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Grasses are the most common plants in grasslands, but there are many types, and grasslands are not all the same. The grasslands include prairies, steppes, pampas, savanna, tropical grasslands of South America, Australian grasslands, and upland grasslands. Presenting the geography, geology, climates, and history of grasslands, this volume offers a basic introduction to their development and function. Offering a balanced account of the history and future of these areas, "Grasslands" provides a thorough exploration of a habitat found across the globe in many different forms. Uses for grasslands include cereal farming, livestock farming, cattle ranching, forestry, and biofuel production, some of which threaten the balance of grassland ecosystems. Offering completely current information, "Grasslands" concludes by emphasizing the necessity of conservation and preservation for these threatened areas.
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BIOMES OF THE EARTH GRASSLANDS Michael Allaby Illustrations by Richard Garratt Grasslands Copyright © 2006 by Michael Allaby All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Chelsea House An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-5323-0 ISBN-10: 0-8160-5323-5 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Allaby, Michael. Grasslands / author, Michael Allaby ; illustrations by Richard Garratt. p. cm.—(Biomes of the Earth) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8160-5323-5 1. Grassland ecology—Juvenile literature. 2. Grasslands—Juvenile literature. I. Garratt, Richard, ill. II. Title. III. Series. QH541.5.P7A38 2006 577.4—dc22 2005005615 Chelsea Hous