CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Which of the following statements describes a grassland biome?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Temperate grasslands:
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Which of the following is NOT a cause of desertification of rangeland?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Pastoralists:
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
A program that pays farmers to take sensitive areas out of production and plant them with grasses or trees instead is a:
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Shelterbelts are:
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
WORK WITH IDEAS
What is a grassland? How and why do grasslands differ worldwide?
Describe the major threats to grasslands and explain the factors that underlie these threats.
How does grazing by native herbivores impact grassland ecosystems?
What are the differences between pastoralist grazers and ranchers? Which is better for the grassland and how do we know this?
What is overgrazing and how can it damage a grassland? Why is undergrazing just as problematic as overgrazing?
Planned grazing can make ranching activities mutually beneficial to both the livestock and the grassland ecosystem, yet it is a risky venture for ranchers in Canada and the United States. Why is this? Why are some farmers hesitant to change? What trade-offs do they face?