Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Grasslands shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Grasslands offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Grasslands at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Grasslands? Wrong! If the Grasslands is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Grasslands then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Grasslands? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Grasslands and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Grasslands wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Grasslands then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Grasslands site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Grasslands, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Grasslands, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas.
n grassland in the People's Republic of China.
in
Illinois.
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by
grasses (
Poaceae) and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants (
forbs). Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica, and in many other areas they have replaced the natural vegetation due to human influence. Grassland vegetation varies from that dominated solely by herbaceous species to that in which woody plants also occur and trees may be co-dominant with the grasses. In temperate latitudes, such as north-west
Europe, grasslands are dominated by perennial species, whereas in warmer climates annual species form a greater component of the vegetation. Grasslands are very varied and can be found in most terrestrial climates. Grassland vegetation can vary in height from very short, as in chalk downland where the vegetation may be less than 30 cm high, to quite tall, as in the case of North American tallgrass prairie, South American grasslands and African savannah.Grassland, shrubland and desert environments cover two-thirds of the world's land surface . In countries where modern agriculture has not destroyed wild grasslands, the greatest diversity of grazing animals and predators on the planet calls these open habitats their home. Grassland habitats appeared on Earth some 70 or 80 million years ago.
As flowering plants, grasses grow in great concentrations in climates where annual rainfall ranges between 10 and 39 inches . The root systems of perennial grasses and forbs form complex mats that hold the soil in place. Mites, insect larvae, nematodes and earthworms inhabit deep soil, which can reach 20 feet underground in undisturbed grasslands on the richest soils of the world. These invertebrates, along with symbiotic fungi, extend the root systems, break apart hard soil, enrich it with urea and other natural fertilizers, trap minerals and water and promote growth (Chadwick 1995). Some types of fungi make the plants more resistant to insect and microbial attacks.
Climate and grasslands
Grasslands receive about 380 to 900 mm (15 to 36 in) of rain per year compared to deserts, which receive less than 300 mm (12 in) and tropical rainforests, which receive more than 2,000 mm (80 in). While extreme temperatures may occur in some grasslands, normally they range between -20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Tropical grasslands have dry and wet seasons, but remain warm all the time. Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers with rain or some snow. Since some grasses die back above ground annually, the
soil and the sod protect the roots and the new buds from the cold of winter or dry conditions.
Grassland biodiversity and conservation
The true grasslands are those where wild-plant communities naturally occur. This is where grasslands have remained undisturbed by agricultural improvement. In many parts of the world, examples that have escaped agricultural improvement (fertilising, weed killing, ploughing or re-seeding) contain many species of wild plants - grasses, sedges, rushes and herbaceous species - 25 or more species per square metre is not unusual. However, such examples, such as original North American prairie or lowland meadows in the UK, are now rare and their associated wild flora equally threatened. Associated with the wild-plant diversity of the "unimproved" grasslands is usually a rich invertebrate fauna; also there are many species of birds that are grassland "specialists" - for example
snipe, or the
Great Bustard. Agricultural grasslands are usually poor in wild plant species due to the original diversity of plants having been destroyed by cultivation, the original wild-plant communities having been replaced by sown monocultures of cultivated varieties of grasses and clovers, such as
Perennial ryegrass and White Clover. In many parts of the world "unimproved" grasslands are one of the most threatened habitats, and a target for acquisition by wildlife conservation groups or for special grants to landowners who are encouraged to manage them appropriately.
Human impact and economic importance
Grasslands are of vital importance for raising livestock for human consumption and for milk and other dairy products.
Grassland vegetation remains dominant in a particular area usually due to grazing, cutting (such as for hay), or natural or man-made fires, all discouraging colonisation by and survival of tree and shrub seedlings. Fire was used in North America by the Native Americans as a means of maintaining grassland. Some of the world's largest expanses of grassland are found in African savannah, and these are maintained by wild herbivores as well as by nomadic pastoralists and their cattle, sheep or goats.
Grasslands may occur naturally or as the result of human activity. Grasslands created and maintained by human activity are called
anthropogenic grasslands. Hunting peoples around the world often set regular fires to maintain and extend grasslands, and prevent fire-intolerant trees and shrubs from taking hold. The tallgrass
prairies in the American Midwest may have been extended eastward into Illinois, Indiana, and
Ohio by human agency. Much grassland in north-west Europe developed after the Neolithic Period, when people gradually cleared the forest to create areas for raising their livestock.
Types of grassland
Tropical and subtropical grasslands
These grasslands are classified with tropical and subtropical
savannas and shrublands as the
tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. Notable tropical and subtropical grasslands include the
Llanos grasslands of northern
South America.
