Grassland+Conservation

= Grassland Conservation! =

By Camden P. and Emily D.!
Conservation is a very important topic to include. Every biome has conservation issues, including our Grassland biome. Human impact plays a big role in the grassland biome. They have caused many problems, yet solved many problems. Farming is a big problem in grassland biomes. Poor agricultural practices ruin grassland soil, leaving it bare and without nutrients; causing it to turn to dust and not usable for many years. Cattle and Livestock ranchers have also ruined grassland soil. Overgrazing has caused animals to compete for food; many starving, and unable to survive. Human impact has also had a positive outcome: Humans burn grasslands, which accelerates the decomposition of the plants in a grassland biome. This helps the soil, giving it more nutrients for more plants to grow. The plants are healthier, and once they grow to a generous age, they are burned again to complete the process once more. This proves that sometimes human impact CAN be a good thing.

However sometimes there are problems that can't be solved naturally. Humans need to address these problems, before they get out of hand. Nitrogen pollution accumulates in grassland and can affect plant diversity. It is in the soil from years ago, and it will take many years for the soil to get "cleaned up." Nitrogen is good, but too much of it can damage the ecosystem. Nitrogen pollution can cause a decline in flowering plants, making certain types of grasses more dominant. A way we can and will solve this is by making advanced waste treatment plants to treat it. We are using aeration to help get rid of the pollution.

Another problem affecting the grassland biome is the invasive species Yellow Star-Thistle. An invasive species is a plant or an animal that is not native to the area it is living in, and whose introduction to the environment causes harm to the other organisms living there. Yellow Star-Thistle has infested millions of acres in natural grasslands, while at the same time it is crowding out the rare Mariposa Lily. It also absorbs water in the soil, creating artificial drought conditions, increases erosion, can grow to 2 meters in height and more than that in diameter, is toxic to horses, and reduces space for other plants and animals to live. If it continues to spread, Yellow Star-thistle will take over any living space there is.

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