Temperate Grassland

Temperate grassland can be found in the Earth's middle latitudes, in places where there is not enough rainfall for forests to grow.

The dominant plant forms in temperate grasslands are grasses rather than trees.

Since both temperate grasslands and temperate deciduous forests are found in the same latitudes, they receive a similar amount of energy from the sun.

However, the amount of precipitation (rain and snowfall) is lower in temperate grasslands.

In North America, temperate grassland stretches from the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River in the in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west, and is known prairie or plains.

The temperate grasslands in South America are known as pampas. They can be found in southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

The steppes of eastern Europe and central Asia and the veld (veldt) of South Africa are also temperate grassland.

Many different types of animals live in temperate grasslands.

Mammals include cows, sheep, horses, rabbits, deer, coyotes, foxes, prairie dogs, wolves, badgers, squirrels, zebras, gazelles, rhinoceroses and lions.

Some temperate grassland birds are hawks, owls, meadowlarks, quails and sparrows.

As in temperate deciduous forests, the energy supply in temperate grasslands is reduced in winter, so at that time animals become less active.

In winter, most rodents hibernate.

Insects often remain in the egg stage or in dormant, immature forms.