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Faith Loyd

4th

Period

November 13, 2012

Ms. Carpenter, Biology

All of the continents have biomes which are large groups of ecosystems

sharing the same type of living organisms. The continent that I have chosen to

do biome research on is Africa. The African biomes include a broad range of

many different flora, fauna, climate, and terrain, which are different from other

areas on Earth although each biome shares similarities with biomes in other

parts of the world located at similar latitudes. There are eight major biomes in

Africa and I will be researching six out of these eight: the Mediterranean, the

Moist Savanna, the Temperate Grassland, Semi Desert, the Tropical Rain

Forest, and lastly the Montane (“Biomes”). The boundaries of these biomes are

shown on the map on the next page and the political map on the following page

will help to locate specific countries which are discussed in the sections of the

report for each biome.

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(“Biomes”)~picture~

(“United”)~picture~

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(“Biomes”)~picture~

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Section 1: Mediterranean biome

The Mediterranean biome in Africa is located in the Northern region near

the Mediterranean Sea and along the mountainous countries of Morocco, and

Algeria, as well as the coastal areas of Tunisia, and Libya. Another area is

along the southwestern coast of South Africa. (“Biomes” “CONTINENT”).

The terrain varies from coastal beaches to mountainous areas.

Blue

The climate of the Mediterranean biome is basically moderate with hot

and dry summers and mild winters. The Mediterranean biome in the north is

located in the region of latitudes were warm, wet air is rising from the equator

has cooled and is dropping moisture over the equator, the air mass then spreads

from the equator and falls to the ground as dry air. Most often where this occurs

the dry air mass dropped to the ground in return forms a desert (“Climate”).

But, in the Mediterranean biome, often the colder water in the adjacent

Mediterranean Sea offsets the dryness to some extent (“Climate”). The rain fall

is in some regions as low as 20mm. a year but in other regions of this biome

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rain fall can reach to 100mm. per year (“Climate”). The average annual

temperatures in the Mediterranean Biome in Africa range from 0o to about 20

o

Celsius. Enough rain falls during the cool winter months to maintain vegetation

throughout the year.

The floras in this biome tend to be less than a meter tall, and

are usually shrubby in appearance (“Climate”). The floras have characteristics

of desert flora, such as drought tolerance and tolerance for occasional freezing

temperatures, (“Climate”). Many of the floras are annuals, meaning they bloom

briefly after winter rains and survive as seeds in the summer (“Climate”). The

perennial forms tend to have evergreen leaves, but the leaves are often smaller

(“Climate”). Many of these floras are termed pyrogenic and can burst into

flame and burn fiercely (“Climate”). But, many other floras are fire resistant,

like the deep underground roots and thick heavy bark of trees such as the cork

tree (“Climate”). There is a great deal of biodiversity in the Mediterranean

biome of Africa, especially in the portions of the biome in South Africa

(“United”).

In the Mediterranean biome the fauna often have to adapt to sparse and

rough terrain (“United”). The animals adapt to the sparse vegetation and rough

terrain by becoming agile climbers, and foraging over larger areas (“United”).

They also vary their diet to adapt to the local vegetation and its various

adaptations for survival such as growing thorns to prevent being eaten by

animals (“United”). Typical domesticated animals are: wild goats, sheep, cattle

and horses (“United”). Wild animals include lynx, wild boar, and rabbits

(“United”).

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Section 2: Moist Savanna biome

The Moist Savanna is located in the country of South Africa and in the

Central area of Africa, among the countries of the eastern half of the continent,

also across to Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritania (“Biomes” “CONTINENT”). The

African Moist Savanna is tropical grassland (“Blue”). This area is rolling

grassland dotted with trees (“Blue”). The Serengeti Plains are a grass savanna

with dry but rich volcanic sand (“Blue”). The African Savanna takes up almost

half of the continent (“Blue”). This biome has been both hurt and helped by the

activities of man (“Blue”). Grazing of cattle kills grass and turns the land into a

desert and the taking of wood and poaching of animals have harmed the

environment and caused many animals to become extinct (“Blue”).

