Grassland ecosystems are terrestrial biomes dominated by herbaceous vegetation, primarily grasses (Poaceae), with sparse tree or shrub cover, shaped by climate, fire regimes, soil properties, and large herbivore grazing. They exhibit high belowground biomass and root turnover, playing a major role in carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and water regulation. Structurally, grasslands are characterized by open canopies, seasonal productivity pulses, and strong coupling between disturbance and primary production. They support specialized plant–herbivore–microbe interactions, including mycorrhizal associations and grazing-adapted floras, and are central to research on biodiversity maintenance, trophic dynamics, land-use change, and climate–vegetation feedbacks across temperate, tropical, and arid regions.
An international study led by the University of Liège proposes a new map of the potential for natural vegetation on Earth, far beyond forests. By incorporating the role of fire and herbivores, researchers are paving the way ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 18, 2025
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124
Imagine a prairie. How many plant species do you see? Maybe you're picturing yellow coneflowers, some little bluestem, perhaps a few asters. But plant ecologists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say these ecosystems ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 17, 2025
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48
Forests, grasslands, and other natural areas around the world have access to about a quarter less nitrogen than previously estimated, according to a new study published in Nature.
Ecology
Jul 16, 2025
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40
When sunlight hits clouds or other atmospheric particles, it scatters and becomes diffuse light. Unlike direct sunlight, diffuse light can reach deeper into shaded plant canopies, where plants have dense, layered leaves. ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 14, 2025
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21
Many European ecosystems—whether it's forests, rivers, fields, or meadows—are in poor condition. Despite all conservation efforts, biodiversity continues to decline. However, experts are hopeful that this could change.
Plants & Animals
Jul 14, 2025
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47
Villages, often separated from larger towns and cities, consist of clusters of households and a few public buildings. Despite their long history, the biodiversity of European villages has been understudied compared to urban ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 4, 2025
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98
A study led by the UAB and the CREAF shows that the loss of nitrogen from Arctic soil not only deprives plants of a vital nutrient but also contributes, proportionally and irreversibly, to increased CO2 emissions. The study ...
Environment
Jul 2, 2025
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31
Moderate cattle grazing on public lands does not reduce sage-grouse nest success, according to a newly published 10-year University of Idaho study. The findings suggest sage-grouse and cows can coexist on the same land in ...
Ecology
Jun 25, 2025
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24
A new long-term study from Hungary shows that seeding native plants can effectively reduce annual invasive species in restored sand grasslands, but perennial invaders remain a persistent challenge.
Plants & Animals
Jun 17, 2025
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18
Ecosystem responses to global change are often nonlinear. Ecological thresholds are tipping points beyond which small changes in environmental conditions can have disproportionate effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 16, 2025
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