Tall Grass Tall Grass Prairies Prairies

By Emily Ruth, Jesse, DesireeBy Emily Ruth, Jesse, Desiree

Where is Where is it…?it…?

Between the Mississippi Between the Mississippi River and Nebraska River and Nebraska

Climate Climate ConditionsConditions

receive about 10 inches in the west and 30 receive about 10 inches in the west and 30 inches in the east of rain per year inches in the east of rain per year

Growing SeasonGrowing Season Late Spring to early fallLate Spring to early fall 50 degree F to 70 on average 50 degree F to 70 on average

Dormant SeasonDormant Season Late fall to early springLate fall to early spring -40 degree F to 50 degree F-40 degree F to 50 degree F

Tall trees are not able to grow here because Tall trees are not able to grow here because there is not enough precipitationthere is not enough precipitation

Soil?Soil?

dark brown or black in colordark brown or black in color soils have formed under grassland soils have formed under grassland

vegetation vegetation heavily influenced by the closely matted heavily influenced by the closely matted

roots in the dense sod of the thick-growing roots in the dense sod of the thick-growing grasses grasses

roots eventually decay underground putting roots eventually decay underground putting nutrients back into the soil, making it richernutrients back into the soil, making it richer

Plant & Their Plant & Their AdaptationsAdaptations

Asters, sunflowers, crazy weeds, blazing Asters, sunflowers, crazy weeds, blazing stars, cone flowers, goldenrods, clover, wild stars, cone flowers, goldenrods, clover, wild indigo, corn and wheatindigo, corn and wheat Corn and wheat can store water, allowing them to Corn and wheat can store water, allowing them to

survive through droughtssurvive through droughts Forbs: stems are soft to bend in the windForbs: stems are soft to bend in the wind narrow leaves that lose less water narrow leaves that lose less water have very extensive and deep root systems have very extensive and deep root systems

to accumulate waterto accumulate water wildflowers have a very upright form in order wildflowers have a very upright form in order

to compete for sunlight. to compete for sunlight. grow close together that allow for the plants grow close together that allow for the plants

to support each other to support each other

Animal &Animal &Their Their

AdaptationAdaptationss

EX: Eagles, gray wolves, crickets, bison, EX: Eagles, gray wolves, crickets, bison, deer, rabbits, and small rodents and deer, rabbits, and small rodents and insects insects

Many are burrowing animalsMany are burrowing animals Security from the weather so their young can Security from the weather so their young can

growgrow A place to live A place to live

Travel in large herdsTravel in large herds Larger animals have thick fur to protect Larger animals have thick fur to protect

them from harsh winters them from harsh winters

Negative Human ImpactNegative Human Impact

Acquisition of Louisiana Purchase though Acquisition of Louisiana Purchase though to be useless grassesto be useless grasses

Planted non native plants for value ex; Planted non native plants for value ex; wheat and cornwheat and corn

Eliminated the native speciesEliminated the native species Now only 4% natural plants remainNow only 4% natural plants remain Eliminated biodiversityEliminated biodiversity