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Savanna
Abiotic Factors
-Savannas are located in the tropics near the equator
-Mainly found in Africa
Abiotic Factors
-Savannas have periods of heavy rainfall followed by seasons of drought that can last 3-5 months
-The temperature ranges from 25-35 degrees celsius with an average of around 30 degrees
-Annual precipitation ranges between 50 and 127cm
-During the dry season, savannas get less than 4 inches of rainfall per month
-Although it has a wet/dry climate, there is too little rain for many trees to grow
-In the summer the air becomes humid
-During the dry season, winds are strongest and come from the south east kicking up dirt and sand
-Grass fires are common during periods of drought because the land is most dry
Biotic Factors
-The savanna biome is able to sustain an adequate amount of species and has a substantial speciation
-Although the number of different species is smaller, the number of individuals of each species is large
-Contains the greatest collection of grazing animals on earth
Biotic Factors
-Grasses form a continuous ground cover
-Taller trees can cover between 5 and 30 percent of the land
Elephant grass- found along lakes and rivers in dense clumps
-can grow up to 10ft tall
-leaves are 2-3ft long and razor sharp
Jackalberry trees- found in swampy areas with rocky soil
-usually grow to 18ft tall
-have a dense crown of leaves sitting on top of a narrow trunk
Red Oat Grass- most common grass
-slender and thin, 30-180cm tall
-leaves are 10-50cm long and their amount can vary
- Trees and grasses have large underground root systems that survive fire, so the they can grow back quickly afterwards
-The same root systems collect excess water to help plants survive the dry season
-Coarse grasses also have vertical leaves that allow them to conserve water
-It is common for shorter trees and shrubs to have thorns or sharp leaves to deter herbivores
Giraffes- herbivores that
have the ability to eat at
higher elevations
-tallest animals with a neck equally as long as legs
-live in towers of 10-20 giraffes
Gazelles- herbivores
-antelopes similar in appearance to deer or goats
-curved, ringed horns
-light and thin frame provides agility
Zebra- herbivores that live in large groups called harems
-only sleep when others are awake to warn of predators
-stripes act as camouflage in taller grasses
-Many savanna herbivores have a migratory way of life, following rain and fresh grasses
-Animals only give birth during the wet season so that there is enough food and water to sustain the offspring
-To avoid competition, gazelles eat low grasses, black rhinos eat shrubs, and giraffes eat from the tallest trees
African wild dog- only 2,000 remain as of 2011
-carnivores that hunt hoofed animals such as antelope, zebras, and wildebeests
Baobab Tree- fruit bearing and used to store water
-can grow up to 80 ft tall
-threatened by bark value and lack of seed dispersal
Black Rhino- just
over 4,000 as of 2011
-endangerment is caused by poaching for horns
Human Influences
-During the wet season there can be up to 100 people per square mile
-Savanna population varies as climate changes occur
-Human have built farms, houses, factories, and mines on land within the savanna
-Approximately 45 percent of people live in developed areas
Human Influences
-Humans poach savanna wildlife such as black rhinos, elephants, and wildebeests for their horns or tusks
- They also over harvest plant species because of their commercial value
-unsustainable water use and irrigation methods drain rivers and watering holes
-these agricultural practices deprive organisms of water and contriutes to desertification
-46,000 square kilometers of savanna per year becomes desert due to prolonged drought
-Although the amount of tall trees in the savanna is limited, the biome still suffers from deforestation
-Land is cleared for farming and trees are not replaced when cut down
-Farming and overgrazing
leads to erosion of the soil,
meaning that plants are
being disrupted
-Rotating crop fields will give the soil time to recover
-Restoration could also include clearing dying vegetation to allow new grasses to grow
-Reduce the amount of people that utilize the land and lessen congested areas that disrupt migrant routes
-Support conservation organizations
-Reduce carbon emissions through reforestation
-Stop purchasing products made with resources from endangered animals
-Arms, Karen. Environmental Science. Holt, 2000.
-https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=105
-http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
-http://www.savanna.org.au/all/climate.html
-http://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/biology-and-genetics/environmental-studies/savanna
-http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm
-https://www.livescience.com/27336-giraffes.html
-https://sciencing.com/dangers-savanna-ecosystem-18220.html
-http://www.planetpatrol.info/savannah.html
-https://sciencing.com/dangers-savanna-ecosystem-18220.html