Prairie

Prairie refers to a broad expanse of temperate grassland ecosystems dominated by herbaceous grasses with few or no trees. Prairies are shaped by fire and grazing, with climate characterized by warm summers and cold winters, and moderate to low precipitation that varies regionally.

The term is most often used for North American grasslands that stretch from southern Canada to northern Mexico, especially the tallgrass, mixed-grass, and shortgrass prairies of the Great Plains. Related ecosystems exist in Eurasia (steppes), South America (pampas), and southern Africa (veld).

Prairie soils are typically deep, fertile Mollisols formed under perennial grasses. Vegetation is adapted to drought and fire, with deep rooting and rapid post-fire regeneration. Fire historically prevented tree encroachment and maintained grassland dominance. Plant diversity tends to increase with rainfall; tallgrass prairies host a variety of grasses and forbs, while shorter grass communities are more drought-tolerant.

Dominant grasses include big bluestem, switchgrass, and little bluestem; forbs and wildflowers add diversity. Historically, large herbivores such as bison and elk grazed across prairies; various bird species, including prairie chickens, and numerous insects also rely on the habitat.

Indigenous peoples used fire to manage prairies; European settlement led to widespread conversion to agriculture, especially on the Great Plains. Modern conservation and restoration aim to reestablish fire regimes, diverse native plants, and sustainable grazing; protected areas exist in several countries.

Major threats include cropland conversion, overgrazing, invasive species, fragmentation, and climate change; restoration often relies on prescribed burns, native seeding, and habitat restoration.