AY Honors/Temperate Grasslands/Answer Key - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 14:10, 28 June 2023
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	Remember that the honor focuses on temperate grasslands, not the tropical grassland/savannah of Africa. However, you may want to use your zoo visit to study the animals of both temperate and tropical grasslands, and compare their similarities and differences to see how the different ecosystems highlight similar or alternative adaptations by animals.		Remember that the honor focuses on temperate grasslands, not the tropical grassland/savannah of Africa. However, you may want to use your zoo visit to study the animals of both temperate and tropical grasslands, and compare their similarities and differences to see how the different ecosystems highlight similar or alternative adaptations by animals.
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 <!-- 4. Temperate grasslands can be divided into what two subgroups? What are the differences? -->
-Temperate grassland are divided into two broad groups based on the average height of the grass. Shortgrass prairies usually receive lower amounts of rainfall, and are dominated by grasses that rarely reach much about 10 inches in height (ie Buffalograss and and Blue Grama). Tallgrass prairies receive more rainfall, with grasses that may reach 6 to 8 feet in height or more, including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Yellow Indiangrass and .Switchgrass. In North America, the shortgrass prairies are usually further west that the tallgrass prairies, with a band of mixed grass prairies intermediate between the two.
+Temperate grassland are divided into two broad groups based on the average height of the grass. Shortgrass prairies usually receive lower amounts of rainfall, and are dominated by grasses that rarely reach much above 10 inches in height (ie Buffalograss and and Blue Grama). Tallgrass prairies receive more rainfall, with grasses that may reach 6 to 8 feet in height or more, including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Yellow Indiangrass and .Switchgrass. In North America, the shortgrass prairies are usually further west than the tallgrass prairies, with a band of mixed grass prairies intermediate between the two.
-Another bilateral categorization of temperate grasslands is based on the percent of shrub and see cover - prairies have less than 10-20 percent tree cover, savannas have 20-40 percent tree cover. (This is an alternate use of the term savanna, which also often refers to tropical grasslands). A prairie can evolve into savanna if there is insufficient grazing or fire, or an increase in available water. A savanna that does not have sufficient fire or grazing can evolve into a woodland or forest. A major fire can so damage a forest that it reverts back to a prairie, and significant fire, drought, or new grazers can see a savanna turned back into a prairie. These processes are referred to as ecological succession, where one ecosystem changes into another due to altered circumstances or natural processes.
+Another bilateral categorization of temperate grasslands is based on the percent of shrub and tree cover - prairies have less than 10-20 percent tree cover, savannas have 20-40 percent tree cover. (This is an alternate use of the term savanna, which also often refers to tropical grasslands). A prairie can transition into savanna if there is insufficient grazing or fire, or an increase in available water. A savanna that does not have sufficient fire or grazing can develop into a woodland or forest. A major fire can so damage a forest that it reverts back to a prairie, and significant fire, drought, or new grazers can see a savanna turned back into a prairie. These processes are referred to as ecological succession, where one ecosystem changes into another due to altered circumstances or natural processes.
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 <!-- a. Where can they be found? -->
 Grasslands can be found in temperate and tropical environments on all continents aside from Antarctica, usually as an intermediate zone between deserts and woodlands or forests. Large grasslands include the Shortgrass and Tallgrass prairies of North America, the steppes of Eurasia, the Puszta of Hungary, the Veldt of South Africa, and the Pampas of South America, as well as the tropical Savannas of Africa and India.
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 <!-- a. Plants -->
-Plant adaptations to grasslands include low water needs, different methods of seed dispersals, quick early blooming (before the grasses get tall), and physical barriers to grazing, among others. Flowers like the Prairie Iris and Green Lily grow from bulbs that can lay dormant through winter, storing their energy below ground. The White Prickly Poppy , as its name implies, is covered in spines, protecting it from grazers. Texas Indian paintbrush is hemiparasitic, with its roots at times drawing nutrition from the grass roots in the prairie. Both the Horse Crippler and Prickly Pear are cacti, adapted to low water conditions common in southern prairies. And the Devil’s Claw, Spreading Hedge Parsley, and Common Cocklebur each have features on their seeds and seed pods that allow them to be carried by passing animals (or hikers).
+Plant adaptations to grasslands include low water needs, different methods of seed dispersals, quick early blooming (before the grasses get tall), and physical barriers to grazing, among others. Grasses store most of their reserve energy in their roots, allowing them to be protected from fire, as well as winter die-back. Many grasses grow from the base up, not from the tip out, so they can survive repeated grazing (or mowing). Grasses have numerous strategies to spread their seeds (from windblown to dropping nearby the parent), and many have phsical characteristics that protect them from predation, including fine hairs. Flowers like the Prairie Iris and Green Lily grow from bulbs that can lay dormant through winter, storing their energy below ground. The White Prickly Poppy , as its name implies, is covered in spines, protecting it from grazers. Texas Indian paintbrush is hemiparasitic, with its roots at times drawing nutrition from the grass roots in the prairie. Both the Horse Crippler and Prickly Pear are cacti, adapted to low water conditions common in southern prairies. And the Devil’s Claw, Spreading Hedge Parsley, and Common Cocklebur each have features on their seeds and seed pods that allow them to be carried by passing animals (or hikers).
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 Image:Alophia drummondii 6431.jpg|thumb|200px|Prairie Iris (Alophia drummondii)
 Image:Schoenocaulon texanum 3175.jpg|200px|thumb|Green Lily (Schoenocaulon texanum)

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 You can look at large grasslands, but it may be more applicable to focus on a particular grassland in your local area. There are several national, state, and even city parks that include native or restored grasslands, and some local parks or universities may have “pocket prairies” that can serve as a way to study a grassland in your own locale. Many of these have informative displays on site, or have small booklets available in hard copy or online providing additional information. It may also be useful to interview a ranger or park volunteer. There are several services that collect historical weather and climate data you can use to study your grassland.
 Examples below look at two temperate grasslands, one a national grassland ([https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas/about-forest/districts/?cid=fswdev3_008440 Caddo-LBJ National Grasslands]), the other a restored grassland in a local park ([https://www.austintexas.gov/department/commons-ford-ranch Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park]).
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 Caddo/LBJ - 38,186 acres, spread across three counties in north central Texas
 Commons Ford - 40 acres of restored prairie
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 Caddo/LBJ - 63.5 degrees mean annual temperature, 35-55 in the winter, 75-95 in the summer
 Commons Ford - 69.4 degrees mean annual temperature, 38-66 in the winter, 72-98 in the summer
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 Caddo/LBJ - 35.4 in
 Commons Ford - 28 in
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 Caddo/LBJ - Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Yellow Indiangrass, and Switchgrass (The big four prairie grasses)
 Commons Ford - The big four, plus Sideoats Grama, Texas Grama, and Hairy Grama
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 Caddo/LBJ - Recreation, Hunting, Grazing, Hiking, Camping
 Commons Ford - Recreation, Bird Watching, Educational Outreach, Scientific Research

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 <!-- 3. Label a drawing of a grass including the following: blade, node, sheath, roots. -->
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+To acquire your model for drawing, gently pull a grass plant from the ground, holding near the base of the plant. You can gently shake off the dirt from the roots, or use water. Lay the grass plant down on a clean surface and sketch. Alternatively, you can hang the grass to dry, and use the dried specimen for your drawing model. Some useful grass terminology to keep in mind: in grasses, the vertical “stem” is called a CULM, the “leaf” is a BLADE, the lower part of the blade that wraps around the culm is the SHEATH. The joints in a grass culm are called NODES. A horizontal grass stem that runs above ground, giving rise to new plants at nodes, is called a STOLON, whereas a horizontal stem underground is a RHIZOME. The flowering structure of a grass is an INFLORESCENCE. Many of these features are important in distinguishing between grass species while in the field.
 Image:Anatomy 1247.jpg|thumb|The anatomy of a grass plant (Poa annua)
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 <!-- 5. What are the two main reasons trees and shrubs are not commonly found in temperate grasslands? Under what conditions can trees grow in a grassland? -->
 The main reasons trees do not grow in grasslands are low rainfall and physical stress, such as grazing and seasonal fires. Shrubs and trees will frequently encroach upon prairies when fires are suppressed or grazers are removed.
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 <!-- 8. Select a grassland and discover the following: -->
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 <!-- a. Size -->
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 <!-- b. Average temperature -->
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 <!-- c. Average rainfall per year -->
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 <!-- d. Most common type of grass -->
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 <!-- e. Common uses of the grassland by people -->
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 <!-- a. Visit a wild grassland and mark off a square meter of the grassland, identifying all the species of plants and animals that you find. Write, record or share your experience with your group. -->
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 <!-- b. Visit a zoo and draw/photograph animals that are typically found in a temperate grassland. -->
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 <!-- c. Watch at least 15 minutes of a live feed or video of a grassland and discuss what you learned. -->
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 Image:Proboscidea louisianica 2523.jpg|200px|thumb|Devil's Claw (Proboscidea louisianica)
 Image:Torilis arvensis 3223.jpg|200px|thumb|Spreading Hedge Parsley (Torilis Arvensis)
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 Image:Cynomys ludovicianus 4958.jpg|200px|thumb|Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
 Image:Canis latrans 5523.jpg|200px|thumb|Coyote (Canis latrans)
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