1. African Savanna Devin Deschenes Biomes Project Biology
Period - White - 3
11/11/08

2. The Climate
The Savanna climate consists of a tropical climate with a dry winter season. This climate is called the Aw climate in the Köppen climate* system.
During the dry season many plants shrivel and die, forcing many animals to migrate in search of food. During the wet season the animals return to the lush vegetation that awaits them.
The range of temperature can be from 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). Summer temperatures range from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C) and winter ranges from 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). Most rainfall takes place between March to November, with an average annual rainfall of 10 to 30 inches (100 to 150 cm).
* Köppen climate classification is a climate classification system based on the distribution of vegetation in a certain area.

3. Location
The primary location of the African Savanna is in the central region of Africa.
Located in: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'ivore, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa.
Coordinates: latitude 15° North and 30 degrees S and longitude 15 degrees W and 40° West.
The Savanna is marked in orange below.

4. Dominant Animals Lion Other Dominant Animals…. African Elephant
Chacma Baboon
Zebra
Koala Bear
Giraffe
Lions are the biggest predator in the Savanna and can reach up to 10 feet in length. They can attack prey because their fur provides camouflage and because of the lions shear size. They have adapted by developing padded paws, retracting claws, and razor sharp teeth.
Elephants can reach 12 feet in height and can weigh up to 10,000 lbs. They are rarely ever bothered by any animals because they are just too big to kill. Elephants are also protected from predators because of their thick grey skin.
Hyena

5. Vegetation Bermuda Grass Baobab Kangaroo Paw Elephant Grass Gum Tree
Eucalyptus
Jackal Berry Tree
Senegal Gum Acacia
Candelabra Tree

6. Human Impact
Although some steps have been taken to conserve a portion of the Savannas, it has not been enough. Only a small portion of the Savanna is conserved because the national parks that are located in and around the Savanna territory. Humans still have a negative impact on wildlife in the Savanna because of poaching and fire making. Elephants are poached for their tusks and other animals are poached for their skins. Fires are started to burn plants to their roots so that brush and trees will not grow back. This allows the Africans to create farmlands in the Savanna. The consolidation of herded animals in a small area has caused rich Savanna soil to become scrubland because of overgrazing.