Tropical Savanna Alexis Marshall

Precipitation  hot climates where the annual rainfall is from about 50.8 to 127 cm (20-50 inches) per year. It is crucial that the rainfall is concentrated in six or eight months of the year, followed by a long period of drought when fires can occur. If the rain were well distributed throughout the year, many such areas would become tropical forest.

Temperature around 70° F 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).

Soil Characteristics porous, with rapid drainage of water. It has only a thin layer of humus (the organic portion of the soil created by partial decomposition of plant or animal matter), which provides vegetation with nutrients.

Plant Adaptation Plants of the savannas are highly specialized to grow in this environment of long periods of drought. They have long tap roots that can reach the deep water table, thick bark to resist annual fires, trunks that can store water, and leaves that drop of during the winter to conserve water.  The grasses have adaptations that discourage animals from grazing on them; some grasses are too sharp or bitter tasting for some animals, but not others, to eat.

Animal Adaptation  Most of the animals on the savanna have long legs or wings to be able to go on long migrations. Many burrow under ground to avoid the heat or raise their young. The savanna is a perfect place for birds of prey like hawks and buzzards. Animals don't sweat to lose body heat, so they lose it through panting or through large areas of exposed skin, or ears, like those of the elephant.

Locations The savannas we are most familiar with are the East African savannas covered with acacia trees. The Serengeti Plains of Tanzania are some of the most well known.  South America also has savannas, but there are very few species that exist only on this savanna. In Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, savannas occupy some 2.5 million square kilometers, an area about one- quarter the size of Canada.

Special characteristics/sensitivities The largest part of the savanna biome is located in Africa. Almost half of Africa is considered a savanna.

Citations http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php http://www.savanna.org.au/all/faq.html https://www.thefactsite.com/2015/08/amazing-zebra-facts.html http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/savanna_biome_facts/163/ https://www.betternutrition.com/checkout/baobab-health-benefits http://environment11.pbworks.com/w/page/19130297/Tropical%20grasslands%2 0and%20savannahs https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/10-easy-soil-tests