PAMPAS GRASSLAND: CHARACTERISTICS, FLORA, FAUNA, CLIMATE - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Pampas grassland is an ecoregion that covers several areas in Uruguay, southern Brazil, and part of Paraguay. However, most of these Pampean grasslands are found in Argentina.

Ecoregions are large areas of the earth's surface that are geographically different but with characteristic fauna and flora adapted to that environment. These regions are also defined by factors such as climate, relief, geology, soils, and vegetation.

Toay, La Pampa, Argentina.

On the other hand, the term pampa has its origin in Quechua and means plain, specifically plain between mountains. This plain was discovered by the Spanish in the 16th century. The discovery was made in the course of an expedition that came from the Andean region. Regarding the term grassland, it refers to any type of ecosystem where herbaceous vegetation predominates.

In the 17th century, the first European immigrants began to use natural grasslands to raise livestock. Due to the large extension of these territories, no environmental impact was caused during the first years.

However, in recent decades, the ecosystem has been threatened by the introduction of exotic forage species. These species do not belong to the ecosystem, which has resulted in an environmental imbalance.

Location

The Pampean grassland starts from central Argentina (Atlantic coast) and is oriented towards the Andean mountain range (Uruguay). It is bordered on the north by Gran Chaco and on the south by Patagonia.

The largest extension of these grasslands, which corresponds to Argentina, is located to the south of the city of Buenos Aires, between 34 ° and 30 ° south latitude, and between 57 ° and 63 ° west latitude.

Main characteristics of the Pampean grassland

Fertility

The Pampean grassland is one of the most fertile areas in the world. The composition of the land is not uniform throughout the pampas. But there is a predominance of black lands, very rich chemically and with an intense biological activity.

These soils are mixed with fine mineral particles, which has favored the formation of a thick layer of humus.

Pending

On the other hand, the pampas slopes gradually from northwest to southeast. It goes from 500 m asl to 20 m asl. This creates a slope that facilitates the drainage of stagnant waters and favors agriculture.

Desert and humid areas

The western dry zone is largely barren with salt fields, sandy deserts, and brackish streams. To the east, in a smaller area, are the humid sections of the pampas.

It includes part of the province of Buenos Aires, the economic center of Argentina and the most populated area of ​​the country.

Flora

Native herbaceous plants abound in this region. Some of these varieties include criolla barley, flying straw, black flechilla, white romerillo, carqueja and sheep grass.

In the same way, reeds, reeds and reed beds are part of its flora. In total, there are approximately 450 types of grasses, 200 forage legumes and more than 370 different species of grasses in the Pampean pasture.

Trees are rare in the pampas, and frequent spontaneous forest fires allow only grasses to flourish.

However, eucalyptus, pine, ash, and the like have begun to be introduced. This is being done for wood harvesting and ornamental purposes.

Fauna

The native animal species of the Pampean grassland are scarce. Among them you can find skunks and small herds of guanacos. Carnivores include cougars, Geoffrey's cats, and pampas foxes.

Other mammals include vizcachas, Pampean cuis, otters, and possums. In the group of birds, the ñandú, the chajá, chimangos, hawks and owls stand out. In addition, a wide variety of migratory birds make their annual stop in the Pampas during their seasonal journey.

Also, livestock activities have promoted the introduction of cattle into the active fauna of the Pampas. The cattle found by the first settlers were wild and hunted for their meat and skins.

Later, due to the richness of the pasture, permanent settlements began for the economic purposes of exploitation of livestock.

Today, breeds of cattle brought from England and Scotland share the ecosystem with varieties native to the pampas. Finally, it is estimated that as a result of economic activity, sheep, pigs and horses inhabit these pastures.

Weather

The Pampean prairie is included within the temperate climate zones. The average annual temperature of 15 ° C. However, in the winter season, cold waves are very common, with temperatures below 0 ° C.

Annual rainfall varies between 900 and 1000 mm per year in the northwest. To the west and south, they are around 400 mm.

Likewise, the pamperos are characteristic of the area. These are storms that originate when cold winds from the south collide with warm air from the tropical north.

This results in violent winds accompanied by heavy rain. Other predominant winds are those from the southeast and those of the sorte. The first blows from the Atlantic, are accompanied by rain and cause storms. For its part, the north winds come from the tropical zone, and bring heat and humidity.

Pampas grassland economy

The pampa region and its grasslands have had great importance in the economy of Argentina. At first, this economic activity was limited to the sale of skins from wild cattle.

Progressively, this activity increased with the importation of bovine varieties, agro-industrial farms and the delimitation of spaces. Currently, beef is one of the two major products of the Pampean plain.

Similarly, other factors that have driven livestock are improvements in roads and highways, together with the development of rail networks.

On the other hand, cereals are another economically important product of the pampas. In 60% of the Pampean territory soybeans, wheat, barley, rye, corn and flax seeds are grown. Other items that come from the pampas are fruits, vegetables and annual oilseeds (such as sunflower).

References

1. Vargas, RS et al. (2015). Microbial quality of soil from the Pampa biome in response to different grazing pressures. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 38 (2), pp. 205-212.
2. Wildlife Foundation. (s / f). Pampas. Retrieved on February 8, 2018, from vidailvestre.org.ar.
3. Encyclopædia Britannica (2015, February 20). The Pampas. Retrieved on February 8, 2018, from britannica.com.
4. Claire, L. (2002). The Pampas. Retrieved on February 8, 2018, from blueplanetbiomes.org.
5. World Atlas. (s / f). Pampas Region Of South America. Retrieved on February 8, 2018, from worldatlas.com.
6. National University of the Litoral. (s / f). Flora and fauna. Retrieved on February 8, 2018, from unl.edu.ar.
7. Martínez-Ghersa, MA and Ghersa, C. (s / f). Consequences of recent agricultural changes. Retrieved on February 8, 2018, from agroparliament.com.