tallgrass prairie

ecology

Also known as: true prairie

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Tallgrass prairie, also known as true prairie, is a type of grassland found in the eastern, more humid regions of North America's prairie ecosystem. It is characterized by rich soil and tall perennial grasses like big bluestem and prairie cordgrass, with shorter bunchgrasses on drier sites.1

Historically, natural factors such as high summer temperatures, winds, drought, and accumulated dead vegetation led to frequent fires that prevented trees from becoming abundant. These fertile soils are now largely cultivated for crops like corn and wheat, or used for grazing, leaving little native tallgrass prairie remaining except in protected areas.1

Rangelands, which include prairies, are extensive areas grazed by herbivores. Fire is a significant regulator of rangeland vegetation, favoring grasses over trees and shrubs. Overgrazing and invasive species are major threats to rangelands, leading to soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and desertification.2

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prairie
Tallgrass prairie, sometimes called true prairie, is found in the eastern, more humid region of the prairie that borders deciduous forest. The rich soil is laced with the deep roots of sod-forming tallgrasses such as big bluestem and prairie cordgrass (see photograph), or slough grass,…
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Tallgrass prairie, sometimes called true prairie, is found in the eastern, more humid region of the prairie that borders deciduous forest. The rich soil is laced with the deep roots of sod-forming tallgrasses such as big bluestem and prairie cordgrass (see photograph), or slough grass,…
Read More