Savanna, South Africa, Botswana

Jackal Berry trees

Jackal Berry trees

The Jackalberry tree is found throughout Africa, from Senegal and the Sudan to Namibia and the northern Transvaal. It is most commonly found on savannas or savanna woodlands where it can be found growing on termite mounds.

Kangaroo Paws

Scientificaly named Anigozanthos, Kangaroo paws are a genus of plants native to Southwest Australia. There are 11 species and their subspecies are commonly known as kangaroo paw or catspaw, and are categorised depending on their size, and the shape and color of their flowers.

Kangaroo paws

Acacia trees

Acacia trees

The acacia trees also known as mimosa, wattle, and thorntree are genus of plants that are well adapted to deserts and tropical areas. They grow mainly in Africa and Australia, and the grasslands of the North and central America. Acacia leaves are an important food sources for zebras, giraffes and elephants.

Spotted Hyena

Spotted hyenas, often referred to as laughing hyenas, are the most common large carnivore in Africa. As hunters and scavengers, hyenas use animal matter very efficiently, making it easier to compete for food.

Termite

Termites are found in huge numbers in the savanna where weather conditions are ideal for the establishment of their colonies. These insects play an integral role in the reintroduction of nutrients from the dead plants into the soil.

Ostrich

Native to Africa, ostriches are found in savanna regions. Ostriches are omnivores, and they eat whatever is available in their habitat at that time of the year. They mostly eat plants, especially roots, leaves, and seeds, but they also munch on insects, snakes, lizards, or rodents that come within reach.

Fungi

Fungi act as decomposers in oak savannas. There, oaks grow sparsely among the broad fields of grass beside more densely populated woodlands. When these oaks fall, they provide matter for several species of fungi to break down.

Plains Zebra

The plains zebra is the most common type of zebra, and is at home in open, grassy plains and grassy woodlands. Because of the savanna’s dry season, zebras can migrate as far as 1,800 miles for food and water.

Precipitation

The average rainfall during the summer is 30-40 inches and during the dry season the average rainfall is about 5 inches

Precipitaion

Temperature

the temperature during a dry season is between 10-20 degrees celsius and 20-30 degrees celsius during a wet season

Temperature

Soil

The soil of the savanna generally have low fertillity. The savanna has sandy soil which supply moisture but complletely dry out in absence of rain.

Soil

Threats to Biome

Savannas are threatened by human actions like logging, development, conversion to agriculture, and over-grazing by livestock. For example, in the drier parts of the African savanna, overgrazing by goats and cattle has removed most of the vegetation that holds the soil in place, resulting in soil erosion, land degradation, and food shortages.

Star Grass

Producer

Harvester Ant

Primary consumer

Aardvark

Senconday

Consumer

Hyena

Apex predator

Summer

The climate is warm and the temperatures range from 20-30 degrees celcius. The rainfall is between 10-30 inches

Summer

Winter

During the winter the savanna only averages about 4 inches of rainfall.

Only grass survives the drought and the temperatures rarely get cold

Winter

Spring

The spring in the savanna brings in violent thunderstorms and increased rainfall. The wet season starts during march which has very warm temperatures

Fall

During the fall plants begin to drop their leaves in anticipation of the dry season when water won't be available.

Before the leaves fall they begin to turn into an orange or yellow color.