GRASSLAND: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES, RELIEF, FLORA, CLIMATE, FAUNA - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The pastures or grasslands are natural or anthropogenic ecosystems dominated by grasses that serve as grass, ie that are food for herbivores. Grasses are generally herbs of the grass family (Poaceae) and it is estimated that grasslands occupy a quarter of the land.

These ecosystems have a simple structure, with a herbaceous layer from a few centimeters to 5 meters high covering the ground. Some types of grasslands include scattered shrubs and trees.

Grassland in Nebraska (United States). Source: Brian Kell (Bkell)

They develop in highly variable soils, depending on the geographical and physiographic area. In the case of cultivated pastures, fertilizer and agrochemical supplements are applied to control pests.

Grasslands derive their name from the coevolutionary relationship they have had with herbivorous mammals. In this relationship, the dominant grasses or grasses are grasses, which have developed different adaptations.

Within these adaptations are underground vegetative propagation structures such as rhizomes, stolons and underground buds. In such a way that when herbivores consume the aerial part of the plant, it can sprout again.

The grasslands are classified in the first term in two great types that are the natural and cultivated. Among the former are temperate grasslands or prairies, tropical and subtropical or savannahs, and mountain ranges.

Grasslands include the North American grasslands, the South American pampas, the Eurasian steppes, and the South African velds.

Savannas cover a complexity of types depending on the criteria used for their classification. These tropical grasslands are widely spread across America, Africa, the foothills of the Himalayas, and northern Australia.

On the other hand, cultivated grasslands include grasslands proper (herbivore husbandry) and other cultivated areas of grass for various purposes.

Natural grasslands vary in relief from very flat areas, through hilly areas, plateaus, to high mountain terrain. While cultivated grasslands can be adapted to the natural relief or mechanically leveled to facilitate agricultural work.

In grasslands, the flora is varied with a predominance of grass species in the herbaceous stratum. When trees exist, they belong to different families and legumes predominate in the tropical zone and phagaceae in temperate ones.

As for the fauna, it can be scarce or very abundant, as in the case of the African savannas. In these there is a great diversity of large herbivorous mammals (wildebeest, zebras, gazelles) and large carnivores (lions, leopards, hyenas).

In the prairies of North America live the buffalo and the water puppy and in South America the jaguar and the capybara. In the Indo-Malaysian region the one-horned rhinoceros and the tiger and in the Asian steppe the saiga antelope.

On the other hand, in cultivated grasslands most of the wild fauna has been displaced for the benefit of domesticated animals. Among the latter we have cattle, sheep and pigs.

The predominant economic activity in the grasslands is the raising of these types of cattle. Also large areas are dedicated to the cultivation of cereals and other items as well as tourism.

Outstanding examples of the world's grasslands are the American Corn Belt, the pampas in South America, and the African savannas.

General characteristics

- Biogeography

Natural grasslands

Natural grasslands encompass two major terrestrial biomes, savannas and prairies (including pampas, steppes, and veld). Together these biomes include 94 ecoregions according to the World Wildlife Foundation or World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Cultivated grasslands

Although in most cases cultivated grasslands are established in natural grassland areas, this is not always the case. Many cultivated grasslands develop in areas of deforested forest.

For example, large areas of grasslands in the western Venezuelan plains are in areas of former semi-deciduous tropical forests. Likewise, much of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest is being deforested to establish grasslands for livestock production.

On the other hand, in temperate zones, grasslands have also expanded their limits at the expense of deciduous forest.

- Plant structure

A grassland, natural or cultivated, has a simple structure with a herbaceous layer covering the ground and few or no shrubs and trees. There are some exclusively made up of a grass cover, continuous (tussock species) or discontinuous (tuft or tuft species).

Pastures of Beni (Bolivia). Source: Sam Beebe / Ecotrust

However, there are also grasslands with scattered trees or shrubs, in greater or lesser density, such as the acacia savannas in Africa.

Tree-grown grassland systems

In the case of cultivated grasslands, large tracts of a single grass species are typically grown without trees. However, there are systems where the presence of the arboreal element is important.

For example, in mixed grass-legume pastures and silvopastoral systems such as dehesas.

- Floor

Grassland soils are highly variable, as it depends on the region where they are developed. For example, prairie soils are generally more fertile and deeper than those of tropical savannas.

In those grasslands established on soils previously occupied by temperate deciduous forests or semi-deciduous tropical forests, fertility is usually high. While the soils of the Amazon rainforest deforested and turned into pasture, it requires a lot of supplementation of fertilizers.

- burning

Due to the high combustion of dry matter from grasses, fire is usually a factor present in grasslands. In fact, grasses have evolved structures to support both herbivory and fire.

In cultivated pastures, the aim is to avoid both drying out and burning of the pastures. In many cases the pastures are supplied with irrigation, either by sprinkling or furrows.

