Tropical Grasslands

By: Caitlin Stadtler

What is the Climate?• Warm Climate – Hence the name

Tropical• High Temp: 86 degrees Fahrenheit • Low Temp: 68 degrees Fahrenheit• 2 Seasons

• Summer: Wet Season–20-50 inches of rain per year

•Winter: Dry Season

Climatogram of Savanna

What is the Landscape Like?

• Grassland with scattered trees

• Mostly grasses and forbs (small leaved plants)

• Soil: porous, rapid drainage of water

Types of Savannas• Climactic Savannas: result from

climactic conditions • Edaphic Savannas: caused by soil

conditions and are not entirely maintained by fire -- these can occur on hills or ridges where the soil is shallow, or in valleys where clay soils become waterlogged in wet weather.

• Derived Savanna: result of people clearing forest land for cultivation

Common Names• Savanna• Shrub land• Prairie• Steppe

Where in the World do we find Tropical Grasslands?

• Mostly Australia and Africa• Found between tropical rainforests

and deserts• Found in a wide ban on both sides of the equator

India, Australia, Nepal, Americas, Africa

What Kinds of Animals?Mammals: Hedgehog, Aardvark, Elephant, Naked Mole RatBirds: Ostrich, Pigeon, Golden Eagle, Zebra FinchInsects:Painted Lady, Desert LocustReptiles: Crocodile, Frilled Lizard, Pythons, River Turtle

What Kinds of Plants?• Orchids• Grasses and Sedges• Hat Thrower Fungus

Animal Adaptations

• Thrive during the Rainy Season• But, in the Dry Season, water becomes

difficult to find– Large mammals and birds migrate in search of

water• Fleeing from Fires in the Dry Season

Animal Adaptations (2)

Elephants:• Baobab Trees: Store water in their trunks– Elephants have the size and anatomy to be able to

open up the large trunks and suck water from them

– Thus, they do not need to migrate• Although they sometimes do

Plant Adaptations

• Overall, plants adapted to grow fast when there is adequate water supply and to store water for use during long periods of drought

• Grass: turns grown when there is lack of water to limit water loss – Store moisture and liquid in roots

• Baobab Tree: only grows leaves in wet season – Limits water loss

Plant Adaptations (2)

• Acacia Trees: has developed ability to grow long/deep roots which allows it to reach to deep water– Fire Resistant– Thorns – protect them against predators– Symbiotic Relationship with Stinging Ants– Alkaloid Chemical – protects Acacia trees from

grazing giraffes

Human Impacts

• Positive!! (+)– The creation of National Parks: protect from

endangered species, allow animal populations to thrive• Negative.. (-)– Tourist presence can be hindering to the animal

populations– Lion Hunting – Poaching slaughtering animals

• Illegal residents kill over 40,000 animals a year

Bibliography• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm• http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.ph

p#savan

• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/grassland-profile/

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats/Tropical_and_subtropical_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands

• http://earthsworldbiomes.wordpress.com/savanna/• http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/savanna

hP.html• http://tropicalsavannaecotourism.weebly.com/human-impact.

html• http://5savanna.weebly.com/human-impact.html