Savanna
Desert
Chaparral
Tropical Rainforest
By Alex C., Jake S, Shahar D., Julia S.

Jacob Shearman


Savanna is often defined as rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees

It is typically found between tropical rainforest and desert biomes

It is commonly home to large ungulates and other strong mammals designed to compete in open landscape for similar prey
 The climate is typically hot with both harsh monsoons and droughts


They are found in a wide band on either side of the equator

Usually on the edges of tropical rainforests

Between latitude 30
°
North and 30
°
South


Savannas have warm temperatures of 68
° to 86
°
F year round, with gradual fluctuations based on season

Winter: 68
°
-78
°
F

Summer:78
°
-86
°
F


There are two seasons in the savanna: a very long dry season (winter), and a very wet season (summer).

In the dry season, only about 4 inches of rain falls.

Between December and February no rain will fall at all.

In the wet season there is lots of rain (15-25 inches)
 In the afternoons , the rains pour down for hours because the humid air has risen and mixed with the cooler air above

There is an annual precipitation of 10 -30 inches.


Savannas are characterized by a continuous cover of perennial grasses 3- 6 ft tall.

The grasses have adaptations that discourage animals from grazing on them such as sharp or bitter tastes

Many grasses grow from the bottom up, so that the growth tissue doesn't get damaged by grazers. Many plants of the savanna also have storage organs like bulbs and corms for making it though the dry season.


Acacia trees are one of a few tree species that can survive in the savanna
 They have long roots that can reach the deep water table, thick bark to resist annual fires, and trunks that can store water.
 They are tall to be out of reach, and also have thorns to prevent being eaten.


In African Savannas, the giraffe is a common species

It has a strong tongue that enables it to withstand thorn defenses of trees such as acacias

It is perfectly suited to its environment, its abnormal height allows it to feed on the tall trees
 It is able to thrive as being one of the only species with the ability to reach this source of food


The cheetah is well-known for its speed

This is a direct result of its ecological niche

It needs to be able to catch prey in the open grassland of the savannas

Its coat also serves as camouflage with the grasses

 As described earlier, savannas are characterized by monsoons and droughts depending on the season.

This influences all living organisms because they must be able to survive through both extremes

Animals, and especially plants, have adapted to this with high water-retention features and strong structures


Savannas are subject to regular wildfires

The ecosystem often appears to be the result of human fire
(India is a perfect example)

While fires create the opportunity for savannas to exist, they also greatly change them through succession

 I will use fire as a common ecological disturbance
 These forest fires occur often, and geographers believe that it keeps the savanna healthy
 If a fire was to sweep through the savanna, it would likely burn through many grasses and ruin any existing canopy

It especially limits the growth of any vegetation that isn't fire resistant

The grasses will re-grow, replacing any areas previously inhabited by trees and other shrubs
 This results in a more open, grass dominated savanna












"Acacia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia>.
C., Alix. "savanna_australia." Blue Planet Biomes . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_australia.htm>.
"Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=giraffe+and+acacia+tree&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=WazAahSdVi3adM:&imgrefurl=h ttp://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp%3FphotoID%3D1705295&docid=aOlogpJxxwBUGM&w=478&h=598&ei=bX
V_TqHEJ-jq0gGxp9XjDw&zoom=1&iac>.
"Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=grassland&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=ToZtbOOvawqqTM:&imgrefurl=http://www.blu
eplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm&docid=5fODfAxGdfAeOM&w=288&h=216&ei=rnN_TqPAOMX00gHr99HVDw&zoom=1&iact=h c&vpx=175&vpy=181&dur=50&hovh=172&hovw>.
"Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=thermometer&um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbnid=0iEZ-tafhf-
ZuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cksinfo.com/medicine/supplies/page5.html&docid=pcYT4jUQhEMGdM&w=384&h=417&ei=x39_Tui-
EarX0QHjod0Y&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=319&vpy=249&dur=340&hovh=234&hov>.
"Poaceae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaceae>.
S., Maya. "african_savanna.htm." Blue Planet Biomes . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/african_savanna.htm>.
"Savanna - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna>.
"Savanna Biomes." Blue Planet Biomes . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm>.
"Savanna Climate." Blue Planet Biomes . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_climate_page.htm>.
"Tropical Savannas." Biomes . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/savanna/savanna.html>.

Alex Close

- A VERY hot and dry climate
- Few animals because it is hard to survive in heat
- Area that looses more moisture than it gains
- Lack of rainfall
- Little vegetation


Hot days, cooler nights

Extreme maximum = 43.5-49
°
C

Minimum = -18
°
C

Average annual temperature range
= 20-25 °
C

• Latitude Range: 15 °
- 25
°
N and S.
• Southern Asian realm
• Neotropical (South and Central America)
• Ethipoian (Africa)
• Australia
• Deserts in the USA =
• Chihuahuan, Sonoran,
Mojave and Great basin


Average rainfall = less than 25 cm per year

Some rain is evaporated before reaching the ground

Some deserts only get 1.5 cm of rain fall per year!

