Introduction
You must have seen extreme ecosystems at many places such as the forests which have an extreme variety of flora and fauna and on the other hand, there are deserts where very little flora and fauna are found. There is always a transitional zone between these two extreme ranges. These transitional zones are known by various names in the world and here in this article, we will be talking about one of them. In this article, we will cover what is a prairie and all the various related concepts so that you will be able to understand one of the most important concepts of the environment. Here, we will discuss this transitional zone in North America.
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The grasslands mean a place that is covered with different kinds of grass which also includes small types of trees and shrubs. These are wild grasses and these grasslands serve as a transitional zone between the desert areas and the forest areas. They are kind of ecozones between these two ecosystems which have their own features, climate & weather, flora, and fauna, etc. Some of the famous grasslands of the world are the Pampas, the Prairies, the Velds, the Savannah, the Stepped, and the Downs. They can be divided into two major types i.e. Temperate and Tropical.
Prairie Grassland
In different places of the world, the grasslands have named by different names which one is included is Prairie grasslands which is an example of temperate grasslands. It has emerged from the Rocky mountains. These types of grasslands are flat. It is a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs. These are normally tall and short. These are the grasslands which are referred to as golden wheat lands. The eastern regions have moisture whereas the western regions are much drier. These can be majorly divided into two types;
Tall Grass Prairie: The regions of prairie which are having rich and fertile soil and receive moderate precipitation and where tall grasses are found which are over 5 feet in height.
Short Grass Prairie: These are the areas with little precipitation and where short grass is found which are generally less than 2 feet and which are not suitable for agricultural purposes.
Mixed Grass Prairie: This is a kind of prairie grass that serves as an ecotone between the above two grass types and it has more ecological diversity than the above-mentioned ones.
Location and Distribution in Map
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It is one of the major grasslands of the world.
It is found in the continent of North America where it is distributed between the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
It includes the areas of great plains as well as the wet and hilly land areas of the east.
The Rocky Mountains are on the west whereas the Appalachian mountains are on the eastern side of these grasslands.
It is a kind of major vegetation in North America and it covers almost 15% of the land area of this continent.
Features
Here we have the following features of the prairie grasslands:
It is a region of flat, gently sloping, and hilly land.
These grasslands formed around 8,000 years ago and they are one of the most recent developed ecosystems in the United States.
There are no trees but at some places like near the lakes, Woodland can be found. Tall trees only reach up to the height of 2 meters.
They also provide great habitat for the wild animals which are living there.
There is no need for pesticides and any other chemicals because they can adapt themselves very well.
They have a rich source of soil and there we can grow wheat and other crops.
People also go for livestock and grazing here.
The most important and productive soils are black, dark grey, and dark brown soil found in the Aspen Parkland, tall grass as well as mixed-grass prairies.
Bunchgrass Prairie can also be found here. Basically, it is a kind of grass that is found in bunches and found in the habitats of grasslands.
The Climate of Prairie Grassland
The climate of the grasslands is different according to the different types of places. The climate of the Prairie Grassland has the utmost temperature according to the region. It is present in the heart of the continent thus it experiences continental climate along with extreme temperatures. In the summer, a warm type of climate is found at 20°C and if there is winter then the temperature will reach up to - 20° C and also covered with snow during this season. It receives moderate rainfall which provides favourable conditions for this grassland. On the other hand, a local wind namely "Chinook" blows here.
Vegetation
Let's talk about the prairies vegetation:
Tallgrass regions are completely cultivated with over 90% have been converted to crop production. The tall grasses include the big bluestem, the little bluestem, switchgrass as well as Indiangrass.
About 75% of the areas of mixed-grass prairies are also diverted to cultivation or non-native species.
The major crop found here is maize whereas potatoes, soybean, cotton, etc are the other crops.
Naturally, this region is dominated by Speargrass, Wheatgrass as well as Blue Grama grass.
The areas of lakes and wetlands are rich in vegetation. There are almost 1.6 to 7.1 million wetlands in the region of ecozone depending upon the different locations.
Except in the eastern regions, some deciduous trees and shrubs are also grown in the ecozone regions.
In the areas of water, willows, poplars, and alders trees can be found.
