Temperate Grasslands Biome

Temperate grasslands, like all biomes are characterized by the predominant vegetation – grasses. Unlike savannas that have a good deal of trees and shrubs scattered throughout, temperate grasslands generally have no trees. Temperatures can vary dramatically in this biome. In winters, the temperatures can be bitterly cold; in the summer the temperature can reach over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

What are some examples of temperate grasslands?

  • Plains and Prairies of North America
  • Steppes of Russian and China
  • Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay
  • Puszta of Hungary
  • Veldts of South Africa

How much rain does the temperate grassland get?

In general, temperate grasslands receive 20 to 35 inches of rain a year. While seasonal droughts play less of a role in this biome than tropical savannas, rain usually falls seasonally, mostly in late spring and early summer.

The amount of rain that falls in a grassland determines the height of the grasses. In North America there are two types of grasslands: short grass steppes and tall grass prairies. Short grass steppes are characteristic of many parts of Utah, Montana, and Colorado. In wetter areas, such as Iowa and Minnesota, one will find the tall grass  prairies.

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Written by Rob Nelson

Rob is an ecologist from the University of Hawaii. He is the co-creator and director of Untamed Science. His goal is to create videos and content that are entertaining, accurate, and educational. When he's not making science content, he races whitewater kayaks and works on Stone Age Man.

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