Savanna Biome
Savanna biomes are best described as a rolling grassland with isolated trees and shrubs scattered about which is found between a desert biome and tropical rainforest. Also referred to as tropical grasslands, there is not enough rainfall to sustain forests. They are located on the edges of tropical rainforests, on each side of the equator.
Savanna Weather
All throughout the year, savannas have warm temperatures. This biome has two different seasons. The winter season is very dry and long, while the summer season is very wet. About four inches of rain falls during the dry season, and no rain falls at all between December and February. This season is actually cooler, with temperatures average about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the summer months, there is a lot of rainfall. Monsoon rains start in May in Africa. About 15 to 25 inches of rain falls during May. The temperature becomes very humid and hot during the rainy season. During the summer, the rain will pour down for several hours during the afternoon.
Types of Savannas
Throughout the world, there are several different kinds of savanna biomes. The most familiar are the ones in East Africa that are full of acacia trees. The most well-known are the Serengeti Plains of Tanzania. This have many animals, such as lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras.
The South American savannas occupy about 2.5 million square kilometers and are found in Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela. This savanna biome contains animals that spill in from neighboring biomes. The Orinoco River annually floods Colombia and the Llanos of the Orinoco basin of Venezuela. The plants in this biome has become used to being in standing water for prolonged periods of time. Marsh deer and the capybara have become used to a semi-aquatic life.
Northern Australia also has a savanna biome. This biome has eucalyptus trees and kangaroos, but very little animal diversity.
Plants and Animals
The large variety of animals in the savannas throughout the world are highly specialized. In order for the environment to maintain its balance, they all depend on one another. In Africa, there are over 40 different hoofed mammal species and 16 different browser species. These herbivores make a large selection for the carnivores, such as leopards, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals.
Due to farming and overgrazing, large areas of the savanna become lost to the Sahara each year.
Common savanna animals include:
- African elephant
- Black mamba
- Chacma Baboon
- Emu
- Koala bear
- Nigriceps ants
- African wild dog
- Caracal
- Egyptian mongoose
- Grant's zebra
- Lion
- Nile crocodile
Common savanna plants include:
- Acacia senegal
- Bermuda grass
- Elephant grass
- Jackalberry tree
- Kangaroo paw
- River bushwillow
- Whistling thorn
- Baobab
- Candelabra tree
- Gum tree eucalyptus
- Jarrah tree
- Manketti tree
- Umbrella thorn acacia
Savannas are areas of open grassland with very few trees. There are two types of savannas, tropical and semi-tropical savannas. A savanna is one type of grassland biome.
Climate
Temperatures in savannas vary according to the season. In the dry season temperatures can be either extremely hot or cool. In the wet season temperatures are warm. Savannas are typically dry receiving less than 30 inches of rain on average per year.
Tropical savannas may receive as much as 50 inches of rain in the wet season, but as little as 4 inches during the dry season. The dry climate combined with the extreme heat in the dry season makes savannas ripe areas for grass and brush fires.
Location
Grasslands are located on every continent with the exception of Antarctica.
Climate
Temperatures in savannas vary according to the season. In the dry season temperatures can be either extremely hot or cool. In the wet season temperatures are warm. Savannas are typically dry receiving less than 30 inches of rain on average per year.
Tropical savannas may receive as much as 50 inches of rain in the wet season, but as little as 4 inches during the dry season. The dry climate combined with the extreme heat in the dry season makes savannas ripe areas for grass and brush fires.
Location
Grasslands are located on every continent with the exception of Antarctica.
Some locations of savannas include:
Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia
Australia
Central America - Belize and Honduras
South America - Venezuela and Columbia
Southern Asia
Australia
Central America - Belize and Honduras
South America - Venezuela and Columbia
Southern Asia
Vegetation
Savannas are often described as areas of grasslands with dispersed singular or clusters of trees. The lack of water makes savannas a difficult place for tall plants such as trees to grow. Grasses and trees that grow in the savanna have adapted to life with little water and hot temperatures.
Grasses, for example, grow quickly in the wet season when water is abundant and turn brown in the dry season to conserve water. Due to frequent fires, grasses also stay close to the ground. Some examples of vegetation in the savanna include: wild grasses, shrubs, baobab trees, and acacia trees.
Wildlife
Savannas are home to many large land animals including elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, buffalo, lions, leopards and cheetahs. Other animals include baboons, crocodiles, antelopes, meerkats, ants, kangaroos, ostriches and snakes.
Many of the animals that live in savannas rely on speed for survival, as the vast open areas provide little means of escape from quick predators. If the prey is too slow, it becomes dinner. If the predator is not fast enough, it goes hungry. Camouflage is also very important to animals of the savanna. Predators often need to blend in with their environment in order to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. On the other hand, prey may use this same technique as a defense mechanism to conceal themselves from predators.
Savannas are often described as areas of grasslands with dispersed singular or clusters of trees. The lack of water makes savannas a difficult place for tall plants such as trees to grow. Grasses and trees that grow in the savanna have adapted to life with little water and hot temperatures.
Grasses, for example, grow quickly in the wet season when water is abundant and turn brown in the dry season to conserve water. Due to frequent fires, grasses also stay close to the ground. Some examples of vegetation in the savanna include: wild grasses, shrubs, baobab trees, and acacia trees.
Wildlife
Savannas are home to many large land animals including elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, buffalo, lions, leopards and cheetahs. Other animals include baboons, crocodiles, antelopes, meerkats, ants, kangaroos, ostriches and snakes.
Many of the animals that live in savannas rely on speed for survival, as the vast open areas provide little means of escape from quick predators. If the prey is too slow, it becomes dinner. If the predator is not fast enough, it goes hungry. Camouflage is also very important to animals of the savanna. Predators often need to blend in with their environment in order to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. On the other hand, prey may use this same technique as a defense mechanism to conceal themselves from predators.
Resources:
South Africa National Biodiversity Institute. (2010). Savanna Biome. Retrieved on September 25, 2010 from the South Africa National Biodiversity Institute: http://www.plantzafrica.com/vegetation/savanna.htm
University of California Museum of Paleontology. (2002). The Grassland Biome. Retrieved on September 25, 2010 from the University of California Museum of Paleontology: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
An Article by: R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen
An Article by: R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen
By: Mary Prigilyn Aquino
No comments:
Post a Comment