Temperate grasslands
Mid-latitude grasslands, including the
Prairie of
North America, the Pampa of
Argentina, calcareous
downland, and the
steppes of
Europe. They are classified with temperate savannas and shrublands as the
temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. Temperate grasslands are the home to many large herbivores, such as
bison,
gazelles, zebras,
rhinoceroses, and
wild horses.
Carnivores like lions, wolf and cheetahs are also found in temperate grasslands. Other animals of this region include:
deer,
prairie dogs, mouse, jack rabbits,
skunks, coyotes, snakes,
fox,
owls, badgers,
blackbirds, grasshoppers, meadowlarks, sparrows,
quails, and
hawks.
Flooded grasslands
Grasslands that are flooded seasonally or year-round, like the Everglades of
Florida or the Pantanal of Brazil,
Bolivia and Paraguay. They are classified with flooded savannas as the flooded grasslands and savannas biome and occur mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
Montane grasslands
High-altitude grasslands located on high mountain ranges around the world, like the
Páramo of the
Andes Mountains. They are part of the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, and also constitute alpine tundra.
Polar grasslands
Similar to montane grasslands,
arctic tundra can have grasses. However high soil moisture means that few tundras are grass-dominated today. However, during the Pleistocene
ice ages, a polar grassland known as
steppe-tundra occupied large areas of the Northern hemisphere.
Xeric grasslands
Also called
desert grasslands, these are sparse grasslands located in deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregions.Grasslands have great biological diversity and stability; they are able to resist plant disease and drought. As such, they represent invaluable genetic banks. This diversity is being studied by scientists around the world and consequently uncovering chemical and biological secrets. Agriculture and other food production will profit from this emerging knowledge.
See also
References
tallgrass prairie in the
Flint Hills of northeastern
Kansas.
n grassland in the
People's Republic of China.
in
Illinois.
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by
grasses (Poaceae) and other
herbaceous (non-woody) plants (
forbs). Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica, and in many other areas they have replaced the natural vegetation due to human influence. Grassland vegetation varies from that dominated solely by herbaceous species to that in which woody plants also occur and trees may be co-dominant with the grasses. In temperate latitudes, such as north-west
Europe, grasslands are dominated by perennial species, whereas in warmer climates annual species form a greater component of the vegetation. Grasslands are very varied and can be found in most terrestrial climates. Grassland vegetation can vary in height from very short, as in chalk downland where the vegetation may be less than 30 cm high, to quite tall, as in the case of North American tallgrass prairie, South American grasslands and African savannah.Grassland, shrubland and desert environments cover two-thirds of the world's land surface . In countries where modern agriculture has not destroyed wild grasslands, the greatest diversity of grazing animals and predators on the planet calls these open habitats their home. Grassland habitats appeared on Earth some 70 or 80 million years ago.
As flowering plants, grasses grow in great concentrations in climates where annual rainfall ranges between 10 and 39 inches . The root systems of perennial grasses and forbs form complex mats that hold the soil in place. Mites, insect larvae, nematodes and earthworms inhabit deep soil, which can reach 20 feet underground in undisturbed grasslands on the richest soils of the world. These invertebrates, along with symbiotic fungi, extend the root systems, break apart hard soil, enrich it with urea and other natural fertilizers, trap minerals and water and promote growth (Chadwick 1995). Some types of fungi make the plants more resistant to insect and microbial attacks.
Climate and grasslands
Grasslands receive about 380 to 900 mm (15 to 36 in) of rain per year compared to deserts, which receive less than 300 mm (12 in) and
tropical rainforests, which receive more than 2,000 mm (80 in). While extreme temperatures may occur in some grasslands, normally they range between -20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Tropical grasslands have dry and wet seasons, but remain warm all the time. Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers with rain or some snow. Since some grasses die back above ground annually, the soil and the sod protect the roots and the new buds from the cold of winter or dry conditions.
Grassland biodiversity and conservation
The true grasslands are those where wild-plant communities naturally occur. This is where grasslands have remained undisturbed by agricultural improvement. In many parts of the world, examples that have escaped agricultural improvement (fertilising, weed killing, ploughing or re-seeding) contain many species of wild plants - grasses, sedges, rushes and herbaceous species - 25 or more species per square metre is not unusual. However, such examples, such as original North American prairie or lowland meadows in the UK, are now rare and their associated wild flora equally threatened. Associated with the wild-plant diversity of the "unimproved" grasslands is usually a rich invertebrate fauna; also there are many species of birds that are grassland "specialists" - for example
snipe, or the Great Bustard. Agricultural grasslands are usually poor in wild plant species due to the original diversity of plants having been destroyed by cultivation, the original wild-plant communities having been replaced by sown monocultures of cultivated varieties of grasses and clovers, such as
Perennial ryegrass and White
Clover. In many parts of the world "unimproved" grasslands are one of the most threatened habitats, and a target for acquisition by wildlife conservation groups or for special grants to landowners who are encouraged to manage them appropriately.
