Life in the Temperate Grasslands Chapter Notes | Window on the Word Class 7: Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Grasslands occur in regions with moderate rainfall, less than forests but more than deserts, with a prolonged dry season devoid of any rainfall. There are two main types of grasslands based on their location: tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands. Tropical grasslands have a few scattered trees, whereas temperate grasslands are primarily covered by grasses.

Tropical Grasslands vs. Temperate Grasslands

• Tropical Grasslands: Located within the tropics.
• Examples: Savanna
• Temperate Grasslands: Found in the temperate zone or middle latitudes.
• Examples: Prairie, Steppe, Pampa

The Prairie

• Location: North America, covering parts of the USA and Canada.
• Description: Vast land covered in grass.
• Adjacent Landforms: Rocky Mountains to the west, Great Lakes to the east.
• Drainage: Tributaries of the Mississippi River and the Saskatchewan River.

Climate of the Prairie

• The prairie is located inland and experiences extreme climatic conditions.
  • Summers are warm, with temperatures around 20°C.
  • Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures dropping below -20°C.
  • Occasionally in winter, a strong, warm, dry wind known as the Chinook blows from the Rockies. These winds can cause a rapid rise in temperatures, sometimes increasing by over 40°C within a few hours, leading to quick snowmelt.
  • Rainfall is moderate, mainly occurring in early summer, with extended dry periods. Rainfall diminishes from east to west.

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

Due to varying rainfall, the type of grass in the prairie changes. The prairie can be categorized into three regions based on vegetation:

• The tallgrass prairie exists in the wetter eastern regions.
• The mixed-grass prairie is located in the central areas.
• The shortgrass prairie is found towards the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains.
• Various animals populate this region, including prairie dogs, coyotes, badgers, ferrets, bison, squirrels, gophers, and rabbits.
• Millions of bison once inhabited the prairie but are now nearly extinct in the wild due to extensive hunting.

People of the Prairie

• The prairie was originally home to several nomadic communities. Some of these communities transitioned to living in villages, residing in grass huts or tipis. Their way of life included agriculture, hunting, gathering, fishing, and crafting.

Significant Indigenous Communities

• Among the indigenous peoples of the prairie were the Anishinaabe, Manitoba, Apache, Cree, Blackfoot, and Dakota.

European Settlement

• Starting in the 19th century, Europeans began to settle in the prairie region. Presently, the majority of the prairie's population consists of Europeans, while indigenous communities primarily reside in reservations.

Agriculture:

• A key activity in the region, employing modern farming methods and technologies like high yielding seeds, combine harvesters, and irrigation.
• Main crops are maize and wheat, with other crops such as potato, soya bean, cotton, and alfalfa also cultivated.
• Region known as the 'granary of the world' due to abundant crop yields.
• Presence of food processing industries to support farmers.

Cattle Rearing:

• Primarily in areas with low rainfall and short grasses.
• Large cattle farms known as ranches are common.

Industries:

• Dairy, meat, and leather industries depend on ranches for their operations.
• Mining is significant due to rich iron ore and coal deposits.
• Supported by a strong transport network.

The Dust Bowl - When Human Negligence Destroyed the Environment

• The prairie's native grasses had deep roots that preserved soil moisture and prevented soil erosion, even in harsh conditions like droughts and strong winds.
• In the 1930s, farmers disregarded the grasslands' ecology and began using tractors for ploughing, which eradicated the native grass, leaving the soil exposed.
• A prolonged drought followed, leading to crop failures. Without the grass to anchor it, the soil turned into dust, susceptible to being blown away by the winds.
• This led to the Dust Bowl, a period marked by severe dust storms that devastated the prairie's ecosystem, resulting in agricultural ruin, mass fatalities, and homelessness for millions.
• Reclamation efforts by the government over several years were necessary to restore ecological equilibrium. Farmers were educated on soil conservation practices and urged to adopt sustainable farming techniques.
• Today, less than 2% of the original prairie remains, underscoring the lasting impact of the Dust Bowl and the importance of ecological stewardship.

The Veld

• Definition: The temperate grasslands in southern Africa known as the veld (translated as 'field' in Afrikaans).
• Location: The veld primarily spans South Africa, with extensions into Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Botswana.
• Topography: The veld is situated on plateaus of varying elevations, ranging from 150 to 1800 meters.
• Divisions: Based on altitude, the veld is categorized into Highveld, Middleveld, and Lowveld.
• Geographical Features: The Drakensberg Mountains are positioned to the east, while the Kalahari Desert borders the western edge of this region.
• Drainage: The veld is drained by the Limpopo and Orange rivers.

Climate

• The climate in the veld varies across different regions. Typically, it experiences cold winters from May to September and warm, rainy summers from November to March. The Lowveld area is warmer and gets more rainfall compared to the Highveld.

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

• The semi-arid climate of the veld supports the growth of grasses. Trees such as acacia and baobab are found near rivers in lower elevations. Red grass is prevalent in many parts of the veld. The region is home to various animals including lions, leopards, springboks, cheetahs, giraffes, kudus (a kind of antelope), and gemsbok.

People and Occupations

• The veld was once inhabited by early human communities, including the San people, nomadic hunter-gatherers.
• Occupations in the region today include agriculture, cattle rearing, and mining.
• Main crops grown in the area are maize, wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, as well as cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton.
• Sheep-rearing is significant, particularly the merino sheep known for its high-quality wool.
• Angora goats are also raised for their wool.
• Cattle-rearing is common in the wetter regions.
• The veld is rich in minerals such as coal and iron, leading to a thriving mining industry.
• The region is known for its iron and steel industry, as well as its significant deposits of gold and diamonds.
• Johannesburg is renowned as the gold capital of the world, while Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines.
• The area boasts a well-developed network of transport and communication, contributing to the growth of industries.