- Herbivory

Grasslands are linked to herbivory, and both plants and herbivores have evolved in this regard. Grasses have developed various subsurface vegetative propagation structures.

Among them the rhizomes, stolons and underground buds, which allow them to sprout once the aerial part has been consumed. For their part, herbivorous mammals have an adequate anatomy and physiology to ingest grasses and digest the predominant cellulose.

Migration and specialized niches

In nature, large herbivores move following migratory patterns in search of grasslands. On the other hand, in grasslands where large herds of different species feed, as in Africa, there is a specialization by niches.

This means that each species feeds on a part of the plant or on certain species. In this way, competition for food is reduced and the potential of the pasture is exploited.

Animal load and rotation of grazing areas

In the case of cultivated pastures, it is the human being who must regulate the grazing load to which the agricultural ecosystem is subjected. The load refers to the number of animals per unit area.

Said load depends on the type of animal, species of pasture and extension of the land. If subjected to an excessive animal load, the pasture is depleted and the soil is compacted by trampling.

Types

- Natural grasslands

Temperate grasslands

In America are the North American grasslands, stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Atlantic deciduous forests in the east. Then there are the pampas and the Patagonian steppes in the southern cone of South America.

Temperate grassland (Steppe in Russia). Source: The original uploader was Kobsev at Russian Wikipedia.

In Europe, the Eurasian grasslands and steppes stretch from the Iberian Peninsula to the Far East. While in Africa there are the South African veld and in Oceania the Australian temperate savannas.

Taking into account all these ecosystems, in total there are 44 temperate grassland or prairie ecoregions.

Tropical and subtropical grasslands

In the tropical and subtropical zones are the savannas that are diversified in 50 ecoregions. In Africa they range from the Atlantic coast to the Indian Ocean in a large sub-Saharan strip, and then to the southeast.

In America they are found in the south of North America, Central America and North of South America and further south, the great savannas of the Cerrado extend. Similarly, there are savannas in the foothills of the Himalayas, and in the north and northeast of Australia.

Savannas can be classified into different types according to various criteria and due to the water regime there are floodable and non-floodable savannas. Likewise, there are seasonal savannas (4-6 months dry season), hyperstational (3-4 months) and semi-seasonal (few weeks).

Likewise, according to the physiognomy of the plant formation, there are ungrove savannas (without trees) and wooded savannas.

- Cultivated grasslands

The establishment of a cultivated pasture depends on the region, the climate, the soils and the animal species to be produced. There are different production systems, whether the animals graze on the land or the grass is cut (forage).

On the other hand, as in natural pastures, in cultivated areas there are systems without trees and others that have an arboreal layer.

Potrero and Prados

Although the word “paddock” refers to a pasture for horse breeding, in Latin America the term is broader. The paddock is a plot of delimited land where cattle are fed, be they horse, bovine or other.

Whether it consists of introduced or native grasses, the paddock is a pastureland with agronomic management. This management includes the selection of pastures, weed control and fertilization among other aspects.

Cattle in a pasture in Mexico. Source: EmyPheebs

For its part, the “meadow” refers to a land with natural humidity or under irrigation, where grasses are grown for livestock. The meadows develop in flat or slightly undulating places in areas of humid climate and cool temperatures.

They are common in mountain livestock areas both in temperate regions and in temperate zones of the tropical zone.

Silvopastoral system grasses-legumes

In the tropical grasslands of America it is common to maintain an arboreal layer, mainly leguminous trees. These trees fulfill the function of providing shade for livestock in these regions of high solar radiation.

They also provide additional proteins to animal nutrition through their fruits. Some trees used for this purpose are the saman (Samanea saman), the guanacaste or caro-caro (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) and the American carob (Hymenaea courbaril).

Silvopastoral timber system

Another system that forms wooded pastures are the so-called silvopastoral fields that combine pastures with fruit trees, timber trees and that produce cork, pulp and other products. These systems are established in two basic ways that are clearing a forest and cultivating grass or planting trees in a pasture.

Timber species such as teak (Tectona grandis), American cedar (Cedrela odorata) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) are cultivated in tropical America.

The meadow

In temperate zones, there are dehesas that are grasslands established in cleared Mediterranean forest (partially deforested with trees alternated with open spaces). The common tree species in the dehesa are the European cork oak (Quercus sube r) and the holm oak (Quercus ilex).

In these spaces, pasture is cultivated in order to feed the cattle that are kept in the pasture, such as cattle and pigs. An example of the latter is the breeding of the Iberian pig that feeds on acorns fallen from holm oak trees.

Cutting grass

In cut pastures the plant is cultivated and then cut and fed to the animals in pens or stables. These cutting grasses can also be ensiled for enrichment and later use.

Lawn or grass

Lawn is a type of grass pasture that covers the entire soil thanks to growth by stolons or rhizomes. These are modified stems that extend superficially or underground and generate successive shoots.

