Pulse of the Heartland
News Feed
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Historically, grasslands—or prairies—such as this covered one-third of the United States and one-quarter of the entire planet. Their diverse plants fuel an array of pollinators and feed a wealth of other wildlife, from elk and pronghorn to prairie chickens and bobwhite quail. Some prairies are so diverse that they boast more plant species per square foot than a tropical rain forest. Below ground, those plants’ dense root systems cycle nutrients, hold water, store carbon and create some of the world’s most fertile soils.
Read the full story here.
Photos courtesy of