What is the Savanna Biome?
Variable rainfall, grassland sprinkled with tall trees, and hardpan ground characterize the temperate Savanna biome. It can be found most famously in the plains of Africa, but parts of Florida, Brazil, Australia, and India belong to this biome as well. It is a mixture of prairie land and forest, but it has unique characteristics as well.
The temperature on the Savanna varies little from season to season, averaging a warm 68º F (20º C) over the year. Rainfall, though, varies drastically. The wet season lasts 6 - 8 months, dropping most of the area's 20 - 60 inches (60 - 150 cm) of rain in a short period of time. The hard ground's impermeability means the precipitation makes temporary puddles that only slowly feed ground water. In the dry winter months, drought overtakes the terrain, and water sources evaporate. Therefore, animals and plants have adapted to survive these exaggerated conditions. Some birds migrate to wetter areas, while some rodents go into a dormant state underground.
Trees of the Savanna have little biodiversity. Acacia and Baobob trees dominate the otherwise straight horizon line. These trees have flattened tops because grazers, like giraffes, nibble the lower branches. Other African mammals use the trees for shade and water. Elephants, zebras, water buffalo, ostriches, hyenas, warthogs, hippopotamus, gazelles, and leopards are famous members of this ecology. There is much biodiversity among herbivorous grazers and carnivorous predators.
The tropical Savanna biome is in a state of flux. Elephants could create grassland out of forest by trampling trees. Fire actually helps to preserve the Savanna. Dry grasses are easily ignited by lightning, and the swift burning fire sweeps the steppe. Birds and large animals have evolved to outrun the fire, while rodents burrow deep enough to withstand the heat. Even grasses store their water supply in their roots, rather than their blades, so they are not killed by a blaze. The fire moves too quickly to damage trees, so can safely germinate seeds of some species.
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![Giraffes nibble the branches of trees in the Savanna Biome.]()
By: David_SteeleGiraffes nibble the branches of trees in the Savanna Biome. -
![Elephants can be seen in the African Savanna.]()
By: tieroElephants can be seen in the African Savanna. -
![Leopards, an arboreal Felid species, are adapted for life in the Savanna biome.]()
By: Yulia RomanovaLeopards, an arboreal Felid species, are adapted for life in the Savanna biome. -
![Africa contains the most famous savanna biome.]()
By: Vladislav GurfinkelAfrica contains the most famous savanna biome. -
![Parts of Brazil are classified as Savanna biome.]()
By: BastosParts of Brazil are classified as Savanna biome. -
![Parts of India belong to the Savanna biome.]()
By: TupungatoParts of India belong to the Savanna biome. -
![The hippopotamus is one of the animals that inhabits shallow rivers in the Savanna biome.]()
By: Uryadnikov SergeyThe hippopotamus is one of the animals that inhabits shallow rivers in the Savanna biome. -
![Zebras roam the Savanna biome.]()
By: Duncan NoakesZebras roam the Savanna biome.
Discussion Comments
Why aren't hyenas at the top of the food chain? They're carnivores, after all. I don't understand that.
Why do the savannas get a lot of rain and then they get none? That would be a bad thing for humans, so if we started to move into the savannas, would we be able to live there long? Would we adapt?
Which birds live in the savannah?
There are savannas in Australia. I need to know an Australian savanna (is Cape York a savanna?) plus a city in that savanna. Please help ASAP.
how have humans misused the savanna?
What makes a savannah a biome? please reply.
What is an energy pyramid? Please respond ASAP.
what natural resources are there?
What plants grow in the savvanah biome?
What are the biotic and abiotic organisms that live in a savanna? i'm asking for the organisms not the factors...thank you! i need it for my project, ASAP!
anon18365: less than 30 inches per year
what is the monthly rainfall??? i need to create a climatogram and i can't find the monthly rainfall!!!! please help me!!
What plants live in this area?
People have been living in savannas for a long time. Mostly they are farming and raising cattle. Australian savanna is more sparsely populated then savannas in Africa or Asia.
In Africa the Maasai tribe has been tending cattle for at least a few centuries. In Australia it is believed that predecessors of today's Aborigines have been there as long as 40,000 years ago.
In recent years, savannas are being used more and more by farmers as farmland and for cattle grazing.
Unfortunately in some parts of Africa, when the grass is gone the land turns into dessert. Apparently, African Sahara dessert is taking over large portions of the land once the vegetation is gone.
What are some of the occupations of people in the savannah biome?
why do the savanas get a lot of rain then they get none? that would be a bad thing for humans, so if we started to move into the savannas would we be able to live there long? would we adapt?
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