The grass is used for ornamental purposes in gardens or for sports fields. Short-growing species are required, generating a dense, green canopy.

Some grasses to form grasses are Cumberland (Agrostis stolonifera), red reed (Festuca rubra) and English grass (Lolium perenne) in temperate zones.

While in tropical areas there are the San Agustín grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), the Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) and the kikuyo (Pennisetum clandestinum).

- Pasture height

A common classification criterion for all types of grasslands is that given by the height of the grass. In this case we speak of both prairies, savannas or cultivated pastures of short or low, medium and tall grass.

This is determined by the dominant grass species, which depend on regional, climatic and soil conditions.

In the case of cultivated grasslands, tall grasses are generally used for cutting and silage.

- relief

Grasslands, whether natural or cultivated, are mostly found on flat to undulating terrain. However, they also develop in mountainous areas and plateaus.

They are even located in areas below sea level (-100 masl), such as the Colombian-Venezuelan plains up to 4,000 masl (high mountain pastures).

Flora

- Natural grasslands

In the prairies the grasses of the subfamilies Arundinoideae and Pooideae predominate, and in the savannas the Chloridoideae and Panicoideae are abundant.

Most common temperate genera

Species of the genera Poa, Festuca, Lolium and Stipa predominate in the prairies.

Most common tropical genera

Among the most common grass genera in the savannas are Trachypogon, Paspalum, Panicum and Tridens, Aristida, Axonopus and Pennisetum.

- Cultivated grasslands

Temperate grasses

The main species of grasses cultivated in temperate floors belong to the genera Festuca and Lolium. Among the most used species are Lolium perenne (English ryegrass, perennial), Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass, annual) and Festuca arundinacea.

Other important species are Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and frost-resistant falaris (Phalaris tuberosa).

Tropical grasses

Among the perennially growing grasses are elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), and Mombaza grass or gamelote (Panicum maximum). Both native species from Africa, but naturalized in tropical America.

A widely used grassland genus is Brachiaria, with species such as Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, Brachiaria dictyoneura, and B. humidicola. The Brachiaria humidicola species is native to Africa but is widely used as grass in America and Asia.

Naturalization

In the search to improve pastures for livestock, humans have transferred species from one ecoregion to another. In many cases these species invade natural spaces and adapt to local conditions. This represents a problem since they compete with the wild flora of the localities.

For example, in tropical America many species of African grasses have been introduced, which under conditions similar to their natural habitat become naturalized. An example is the mountain grasslands of capín melao (Melinis minutiflora) in the EL Ávila National Park in Caracas (Venezuela).

This African species has become naturalized not only in Venezuela but in Colombia, Brazil and even Hawaii.

Weather

In the prairies the climate is temperate and dry for most of the year, the summers are hot and the winters are relatively cold to very cold (steppe). Temperatures range from 0 ºC in winter to 25 ºC in summer, with annual rainfall of 300 to 1,000 mm.

For their part, the savannas develop in a bi-seasonal climate with variable rainfall, from 600 to 3,000 mm with an average annual temperature of 27 ºC. The dry season can last from 3 to 7 months, and the rest of the year corresponds to the rainy season.

Fauna

In most cases, grasslands are the habitat of many herbivorous animal species. In certain regions these species make up huge populations and in others there were large populations currently diminished.

- Temperate fauna

America

Millions of buffaloes or American bison (Bison bison) grazed on the prairies of North America. Nowadays it is a species in recovery, but one that almost reached extinction due to hunting.

There are also large colonies of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), Numbering in the thousands and even millions of individuals.

Eurasia

The Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) and the Mongolian horse (Equus ferus) inhabit the Eurasian steppes.

Africa

In the veld we find the Cape jumping gazelle or springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) and the cuaga (Equus quagga).

- Tropical fauna

Africa

The highest concentrations of large herbivores are found in the African savannas. Herds of millions of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and Burchell's zebras (Equus burchelli) are seen in the wooded savannas of Tanzania.

There are also Kaffir buffalo (Syncerus caffer), elephants (Loxodonta africana), giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) and numerous birds.

Associated with these concentrations of herbivores are large carnivores such as the lion (Panthera leo) and the leopard (Panthera pardus pardus).

Indo-Malaysia

In this region at the foot of the Himalayas you will find the highest concentration of tigers, rhinos and ungulates in Asia such as the one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the tiger (Panthera tigris). Among the ungulates are the nilgó or blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and the water buffalo (Bubalus arnee).

America

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), deer (Odocoileus virginianus apurensis) and jaguars (Panthera onca) are found in the American savannas. In addition to anacondas (Eunectes murinus) and Orinoco alligators (Crocodylus intermedius) in its rivers.