 Vault like water storing plant body

Great volume to surface ratio to take in as much water and nutrients as possible

Can expand when it rains to store water
 Large net of roots that extend far to take in water

Needles for protection


Stems store water in spongy tissue
Accordion-fold structure to store water
-Roots help hold cactus down in strong winds
 Expands to hold in as much water as possible


Slender body and limbs to shed heat easier

Eyes set deeply so they can be protected from the sun to reduce harsh sunlight and reduce evaporation from eye liquid


Long eyelashes to protect from sun

Toes that spread far apart so they don’t sink into sand

Can tolerate dehydration and high body temperatures
= can go for many days without water


Sunlight- deserts characterized by strong sun exposure, causing strong heat. Animals must adapt to sun exposure such as having long eyelashes to protect there eyes

Water- There is a lack of water in deserts.
Animals and plants are able to survive for long periods of time without water.









"The desert biome." UCMP - University of California Museum of Paleontology . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php#hot>.
"Desert Biomes." Blue Planet Biomes . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.
" Desert Animals : Camels ." Animal Information - Animal Facts and Wild Animal Pictures . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.animalport.com/desert-animals/Camels.html>.
"Saguaro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa
"Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=camel&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1137&bih=724&tbm=isch&tbnid=GcWMrkG
HW9uONM:&imgrefurl=http://fohn.net/camel-picturesfacts/&docid=2gA8o4MMYawFAM&w=648&h=486&ei=qQOFToTvPNSQ4gSbp4yfDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=124&vpy>.
"Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=saguaro+cactus&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1137&bih=724&tbm=isch&tbnid=jao
2U45vJ-gTfM:&imgrefurl=http://amazing-seeds.com/saguaro-cactus-carnegeia-gigantea-seeds-p-54.html&docid=6cbmpNsj8SAkY
Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=barrel+cactus&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1137&bih=724&tbm=isch&tbnid=cJN
9bhMTqXm2lM:&imgrefurl=http://photo-dict.faqs.org/phrase/4387/barrel-cactus.html&docid=rebj9D5Pkt3jgM&w=525&h=700&ei=Ef-
ETrCoNcrzsgaeuqDiAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=656&vpy=250&dur=899&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=106&ty=141&page=1&tbnh=121& tbnw=99&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0>.
Google Images." Google . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=barrel+cactus&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1137&bih=724&tbm=isch&tbnid=cJN
9bhMTqXm2lM:&imgrefurl=http://photo-dict.faqs.org/phrase/4387/barrel-cactus.html&docid=rebj9D5Pkt3jgM&w=525&h=700&ei=Ef-
ETrCoNcrzsgaeuqDiAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=656&vpy=250&dur=899&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=106&ty=141&page=1&tbnh=121& tbnw=99&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0>.

Biome: The Tropics

• 70 degrees (night time) to 90 degrees (daytime
)

Annual
Precipitation
•50-260 inches (average 80 inches)/year
•125-660 cm2

Latitude
 15-25 North and South of the equator

Description
 Humid
 Colorful  green
 Dark  pitch black under-story of canopy

Two Specific Plants that Reside in
Tropical Biome:
 Bougainvillea
 Jambu

Bougainvillea
 Genus: Bougainvillea; Species: spectabilis
 Prefers dense forest where it can cling and grab onto plants so it can reach max. sunlight
 Doesn ’ t like swampy areas because of the lack of soil drainage
 Likes H2O but doesn ’ t like to hold onto H2O for long  perfect because of constant precipitation and evaporation of rain
 Adaptations: hooks to grab onto trees and climb; drip tips to get rid of H2O

Jambu
Common Name: Jambu Ayers, Djamboe Aer, Watery
Rose Apple; Genus: Syzygium; Species: Aqueum
1.
Water fruit  sweet
2.
10-20 feet high
3.
Like plenty of rain  perfect because rains on average 80 inches a year

Two Animals that Live in Tropical
Biome and Ecological Niche
Toco Toucan
Slender Loris

Toco Toucan
Genus: Pamphastos; Species: Toco
1.
Bill brightly orange and black; max. eight inches in length
2.
Strong feet and toes to support weight
3.
Open areas  lowland rainforests; and palm groves of
South America
4.
Nests in holes of trees
5.
Like to remain in high trees and bathe in rain water

Slender Loris
Common name: Vangu; Genus: Loris; Species:
Tardigradus Malabaricus
1.
Nocturnal creatures
2. Prefer thick, thorny vegetation wherein they could easily escape from predators  pitch black under story works for
Their advantage
3. Spend most of life in trees
4. Eat insects

