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Temperate Grassland
By: Ms. Duko
The Climate
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Temperate continental climates are found on continents in the Northern
Hemisphere
Climate in these areas are controlled by the fact that they are not located
near oceans where temperatures are moderate; also called microthermal
climates
Summers are warm and can be very humid while winters are cold with
snowstorms and blustery winds.
Seasonal Change
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Temperate grasslands typically exist between deserts and forests where
they act as a transitional biome.
Humid Continental climate is one of the few climates with 4 different
season. Warm and humid summer, cool and dry autumn (fall), cold and
harsh winter, and a warm and wet spring makes living in Humid Continental
a unique experience of weather that will keep you guessing.
Soil Fertility
Temperate grasslands has predominant vegetation that consists
of grasses and/or shrubs.
Topsoil consists of partially decayed organic debris like leaves.
It is dark in color because of humus (partially decayed organic
matter)
Subsoil is usually lighter in color it contains an accumulation of
inorganic nutrients
Animal Life and Adaptations
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Golden Eagle, Gray Wolf, Jaguar, Rabbit, Kakapo, Llama,
Hyena, Gnu, Gecko
Plant Life and Adaptation
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Grasses are the dominant vegetation
Trees and large shrubs are largely absent
Seasonal drought, occasional fires and grazing by large mammals all prevent woody shrubs and
trees from becoming established.
A few trees such as cottonwoods, oaks and willows grow in river valleys
a few hundred species of flowers grow among the grasses
Flowers include asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, wild indigos.
Plant Life Continues
• Temperate Grassland are broken down into two groups,
• prairie and steppes.
• Prairies feature tall species of grass while steppes include
short grass types.
• The various species of grasses include purple needlegrass,
blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta
Food Web