Ryan Taylor, Afton Conner, and Jessalyn Stivers Tropical Savanna Ryan Taylor, Afton Conner, and Jessalyn Stivers

Table of Contents Pg. 1 Pg. 2-6 Pg. 7-13 Pg. 14-18 Pg. 19 Pg. 20 Overview Zoology Botany Geography Meteorology Human influence Questions Glossary Work cited

Overview Tropical savannas are biomes full of interesting life. Though not many humans live in these regions, many exotic plants and animals thrive here. 1

Zoology (Animal Life) There are many different species that live in savannahs. Forty percent of the wildlife are mammals. There are amphibians and hundreds of birds that live in this habitat. 2

African Elephant These animals have special jobs keep the savanna clear by eating shrubs and trees which helps grass grow. They are endangered because hunters and poachers kill them for their ivory tusks to sell. 3

Egyptian Mongoose able to live in the savanna because the color of their fur blends with the surroundings of this area. preyed on by birds of prey and large carnivores on the savanna. 4

Estuarine Crocodile - found in Australia, Southeast Asia, India and around western Pacific Islands. Not just found along coast, also found upstream in freshwater swamps and billabongs 5

Other Animals Found in this area Bats Koala Bear Lion Zebra Giraffe Tiger Baboons African tree frog 6

Botany (Plant Life) Plants are highly specialized to grow in this environment for long periods of drought Have special qualities to obtain and conserve water 7

Senegal Gum Acacia Look like pea pods Can survive in long droughts Used for flavoring certain sodas 8

Baobab “upside down tree” Leaves are made for condiments/ medicines 9

Bermuda Grass Stems are often purple in color To Hindu, it is a sacred grass 10

Candelabra Tree Looks like small cactuses at the top which makes tree appear like candelabra Very poisonous 11

Manketti Tree Produce fruit and the nuts produce oil 12

Other plants include: Elephant grass Gum tree eucalyptus Jackalberry tree Jarrah Tree Kangaroo paw River bushwillow Umbrella thorn acacia Whistling thorn 13

Geography constitutes extensive areas in eastern Africa, South America, India, Southern Brazil, Southern Florida, and Australia. Can be divided into 3 large areas: Western Plateau, Central Lowlands, Eastern Highlands 14

Western Plateau Relatively flat Coastal boundaries have more rugged areas 15

Central Lowlands Flat and low- lying Consists of sedimentary rocks 16

Eastern Highlands Less pronounced Area of some of the world’s highest waterfalls 17

Other key geographic factors: River deltas Peneplains Underwater Avalanches Sandstones Basalt volcanic lava 18

Meteorology Ranges from wet to dry seasons Average monthly temperatures range at or above 64 degrees Precipitation averages between 30 and 50 inches per year Dry season lasts for about 5 months and less than 4 inches of rain are received 19

Human Influence Population of humans living in savannas are slowly decreasing due to opportunities available in domestic areas Majority of those living in savannas live in Africa Poachers and hunters seeking elephant tusks are common in these regions 20

Questions 1. What plant is used to make medicine? 2. What tree is known as the “upside down tree”? 3. Are there many people that live in the savanna? 4. What is the annual rainfall percentage? 5. What are the three regions of the geography? 6. What three geographic factors of the savanna? 7. What percentage of the animals are mammals? 8. Are there amphibians that live here? 21

Glossary Grasslands- areas where vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants Climate- prevailing weather conditions of an area Tropical- region of Earth near the equator 22

Work Cited www.radford.edu www.blueplanetbiomes.com www.worldbiomes.com www.cotf.edu www.mbgnet.net 23