Prärie

Prärie, or prairie, refers to temperate grassland landscapes characterized by vast open horizons, few trees, and a climate that favors grasses over woody plants. In North America, the prairie biome extends across the Great Plains from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The climate is typically continental, with cold winters, warm summers, and moderate precipitation that supports grasses rather than forests. Soils are often fertile and can be deep and loamy or loess-derived, contributing to high agricultural productivity when converted to cropland.

Subtypes of prairies reflect variation in precipitation and disturbance. Tallgrass prairie occurs in the eastern part of the range where rainfall is higher, with tall grasses such as big bluestem, Indian grass, and switchgrass. Mixed-grass prairie lies in the central zone and contains a mix of tall and short grasses. Shortgrass prairie dominates the drier western parts and features drought-tolerant species like blue grama and buffalo grass. In North America, these subtypes form a continuum from eastern moist plains to western arid plains.

Ecology and disturbance have long shaped prairies. Fire regimes and grazing by native herbivores historically maintained openness, suppressed woody encroachment, and sustained plant and animal diversity. European settlement and agricultural development reduced prairie extent, fragmenting habitat and altering fire cycles. Conservation and restoration efforts—protected reserves, tallgrass prairie restorations, and restoration of fire regimes—aim to conserve remaining prairie remnants and reestablish ecological processes.

Fauna of prairies includes species adapted to open grasslands, such as the plains bison (historic), pronghorn, prairie dogs, and numerous grassland birds like meadowlarks and various hawks and owls. In other regions, grasslands such as the steppes of Eurasia or the pampas of South America are distinct biomes, though the term prairie is sometimes used informally to describe similar open grasslands.