A: topic 15 Flashcards
Natural grasslands - where are they found?
- only found in tropical and temperate parts of the world
- important for livestock, food
Natural grasslands
Tropical grasslands: savannah
Mixed woodland grassland ecosystem only a few months of rain
Wildfires are usual
Lots of natural grazers
Distribution
- Covers 20% of worlds vegetation
- Common finger grass; africas most important forage grass
- Elephant grass: most imp fodder crop for dairy farmers
- Thorn trees
- Digestibility of the foliage(plant leaves collectively) is poor compared to grasses
Natural grasslands
Tropical grasslands: cerrado
Largest area in brazil, found in drier regions beyond edges of forests
Soy production, low density cattle grazing
Frequent species: Carpetgrasses and bluestem grasses –> these are coarse and less nutritous
Natural grasslands
Temperate grasslands: Prairie
Tallgrass prairie = a type of ecosystem found in north america – grazed by large animals like bison
- Major species are: big bluestem and indian grass – can be used as biofuel
- Bluestem grasses are genuses (andropogon) found universially!! Learn best
Shortgrass prairie = drier climate – cattle and sheep
- Dominant species are: buffalo grass and blue grama
- Prairie hay – high to average quality – depends on age of livestock
Natural grasslands
Temperate grasslands: Pampas - South american grasslands
Dry and humid pampas, nutrient rich soil
Wildfires
Argentina and uruguay in lowlands
Most typical species is pampas grass
Overgrazing commonly occur
Natural grasslands
Temperate grasslands: Velds
Temperate grasslands of south-africa
Sweet velds -> low rainfall, low fiber, retain nutrients, palatable to livestock
Sour velds -> higer rainfall, more fibres, less palatable
Major species are red oat grass, wire grass and bermuda grass
The velds supplies most of south Africas dairy beef and wool products
Natural grasslands
Temperate grasslands: Steppes
Open, grass covered, treeless plains; Forest and meadow steppes
The largest in the world is the Eurasian steppe from Hungary to China
Major species: feather grasses, fescues
Small shrubs and roses can occur
Gasslands of europe
- how are they made
- simple description
- semi natural
- ex efter deforestation and then maintained
Grasslands of Europe - Fresh meadows
molinia meadows
Dominance of Molinia spp.
Tall-growing grasses, sedges and rushes are dominant
The most species-rich wet grassland type
Grasslands of Europe - Mesotrophic wet meadows
Widely distributed in Europe
In general nutrient moderate
Herbage has traditionally been cut for hay – nutrient rich
Dominant grasses: agrostis, festuca
Grasslands of Europe - Arrhenatherum hay meadows
Developed in areas of ex valleys
Sedges are less dominant, buttercups are common
Grasslands of Europe - Dry meadows, loess steppes
Only in middle-eastern europe
Developed on loess – (silt sized sediment)
Occurs on plains and foothills
Major grass species: festuca rupicola, typical herbs are pheasants eye
Grasslands of Europe - sand steppes
(poor quality types)
Open (bc coversless than 60%)
- Low grasslands, innappropriate for hay – grazed with sheep
- Feather grasses, small-sized fescues are typical grasses
Closed
- Vegetation covers more than 50%
- Heavy treading can damage the grasslands -> smaller yield
- Dominant species are similar to open sand steppes
Grasslands of Europe - salt meadows
Develops on strongly saline soils, ex after drainage
Salt accumulation, yields
Small-sized fescues are a typical dominant species
Grasslands of Europe - rocky grasslands
Developed on dry, warm southern slopes
Occur on calcareous rocks
Very small yield: not appropriate for hay or grazing(rarely)
Forage for game species like deer
