Habitats of Grasslands

GRASSLANDS flourish in climates that are warm enough to sustain plant life but too dry for trees while not being so dry as to turn a region into a desert. The vital portions of grass plants are buried beneath the soil's surface, which shields them from extreme heat, cold, or dryness all but the grass stems. Massive fires and heavy grazing by large herds of grassland animals, such as bison in North America and wild horses in Asia, do not destroy grasslands. In areas like the African savanna, grasslands are home to the world's largest herds of mammals, which in turn provide food for the world's largest land predators like lions, hyenas, and crocodiles.

In the driest regions of the planet, DESERTS develop. They don't have to be hot, even if many of them are, like the Sahara or the Atacama. Deserts can also be found in cold, arid regions like Antarctica and the Gobi Desert in western China. For life to exist as we know it, water is a must. These environments require low amounts of liquid water for the plants and animals to live. Succulent plants, including cacti like the Saguaro, which have extensive roots that branch out in all directions close to the surface, are best adapted to desert environments. The roots of the plant absorb a ton of water when it rains (which may only happen about once a year), enabling it to endure until the next time.

Written By: Name Style