Two Abotic Factors that Characterize this Biome:
Sunlight:
1.
Sunlight gives plants and trees the energy for photosynthesis and help keep the trees energized and growing
Water:
1. Huge amount of rainfall each year  evaporation  humidity
2. Provides the O2 for the trees and plants for photosynthesis

Ecological Disturbances and Disturbances
 Clear cutting of rainforests due to human activities  rainforests quickly disappearing
 Because tropics are usually hammered with rain, the tropical rainforests may experience a devastating storm such as a hurricane that knocks down trees and wrecks habitats and niches for the species. Because the forest was already a community, secondary succession will take place. This means that with the soil still intact, species and populations that populated it before the disturbance may return it back to its original state. Herbaceous species begin to populate the area, then shrubs, and sinally the trees may replace most of the shrubs. Early arriving species may facilitate the appearance of the later species by making the area look more favorable. The early species then inhibit establishmetnts of later species so that later species may colonize successfully. Finally early species may tolerate the later species so that they do not help or hinder colonization of the later arrivals.

Content Bibliography
 Michael G., Tropical Rainforest: Climate, http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
(September 23,
2011)
 [1] Michael G. Tropical Rainforest, http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
(September
23,2011)
 [1] Michael G., Tropical Rainforest: Plant: Bougainvillea, Jambu http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_plant_page.htm
(September
23,2011)
 [1] Michael G., Tropical Rainforest: Toco Toucan, Slender Loris, http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm
(September 23, 2011)

Picture Bibliography
Background:
Rainforest and Vegetation, http://room42.wikispaces.com/Rainforest+Vegetation
(September 21, 2011)
Bougainvillea http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/04/you_owe_ a_debt.html
, (September 21, 2011)
Jambu http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjetjep/2373449498/ , (september
21, 2011)
Toco Toucan http://www.victorialodging.com/image/toco-toucan , (September
21,2011)
Slender Loris http://www.davidmixner.com/2011/08/endangered-species-theslender-loris.html
, (September 21, 2011)

Julia Schiantarelli


Hot and dry summers

Mild winters

Most of the plants in the chaparral are shrubs and small trees.


Between 30 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit


Between 20 and 30 inches

Lack of precipitation sometimes leads to droughts


Between 30 and 40 degrees N

Between 30 and 40 degrees S

The chaparral is on the west coast of North
America (predominantly in California),
South America, South Africa, and Australia.
The chaparral is also found along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.


The chaparral is a scrubland made up of drought-resistant plants and medium/small sized mammals.


Fire poppy, Papaver californicum
– Why it grows in the chaparral:

Fires are relatively frequent in the chaparral.
This species germinates profusely immediately following a fire.

However they disappear as the chaparral species return.

The seeds will then germinate when a fire next comes through the area.


Birch-leaf Mountain Mahogany,
Cercocarpus montanus
– Why it lives in the chaparral:

It had the ability to to cope with severe drought, changes in climate, and poor soil.
 This tree also doesn’t burn as quickly as other shrubs in the chaparral.

Loses its leaves during the hot, dry season to conserve water.


Cactus Wrens– Why they live in the chaparral:

They like to breed in successional chaparral scrub (chaparral that has recently come back from a burn).

The number of eggs they lay also varies to cope with the changing food availability in the chaparral.


Timea (Walking Stick insects)– Why they live in the chaparral:

Use cryptic coloration to blend in with the plants of the chaparral (evolved specifically for plants of the chaparral)


Droughts– often severe, these are due to the small amount of precipitation in the chaparral

Numerous fires– fire ecology is part of the chaparral biome, many plants use fires to propagate


Fires are relatively common to the chaparral. After a fire, chaparral communities may contain soft-leaved annual plants that dominate the community for the first few years. This is until growing seedlings of chaparral perennials start to grow and block the sunlight from other plants in the community. This allows them to eventually dominate the environment.


Jennifer H. Law & Bernard J. Crespi (2002). "The evolution of geographic parthenogenesis in Timema walking-sticks" . Molecular Ecology (Blackwell Science
Ltd.) 11 : 1471–1489.

Sandoval, Cristina P.; Bernard J. Crespi (2008). "Adaptive evolution of cryptic coloration: the shape of host plants and dorsal stripes in Timema walking-sticks" .
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 94 : 1–5. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

"Top Chaparral Critters." California Chaparral Institute . Web. 02 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.californiachaparral.com/cplantsanimals.html>.

"Fire Ecology and the Chaparral." SBCC Biological Sciences Department . Santa Barbera
City College, 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.biosbcc.net/b100plant/htm/fire.htm>.