Steppe: What is, climate, flora and fauna

The steppes are a biomathat is, a set of terrestrial ecosystems characteristic of an area that are defined by the weather and the animal and plant species that inhabit there. We can say that A steppe is a type of terrestrial ecosystem which is characterized by having low vegetation, scarce rainfall and a climate of continental arid. Here are some of the main features of the steppe:

• They are located in various parts of the worldsuch as North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
• Presents semi -desert characteristics, therefore the steppe climate is continental arid, dry, where rainfall is low and vary approximately 250 to 500 millimeters. Temperature differences between summer and winter are pronounced presenting an annual average between 5 and 18 degrees. Veranos are generally warm and dry and cold winters with rains and even snowfall.
• The soils of the semi -desert steparium are fragileThey contain many minerals and a low percentage of organic matter, which makes them very productive for human being. These can be brown or whitish, indicating that there is the presence of salts. In those areas that have greater vegetation, “Chernozems” are formed, a type of black land that is produced by the accumulation of organic matter that does not break down or does it slowly due to the reigning conditions (drought and low temperatures for much of the year). This matter results in a dark humus on the upper horizon and transforms these soils into productive. In other sites, “chancenoeze” that have a lower percentage of humus and a high content of iron oxides.
• The vegetation is low, herbaceous and shrub adapted to long periods of water shortage.
• Fauna is represented by Large mammals (both herbivores and carnivores), small mammals as rodents, numerous species of Birds, insects and some reptiles. The presence of amphibians in these environments is very scarce due to the lack of water.

We recommend you read about the different types of terrestrial ecosystems and examples.

Within the steppes, as in other biomes, there are plant species that condition the presence of other species. In the steppe the so -called dominant species are grassesherbaceous plants such as those belonging to Stipa, Festuca and Poa genres. Their roots form a dense network that allows them to absorb water more effectively. Its growth is rapid so when the stem and leaves dry when they reach dry season, the plant has completed its life cycle accumulating necessary reserves in its roots and dispersing its seeds.

In addition to the grasses, there are other herbaceous adapted to the conditions presented by the steppe: The Terophytesthat they fulfill their cycle and release their seeds when the dry season begins, and The geophyteswhich are plants that exceed the unfavorable era due to the reserves that accumulate in their roots, bulbs or tubers.

There are also shrub steppes where they dominate Low -height bushesachaparrados or in the form of a cushion with its reduced leaves or void and strong thorns.

The flora of these environments is adapted to the conditions of humidity deficit, low and high temperatures, frosts and strong winds.

We recommend reading these other articles about what grasses and thickets are: what are, types and fauna.

• Large herbivorous mammals: The European bison, the American bison, the native antílopes of Africa, the guanacos distributed in South America and the wild horses of the Asian continent.
• Rodent mammals: The Biscay, the Chinchillones, the Maras and the Prakes of the Prairies, all native species of South America. Marmotas are typical in Asia’s steppes.
• Carnivorous mammals: The puma, the gray and red foxes, monkey cat and pajonal cat originating in America.
• Birds: There are numerous species of birds that occupy the steppe bioma such as the Patagonian Choique, the Andean condor, partridges such as the southern partridge, quail, aguiluchos and Águilas, Negutas, among many more.
• Reptiles: like lizards and snakes.
• Insects: There is a wide variety of species of insects that live between the vegetation of the steppes and that serve as food to some animals, such as insectivorous birds.

Patagonian steppe

The Patagonian steppe constitutes an ecoregion of Argentina in South America that occupies about 53,446,000 hectares. There the soils are poor, scarce rainfall, there are frosts during almost the whole year and winds are very strong. The typical vegetation is of achaparrad and low bushes, in the form of a cushion, surrounded by naked soil areas.

Here you can meet more animals in Patagonia.

Eastern Europe Estepa

Eastern Europe steppes usually begin their annual cycle with the melting of snow and defrosting of the soil. This allows rapid development of plants of the Carex, Pulsatilla, Adonis, Hyacinthus, Iris, Tulipa genres, usually geophytes that have reserves in their roots and can develop rapidly during the favorable time.

North American Estepa

Distributed from southern Canada to northern Mexico, the American steppes are commonly called short grass grasslands and are characterized by presenting a landscape of herbaceous species with isolated bushes, whose most important species are of the genus Buchlöe and Bouteloou. Temperature and moisture variations causes much of the species of animals that live there have excavating habits.

Asian steppe

The Asian steppe is characterized by the climate conditions of the most extreme steppe, with hot summers and cold and dry winters. As in other steppes, the characteristic vegetation is xerophilic, plants adapted to strong droughts.

If you want to read more articles similar to Steppe: What is, climate, flora and faunawe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.