Prairie

Preface

Chapter 1: Where Is Here?
A tour of the Great Plains of North America—where they are, what ecoregions they include, and how they have changed over the last few hundred years.

Chapter 2: Digging for the Past
A look beneath the surface of the earth at the geological upheavals of the last 3.5 billion years, which have culminated in the landscape of the Great Plains today.

Chapter 3: The Geography of Grass
An exploration of the heart and soul of the prairies—the native grasses—whose success lies in their ability to conserve water and thrive in a dry climate.

Chapter 4: Secrets of the Soil
An examination of the unique characteristics of prairie soils and the creatures that make their home there.

Chapter 5: Home on the Range
How the introduction of cattle has changed areas of the Great Plains and how other species have adapted to this altered habitat—the rangelands.

Chapter 6: Water of Life
A look at the aquatic habitats of the Great Plains and at the diverse forms of life they support.

Chapter 7: Prairie Woodlands
How the expanding woodlands have affected the species that live there.

Chapter 8: The Nature of Farming
A description of the many organisms, especially insects, that thrive in the croplands of the prairie.

Chapter 9: Long-Range Forecast
An assessment of the conservation status of the Great Plains and of the strides that have been made in protecting and restoring the prairie.

For More Information

Appendices
Scientific Names of Species of the Great Plains
Endemic Vertebrates of the Great Plains

Index