Consumers in temperate grassland:
Plant:
Grasses are the dominant vegetation. Trees and large shrubs are largely absent. Seasonal drought, occasional fires and grazing by large mammals all prevent woody shrubs and trees from becoming established. A few trees such as cottonwoods, oaks and willows grow in river valleys, and a few hundred species of flowers grow among the grasses. The various species of grasses include purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta. Flowers include asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, psoraleas, and wild indigos.
Animal:
Temperate grasslands have a low diversity of wildlife, but a high abundance of wildlife. In North America the dominant grazing animals are bisons and pronghorn. Rodents include pocket gophers and prairie dogs. Carnivores include wolves, coyotes,swift floggers, badgers and black-footed farrets. Birds include grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks and owls.
