Grassland is a biome present in Zoo Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon DS, Zoo Tycoon 2, and Zoo Tycoon (Xbox).
 Zoopedia entry
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 Grassland is defined as an ecosystem in which grasses, sedges, and other forage plants are the dominant vegetation. Although temperate grasslands may have more than 50 species of vascular plants, and tropical grasslands more than 200, two or three species of grasses usually dominate upward of 60 percent of the biomass above ground. Grasslands are natural, seminatural, and cultivated. Natural grasslands occupy, or once occupied, large areas of continental landmasses, including the prairies and plains of North America, the pampas and paramos of South America, the veld of South Africa, and the steppes of Eurasia. Temperate natural grasslands develop in regions characterized by an annual rainfall between 250 and 750 mm (10 and 30 in), a high rate of evaporation, and seasonal and annual droughts. Tropical grasslands develop in regions with marked wet and dry seasons. On the periphery of these climatic regions, fire is important in maintaining grasslands by preventing the encroachment of forests in moist regions and desert shrubs in semiarid regions. Seminatural grassland occupies areas where moisture is sufficient to support forests. Also called successional grassland, these areas resulted from deforestation and will return to trees unless maintained by burning, mowing, or grazing. Cultivated grasslands, such as hayfields and pastures, are artificially planted and maintained. They usually consist of one or two species of grass and a legume such as clover or alfalfa. Native grasslands of the world support, or once supported, a diverse fauna. In North America, large grazing herbivores such as the bison and their large predators were dominant. Associated with such mammals are herbivorous rodents, including prairie dogs and mice; seed-eating birds; hawks; snakes; and insects, especially grasshoppers. Grassland soils are inherently fertile. Due to low rainfall, soluble nutrients in the soil have not washed away, and due to the absence of a tree canopy, the flourishing grasses have built up organically rich topsoil. As a result, native grasslands of the north temperate regions have been converted to grain crops such as corn and wheat. The native grazing herbivores have been replaced by domestic cattle and sheep, and the large predators have been destroyed. |
Animals[]
Zoo Tycoon[]
| Animal | Unlockable | Location | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Bison | 6 Months | North America | Zoo Tycoon |
| Giant Ground Sloth | Beginning | Ice Age South America | Downloadable Content |
| Tyrannosaurus rex | Researchable | Cretaceous North America | Dinosaur Digs |
| Macrauchenia | Beginning | Ice Age South America | Endangered Species Theme Pack |
| Przewalski's Wild Horse | Beginning | China | Endangered Species Theme Pack |
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
| Animal | Status | Star Rating | Location | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Bison | Low Risk | 0.5 | North America | Endangered Species |
| Przewalski's Wild Horse | Critically Endangered | 3 | Central Asia | Endangered Species |
| Ratel | Low Risk | 2 | Africa and Asia | African Adventure |
| Secretary Bird | Low Risk | 3 | Africa and Asia | African Adventure |
| Bluebuck | Extinct | 0.5 | Southern Africa | Extinct Animals |
| Dwarf Sicilian Elephant | Extinct | 3 | Mediterranean Islands | Extinct Animals |
| Giant Camel | Extinct | 1.5 | North America | Extinct Animals |
| Warrah | Extinct | 2.5 | Falkland Islands | Extinct Animals |
Zoo Tycoon (Xbox)[]
- Angolan Giraffe
- Congo Lion
- Eastern Black Rhinoceros
- Gobi Bear
- Hippopotamus
- Indian Rhinoceros
- Kordofan Giraffe
- Nubian Giraffe
- Nyala
- Pronghorn
- Roan Antelope
- Sable Antelope
- Scimitar-Horned Oryx
- Topi Antelope
- West African Giraffe
Other Games[]
Zoo Tycoon DS[]
This game features the same grassland animal as the base game of Zoo Tycoon. It also includes one exclusive unlockable species:
| Animal | Unlockable | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Onager | Win Campaigns | Eurasia |
Trivia[]
- It is the biome with the most maps.
- In Zoo Tycoon (Xbox), there exists a secondary icon for the grasslands biome. This icon only appears when selecting for grassland-specific scenery items (ex. rocks, trees).
- In Zoo Tycoon 2, the only animals with grassland as their primary biome are from expansion packs.
- No animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 DS has grassland as its primary biome.