Introduction My Biome: Savanna Done by: Youssef

Savanna map location Some locations of savannas include Africa, Central America, South America, and Southern Asia. "Savanna Biomes." Savanna Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.

What is savanna? Savannas are areas of open grassland with very few trees. There are two types of savannas, tropical and semi-tropical savannas. Savannas are typically dry, receiving less than 30 inches of rain on average per year. The lack of water makes savannas a difficult place for tall plants such as trees to grow. " WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

climate It is usually cooler during the dry season by a few degrees. Because it is in the tropical latitudes that is still hot enough. The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C). In a Savanna the temperature does not change a lot. When it does, its very gradual and not drastic. "Environment: Specials: Global Climate Map",http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0066.htm (5 June 2000)

Caracal adaptation by its fur claws fangs muscles in it's legs jumping abilities padded paws Adaptations of animals?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

Wild dog adaptation. They have long slender legs to help aid in tiring out their prey, they have great eyesight to help them hunt during dusk and dawn, they also have strong teeth so that they can bite through bone. Adaptations of animals?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

adaptations of a mongoose are that it has a strong jaw to easily kill its prey, it has loose dense fur so that when a snake bites it the venom only goes onto the fur and not into the blood stream, it has strong front paws to help it break eggs on rocks and that it has strong eye sight to help it hunt and see predators in the dark. Adaptations of animals?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

A baboon's adaptations are that they have sharp claws to fight off predators. They also have allot of fur around their neck to keep them warm in cold temperatures. They also have cheek pouches on their cheeks to store food. Adaptations of animals?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

Emus have a unique defense capability: when running at top speed, the structure of their feet enables them to make sudden 180-degree turns which not even a small cat can do. Emus have strong endurance, being able to run at a steady, loping pace for a long time. When food is plentiful, emus can store extra fat, which they may then rely on as they move on to a new food source. Emus are effective swimmers. Emus have three toes, unlike the ostrich, which has only two. Having three toes equips the emu more efficiently for running.

elephant Grass in the savanna is very bitter and sharp which often puts animals off eating it. Also in the wet season the grass is green and grows very fast. However when it is the dry season the grass turns brown and the chloroplasts inside the plant cells are pulled down towards the roots of the grass. "Savanna Plants." Savanna Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

they can survive on little or no water during drought Eucalyptus trees are also sometimes known as gum trees because of the amount of sticky, gum-like sap that they have in their trunks. This gum or sap is the product of vascular tissue that transports substances such as water, sugars, hormones, and minerals all throughout the plant. they can survive on little or no water during drought "Savanna Plants." Savanna Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

The baobab tree has adapted to the savanna biome by only producing leaves during the wet season. When leaves do grow, they are in tiny finger-like clusters. The small size of the leaves helps limit water loss. Another adaptation that enables the baobab tree to survive the long months of drought is its ability to store water in its large trunk. "Savanna Plants." Savanna Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

The acacia tree can survive drought conditions because it has developed long tap roots that can reach deep, ground water sources. It is also fire resistant. Some varieties report from the root crown when the above ground portion of the tree is damaged by fire. Fire is not the only hazard faced by the acacia tree. "Savanna Plants." Savanna Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.

Abiotic factors There are only a couple abiotic factors in the savanna that you can really recognize. One is fire. Fire is the most important abiotic factor to the savanna. without the constant fires a tropical savanna could turn into a tropical forest! Another abiotic factor is soil. There really isn't much to say about the soil except that it is real important to plants and the animals that eat the plants Air and water are the two last abiotic factors in the savanna. Everybody knows the importance of air to any biome. Without it survival would be impossible. Water is just as important. During the summer or dry season there really isn't a lot of water .Trees store water during the wet season so they have water during the dry season. Just like air, without water the chances of living are very slim. " Savanna: Africa - Abiotic Factors. Green Team Science, 15 Mar. 2005. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.

How does the abiotic affect animals and plants During the rainy season, birds, insects, and both large and small mammals thrive in the savannah, but the rainy season only lasts 6 to 8 months. During the dry season, surface water from the rain is quickly absorbed into the ground because the soil is extremely porous. Consequently, most birds and many of the large mammals migrate during the dry season in search of water. Because drought conditions are sometimes localized, the migration may be just to another area within the savannah. When drought conditions exist for a long time and over a wide area, the animals may migrate to another biome until the rainy season begins again. " WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

How do humans affect the savanna? The Savanna, being a grassland scattered with trees and a large diversity of animals, has some threats to it brought on by humans. The human effect has created many threats such as overgrazing, poaching, and clearing of the land for crops and buildings. Humans affect the Savannah by grazing, timber harvesting, and the burning of wood. They also interrupt the cycle of fruit and plant growth by collecting fruits and seeds that can feed other mammals. " WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

Humans activities in the savanna An example for people living in the savanna is the Masai tribes that live in East Africa. The Masai people practise nomadic cattle herding and move seasonally to find places with more moisture. However, they still have to face a lot of problems such as soil erosion caused by overgrazing and diseases spreaded by insects. "Human Activities in Savanna." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013. Another example is the Australian that practises extensive cattle farming in Australia. As the cattle are affected by the poor grasses, diseases and pests, the cattle are sent to better lands for fattening.

They are bad because the overgrazing damage the floor and leads to bad planting in the future.

How could we make the savanna better for the future? To protect the Savanna in the future humans can stop deforesting the environment, and especially stop the poaching of all animals that in habit the Savanna. " WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.

Bibliography "Savanna Plants." Savanna Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013. " WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.   "Human Impact." BiologyProjectWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.  "Savanna Plants." Savanna Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013. "Savanna Biomes." Savanna Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013. "Eucalyptus Tree Adaptations." EHow. Demand Media, 06 May 2010. Web. 15 Jan. 2013. "Baobab", http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.asp?target=@DOCTITLE%20 baobab, (June 4, 2000). "Sixty Indigenous Trees of Guateng",http://www.websightdyn.co.za/treehouse/euphorb.html, (June 4, 2000). "Environment: Specials: Global Climate Map",http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0066.htm (5 June 2000) "Wet Dry Tropical Climate",http://www.uwsp.edu/acaddept/geog/faculty/ritter/geog101/climates_tropical_wetdry.html(1 June 2000)

Thank you for listening I hope you got some information.