Natural Temperate Grasslands by Agnes Shales https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb By Agnes Shales, Ananda Geller, & Alex Cooke en-us 2022-11-07 14:34:36 UTC 2026-01-26 06:07:35 UTC hello@padlet.com Story: How This Biome Sequesters Carbon 23shalesa https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2373242457 Natural grasslands have deep root systems which make up a majority of their biomass. Deep root systems deposite carbon collected during cellular respiration into the soil. The deeper the roots, the deeper down the carbon is deposited. This is important because carbon sequestration rates increase with depth. More diversity of grasses creates a sustainable form of long-term carbon storage that benefits the organisms in the area and makes a diverse micro organism community. (Source: National Geographic )]]> 2022-11-07 15:00:01 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2373242457 Bibliography 23shalesa https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2373264087 Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
National Geographic
National Geographic
Bai and Cotrufo 2022
U.S Forest Service

]]> 2022-11-07 15:11:26 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2373264087 Data 23gellera https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2375671845
  • Grasslands cover 25% of Earth’s land surface
  • 12% of global terrestrial carbon sinks
  • 80% of the carbon stored is in the soil
    • (Source: U.S. Forest Service)
    • 2.3 to 7.3 billion tons of CO2 sequestered annually
    (Source: Bai and Cotrufo 2022)


    ]]>     2022-11-08 20:33:32 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2375671845     Story: What human activities or global changes are threatening to transform the sink into a source? 23gellera https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2375678020 Grasslands are used intensively for food production by humans. Cultivation, animal grazing, and crop production lead to soil disruption and land degradation. (Source: U.S. Forest Service)]]> 2022-11-08 20:38:36 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2375678020 Story: In what form is carbon released or could be released into the atmosphere (CO2 or CH4 or both) from this sink? 23gellera https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2375680814 The alteration of soil and the erosion of grasslands via human activity disrupts the soil structure. This exposes organic carbon compounds in the soil that would have remained underground otherwise. These compounds are surfaced and exposed to decomposition, releasing both CO2 and CH4. (Source: U.S. Forest Service)]]> 2022-11-08 20:41:28 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2375680814 Map: Threatened Temperate Grasslands 23cookea https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2378641799 This is a map showing the biomes of Earth. The tan shades represent Temperate Grasslands, and grasslands in The Great Plains, The Asian Steppe, and Australia, all under threat of agricultural conversion, are marked by an X.]]> 2022-11-10 13:48:14 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2378641799 Story: What are the potential consequences globally if the sink becomes a source? 23shalesa https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2378653918 If natural temperate grasslands become a carbon source rather than a carbon sink the global consequences would be disastrous. Not only would the carbon storage of these areas be lost but entire ecosystems would be destroyed. Specific consequences would be erosion and soil compacting due to the loss of root systems, more carbon released into the atmosphere, and loss of plant and animal species as well as their habitat. (Source: National Geographic)]]> 2022-11-10 13:55:22 UTC https://padlet.com/23shalesa/91gfxcaxs4c0zvgb/wish/2378653918