Nebraska Sand Hills Mixed Grasslands

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Nebraska Sand Hills Mixed Grasslands (WWF ecoregion NA0809) View National Geographic WildWorld profile,(WildWorld home), View WWF Wildfinder animal species list (WildFinder home)

Sand Hills east of Valentine, Nebraska (c) 2008 Steven J. Baskauf

Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 4 (nationally important)
Although this ecoregion shares many of the species of surrounding ecoregions, it is unique due to the soil and surface characteristics caused by the irregular dunes and sandy soils.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 4 (relatively stable)
Because of the sandy soil, very little of this ecoregion has been plowed and it is about 85% intact. Threats are degradation by overgrazing and toward the eastern end, development.*

Characteristic species*
(left of image) Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass), (right of image) Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) (c) 2004 Maurice J. Kaurmann hires

Some views from the ecoregion

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al. (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment. World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada. Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 190-191.