Human impact and economic importance
Grasslands are of vital importance for raising livestock for human consumption and for milk and other dairy products.
Grassland vegetation remains dominant in a particular area usually due to grazing, cutting (such as for hay), or natural or man-made fires, all discouraging colonisation by and survival of tree and shrub seedlings. Fire was used in North America by the Native Americans as a means of maintaining grassland. Some of the world's largest expanses of grassland are found in African savannah, and these are maintained by wild herbivores as well as by nomadic pastoralists and their cattle, sheep or goats.
Grasslands may occur naturally or as the result of human activity. Grasslands created and maintained by human activity are called
anthropogenic grasslands. Hunting peoples around the world often set regular fires to maintain and extend grasslands, and prevent fire-intolerant trees and shrubs from taking hold. The tallgrass
prairies in the American Midwest may have been extended eastward into Illinois,
Indiana, and
Ohio by human agency. Much grassland in north-west Europe developed after the Neolithic Period, when people gradually cleared the forest to create areas for raising their livestock.
Types of grassland
Tropical and subtropical grasslands
These grasslands are classified with tropical and subtropical
savannas and
shrublands as the
tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. Notable tropical and subtropical grasslands include the
Llanos grasslands of northern
South America.
Temperate grasslands
Mid-latitude grasslands, including the
Prairie of
North America, the
Pampa of Argentina, calcareous
downland, and the
steppes of
Europe. They are classified with temperate savannas and shrublands as the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. Temperate grasslands are the home to many large herbivores, such as
bison, gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, and
wild horses.
Carnivores like
lions, wolf and
cheetahs are also found in temperate grasslands. Other animals of this region include: deer, prairie dogs,
mouse, jack rabbits, skunks,
coyotes,
snakes,
fox, owls, badgers, blackbirds, grasshoppers,
meadowlarks, sparrows,
quails, and
hawks.
Flooded grasslands
Grasslands that are flooded seasonally or year-round, like the
Everglades of Florida or the Pantanal of
Brazil,
Bolivia and Paraguay. They are classified with flooded savannas as the flooded grasslands and savannas biome and occur mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
Montane grasslands
High-altitude grasslands located on high
mountain ranges around the world, like the
Páramo of the Andes Mountains. They are part of the
montane grasslands and shrublands biome, and also constitute alpine tundra.
Polar grasslands
Similar to montane grasslands, arctic tundra can have grasses. However high soil moisture means that few tundras are grass-dominated today. However, during the
Pleistocene ice ages, a polar grassland known as steppe-tundra occupied large areas of the Northern hemisphere.
Xeric grasslands
Also called
desert grasslands, these are sparse grasslands located in deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregions.Grasslands have great biological diversity and stability; they are able to resist plant disease and drought. As such, they represent invaluable genetic banks. This diversity is being studied by scientists around the world and consequently uncovering chemical and biological secrets. Agriculture and other food production will profit from this emerging knowledge.
See also
References
Welcome to Grasslands
WELCOME TO GRASSLANDS LTD . Cultivating nearly 1,000 acres of prime land on Kent’s Romney Marsh, Grasslands Ltd is not only the South’s largest turf growing enterprise, but ...
Grasslands Biome
Sea of Grass. About one quarter of the earth's land is in the grasslands. This biome can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
The Grasslands Trust
Project Updates. This year we have commissioned two wildlife photographers - Bob Gibbons and David Woodfall, to capture Carmel across the seasons.
Welcome to Shrubs Direct
Grasslands Nursery website shrubsdirect.com supliers of plants, shrubs, trees, and specimen plants from 2ltr upto 600ltr. The largest selection in the North West, possibly the ...
Neutral grasslands
Condition assessment of Common Standards Monitoring habitat reporting category Neutral grassland
Blackpool Zoo :: Hot Grasslands :: Home to over 1500 animals from all ...
Blackpool Zoo is a fantastic day out!!! A huge tourist attraction and home to over 1500 animals from all over the world. With lions, tigers, elephants, gorillas, orang utans ...
Calcareous grasslands - lowland
Condition assessment of Common Standards Monitoring habitat reporting category - Calcareous grassland - lowland
WWF - Grasslands
Grasslands develop wherever rainfall is not high enough to produce a forest nor light enough to form a desert. There are few trees in true grasslands, either because the climate is ...
TROPICAL GRASSLANDS (SAVANNAH)
TROPICAL GRASSLANDS (SAVANNAH) Location; · Mainly between latitudes 5 ° and 15 ° north and south of the Equator. · Interior of continents, e.g. the Llanos ...
West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre - Grasslands
West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre ... Grasslands. map generated from Phase 1 vegetation survey of Wales (Countryside Council for Wales)
