Savanna
Alexis, Wei Wei, & Zach
Climate and Temperature
Wet and Dry type of Climate
Temperatures in savannas vary according to the season. In the
dry season temperatures can be either extremely hot or cool. In
the wet season temperatures are warm. Savannas are typically
dry receiving less than 30 inches of rain on average per year.
Tropical savannas may receive as much as 50 inches of rain in
the wet season, but as little as 4 inches during the dry season.
The dry climate combined with the extreme heat in the dry
season makes savannas ripe areas for grass and brush fires.
Soil Conditions
A savanna is typically described as a "grassland".
The soil of the savanna is porous, with rapid drainage of water.
It has only a thin layer of humus, which provides vegetation
with nutrients.
Savannas are sometimes contain about 10% trees
Typical Seasons in the Savanna
Savannas have warm temperature year round.
There are actually two very different seasons in a savanna; a
very long dry season (winter), and a very wet season (summer).
In the dry season only an average of about 4 inches of rain falls.
Between December and February no rain will fall at all.
It is actually a little cooler during this dry season. But don't
expect sweater weather; it is still around 70° F.
In the summer there is lots of rain.
Precipitation
typically has a pronounced
dry season,the driest month
having precipitation less than
60 mm. In essence, a tropical
savanna climate tends to
either see less rainfall than a
tropical monsoon climate or
have more pronounced dry
seasons than a tropical
monsoon climate.
Dominant Wildlife
Savannas are home to many large land animals including elephants, giraffes, zebras,
rhinoceros, buffalo, lions, leopards and cheetahs. Other animals include baboons,
crocodiles, antelopes, meerkats, ants, kangaroos, ostriches and snakes.
Many of the animals that live in savannas rely on speed for survival, as the vast open
areas provide little means of escape from quick predators. If the prey is too slow, it
becomes dinner. If the predator is not fast enough, it goes hungry. Camouflage is also very
important to animals of the savanna. Predators often need to blend in with their
environment in order to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. On the other hand, prey may use
this same technique as a defense mechanism to conceal themselves from predators.
Dominant Plants
Savannas are often described as
areas of grasslands with dispersed
singular or clusters of trees. The lack
of water makes savannas a difficult
place for tall plants such as trees to
grow. Grasses and trees that grow in
the savanna have adapted to life with
little water and hot temperatures.
Grasses, for example, grow quickly in
the wet season when water is
abundant and turn brown in the dry
season to conserve water. Due to
frequent fires, grasses also stay close
to the ground. Some examples of
vegetation in the savanna include: wild
grasses, shrubs, baobab trees, and
acacia trees.
Geographic Distribution
Savannas around the world are also dominated by tropical grasses which use
the C4 type of photosynthesis. In the Americas, e.g. in Belize, Central America,
savanna vegetation is similar from Mexico to South America and to the
Caribbean.
Bibliography
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
http://www.google.com/imgres?
q=savanna+climate&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1870&bih=864&tbm=isch&tbnid=G1s
hsE9rqQbdhM:&imgrefurl=http://room42.wikispaces.com/Savanna%
2BClimate&docid=B34gI5f68_VCUM&w=550&h=363&ei=qO2UTsKBBYXy0gGz88WmBw&zoom=1&iac
t=hc&dur=46&page=1&tbnh=143&tbnw=241&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:
0&tx=160&ty=77&vpx=203&vpy=196&hovh=182&hovw=276
http://biology.about.com/od/landbiomes/a/aa041706a.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/images/savanna3_lg.jpg
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm