DUNES are ecosystems that occur on sand along big lakes and oceans.
DUNE GRASSLANDS are special places where the majority of the plants are natural grasses and low shrubs.
ECOSYSTEMS are networks of living things and all the environmental factors they need to survive, like...

the temperature,
the number of sunny days,
the amount of rain,
the shifting of the sand,
the changing water levels of the lake,

and much more.

LIFE on the dunes is not easy.  The plants and animals that live there get blown by strong winds, get buried by sand, survive drying out, extremes of hot and cold, and very bright sun.  ADAPTATIONS are ways plants and animals have evolved to cope with these problems.

Here are some of the ADAPTATIONS dune species use to survive:

Fuzziness
Grey-green colour (plants)
Thick, evergreen leaves
Sand-coloured body or feathers (animals and birds)
Long roots or stems that can wind around in the sand

SPECIES AT RISK are plants and animals that are rare, threatened or endangered.  Some are slowly (or quickly!) disappearing.  Many live only on dunes and nowhere else in the world.  To see some special dune plants CLICK HERE and to see some special dune animals CLICK HERE.

THREATS are actions or activities that may harm the dunes and the species which live on the dunes.  We all love to go to the beach, but some of our own actions can destroy dune grasslands.

CHECK OUT THESE COOL ACTIVITY PAGES!

CLICK - A - PIC and learn more about cool dune species!

MAZE help the plant roots find water!