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# Temperate Grasslands ## Plant Life Rainfall has a major effect on the characteristics of the grasslands. The wetter regions produce longer grasses and the lack of rain produces a drier climate with shorter grasses. Three natural factors that impact temperate grasslands are tornadoes, blizzards,...

# Temperate Grasslands ## Plant Life Rainfall has a major effect on the characteristics of the grasslands. The wetter regions produce longer grasses and the lack of rain produces a drier climate with shorter grasses. Three natural factors that impact temperate grasslands are tornadoes, blizzards, and fires. The exception is the **Ombu**, a tree native to the Pampas of South America which has made adaptations to protect itself from fires. In temperate grasslands, trees and shrubs are completely absent or rare. Prairies have long grasses, and steppes have short grasses. Grasses of this area have adapted to cold temperatures, drought, and occasional fires. These grasses have deep, massive root systems that take hold in the soil. This allows the grasses to remain firmly rooted in the ground to reduce erosion and to conserve water. Some examples of vegetation in temperate grasslands include: buffalo grass, sunflowers, clovers, and wild indigos. Due to the surplus of wheat production, the Prairies is also known as the "Granary of the world". ## Animal Life A wide variety of animals makes these grasslands their homes. Animals such as prairie dogs, wild horses, bison, jack rabbits, wolves and deer are among the denizens of the American prairies along with a variety of birds and insects. The African veld is host to a different but just as varied group including gazelles, zebra, and rhinoceroses. Steppe fauna includes rabbits, mice, antelope, badgers, foxes and many others. ## Occupation Farming and cattle rearing are the main occupations of the people in temperate grassland. In Prairies along with agriculture, dairy farming is a very important industry and has encouraged the setting up of many food processing industries. Livestock ranching is also an important activity in the grasslands. Cowboys in North America ride horses and take care of the cattle in farms called ranches. The native cowboys were called **Vaqueros** (from the Spanish word for cow). The cowboys are called **Gauchos** in South America. In the velds, sheep rearing is the most important occupation and is mainly done for wool, especially the wool of the merino sheep as their wool is very warm. The wool industry is very well developed in South Africa. Dairy farming is another occupation. The area has rich deposits of minerals such as iron, coal, diamonds and gold. Johannesburg is known as the "Gold Capital of the World".