- Domesticated animals

The grasslands, whether natural or cultivated, are dedicated to the breeding of different animal species that have been domesticated since ancient times. Among the domesticated species raised in the grasslands are cattle, sheep and pigs.

Bovines

This is a good example of the adaptation of the grassland ecosystem to production by humans. Most of the cattle produced correspond to subspecies of the wild species Bos primigenius primigenius.

This species existed in the grasslands and forests of Eurasia until the 17th century, but sadly hunting made it extinct.

Two subspecies derived from it that are the basis of practically all beef production. These are Bos primigenius taurus, typical of temperate floors, and Bos primigenius indicus, more adapted to a tropical climate.

The rearing of bovines, either for the production of meat, milk or dual purposes, is carried out under various systems. They can be raised in stables, that is, in stables providing them with forage, or extensively by letting them feed in the pastures.

Sheep

As with cattle, sheep farming comes from the domestication of a wild species. In this case, the most frequent species in production is Ovis orientalis, specifically the subspecies Ovis orientalis aries.

According to recent studies, the ancestor of this subspecies is the Asian mouflon (Ovis orientalis orientalis). This species is currently restricted to the high mountain grassland of the Caucasus, central Asia and some parts of Turkey.

Pigs

The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) derives from the wild pig or wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa). They are omnivorous animals, that is, they feed on both plants and animals (insects, worms, carrion).

Its natural habitat is the forest, however the domestic pig has been adapted to breeding in open areas.

Pig production systems are varied, although in general there are stables (pigs). However, there are mixed and grazing production systems, an example of the first is the Iberian pig.

Iberian pig grazing. Source: Darreenvt

This pig is raised in two phases, a first where it is fed in pig pens and the other for final fattening in pastures. The latter is the so-called montanera period and they feed mainly on the acorns of the holm oaks.

In the strict grazing system, the pigs are raised in paddocks conditioned for each phase. These are insemination, gestation, childbirth and rearing and it is considered a more ecological and economical system than pig breeding.

Economic activities

- Livestock production

The main economic activities in grasslands are linked to the grassland-herbivore biological relationship. In this sense, they are ideal places for the production of domestic herbivores such as cows, sheep and pigs.

Production of beef

Most of the beef production is generated in grasslands and savannas such as the North American prairies, savannas and South American pampas. There is also cattle production in the Eurasian grasslands and steppes and the Australian grasslands.

- Farming

On the other hand, grasslands, both natural and those originated by humans, are suitable places for cultivation. Although some savannas and grasslands are of low fertility, there are other areas with good soils for agriculture.

More fertile soils

The most fertile soils are in grasslands such as natural prairies or those caused by degradation of deciduous forests. In the case of the savannas, the best soils are in the rolling foothills.

Likewise, the secondary savannas caused by deforestation of semi-deciduous forests have adequate soil fertility.

Crops

Crops grown on grasslands include wheat, maize, and rye in temperate zones. While corn, sorghum and rice predominate in tropical and subtropical areas.

- Forestry

Silvopastoral systems are established in grassland areas that allow livestock production and obtaining forest products. In these systems, wood, pulp for paper, fruits, resins, cork and other products are obtained.

In some savannas, even with poor soils, forest plantations can be established such as the Uverito pine plantations, located in the Mesa de Guanipa (Venezuela). It is the largest artificial forest plantation in the world, with about 600,000 hectares.

- Tourism

Conservation areas, such as national parks and wildlife reserves, have been established in many natural grassland areas. In these areas the fundamental economic activity is tourism.

Even in grasslands intervened by human beings and dedicated to agricultural production, today agro-tourism is developed. In this type of tourism, the life and tasks of the countryside are experienced, while interacting with nature.

- hunting

One of the activities traditionally carried out in the grasslands is hunting. The most prominent case is the African savannas, given the abundance of game animals.

Examples of grasslands in the world

The American corn belt o

This is the name given to a large region of the United States that develops in tall grass prairie lands. This region is located in the northeast quadrant of the North American country and there is produced more than 40% of the corn of this country.

The US is the world's largest corn producer thanks to this region, but cattle and pigs are also produced.

The pampas

These are the prairies that extend through Uruguay, the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the central western region of Argentina. The grasslands of this region support one of the largest grain and meat productions in the world.

Among the cereal crops grown in the pampas are wheat, corn, barley, and sorghum. In addition, sunflower, peanut and potato are produced and in recent years soy is reaching a great boom.

Regarding animal production, cattle, sheep and pigs are produced in the pampas. In Brazil there are more than 200 million head of cattle, in Argentina 50 million and in Uruguay more than 11 million.

The African savannah

It is the world's best example of grasslands, not only because of its size, but also because of the diversity of large herbivores it houses. Especially the acacia wooded savannas of Kenya and Tanzania where there are millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and antelopes.

In association with these concentrations of herbivores, large carnivores such as the lion, hyena and leopard are present.

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