1. Hot semi-arid grassland ecosystems
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GCSE Geography

2. Click on an option on the left
Hot semi-arid grassland biome
Where are the hot, semi-arid grasslands located?
Answer
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North America
Europe
Asia
Tropic of Cancer
Africa
Equator
South America
Tropic of Capricorn
Oceania
Nearly all the hot, semi-arid grassland biome is located between 5oN and the Tropic of Cancer, and 5oS of the Tropic of Capricorn;
It is found in South America, Africa, India and Australia;
Over half of Africa is covered in hot, semi-arid grassland called Savanna;
The hot, semi-arid grassland is usually found between the desert and rainforest biomes
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3. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
What is the climate of the hot, semi-arid grassland areas?
Click here for key features of the climate
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Warmer in the dry season
Cooler in the
dry season
Warm all year. Never below 20oC).
Small temperature range
Total rainfall is similar to London
Wet season
Most rainfall occurs in heavy storms
Dry season
Wet season
Dry season
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4. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
What is the vegetation like?
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The ecosystem is dominated by grasses with varying amounts of scattered trees and shrubs.
All the plants are adapted to cope with long periods of little or no rain.
Click here to see how plants have adapted to the environment
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5. Click on an option on the left or a type of vegetation
Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have plants adapted to the environment?
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6. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have Acacia trees adapted to the environment?
If a giraffe eats the leaves, the tree pumps a poisonous alkaloid into the leaves which makes them taste bad so the animal stops eating them. The tree emits a chemical into the air which warns other trees in the area to do the same.
Small leaves to reduce water loss by transpiration.
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The tree creates shade which encourages animals. Their droppings provide nitrogen for the tree.
Long thorns to prevent animal grazing;
Ants live in hollowed out thorns. If it gets eaten by an animal it also gets stinging ants.
Fire resistant trunk.
Long tap roots to reach deep ground water sources.
Click to see how other plants have adapted
GCSE Geography

7. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have Baobab trees adapted to the environment?
Leaves only grow in the wet season to reduce water loss by transpiration.
Leaves are small to reduce transpiration.
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Thick bark to prevent water loss.
Elephants can break into the trunk to get to the water supply.
Water stored in trunk to use in dry season.
Click to see how other plants have adapted
GCSE Geography

8. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How has Grass adapted to the environment?
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Can grow quickly to over a metre in height in the wet season.
Goes brown and dies back during the dry season to limit water loss.
Stores water and nutrients in its roots which can survive fire.
Click to see how other plants have adapted
GCSE Geography

9. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have Eucalyptus trees adapted to the environment?
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Leaves hang down to reduce transpiration.
Trees lose leaves in the dry season to reduce transpiration.
Trees can withstand fire.
Fire triggers the release of seeds to encourage regrowth.
Long tap root to reach water deep underground.
Click to see how other plants have adapted
GCSE Geography

10. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
Part of an African savanna food web
Tertiary consumers
(Carnivores)
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which are eaten (along with primary consumers) by
Secondary consumers
(Carnivores)
which are eaten by
Primary consumers
(Herbivores)
They are eaten by
Producers (Plants)
Convert the energy from the sun into chemical energy by photosynthesis
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11. Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How nutrients are recycled in the semi-arid grassland ecosystem?
Carnivores take in nutrients by eating animals
Animals die
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Waste such as animal dung
Decomposers such as bacteria, fungi and insects break down dead plants and animals
Herbivores take in nutrients by eating plants
How nutrients are recycled in the semi-arid grassland ecosystem?
Animals die
Plants die creating leaf litter
Plants take up nutrients from the soil
Nutrients are stored in the soil
Nutrients returned to soil
Rock weathering releases nutrients
Some nutrients lost by leaching and surface run-off when it rains
GCSE Geography