Semi-dry grassland (Mesobromion erecti) on a south-facing muschelkalk hillside in the Rhön Mountains, with rich communities of pasqueflower
The key characteristic of dry grasslands is that they have low-growing plants, causing the area to be quite open. They also have a mottled structure, which leads to a biome with sunny or semi-shaded areas. On top of that, their soil is relatively dry and nutrient-poor. There are, however, types of grasslands with a higher humus and nutrient content. The soil of these areas overlie acid rocks or deposits such as sands and gravels. Dry grasslands belong to different zones such as: the natural zonal or azonal/extrazonal vegetation and the semi-natural vegetation. Overall, there are 13 classes that fall under dry grasslands.
Dry grassland areas are very important to biodiversity as they contain a wide range of plant and animal species. European dry grasslands have the highest small-scale species densities amongst plant communities. This is why conservation efforts have become vital for dry grasslands, to ensure the continuance of its vast diversity and to help the many endangered species that these areas host.
Dry grasslands have an extreme variability in terms of the species that are found there. These areas contain different types of mammals and a wide range of invertebrates. Grazing animals are needed as they help to create habitat variation within the dry grassland areas.
In general, dry grasslands can be found in Europe and North-America, as well as some small parts of South America. For example, Denmark contains large areas of this type of grassland, which are characterized by short plant cover and the presence of a wide variety of flowers. In the United Kingdom, approximately 30,000 hectares of lowland acid grassland are present.
Dry grasslands are highly threatened in Europe by factors such as: destruction for other activities, abandonment of traditional use, afforestation, eutrophication, or invasion of neophytes. The European Union has dry grasslands falling under the Habitats Directive. This directive ensures that threatened animals and plant species are conserved and protected. Another reason why dry grasslands are important is because they can be used as a model system for biodiversity.
The key characteristic of drygrasslands is that they have low-growing plants, causing the area to be quite open. They also have a mottled structure, which...
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along...
Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. They are native to scrub and drygrassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America...
puna grassland (mountain tops and slopes, much colder). The puna is a diverse ecosystem that comprises varied ecoregions labeled wet/moist puna, dry puna...
(Eublepharis macularius) is a ground-dwelling gecko native to the rocky drygrassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal...
floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds living mainly in drygrassland areas and on the steppes of the Old World. They range in length from...
commonly known as black medick, nonesuch, or hop clover, is a plant of drygrassland belonging to the legume or clover family. Plants of the genus Medicago...
forb-rich meadows, low grassy meadows, low forb-rich meadows, drygrassland, rock margin grassland and bare rock flats. Alvars comprise a small percentage of...
trunks and low, branching crowns; spiny and xerophytic shrubs; and drygrassland. This is the habitat of the great Indian bustard and blackbuck, though...
Chile. The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. A steppe is a drygrassland. Subarctic climates are cold with continuous...
and bears purple flower heads. Greater knapweed is found growing in drygrasslands, hedgerows and cliffs on lime-rich soil. Upright branched stems terminate...
central Asia, North America and North Africa. Its typical habitat is drygrassland and heathland, usually on limestone or chalky soils. Though its distribution...
forests in Central and South America; open, seasonally flooded wetlands, drygrassland and historically also oak forests in the United States. It has been...
bush, and grasslands with acacias or drygrassland. It may also be found in cultivated areas and drygrassland. It is by nature a bird of dry country....
Chile. The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. A steppe is a drygrassland with an annual temperature range in the summer...
individual populations are documented, each covering just a small area of drygrassland, veld, or bare rocky ground. Different Lithops species are preferentially...
Chile. The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. A steppe is a drygrassland. Subarctic climates are cold with continuous...
year. Tropical savanna climates often feature tree-studded grasslands due to its dryness, rather than thick jungle. It is this widespread occurrence...
causes the flora on them to be sparse shrubs or grassland. In those on ancient, flat terrain, drygrassland, savanna, or rarely, rainforest can prevail....
The Central Andean dry puna (NT1001) is an ecoregion in the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, located in the Andean Altiplano (high plateau) in...
shrubs in winter, frequently near streams, but may also be found in drygrassland and woods. The Siberian accentor has brown upperparts and wings, with...
areas where the vegetation is usually scrub, thorn or dry deciduous forests, or short grasslands. In the Indian peninsula, the species is confined to plains...
shrubland. The Chalbi Desert is east of the lake. During moister times, a drygrassland appears, featuring Aristida adcensionis and A. mutabilis. During drier...
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