3. WHERE DO TROPICAL GRASSLANDS
COMMONLY FOUND?
a. Near the North and South poles
b. In and around the equator
c. High up in mountain ranges
d. Only in Australia
Answer:B
4. WHAT TYPE OF VEGETATION IS MOST COMMONLY
FOUND IN TROPICAL GRASSLANDS?
a. Mosses and lichens
b. Tall trees and vines
c. Grasses and occasional tress
d. Cacti and succulents
Answer: C
9. Animals Found in Tropical
Grasslands
Tropical grassland animals
(which do not all occur in the
same area).
10. The world’s greatest diversity of ungulates(hoofed mammals) is
found on the savannas of Africa.
11. Carnivores include lions,
leopards, cheetahs, jackals,
wild dogs, and hyenas.
Termites are especially
abundant in the tropical
grasslands of the world.
12. WHAT ARE HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT THREATEN
TROPICAL GRASSLAND?
1.Unsustainable Agricultural Practices
Clearing land for agriculture, such as large-scale farming or monoculture
plantations, can lead to the conversion of grasslands into croplands.
2.Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when livestock graze on grasslands beyond their carrying
capacity. it can lead to the depletion of grasses, soil erosion, and loss of
biodiversity.
3.Habitat Fragmentation
Human activities such as infrastructure development, urbanization, and land
conversion can fragment grassland habitats.
13. 4.Fire Suppression
Fire plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of grassland
ecosystems. lack of controlled burning can lead to the encroachment of woody
vegetation and the loss of grassland species adapted to fire.
5.Land Conversion
Conversion of grasslands for other purposes, such as urban expansion, industrial
development, or mining, can result in the permanent loss of grassland habitats.
6.Climate Change
Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter the distribution and
composition of grassland species, affecting their resilience and productivity.
14. HOW DO GRASSLANDS CONTRIBUTE TO
THE GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM?
1. Biodiversity Maintenance
2. Food Production
3. Carbon Storage
4. Ecosystem Services
15. SOME WAYS THAT THE TROPICAL
GRASSLANDS CAN HELP REGULATE THE
CLIMATE
1. Carbon Sequestration
Tropical grasslands have the ability to store significant amounts
of carbon in their vegetation and soil.
2. Albedo Effect
Tropical grasslands have a relatively high albedo, which means
they reflect a significant amount of sunlight back into space.
16. 3. Water Regulation
Tropical grasslands play a role in regulating the water cycle.
They have deep root systems that can absorb and store water,
reducing the risk of flooding and erosion.
4. Biodiversity Support
Healthy tropical grasslands support a diverse range of plant and
animal species.
Grasslands cover around 40% of the earth’s surface, and they exist in both temperate and tropical regions
These areas are hot year-round, usually never dropping under 18 degrees Celsius. Although these areas are overall very dry, they do have a season of heavy rain. Annual rainfall is concentrated in 6 or 8 months of the year, followed by a long period of drought when fires can occur. If the rain were well distributed throughout the year, many areas such areas would become tropical forest.
Soil- The soil of tropical grasslands is porous, with rapid drainage of water. It has only a thin layer of humus(the organic portion of the soil created by partial decomposition of plant or animal matter), which provides vegetation with nutrients.
Tropical grasslands are located near the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. They cover much of Africa as well as large areas of Australia, South America, and India.
The Tropic of Cancer is located in the Northern Hemisphere at approximately 23.5 degrees north latitude, running across Mexico, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, India, Myanmar, and southern China.
Tropic of Capricorn=-near equator
Include giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, kangaroos, mice, moles, gophers, ground squirrels, snakes, worms, termites, beetles, lions, leopards, hyenas, and elephants.
The antelopes are especially diverse and include eland, impalas, gazelles oryx, gerenuk and kudu. Buffalo, wild bees, plains zebra, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, and warthogs are among other herbivores of the African savanna.
Tropical grasslands, like any other ecosystem, face threats from various human activities. Here are some human activities that can threaten tropical grasslands:
Unsustainable Agricultural Practices- Unsustainable agricultural practices, including excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can degrade soil quality and harm grassland ecosystems.
Overgrazing- Overgrazing is often a result of inadequate management of grazing lands.
Habitat Fragmentation- Fragmentation disrupts the natural connectivity between different areas of grasslands, affecting the movement and survival of wildlife species.
Fire Suppression- In some cases, fire suppression efforts by humans can negatively impact tropical grasslands. Fire plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of grassland ecosystems. Lack of controlled burning can lead to the encroachment of woody vegetation and the loss of grassland species adapted to fire.
Land Conversion- Conversion of grasslands for other purposes, such as urban expansion, industrial development, or mining, can result in the permanent loss of grassland habitats. This can have significant impacts on the biodiversity and ecological functions of tropical grasslands.
Climate Change- While not a direct human activity, climate change caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions can have profound impacts on tropical grasslands. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter the distribution and composition of grassland species, affecting their resilience and productivity.
Biodiversity maintenance- they are important for maintaining biodiversity, providing habitats for a variety of species.
2. Food Production- Tropical grasslands are often used for grazing and agriculture, contributing to food production.
Carbon Storage-Tropical grasslands store up to 30% of the Earth’s land carbon, making them key players in climate regulation and mitigation of global warming.
Ecosystem Services- Tropical grasslands provide abundant ecosystem services, making them a high policy for sustainable intensification of agriculture, especially considering the need to prevent further forest destruction.
So, tropical grasslands are not just expanses of land; they are vital components of our global ecosystem, contributing to biodiversity, food production, climate regulation, and more. They are changing rapidly due to factors like land-use change and global change, and it’s essential to manage and conserve them wisely to maintain their beneficial roles.
Carbon sequestration- They act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to mitigate climate change.
Albedo effect- This helps to cool the Earth’s surface and reduce the overall temperature.
3. Water Regulation- Additionally, they release moisture into the atmosphere through transpiration, which can contribute to rainfall patterns and help maintain regional climate stability.
4. Biodiversity Support- This biodiversity helps to maintain ecosystem resilience and stability, which is important for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
However, it is important to note that the impact of tropical grasslands on climate regulation can be influenced by management practices. Proper management, such as sustainable grazing and land-use practices, can enhance the positive climate-regulating effects of tropical grasslands.
