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INTRODUCTION TO THE PRAIRIES
Where are the Prairies located?
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biograssland.php
Go to link below for information from NASA
Description of the Prairies
Divided into 3 types of grasses: tall grass (true prairie), mixed (mid) grass, and short grass. tall-grass prairie formed a narrow band from
Canada south to the Gulf Coast Prairie in Texas on the East side
Mid/mixed prairie formed a band from Canada south to Texas in the middle between the tall and short grass prairies
Short grass prairie is bordered by the mountains on the West side
Tall, mixed and short grasses
Short-grass prairie
Tall-grass prairie
Mixed-grass prairie
Climate of the Prairies
Variable climate with periodic droughts, usually bunched into spans of multiple years
Semi-arid, precipitation varies from east to west 320mm Greeley Colorado-900mm Kansas City, Kansas
Dominated by four seasons, temps vary from north to south Temps to -40 in the winter in the North and +110 in the Summer in the South
Grasslands of the World, Suttie, Reynolds, Batello, 2005
Human Impacts
Before European influence prairies were basically not impacted by Native Americans
Due to modern agriculture and urbanization experts estimate 70-95% of the native prairies have been converted to other uses.
Fauna of Prairies-Past
At time of early exploration bison, pronghorn (antelope) were dominant herbivores. Estimated that 40-60 million bison
and antelope present on prairies Also habitat for small mammals
prairie dogs, jack rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers and voles
Habitat for invertebrates grasshoppers, beetles, ants and sap feeders
Birds included western meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, horned lark, chestnut-collared longspur, hawks, eagles and owls
Pronghorn (antelope)
Western Meadowlark
Bison
Fauna of the Prairies-Present Cattle have replaced
bison, pronghorn numbers dramatically reduced
Prairie dog numbers reduced by 98%
Prairies provide stopping grounds for migrating birds
Populations of white tail deer and coyotes have greatly expanded their range and increased their numbers
skolaiimages.com
free-extras.com
Flora of the Prairies
Native grasses have been nearly replaced by agricultural crops: wheat, corn, soybeans, millet, rye, flax etc.
The prairies used to include many grasses some of which included: big blue-stem, little blue-stem, Indian grass, switch grass, needle and thread, wheat grass, blue grama and buffalo grass.
Some trees on the prairie included: cottonwood, ash, juniper, aspen, oak and others Most of the cottonwoods have been
reduced in number due to dams placed along the Upper Missouri Basin, urbanization and agriculture.
Blue Grama Grass
Cottonwood Tree
Activities
Students may choose from the following list: Prepare a short presentation or report on the contents of the
prairie of the past Prepare a short presentation or report on where native
(pristine) prairie can be found in your area or an area near you Prepare a photo album of prairie flora or fauna or both Compile a presentation or report on one of the types of prairie
include range (original and current), contents and climate Research and prepare report on organization and agencies
involved with preserving native prairies Prepare a short presentation or report on the Tribal Nations of
the Great Plains Presentations and reports will be evaluated using included
rubric