Grassland, savanna, pampa or prairie are synonyms for the only one ecosystem distributed worldwide in dry areas.
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands are a grassland ecosystem located in semi-arid to semi-humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical latitudes. Grasslands are dominated by grass and other herbaceous plants. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees. Shrublands are dominated by woody or herbaceous shrubs.
Rainfall in tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands is between 300 and 1500 millimeters (20 to 60 inches) a year , and can be highly seasonal, with the entire year's rainfall sometimes occurring within a couple of weeks. Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands occur on all continents but Antarctica. They are widespread on Africa, and are also found all throughout South Asia, the northern parts of South America and Australia, and the southern United States.
African Savannas occur between forest or woodland regions and grassland regions. The climate varies, with an average temperature of 27°C with peaks of 30°C in April and October, and between 300 and 1500 millimetres of rain per year. Flora includes:
- Acacia (Tree)
- Loses leaves in dry season to conserve moisture
- Leafy canopy in rainy season (flattened by winds)
- Baobab (Tree)
- Stores water in trunk
- Thick bark to protect it from fires in dry season
- Long Tap roots to reach underground moisture
- Few leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration
- Grass
- Grow Quickly to 3 or 4 meters in clumps
- Shoots die in dry season leaving only roots
- Low Shrubs
- Drought resistant
- Small
- Thorns not leaves
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands is a biome whose predominant vegetation consists of grasses and/or shrubs. The climate is temperate and semi-arid to semi-humid.
- temperature: warm to hot season (often with a cold to freezing season in winter)
- soil: fertile with rich nutrients and minerals
- plants: grass
- animals: large, grazing mammals; birds
Steppes are short grasslands that occur in semi-arid climates. Prairies are tall grasslands in areas of higher rainfall. Heaths and Pasture are, respectively, low shrublands and grasslands where forest growth is hindered by human activity, not climate.
Tall grasslands, including the Prairie of North America and the Humid Pampas of Argentina, have moderate rainfall and rich soils which make them ideally suited to extensive agriculture, and tall grassland ecoregions include some of the most productive grain-growing regions in the world.
Very specific grassland ecosystem seems to be an alpine steppe called páramo occuring high in mounatins of South America. Páramo information is included into Alpine ecosystems for purposes of this ecotouristic databese.
Birdwatching and nature observation is usually really easy in grasslands. Therefore visits to grassland areas are very popular among all nature lovers.
Albatros Travel and Expeditions can provide you many trips directed into grassland areas worldwide. These trips are usually easy. Even not trained people can take part in such journeys. There is a list of countries where grasslands and savannas can be visited:
Indonesia - national parks eastwards from East Java and Central Sulawesi. Rarely also in Sumatra.
Sri Lanka - most of national parks excluding southwest part of the country
Tanzania - most of national parks in the whole country territory
Chile - several national parks scattered through the whole country
Ecuador - mountain steppe in several Andean national parks, typical steppe in Galapagos