Colorado s tallgrass prairie only receives about 50. Seastedt explained that the soil supporting the tallgrass species is 50 percent rock. Since rock will not absorb water, the rest of the soil may simply end up holding more of it. Tallgrass species, Seastedt said, can be tricked into thinking the water is there. Apart from the novelty of the tallgrass ecosystem, Seastedt suggested a number of other reasons that the Boulder Community should be interested in preserving the tallgrass prairie.
Healthy ecosystems clean the air and water.
Damage to any element of an ecosystem may interfere with their ability to do this. Further, changes in the predominant plant species in a region may have effect the animals that are able to live there. Tallgrass species are at the beginning of numerous delicate food chains. Any pressures that threaten tallgrass species may affect a variety of animals in unknown ways. For Seastedt, however, the urge to protect the tallgrass prairie does not seem to require these additional reasons.