Tropical Savanna

Tropical Savanna Ryan Taylor, Afton Conner, and JessalynStivers

Table of Contents Pg. 1 Pg. 2-6 Pg. 7-13 Pg. 14-18 Pg. 19 Pg. 20 Pg. 21 Pg.22 Pg.23 • Overview • Zoology • Botany • Geography • Meteorology • Human influence • Questions • Glossary • Work cited

Overview • Tropical savannas are biomes full of interesting life. Though not many humans live in these regions, many exotic plants and animals thrive here. 1

Zoology (Animal Life) • There are many different species that live in savannahs. • Forty percent of the wildlife are mammals. • There are amphibians and hundreds of birds that live in this habitat. 2

African Elephant • These animals have special jobs • keep the savanna clear by eating shrubs and trees which helps grass grow. • They are endangered because hunters and poachers kill them for their ivory tusks to sell. 3

Egyptian Mongoose • able to live in the savanna because the color of their fur blends with the surroundings of this area. • preyed on by birds of prey and large carnivores on the savanna. 4

Estuarine Crocodile - found in Australia, Southeast Asia, India and around western Pacific Islands. • Not just found along coast, also found upstream in freshwater swamps and billabongs 5

Other Animals Found in this area • Bats • Koala Bear • Lion • Zebra • Giraffe • Tiger • Baboons • African tree frog 6

Botany (Plant Life) • Plants are highly specialized to grow in this environment for long periods of drought • Have special qualities to obtain and conserve water 7

Senegal Gum Acacia • Look like pea pods • Can survive in long droughts • Used for flavoring certain sodas 8

Baobab • “upside down tree” • Leaves are made for condiments/ medicines 9

Bermuda Grass • Stems are often purple in color • To Hindu, it is a sacred grass 10

Candelabra Tree • Looks like small cactuses at the top which makes tree appear like candelabra • Very poisonous 11

Manketti Tree • Produce fruit and the nuts produce oil 12

Other plants include: • Elephant grass • Gum tree eucalyptus • Jackalberry tree • Jarrah Tree • Kangaroo paw • River bushwillow • Umbrella thorn acacia • Whistling thorn 13

Geography • constitutes extensive areas in eastern Africa, South America, India, Southern Brazil, Southern Florida, and Australia. • Can be divided into 3 large areas: Western Plateau, Central Lowlands, Eastern Highlands 14

Western Plateau • Relatively flat • Coastal boundaries have more rugged areas 15

Central Lowlands • Flat and low- lying • Consists of sedimentary rocks 16

Eastern Highlands • Less pronounced • Area of some of the world’s highest waterfalls 17

Other key geographic factors: • River deltas • Peneplains • Underwater Avalanches • Sandstones • Basalt volcanic lava 18

Meteorology • Ranges from wet to dry seasons • Average monthly temperatures range at or above 64 degrees • Precipitation averages between 30 and 50 inches per year • Dry season lasts for about 5 months and less than 4 inches of rain are received 19

Human Influence • Population of humans living in savannas are slowly decreasing due to opportunities available in domestic areas • Majority of those living in savannas live in Africa • Poachers and hunters seeking elephant tusks are common in these regions 20

Questions • 1. What plant is used to make medicine? • 2. What tree is known as the “upside down tree”? • 3. Are there many people that live in the savanna? • 4. What is the annual rainfall percentage? • 5. What are the three regions of the geography? • 6. What three geographic factors of the savanna? • 7. What percentage of the animals are mammals? • 8. Are there amphibians that live here? 21

Glossary • Grasslands- areas where vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants • Climate- prevailing weather conditions of an area • Tropical- region of Earth near the equator 22

Work Cited • www.radford.edu • www.blueplanetbiomes.com • www.worldbiomes.com • www.cotf.edu • www.mbgnet.net 23

Tropical Savanna