We explain what a meadow is, its characteristics and its location. Also, the flora, fauna and the impact of human intervention.
Grasslands are characterized by vast grasslands and a scarcity of trees.
What is a meadow?
A meadow is a biome, that is, a set of ecosystems in which flat lands covered with grasslands and herbs predominate grass type, almost without trees. It has a temperate climate in summer and cold in winter, with moderate rainfall. It is also called steppe or savanna.
A quarter of the continental surface is covered by grasslands of which, a large part, were intervened by humans and destined for the agricultural and livestock industry due to the properties of the land. That is why it is common to find sectors of trees distributed in rows that were planted by humans to stop strong winds.
See also: Tundra
Geographic location of the prairie
The grasslands of the southern hemisphere have more rainfall than those of the northern hemisphere.
The prairie extends into regions surrounded by forests and deserts on various continents.such as South America and part of North America, Southern Africa, central Eurasia and Australia.
The grasslands of the southern hemisphere are located between the Tropic of Capricorn and the South Pole and tend to have more rain than those of the northern hemisphere, which are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the North Pole and are usually warmer and more temperate throughout the year.
Prairie Features
Among the main characteristics of the meadow the following stand out:
- Have a mostly flat landscape and with slight undulations.
- The average temperature in summer is 21 ºC and in winter it is 11 ºC.
- The winds are usually strong due to the lack of forests or mountainous terrain that can contain them.
- The vegetation consists of grasslands. and grass plants that completely cover the land.
- The most common animals are small in sizesuch as weasels (although foxes and bison are abundant in North America).
- In the meadows that were intervened by human action Trees are planted to stop strong winds and animals are raised, such as cows or lambs, among others.
meadow vegetation
The vegetation of the prairie It is characterized by being dense but low, that is, almost without woody plants or trees. Herbaceous plants such as grasses, shrubs, grasses and reeds predominate. Some examples are: sunflower, clover, reeds, lemongrass and flowers such as wild indigos.
Fauna of the prairie
The prairie dog is a mammal of the marmot family.
The fauna of the prairie is characterized by being diverse, there live: deer, hares, foxes, owls, bison, reptiles, spiders, armadillos, prairie dogs (which are from the marmot family) and birds, such as ducks and geese. In the grasslands that were altered by human actions there are cows, sheep, pigs, goats and chickens.
Human intervention in the meadow
Much of the world’s grasslands are destined for the agricultural industry.
Human intervention in the grasslands has generated great changes in the biomesuch as the alteration of soil, flora and fauna. Much of the world’s grasslands are used for agricultural and livestock farming, as they have flat soil that is suitable for growing crops and raising livestock.
in the meadows Intensive crops are usually carried out of corn, wheat, soybeans, sunflowers and Animals are usually raised such as pigs, cows, chickens, sheep and lambs. These are lands exploited by industry for the benefit of human beings, although there is currently increasing social and environmental pressure to moderate such activities.
Continue with: Natural regions