Tropical Savanna
Biome
Weather and Climate
The climate is usually warm and temperatures range from 68° to 86°F . Savannas exist in areas where there is a 6 - 8 month wet summer season, and a 4 - 6 month dry winter season. The annual rainfall is from 10 - 30 inches per year. During the dry season, lightning often strikes the ground causing fires.
Landforms
Animals
There are many different types of animals that live in the savanna. The species found in savannas vary by the geographic location of the biome. Animals native to African savannas include African elephants, zebras, horses, and giraffes. Many animals in the savanna are herbivores
Plants
The savanna has alot of grasses such as Rhodes grass, red oats grass, star grass, lemon grass, and some shrubs. Most savanna grass grows in patches with some areas of bare ground. You won’t see many trees in the savanna because of little rainfall. Occasionally, you’ll find individual trees or small groves of trees. These mostly live near streams and ponds.
Adaptations need for plants and animals to survive in the biome
Tropical savannas present plants with dry soil, fires and threats from herbivores. Plants that commonly grow in tropical savannas have made adaptations that allow them to withstand long periods of dryness, survive fires and protect themselves from grazing animals.
Most birds and many of the large mammals migrate during the dry season in search of water. . When drought conditions exist for a long time and over a wide area, the animals may migrate to another biome until the rainy season begins again. Although elephants do migrate, they have a physical adaptation that allows them to access water that is not available to other animals. Baobab trees store water in their large trunks. The elephant's physical strength and anatomy allow it to tear open the trunk of the baobab tree and to suck the water from it. An adaptation used by small burrowing animals is to remain dormant during times of drought--much like bears do during the winter in other biomes. During the dry season, lightning frequently causes fires. Many of the animals have adapted to living with the fires. The ability to fly or to run fast enables most birds and large mammals to escape the flames.
Abiotic and Botic limiting factors
Abiotic
-droughts
-compact soil
-frequent fires set by lightning
Biotic
-farmers are over farming the land
-plant eaters dont get enough food in the dry season
Ecological concerns or issues
natural issues - seasonal fires
human disturbance-farmers have been farming the savannah for year now and if they keep on doing this the land will eventually not be able to grow vegetation