The document discusses the prairies biome. It notes that grasslands exist due to seasonal drought, fire, and grazing. The prairies have cold winters and hot summers with sparse rainfall. Grasses like little bluestem and big bluestem dominate the prairie landscape. Many animal species are associated with the prairies, including bison, prairie dogs, coyotes, golden eagles, and burrowing owls. The prairies provide a history of past ecosystems and cultures through the remains of grassland fossils.

1. The Prairies

3. Note the similarity with the great plains

4. Grasslands Exist because of: Seasonal drought Fire Grazing

6. Types of Grasslands Types of Grasslands Tropical Grasslands Savannahs Barrens Temperate grasslands – short, tall, medium grasses Tundra American Prairies South American Pampas African Veldt European and Asian Steppes Arctic Tundra – which is usually separated in to a distinct biome

7. Minnesota has a temperate grassland Cold winters Hot Summers Sparse and uneven rainfall/snowfall Regular and high wind events High evaporation rate

8. The annual cycle for grasslands

9. The prairie is the soil biome. Here is the soil food web.

11. Grasslands are not lawns

12. Variation in the grasslands

13. The SD Badlands

14. Grassland fossils and cultures tell of its richness

15. Pine Barrens

16. Primary Prairie Community

18. Sandy Soil Profile

19. Grasses dominate the prairie

20. Little Bluestem

21. Big Bluestem

22. Side Oats Grama

23. Blue Grama

24. Indian Grass

25. Variety of habitat and form

26. Sand Cherry

27. Composite Flowers

29. Spiderwort White Avens Vervain Milk Vetch

30. Liatrus and Northern Bush Clover

31. Badger Hole - Savannah

32. Bison – the symbol of the prairie

33. Bison range in response to human change

34. Bison are known as Prairie species, but only because they were eliminated first in the woodlands

36. No Species is more tied to the great plains ecology than the prairie dog.

37. The relation of the Prairie Dog to both grasses and predators is complex

38. The coyote is a prairie species

39. But so was the wolf

40. Bighorns were part of the western prairies

41. Bighorn

45. Golden Eagle

46. Long and Short Eared Owls

47. Burrowing Owl

49. Western Tanager Bobolink

52. Prairie Falcon

54. Magpie

55. Prairie Rattlesnake

56. A history book in the landscape

57. The Tundra Special considerations for this biome include Bitter cold Extend daylight and night photoperiods Covered by ice and snow Permafrost