Savanna
Biome Poster Project By Sydney Shinkle and Lauren Baker
Introduction to Savannas
The terrain of a savanna is a rolling grassland with scattered shrubs and isolated trees which can be found between tropical rainforests and desert biomes.
Climate
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Plant Species
- Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana)
- Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora)
- Buffel grass (Cenchrus cillans)
- Giant rat's tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis)
- Prickly pear (Opuntia)
Plant Adaptations
- Kangaroo paws have tiny woolly hairs to hold onto water droplets.
- Trees and plants have fewer leaves so that less moisture is lost through evaporation.
- The candelabra tree has a spiky outside and poisonous sap which can blind and burn it's predators.
- The River Bush Willow has a thick bark to resist fires.
- Trees and plants have longer roots so that they have the ability to extract water from deeper into the ground.
Animal Species
- Koala Bear (Phascolarctos cinereus)
- Lion (Panthera leo)
- Leopard (Panthera pardus)
- African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
- Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
- African Wild Elephant (Loxodonta)
- Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus)
- Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Animal Adaptations
- African Elephants have tusks to keep away predators. They also have a trunk to drink, gather food, and bathe themselves.
- African Wild Dogs have great eyesight to help them hunt during the night and strong teeth so they can bite through bone.
- The Chacma Baboon has sharp claws and teeth to fight off predators.
- Many of the animals are able to either fly or run quickly to escape the fires.
- Small burrowing animals remain dormant during times of drought.
Food Web
Predation: Cheetahs are predators and gazelles are their prey.
Mutualism: Gazelles and Birds- Birds eat bugs off of gazelles and get food, the gazelle is now free of bugs.
Commensalism: Hyenas and lions- Lions eat their food and the hyenas get the leftovers.
Parasitism: Ticks on lions- Ticks drink the blood of the lions and pass on diseases.
Competition: Lions and cheetas- Both compete for meat of their prey.
Food Pyramid
Human Impact
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Stages of Succession
Stage 1
In the first stage of succession, the soil is lifeless and barren.
Stage 2
In the second stage of succession, wind and other natural sources have started to blow seeds to the land and grasses begin to grow.
Stage 3
In the third stage of succession, seeds continue to be dispersed through the land and shrubs are able to start growing.
Stage 4
In the fourth stage of succession, plants are able to grow good roots because the soil has become rich in nutrients. Grasses, shrubs, and scattered trees are growing.
Interesting Facts
- The soil in the Savanna is very diverse. Experts have found just about every type of soil there in the Savanna.
- The Savanna has mainly two seasons in regards to precipitation. There is a rainy season in the summer with around 15 to 25 inches of rain, and a dry season in the winter when only a couple of inches of rain fall.
- The Savanna climate stays steady and does not change often. When the climate does change, it is very gradual and not drastic.
- Because its so dry fires are an important part of the savanna.