Grassland ecosystem

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Lesson 13: Types of ecosystems

Grassland ecosystem

It occupies 19% of the earth’s surface. It covers areas where rainfall is low and or the soil depth and quality is poor. This area comprises of different types of grasses with a little amount of shrubs and trees. Main vegetation is grasses, legumes and members of composite family. Many grazing animals, herbivores and insectivores are found in grasslands.


  1. Abiotic components: These are the nutrients present in soil and aerial environment. Thus the elements like C, H, O, N, P, S etc are supplied by carbon dioxide, water, nitrates, phosphates and sulphates etc. present in air and soil of the area.

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  2. Biotic component:
    1. Producers: They are mainly grasses. Besides them a few shrubs also
      contribute to primary production.

    2. Consumers:
      Primary consumers:
      Grazing animals such as cows, buffaloes, deers, sheep, rabbit, mouse etc. feed on the leaves of grasses. Besides them, there are also some insects, termites and millipeds.
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    3. Secondary consumers: These include herbivore consuming animals like fox, jackal, snakes, frogs, lizards, birds etc.
      Tertiary consumers:
      Hawks and some insects feed on the secondary consumers.

    4. Decomposers: Fungi and bacteria were active in the decay of dead organic matter of different forms of higher life and bring about the minerals back to the soil, thus making them available to the producers

      Types of grasslands in India
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Last modified: Wednesday, 4 January 2012, 5:34 AM