Temperate and tropical grasslands are two major types of grassland ecosystems. Temperate grasslands are characterized by grasses and fluctuating temperatures from very cold in winter to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. They have deep, nutrient-rich soils suitable for grasses. Tropical grasslands, also called savannas, feature scattered trees and shrubs with lions, zebras, and giraffes. Savannas have wet and dry seasons and cover large areas in Africa, Australia, and South America. Grasslands support a food chain of producers like grasses, primary consumers like herbivores, secondary consumers like foxes and snakes, and decomposers that recycle nutrients.

1. G A S S A
N D
R L

2. TYPES OF GRASSLANDS
CHARACTERISTICS STRUCTURE
FUNCTIONS
INTRODUCTION

3. ECOSYSTEM:An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other
organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble of life.
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM : Grasslands are the areas that are dominated by a nearly continuous cover of
grasses. It is one of the most widespread of all major vegetation in the world. They occupy about 20% of
the land on the surface of the earth

4. TROPICAL
GRASSLANDS

5. TEMPERATE
GRASSLANDS

7. • Tropical grassland biome, also called savanna biome, is a terrestrial biome that features vast open
spaces consisting of scattered small shrubs and trees. Savanna biomes support some of the world’s
most recognizable species such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, gazelles, elephants, giraffes,
wildebeests and warthogs.
• The savanna biome has a characteristic temperature range of 68 to 86 degree Fahrenheit or 20 to 30
degrees Celsius. The summer experiences a temperature range of 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit or 25
to 30 degrees Celsius. The winter experiences a temperature range of 68 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or
20 to 25 degrees Celsius.
• The dry season typically occurs from October to January and typically experiences just 4 inches of
rainfall. In the wet season (summer), the savanna biome experiences 20-30 inches of rainfall.
• Savanna biomes cover up to half of Africa, huge areas of Australia, South America, as well as India. In
Africa, savanna biomes are predominant in East Africa, typically acacia savannas. Many are found in
popular game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia
• Some of the grass species that flourish in the savanna biome include red oat grass, Rhodes grass,
lemon grass, star grass, and a few shrubs. Some tree species are also scattered in the savanna
including acacia trees, pine trees, and palm trees.

8. • Temperate grasslands are characterized by the
predominant vegetation grasses.
• Temperate grasslands generally have no trees.
• Temperatures can vary very much in this biome.
• In winters, the temperatures can be too low.
• In contrast, in summer, the temperature can reach more than one hundred
degrees Fahrenheit.
• Prairies have long grasses whereas steppes have short grasses, but both are
Temperate Grasslands.
• The three most important features of temperate grasslands are their climate,
soil and flora and fauna.
• These grasslands have a temperate climate with cold winters and hot summers.
• The temperatures can vary from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to more than 100
degrees Fahrenheit.
• The grassroots grow much deep and have many branches.
The decay of roots produces a deep, dark, coherent soil rich in nutrients and with
fertile upper layers.
These provide nutrients to the many kinds of grass and grassland plants that grow
here.

10. RAINFALL ANIMALLIFE
SOIL
VEGETATION

11. STRUCTURE
ABIOTIC BIOTIC
 These include the nutrients present in the soil and the aerial
environment.
 The elements required by plants are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus and sulphur.
 These are supplied by the soil and air in the form of CO2, water,
nitrates, phosphates and sulphates.
 In addition to these, some trace elements are also present in the
soil.
 Producers – In grassland, producers are mainly grasses
 Consumers – In a grassland, consumers are of three main types:
 Primary Consumers – The primary consumers are herbivores
feeding directly on grasses. Herbivores such as grazing mammals
(e.g., cows, sheep, deer, rabbit, buffaloes, etc),
 Secondary Consumers – These are carnivores that feed on primary
consumers (Herbivores). The animals like foxes, jackals, snakes,
frogs, lizards,etc
 Tertiary Consumers – These include hawks etc. which feed on
secondary consumers.
 Decomposers – These include bacteria of death and decay, moulds and fungi
(e.g., Mucor, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, etc). These bring the minerals
back to the soil to be available to the producers again.

13. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC