Savanna Biome By: Taylor Pearson and Emma Halley

Description of Biome -Rolling grasslands scattered with shrubs and isolated trees -Two extreme seasons but warm year round -Large herds of grazing and browsing hooved animals

Abiotic Characteristics -Weather: long dry season(winter) and very wet season(summer) - Average of 4 in rainfall for the whole of the dry season - Climate: warm year round -Soil: Summer very fertile due to grazing -Rainfall: Heavy rainfall for about half a year -Fire: fires during dry season help keep the savanna from being a forest

Locations -Africa -South America -Central America

National Parks -Kruger National Park (South Africa) -Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe) -Central Kalahari Game Reserve (South Africa)

Climograph

Symbiotic Relationships Mutualism- Termites and the Jackal Berry Tree the termite mounds provide good nutrients and the roots of the tree provides protection Commensalism- Hyena and lion because the hyena eats the lions leftovers without harming the lion Parasitism- Mosquitoes and Lions because the mosquitoes suck the lions blood and carry diseases Competition- Cheetahs and lions fight over other mammals

Slogan and Jingle -“For a wild time come to the savanna! We have yipes and stripes all the time!” -We got zebras and elephants in our biome, we got cheetahs and hyenas in our biome, we got emus and black mambas in our biome, we got lots of animals in the savanna! (to the tune of “We’ve Got the Whole World in our Hands”)

Organisms in the Savanna -There are many different animals and plants that live in the Savanna, some examples are: -Animals: Elephants, Zebra, Cheetah, Hyena, Black Mamba, Emu, various types of Vultures, Nile Crocodile, Wild Dogs, Nigriceps Ants, Caracal, Giraffes, Lions, Dung Beetle -Plants:, River Bushwillow, Jarrah Tree, Baobab, Whistling Throne Mushrooms (no specific species)

Adaptations

Food Chains Shrubs/Grasses → Zebra → Cheetah → Hyena (scavenger) Elephant Grass → Elephant → Lion → Vultures (Scavenger) Jarrah Tree → Baby Giraffe → Hyena

Food Web -In the savanna the food web is always changing -The top predator is the lion, an adult male lion can take down an elephant -Lions can be the secondary consumer or a tertiary consumer -See example on next slide

Ecological Pyramid -At the top of the pyramid is the lion, as stated early a lion can take down an elephant if need be -Zebras, giraffes, and even elephants are the next level -Grasses, shrubs, and trees are the bottom level -Scavengers could fall at the top

Trophic Levels -As you can see in the previous slides, that trophic levels are always changing in the savanna -Grasses, trees, and shrubs are always producers -Zebras, gazelles and other smaller animals are usually primary consumers -Hyenas, dogs, vultures all go between primary and secondary consumers

Elephants- Endangered Species -There are between 410,000 and 650,000 elephants left in Africa -That is more than a 50% decline in the last 35 years

Elephants -Elephants are ecosystem engineers, they move energy from the water to the shores, they also make paths for other animals -Without elephants the ecosystem of the savanna would fall apart

Poachers - Poachers are a huge environmental issue to the savanna -Lions, zebras, and elephants are all at a high risk -With the death of these animals the ecosystem gets very far off the rails

Solution -In order to prevent poaching, there must be firmer laws against it and against the purchasing of goods that come from these animals -There should be more conservation sites -There should be more rangers enforcing these laws and preventing poaching from happening