Prairie Animals
Various distinct types of animals are found here such as from large mammals to invertebrates. The various animals found here include bison, black-tailed jackrabbit, burrowing owl, American toad California condor, carrion beetle, common snipe, badger, black-footed ferret, coyote, deer, dragonfly, eagles, bumblebee, elk, ferruginous hawk, fox snake, golden owl, gopher snake, grasshopper, gray wolf, ground squirrels, etc. whereas the others are killdeer, monarch butterfly, northern grasshopper mouse, prairie chicken, prairie dog, prairie rattlesnake, prairie skink, pronghorn antelope, red fox, red-tailed hawk, lady beetle, larks, long-billed curlew, meadow vole, shrew, skunk, stink bug, tiger beetle, western tiger swallowtail, western meadowlark, white-tailed jackrabbit, and various others.
Among these animals, bison were hunted by the natives for food and clothing, and only 1000 species were left at the end of the 19th century and now it is no longer a keystone species here. If we talk about the Prairie dogs, they are not actually dogs but a squirrel which sounds like a dog's bark and got their name because of this habitat.
Fires
It is basically a naturally occurring event here and it also helps in maintaining its health.
Vegetation found here in the prairies is actually adapted to warm temperatures and fires.
They are important because it helps the grassland to become a forest and plays a vital role in the development of tall grass.
Here, the fire can move at a speed of 600 feet per minute with around 700°F.
These fires do not destroy the prairies but help in the renewal process of this grassland.
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Did You Know?
There is National Prairie Day which is celebrated every year on the first Saturday of the month of June. This day of celebration was founded in 2016 by the National Prairie Foundation to spread awareness about the Prairie grasslands and for their protection, restoration as well as conservation.
Conclusion
Thus, to conclude we can say that grasslands have their own importance and equal distribution on the planet which serves as a transitional zone between two extreme ranges of deserts and forests and prairie is one of them which is a kind of temperate grassland that is found in North America and plays a great role in the geography of this continent. In this article we have comprehensively covered and learned what is a prairie and about prairie animals and vegetation, prairie grass, their temperature, and climatic conditions, etc. This article will surely help you in learning one of the most important grasslands of the world. You can learn the various features of other major grasslands as well that have been shown in the world map above.
FAQs on Prairie
1. What exactly are the Prairies and where are they located?
The Prairies are vast stretches of temperate grasslands, mostly treeless, with rolling hills or flat terrain. They are primarily found in North America, covering large parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These grasslands are known for their deep, fertile soil.
2. What is the climate like in the Prairie grasslands?
The Prairies experience a continental climate with extreme temperatures. Summers are warm, with temperatures around 20°C, while winters are very cold, often dropping to -20°C with heavy snowfall. A warm, dry wind called the Chinook blows in winter, which can melt the snow and make grazing possible.
3. What kind of plants and animals live in the Prairies?
The Prairies are home to a variety of flora and fauna adapted to the climate. Key life forms include:
- Plants: Grass is dominant, ranging from tall grass in wetter areas to short grass in drier regions. Wildflowers like blazing stars, goldenrods, and clover are also common. Trees are rare and usually found only near rivers.
- Animals: The most famous animal is the Bison, or American buffalo. Other animals include coyotes, gophers, and prairie dogs. Birds like hawks and eagles are also part of the ecosystem.
4. Why are the Prairies often called the 'Granaries of the World'?
The Prairies are called the 'Granaries of the World' because of their immense agricultural productivity, especially in wheat cultivation. The region's fertile soil and favorable climate, combined with modern scientific farming techniques, allow for the production of huge surpluses of wheat that are exported worldwide.
5. What is the main difference between Prairies and other grasslands like Steppes?
The primary difference lies in the height of the grass and the amount of rainfall. Prairies, found in North America, generally receive more rainfall and support taller, denser grasses. In contrast, Steppes, found in Eurasia, are drier and are characterized by shorter grasses.
6. How do animals like the bison and prairie dog impact the Prairie ecosystem?
These animals are crucial for the health of the ecosystem. Bison herds historically grazed on the grasses, which prevented trees from growing and helped recycle nutrients back into the soil. Prairie dogs are considered a keystone species; their underground burrows aerate the soil and create homes for other animals like snakes and burrowing owls.
7. Are the Prairies just flat, empty fields of grass?
No, this is a common misconception. While they are dominated by grass, Prairies are complex and diverse ecosystems. They feature a wide variety of grasses and wildflowers, rolling hills, and a rich community of animal life both above and below the ground. The appearance of the landscape changes dramatically with the seasons.
