The flora and fauna of the steppe have adapted to the semi-arid and cold climate that characterizes this type of ecosystems. Steppes occur in temperate climates located between the tropics and polar regions.
Temperate regions have distinctive seasonal temperature changes: icy winters and very warm summers.
Steppes are similar to savannahs while both are grassland types. However, there are certain differences.
Firstly they differ in their location. Steppes are farther from the equator and less warm. Therefore, l precipitations are received in a dispersed and uniform manner throughout the year.
In the savannas, however, rains are mainly received in the wet season. In addition, under their dry conditions, a smaller number of large plants can take root.
The steppe biome is found on all continents except in Australia and Antarctica.
As they are far from the ocean and close to the mountain barriers, there is not much humidity in the air. The flora and fauna of the steppe must experience long droughts and violent winds.
Sometimes summers are so hot that the vegetation burns. These forest fires and the hand of man have seriously endangered the flora and fauna of the steppe.
Flora
Most plants in steppes are plants that can tolerate little rain and other resources.
A large percentage of vegetation in the steppes is made up of pastures separated into three different groups, depending on the amount of rainfall they receive.
The pastures near the forest reach up to a little more than one meter. Second, those close to the deserts can reach half a meter. Finally, the mixed grasses grow between one and a half meters high.
In addition to the pastures other plants are developed. For example, in the steppes of Eurasia grow the rhubarb, the estepicursores and the grass of smell.
On the other hand, in the humid zones formed by the melted snow of the western steppes poplars and aspens can be found, forming small forests.
Also, in the South American steppe lives a very rare and exceptional plant: the Raimondi titan (puya raimondii).
This is a typical plant of the Puna ecoregion, the Andean steppe of Peru and Bolivia, which usually blooms and bears when it is more than a hundred years old.
Fauna
Many of the animals living in steppe are grazing. Smaller animals have little defense of predators.
Since it is a very open environment, these predators can find animals quickly. One way to protect oneself is by forming herds or burrowing.
Due to the lack of hiding places and the need to migrate in search of new pastures, many herbivores of the steppe have grown to a huge size. In addition, they have adapted in an exceptional way to run and have very keen senses.
The herbivores typical of the steppe are the European and North American bison, the horse (native of the Asian steppes) and the American antelope (native of the prairies of North America).
You can also find the guanaco, typical of the Argentine steppes; and the deer of the pampas, which inhabits the South American pampas.
References
- Steppe. (2011, June 5). In National Geographic. Retrieved on October 26, 2017, from nationalgeographic.org
- Osborne, A. (2017, April 25). Differences Between Steppes & Savannas. Retrieved on October 26, 2017, from sciencing.com
- N., M.E. (2000). Steppe. In Blue Planet. Retrieved on October 26, 2017, from blueplanetbiomes.org
- Plants and animals. (s / f). Retrieved on October 26, 2017, from nlaver19steppe.weebly.com
- Steppe biome. (s / f). Eni Scuola. Retrieved on October 26, 2017, from eniscuola.net