.
Natural Range: Burrowing owls live in open habitats with sparse vegetation such as prairie, pastures, desert and shrub steppe, and airports in North and South America. In parts of their range they are closely associated with prairie dogs and ground squirrels, whose burrows they use for nests. Burrowing owls spend most of their time on the ground or on low perches such as fence posts. They hunt close to the ground matching insects and small animals. They are active during the day.
Reproduction: They nest in open areas either alone or in groups. Females can lay 6-12 eggs that are incubated for 28-30 days. Young owls fledge the nest around 6 weeks but stay in the parents territory for foraging. They can reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.
Diet: Consists mostly of large insects such as grasshoppers, moths, beetles, crickets, and caterpillars. They also prey on invertebrates such as scorpions and centipedes.
Grasslands make up 25% of the Earth's land surface. Different types of grasslands share similar characteristics. Savannas have scattered trees and predominate certain parts of Africa, South America, Australia, and Asia. Temperate grasslands are largely devoid of trees, receive less rainfall than savannas and endure broader temperature ranges. The three types of temperate grasslands are steppes, prairies, and pampas. Steppes have shorter grasses and prairies have taller grasses due to higher precipitation. Both of these types of grasslands can be found throughout North America and Europe. Pampas are found in Argentina and characterised by large, flat, fertile plains.
1 point
What are the four types of grasslands?
Fires are an important grassland characteristics. Regular fires promote the growth or native grasses but limit the growth of trees. Native grasses have deeper root systems that can survive fires, but invasive plants tend to have shallow roots that succumb to fires. A lack of seasonal fires threatens the health of the world's grasslands. Only 5% of the 25% are being protected or maintained leaving a good portion of this biome and its inhabitants at risk.
Precipitation: Grasslands are often found near mountain ranges that cause rain shadows over the adjacent open range lands, which decreases the amount of precipitation received and prevents forest growth. Savannas typically receive the highest annual rainfall at 30-40 inches, and Steppes are the driest receiving annual rainfalls of 10-20 inches. Prairies fall in between Savannas and Steppes receiving annual rainfalls of 20-35 inches.
1 point
What type of grassland is the wettest
Temperature: Temperatures vary much more in temperate grasslands than they do in savannas. Savannas are in warm climates with average annual temperatures that only vary between 70-78F. They typically have two seasons, a wet and dry season. Temperate grasslands have hot summers where temperature can exceed 100F and cold winters that can drop below freezing (32F) and reach -40F.
Animals: Savannas are home to some of the largest herbivores on Earth including elephants, rhinos, and zebras, along with some top carnivores like lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Temperate grasslands are also home to large animals such as bison and horses. A variety of reptiles like snakes and lizards, and birds can also be found in grassland habitats.
Egyptian Spine Tailed Lizard Uromatsytx aegyptia
Description: Is one of the largest members of the genus aegyptia reaching average lengths of 30 inches for males. Can be light brown, yellow, often with a dark throat, orange head area and spots the neck and back. Their colors change with the temperatures - they are dark and dull in cool temperatures and brightly colored in warmer temperatures. The tail has district fold or ridges giving it a spiny appearance. This spiny tail is large and heavy (used as a fat resevoire), and is swung at potential predators as a defensive mechanism.
Conservation: Vulnerable by ICUN.
Natural Range: Found in Egypt, Libya, Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle East but is rarely found today due to reduction of habitat. The remaining natural population mostly inhabits the gravel plains of northern Oman and some parts of the eastern United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. They are adapted to live in dry and arid areas with little rainfall. They escape from the daytime heat by digging deep long burrows in which there is a constant, much lower temperature and increased humidity.
Reproduction: They can lay 5-40 eggs at a time. They hatch after a 70-80 day incubation period. After hatching the young will leave the burrow in search of sustainable food sources.
Diet: These large lizards are herbivores eating whatever vegetation they can find.
Our Lizard: King Tut, male, age unknown
African Pancake Tortoise Malacochersus tornieri
Description: Also known as the crevice tortoise, softshell tortoise, and Tonier's tortoise - has a thin, flat shell. As a result, their shell does not offer much protection from predators, so pancake tortoises use speed and flexibility to evade danger.
A pancake tortoise's shell is generally different shades of brown with patterns that provide camouflage in their rocky habitat. It's plastron is pale yellow, and its head, limbs, and tail are generally yellow-brown.
Pancake tortoises spend most of their time in crevices in the rocky hillsides. They are generally solitary, but crevices may be occupied by pairs or sometimes small groups.
They will typically live around 30 years, sometimes more.
Conservation: Critically Endangered by ICUN.
Natural Range: Native to East Africa and found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. They inhabit rocky outcrops, called kopjes (KOP-eez), or rocky hills in arid thorn scrub and savannah regions. These habitats are generally 100 to 6,000 ft above sea level.
Reproduction: Mating occurs throughout the year, but the peak of mating season occurs in January and February. Males fight for the opportunity to mate with females. Note: We often see this behavior in our collection at the Aquarium.
Nesting tends to occur in late spring and early summer. Females dig nests in loose soil or lay their eggs in a crevice. They only lay one egg at a time, but may lay many throughout the nesting season. Their incubation period lasts four to six months.
Diet: Dry grasses and vegetation, including succulents make up the bulk of their wild diet. They may also eat seeds, nuts, and sometimes insects. They get most of their hydration from the food they eat.
Our pancake tortoises: Mix of males and females, we have adult and juvenile individuals.
Burrowing Owls Athene cunicularia
Description: Adults are brown birds mottled with sandy-pale spots on the upper parts. The breast is spotted, grading to a dark brown bars on the belly. They have a bold white throat and eyebrows, and yellow eyes. The brown juveniles are less mottled than adults, with puffy yellow underparts and wing patches. Both adult males and females can have a wing span up to 21.5 inches and weigh an average of 5.3oz (150 g).
Conservation: Least Concern, but the population is declining.
Natural Range: Burrowing owls live in open habitats with sparse vegetation such as prairie, pastures, desert and shrub steppe, and airports in North and South America. In parts of their range they are closely associated with prairie dogs and ground squirrels, whose burrows they use for nests. Burrowing owls spend most of their time on the ground or on low perches such as fence posts. They hunt close to the ground matching insects and small animals. They are active during the day.
Reproduction: They nest in open areas either alone or in groups. Females can lay 6-12 eggs that are incubated for 28-30 days. Young owls fledge the nest around 6 weeks but stay in the parents territory for foraging. They can reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.
Diet: Consists mostly of large insects such as grasshoppers, moths, beetles, crickets, and caterpillars. They also prey on invertebrates such as scorpions and centipedes.