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