Grasslands

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Grasslands

• By Kyle Ayer

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Grasslands Characteristics

• Elevation Around 4,000 to 6,000
• Average Temperature -10 to 100 F, Extremely hot
  summer and very cold winters
• Annual Precipitation 12-20 inches
• Disturbances Drought and Fires

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Biotic Features

• Primary Plants
• Grasses Buffalo grass, Rye grass, Foxtail,
  Purple needle grass
• Flowers Wild indigos, Clovers, Sunflowers,
  Goldenrods, Blazing stars,
• Primary Animals
• Birds Ferruginous hawk, Golden owl, lark
• Mammals Black footed ferret, Bison, Black tailed
  jack rabbit
• Insects Grasshoppers, Carrison beetle,
  Dragonflies

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The Ferruginous Hawk

• Order Falconiformes
• Family Accipitridae
• About 22.5 25 inches in length. Red rust color
  all around upper body and legs, with white around
  lower body extending to a gray tail.
• Likes plants adapted to hot arid conditions and
  extreme seasonal change
• Soars with steady and slow wing beats, glides in
  a straight line to strike and kill its prey with
  a single attempt
• Eats mostly reptiles and mammals, but
  occasionally will eat some insects or other birds

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The Black Tailed Jack Rabbit

• Order Lagomorpha
• Family Leporidae
• About 18.25-25 inches in length. White or sandy
  color around upper body, and white peppered color
  around lower body, with a black stripe on tail
  outlined in white
• Likes barren areas and prairies
• Runs with powerful steps, every fourth or fifth
  step is a large bound allowing the rabbit to see
  its surroundings. Emits a large shriek if
  distressed
• Eats mostly grass in the summer and dry
  vegetation when available in the winter

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Buffalo Grass

• Order Cyperales
• Family Gramineae
• It is green-gray or blue-gray in color, very soft
  feeling grass that can grow anywhere between 3-12
  inches with curly leaf blades and slender stems
• Lives in hot arid regions with little water
• Very drought tolerant because it can survive on
  as little as 18 inches of rain annually

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Works Cited

• "Animals and Plants in Temperate Grasslands."
  1999 1. 23 Sep 2009. lthttp//library.thinkquest.o
  rg/26634/grass/Temperate/animal.htmgt.
• "Grasslands and Grasslands Animals." (2009) 1.
  Web. 23 Sep 2009. lthttp//www.enchantedlearning.co
  m/biomes/grassland/grassland.shtmlgt.
• Rita Putatunda, . "Grassland Biome Animals and
  Plants." (2008) 1. Web. 23 Sep 2009.
  lthttp//www.buzzle.com/articles/grassland-biome-an
  imals-and-plants.htmlgt.
• Sam M., . "Grasslands." (2000) 1. 23 Sep 2009.
  lthttp//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htmgt.