Nevertheless, if it were not for the efforts of many governments and people to

preserve the savanna by establishing National parks and other actions, the

damage might be much worse(“Blue”).

(“Blue”)~Picture~

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The climate of the Savanna is that of moist tropical grassland (“Blue”).

The rainy season extends from May to November with 15 to 25 inches of rain

per month (“Blue”). The rest of the year is dry with only about 4 inches of rain

(“Blue”).

The flora of the Savanna includes many different kinds of plants (“Blue”).

There are 55 species of acacia in the Serengeti Plains(“Blue”).Trees include the

Baobab tree which looks like it is growing upside down (the above ground parts

look like roots), the Jackal berry tree, and the Candelabra tree (“Blue”). Trees

develop deep roots to reach water during the dry season and some trees have

thick fire resistant bark and trunks that store water (“Blue”). Fires occur

frequently in the dry season killing shrubs before they can fully develop so

grasses with their faster growth are favored (“Blue”). Trees tend to be grouped

near streams (“Blue”).

The fauna of the Savanna includes 45 species of mammals and 500

species of birds (“United”). Some animals such as the Cheetah have developed

the ability to run fast to enable them to catch their prey (“United”). The Giraffe

has developed long legs partly to give them the ability to reach above the lower

vegetation already grazed by other animals and partly to keep their vulnerable

body parts out of the reach of predators such as the Cheetah

(“United”).Ostriches can run up to 31 miles per hour to escape predators and the

Secretary bird has long legs to run through the tall grasses to feed on snakes

(“United”).

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Baobab Tree

(“United”)~Picture~)

Typical Flora and Fauna

Flora Fauna

Acacia Senegal African Elephant

Baobab African Wild Dog

Candelabra Tree Chacma Baboon

Jackalberry Tree Egyptian Mongoose

Manketti Tree Grants Zebra

Whistling Thorn Lion

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Chacma Baboon Egyptian Mongoose

http://www.safarinow.chttp://shimshonit.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/a-new-

kind-of-varmint/om/cms/cape-point/irie.aspx

Whistling Thorn: (“Acacia”) African Lion (“Lion”)

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Section 3: Temperate Grasslands biome

Left: (“FOA”) Right: (“Stock”)

The Temperate Grassland is located in among the Savannahs of South

Africa (“Biomes” “CONTINENT”). The temperate Grasslands of Africa are

also called the African Veldt and are located in the central, high lying regions of

South Africa (“United”). The altitude ranges from sea level to 3300 meters

(“United”). Temperate grasslands are a division of a larger biome grouping that

includes tropical savannas (“United”). Both tropical savannas and temperate

grasslands are dominated by grasses but the temperate grasslands don’t have

any trees or shrubs (“United”). Temperate grasslands also are in less tropical

areas and have a larger temperature fluctuation over the year and less rainfall

(“United”).

The climate of temperate grasslands varies with elevation with rainfall

ranging from 400 to 1200 mm per year (“Wild”). The temperature ranges from

frost free at sea level to snow bound in winter at the higher elevations (“Wild”).

On average frost occurs from 30 to 180 days per year (“Wild”).

Flora of the temperate grasslands is dominated by grasses with scattered

trees (“Exploring”). Conversion of large areas to agricultural use has limited the

variety of native plants in large areas (“Exploring”).

The Fauna of the veldt includes many of the world’s largest land animals

such as the cheetah, lions and zebra (“Exploring”). Jackals and hyenas are also

present as are the turkey vulture and other scavengers (“Exploring”).

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Section 4: Semi Desert biome

The Semi Desert biome is located in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,

and Egypt, also in a small part of South Africa’s Northwest region and in small

parts of southern Namibia, and southwest Botswana (“Biomes”

“CONTINENT”). The Kalahari and Karoo regions in southern Africa and the

Sahel area in northern Africa are in a region of transition between savannas and

desert (“Exploring”). These areas make up the semi Desert biome

(“Exploring”).

The climate is dry with limited and variable rainfall and extremes of

temperature and intense sunshine (“Exploring”).

(“Charterscience”)~Picture~

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Flora: Plants in the semi desert have to adapt to survive (“United”).

Many plants survive long dry spells by losing their leaves and going dormant or

actually dying and regenerating from seed when conditions are more favorable

(“United”). Trees have small, waxy leaves and thick bark (“United”). Acacia

trees are prominent members of the plant kingdom in this area (“United”).

Sagebrush is an abundant species because it uses chemicals to control seed

germination of other vegetation (“United”). Non-native species also exist and

can be detrimental to the environment (“United”). The Saltcedar or tamarisk

tree is an invasive plant introduced to reduce erosion (“United”). Cheat grass

burns easily causing fires which destroy native vegetation (“United”).

Fauna: The Serengeti plains include a variety of habitats (“United”).

Animals include the cheetahs and elephants (“United”).

Food Web: The Leopards prey on deer, young giraffes and wild cattle

("Leopards”).

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Section 5: Tropical Rain Forest biome

The Tropical Rain Forest of Africa is located in the western part of

central Africa, Close to the Atlantic Ocean and the countries of Gabon, Congo,

Angola, and parts of the Western region of the Democratic Republic of Congo

(“Biomes” “CONTINENT”).

(“Blue”)~Picture~

The climate of the tropical rainforest combines a warm temperature range

of 68o to 93

o F with an average rainfall of 50 to 260 inches per year. Average

humidity is 77 to 88% (“Blue”). There is a brief season of less rain and areas

with a monsoon season have a corresponding dry season (“Blue”).

Flora in the rainforests of Africa contains the fewest number of species of

any of the world’s rainforests (“Blue”). But still there is tremendous diversity

(“Blue”). Vegetation forms in layers (“Blue”). A few of the tallest trees rise

above the canopy formed by the slightly shorter trees (“Blue”). This canopy

completely shades the forest floor and only less than 1% of the light hitting the

canopy reaches the floor (“Blue”). A lot of the flora consists of vines which

climb the tree trunks to reach the light. (“Blue”). Some types of vegetation grow

so large and are entangled with their host trees that the trees are killed (“Blue”).

.

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Fauna in the rainforest must adapt to the conditions there (“United”).

Therefore the monkeys have prehensile tails (“United”). Birds and other

animals have bright colors and loud voices (“United”). Insects make up the

largest group of animals that live in the tropical rain forests (“United”). There

are large colonies of termites and ants and brightly colored butterflies

(“United”).

All three Picture~ (“United”)

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Section 6: Montane biome

The Montane is located around lakes such as: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert,

Lake Edward, Lake Kivu, and Lake Tanganyika; in the countries of Tanzania,

Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and other surrounding areas (“Biomes”

“CONTINENT”).

Both Pictures~ (“Ecoregions”)

The terrain of the Montane biome is high elevation forest, shrub land and

grasslands. Elevation is from about 1000 meters to 3500 meters (“United”).

There are a variety of habitats with meadows, forests and bamboo at lower

elevations and heather and alpine tundra at the higher elevations (“United”). .

Climate: Rain falls throughout the year with the maximum amounts in

early and late summer (“United”). Rainfall for the year varies with location

between 525 and 1500 mm (“United”).

Flora: The harsh conditions on mountain summits have led to unique

plant communities that are found nowhere else (“United”). At lower elevations

many of the trees are of tropical origin but ironwood, stinkwood, yellowwood

cape holly and alders are common (“United”). Plants in the understory include

wild pomegranate, black witch-hazel, ferns and Cape primrose (“United”).

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Fauna: During the 18th and 19

th centuries elephant and buffalo were

common on the coastal plains and mountainsides (“United”). The last buffalo

was shot in 1883 and the elephants have been reduced to single digits

(“United”). Smaller mammals include the samango monkey, blue duiker, tree

hyrax, honeybadger, and the giant golden mole (“United”). The Kenyans dwarf

chameleon occurs only in the Knysna montane forest in South Africa

(“United”).

Food Web: The leopard is the largest predator (“United”). It has a

varied diet ranging from larger animals such as the bushbuck, chacma baboon

and bushpig to smaller animals including mice (“United”). Few leopards have

been sighted recently and they may be extinct (“United”). Other mammals that

are predators are the caracal and honey badgers (“United”). Birds of prey

include the crowned eagle which is capable of taking monkeys and small

antelope, and the wood owl (“United”).

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Conclusion:

The African continent is large and is about evenly placed over the

equator. The center of the continent is on the equator and contains the tropical

rain forest biome in the western two thirds of the continent. Other biomes,

except the montane are pretty much split up into northern and southern portions

according to their latitude north or south of the equator with each biome having

two areas with similar climate and terrain. The montane forest biome is in the

higher elevations in the east central portion of the continent and is fragmented

because of the limited area where the climate and terrain are suitable.

The northern portion of the Mediterranean biome has scrubby, drought

resistant vegetation and the fauna are mostly smaller animals who are able to

exist on the small vegetation. In the western portions of this biome the animals

have to be good climbers because of the hilly terrain. The southern portion of

the Mediterranean biome on the coast of South Africa has a greater variety of

plants and animals because the climate is not quite so harsh.

The moist savanna biome is one of the largest biomes in Africa and

contains numerous Flora and Fauna. The climate is tropical but with a dry

season in the winter. During this time plants die. The plants survive from seed

or by using stored water reserves and the animals survive by migrating or

burrowing in the ground to find food in the dry season.

The temperate grassland biome has both a northern and a southern

section. In the north it is located just south of the vast desert region in northern

Africa and then around the eastern edge of the tropical rain forest in the lower

elevations of the montane forests biome regions. The southern portion of this

biome occurs in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia between the

Mediterranean biome along the southern coasts and the dry savanna to the

north. The temperate grasslands are dominated by grasses but, unlike the

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savanna’s they don’t have many trees and have a broader range of temperature

with less rainfall. Some of the world’s largest land animals live in this area.

Animals such as lions, zebra, and cheetah are common. Smaller animals also

abound. Expansion of agriculture has limited the number of native species in

the area.

The semi desert regions have fewer plants and animale. Acacia trees and

sagebrush are common. Flora often look dead and only have leaves when rain

comes. The leaves are small and waxy to avoid moisture loss. Fires are a

constant danger due to the dry conditions. Animals include Cheetah and

Elephants but they must migrate to higher elevations during periods of drought.

The tropical rain forest biome straddles the equator and has the highest

amount of rainfall. Humidity is always high and with plentiful rainfall there are

a very large number of species of both flora and fauna. The diversity here is,

however, less than in the Amazon rain forest in South America. The large trees

form a canopy which shades the lower areas and vegetation on the ground is

rather limited. The soil is poor due to the nutrients being constantly washed

away and the rapid decomposition of ground cover due to high humidity and

abundance of insects to decompose it. All of the nutrients go into the trees and

when they are removed for agriculture the attempts to grow plants are futile due

to the poos soil. There are many species of birds and small animals.

The montane biome consists of forested areas at the higher elevations to

the east of the tropical rain forest. This area , being close to the equator, has

plenty of rainfall but the higher elevation limits some growth. Bamboo grows at

the lower elevations. Harsh conditions on the mountain summits produce

unique flora and at lower elevations trees are of tropical origin. Elephant and

buffalo were once common on the mountainsides and plains but these have

mostly disappeared.