Grassland

Grassland is one of several types of terrestrial biomes, where grasses form the predominant vegetation, usually mixed with herbs and sometimes with shrubs, but usually without trees. Grasslands dotted with trees are called Savanna.

Grasslands usually get 250-750 mm (10-30 inches) of rainfall annually. Fires, natural and human-caused, are important in the maintenance of many grasslands.

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. Other anthropogenic grasslands include Pasture, where forest or shrublands were cleared to create land for intensive grazing.

Tropical and subtropical 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 are mid-latitude grasslands, including the Prairie of North America, the Pampa of Argentina, calcerous Downland, and the steppes of Eurasia. They are classified with temperate savannas and shrublands as the Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.

Flooded grasslands are grasslands that are flooded seasonally or year-round, like the Everglades of Florida or the Pantanal of Bolivia and Paraguay. They are classified with flooded savannas as the Flooded grasslands and savannas biome, which occurs mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Montane grasslands are 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.

Xeric grasslands or desert grasslands are sparse grasslands located in Deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregions.