SavannaTropical
GrasslandsBy Alondra Ortiz, Diane Nguyen, Saito
Gutierrez, and Gabriel Garcia
Absolute: Between latitudes 5o and 15o North
and South of the Equator Interior of Venezuela, Brazilian Highlands,
most of central Africa surrounding Congo Basin, parts of Mexico and northern Australia.
Relative: South of Venezuela, west of Washington, east of Perth, Australia.
Most are located between forests and deserts.
Location
Rainy & dry season (25- 150 in/yr. of
precipitation) Rolling grasslands, shrubs and short trees
isolated trees. Long, hot dry seasons with short periods of
rainfall. Also, many fires play a large role in ecosystem
with dry grasses to stimulate new grass growth.
Physical Features
Plants are resistant to drought (period of dry weather with no
rain) Plants have thorns and sharp leaves to protect against
predators. Long root system and are tall & coarse in areas of high
precipitation and sparse in areas of less precipitation. Trunks of trees are gnarled and thick to retain moisture. Grasses grow beneath trees, adapt to seed and die back at the
start of dry seasons. Ex: Deciduous- lose leaves to reduce transpiration due to
winter drought. Xerophyte: Sclerophyllous- Leaves are small, waxy and thorn-
like.
Plant Life
Animals have limited food supply so they either
adapt for short rainy seasons to migrate or vertical feeding.
Reproduce during rainy seasons- ensures that many young survive.
Animals don’t sweat to lose body heat so they lose it through panting or large areas of exposed skin, or ears like those of elephant.
They burrow under the ground to escape the heat. Ex: zebra, lions, elephants, leopard, hyena etc.
Animal Life
Low elevations are threatened by rises in sea levels
associated with global climate change. (caused extinction.)
Only 8.5% of biome is protected (parks and reserves) Caused more extinction due to climate change as well as
pollution. By building factories, mines, houses as well as farms,
created waste as well as exhaustion. Introducing animals affected other animals such as with
cattle grazing feeding on grass that wildlife feed on. The water becomes polluted with chemicals that wildlife
must feed on. (drink)
Threats