Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: www.dcnr.state.pa.usNatural Resources Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

WHAT IS A GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM?• A grassland ecosystem consists of plant communities comprised

mostly of herbaceous (non-woody) plants.

• Woody plants, shrubs or trees may occur on some grasslands.

• These open, sunny areas consists of warm season grasses and native wildflowers.

• Warm season grasses tend to grow in poor, well-drained soils.

• Once established, warm season grasses are drought tolerant and almost completely disease free.

• Little bluestem, purpletop, Virginia wildrye, plains Coreopsis and common milkweed are a few plant examples to be seen.

GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS:• Native grasslands attract an abundance of wildlife.

• Native grasslands provide critical habitat for a diversity of mammals and birds, such as the northern harrier which is a Pennsylvania threatened species.

• The expansive upland grasslands at the Chestnut Grove Natural Area (CGNA) make this location ideal for observing bird species that are not commonly seen in other areas in Lancaster County. Bobolinks, eastern meadowlarks and grasshopper sparrows are few examples birds to look for in these uplands.

• The Lower Susquehanna watershed supports some of the largest populations of migratory birds. The proximity of this grassland to the Susquehanna River and the ponds throughout the CGNA make this an ideal habitat for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.

TYPES OF GRASSLAND:• Lowland Grasslands are found in sub-tropic and tropic regions where they are flooded

seasonally or year round.

• Temperate Grasslands are found in North America where the temperatures do not reach extreme conditions.

• Desert Grasslands are found in areas of extreme heat and drought for long periods of time.

G R A S S L A N D E C O S Y S T E M

CGNA uplands grassland

plains Coreopsis

little bluestem

purpletop

common milkweed

everglades grasslands temperate grasslands desert grasslands

grasshopper sparrow

bobolink

Northern harrier

snow geese

Eastern cottontail