Animals and Plants in the Temperate Grasslands

Animals 

The Temperate Grasslands might not have a wide diversity of animal species but they do have an abundance of animals.

Prairie Dog

The animals in Temperate Grasslands have adapted to the windy and dry condition of the biome. The prairie dog in the United States is an example of an animal that is well suited for the Temperate Grasslands life. Around the turn of the century there were more than 5 billion prairie dogs, but eradication, habitat destruction, and disease has been causing a rapid decrease in their population. Prairie dogs have sharp claws that help them burrow into the ground where they can be protected from predators.

Some animals in the prairie have coats camouflage them with the tall grasses.  Also another features that some animals have adapted to is to be nocturnal. These adaptions help to protect the animals from predators.

The flat-topped teeth of a bison

A very good example of an animal that has adapted well to the Temperate Grassland is the bison. It has teeth that are well suited to eat the grasses', because the bison's teeth are broad and flat-topped. The animals' teeth help them to eat the grass. Another adaption that has occoried in bison and other animals is of their digestive system. It has evolved to be able to process these tough grasses. However, in the 19th century bison were disappearing in the prairie. They were being over hunted and becoming extinct. But people realized the important part that they playing the ecosystem, and have being working to save them. These efforts are helping the bisons' population to grow, however, the bison species is still listed as "neat threatened".

Plants

The plants in the Temperate Grasslands have one main addition and hat is their roots. They have long roots that help them to survive. The long roots help to reach for water when there is droughts, to keep the plants in place even when animals eat the tops off, and to help the plants to stay alive when lightning strikes and the felids burn. Their roots help to keep the soil in the grasslands from eroding away, because without the plants the soil would be blown away. Which is a problem nowadays with the intensive farming that is used in the grasslands. 

The deep roots and thin leaves of grasses

The plants in the Temperate grasslands have adapted in a unique way. The flowers in the area have adapted to bloom only when there is enough water, in the mainly season. Once the rain comes the fields fill with color. Even once it gets cold some of the flowers have adapted to be able to grow into the winter. They can do this with underground storages and thick stem bases. These additions allow them to have the most important part of the plant to have a less of a chance of freezing once the weather gets colder. Also many of the plants in the grasslands have slim leaves that help them to not loose as much heat during the hot days. 

Overall if the habitats of these animals were lost, with the continual disappearance of the grasslands, we would also loose the animals that have adapted so well to their biome. The Temperate Grasslands need to be saved so that the animals hat call it home can also be saved. 

Additional Information Gathered From:

"Bison Bison." (American Bison). N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.
"Grasslands -- National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
"Grasslands of the US." N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/wildamerica/grasslands/graslandoutline.html>.
Naik, Abhijit. "Grassland Animal Adaptations." Buzzle. Buzzle.com, 31 Mar. 2011. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.
"Prairie Ecosystems Animals Adaptations." Museum Link Illinois. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.