8-3 Savannas

Tropical or subtropical grasslands ranging from scrubland to wet, open woodland.

• Located in Asia, Africa and South America.

Savannas

Climate Rainy seasons which are

short and intense and long periods of drought.

• Rain up to 150 cm per year.

Organisms Grasses, shrubs and

trees must be resistant to drought, fire and grazing animals.

• Many plants grow runners which are long horizontal stems above or below the ground which helps the plant to reproduce.

Grasses grow in tufts which are large clumps of tall coarse grasses.

• Trees have thorns or sharp leaves which help protect them from being eaten by animals like gazelles.

Savanna Plants

Animals   They eat in a

vertical feeding pattern.

• This means that they eat vegetation at different heights.

 This reduces competition. Animals eat at different levels. Giraffes eat high in the trees, warthogs eat roots grasses and leaves from small shrubs, elephants can also reach high with their trunks.

Savanna Animals