Temperate grasslands are located all around the world. In North America the grasslands are called prairies. They are located between the U.S and Canada. In Eurasia(Europe and Asia) the grasslands are called steppes. They are located between the Ukraine, Russia, and Mongolia. In South America the temperate grasslands are called pampas. They are located in Argentina and Uruguay. In Africa the temperate grassland is called the veld. These temperate grasslands are located in the Republic of South Africa. The climate in the temperate grasslands is not very unusual. In one year the temperate grasslands tend to get 10 to 20 inches of precipitation. Most of the precipitation that falls is snow. During the summer seasons the temperatures tend to be hot and during the winter seasons the temperatures tend to be cold. There are many different types of animals that live in the temperate grasslands. Some of those animals include bobcats, wolves, raptors, deers, beavers, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, mice, spiders, and snakes. Those are just a handful of animals that live in the temperate grasslands.

It has been twenty million years since man has left planet earth. All of the biomes around the world have changed greatly. During this time the temperate grasslands have gone through many changes. The following animals have become extinct such as bobcats, wolves, raptors, deers, and beavers. As a result of these animals being wiped off the face of the earth other animals in the temperate grasslands have had to take their places in the food chain or fill there niches in the food web.

Many animals in the temperate grasslands have changed in many different ways to fill the niches of animals that have become extinct. In others words different animals have fill the spots of extinct animals on the food web. The squirrel has filled the niche of deer. It did so by its teeth and molers becoming flatter to eat more plants. The squirrel has also become bigger in body size to protect itself and to be able to see more things around it. This type of squirrel is now called a Squidels. The fox has filled the niche of the wolf. It has done so by living deeper in the forests forcing it to eat more and more meat because there is lack of other things in the forest. As a result of this the foxes front teeth have become sharper and its molers have become bigger. This type of fox is now known as a Wox. The snake has filled the niche of raptors. It has done so by becoming quicker because its prey has become faster. The snakes teeth have become sharper to eat and grind up food better and the snakes vision has become a lot better to see and hunt its prey easier. This type of snake is now known as a Snowl. The rabbit has filled the niche of a bobcat. It has done so by becoming over populated and force into eating meat and becoming a carnivore. As a result of this two things have happened, its teeth have become sharper and its digestive system has changed. The rabbit has also aquired longer back legs to move faster and get its prey easier. This type of rabbit is now known as a Rabcat. Mice have filled the niche of beavers. It has done so by its teeth becoming bigger enabling it to grind and break down wood. As a result of mice teeth becoming bigger it is able to eat more food and has become fatter. Since it is now fatter it can stay warm a lot easier. This type of mice is now known as a Iceaver. Spiders have filled the niche of snakes. It has done so by changing into a predator and it now hunts in groups. This spider has begun to eat a lot more as a result of hunting in groups, so it has grown in size. Because it has grown in size it is now easier for it to eat other and bigger things. This type of spider is now known as Spikes. The grasshopper(herbivorous insects) has filled the niche of spiders. It has done so by aquiring bigger teeth(fangs) to eat other spiders and sufficate them by using their teeth. This type of grasshopper is now known as a Grider. The fox has filled the niche of mice. It has done so by its teeth becoming smaller so it can eat plants and grass. As a result of this its digestive system has changed greatly. Since their diets have changed they have become a much smaller animal which enables them to hide easier from predators. This type of fox is now known as a Fice. Those are the animals that have changed and adapted to fill the niches of animals that have become extinct.

Temperate Grassland Websites

If you would like to find out more information about the temperate grasslands you might want to explore the sites listed below.

www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/grassland.htm

www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tempgras.html

Group Members: Ben, Ronit, Kim, and Marleen

Biome: Temperate Grasslands

Day: 1 Hour: 2