Series: Grasslands of the American Southwest

Natural grassland ecosystems across the United States are diverse, shaped and governed by a range of floristic, edaphic, physiographic, and climatic factors. North American grasslands, which are between 30˚ and 60˚ latitude and include the grasslands of the American Southwest, are considered temperate grasslands.

• Article 1: Grasslands of the American Southwest - Introduction and Grassland Types

  

  Temperate grasslands are characterized by seasonal temperature extremes, an annual dry season, and grass-dominated vegetative cover. Read more

• Article 2: Grasslands of the American Southwest - Climate and Soil Influences

  

  The structure and function of grassland ecosystems across the Southwestern United States are influenced by attributes including climate and soils. Ecosystem structure refers to the spatial arrangement of the living and nonliving elements of an ecosystem, and ecosystem function refers to the processes where the living and nonliving elements of ecosystems change and interact. Read more

• Article 3: Grasslands of the American Southwest - Major Functional Groups of Organisms

  

  The structure and function of grasslands across the American Southwest are also influenced by major functional groups of organisms. Read more

• Article 4: Grasslands of the American Southwest - Disturbance Regimes

  

  Disturbance regimes are the fourth major influence on the structure and function of grasslands across the Southwestern United States. Read more

• Article 5: Grasslands of the American Southwest - References

  

  Previous chapters cite many references, all of which are listed in this final chapter. Read more