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Savannas are areas in dry tropics and subtropics in which grasses are conspicuous, with scattered individual trees. These biomes are often found on either side of rainforests. There is extensive savanna covering tropical and subtropical areas of central and southern Africa, central South America, and parts of Australia. There are three seasons in these areas: cool and dry, hot and dry, and warm and wet. The soils of the savanna are usually low in nutrients. The soils are porous, having only a thin layer of nutrient rich matter called humus. |
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Plant life is composed of low growing grasses with scattered deciduous trees and thorny shrubs, Acacias, Eucalypts and Baobab. There are frequent fires in the savanna. The dominant vegetation is fire adapted, but many seedlings are killed before they become established, by fire or by grazing animals. The fires also remove dead |
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plant material and recycle nutrients that support new growth. |
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Animals found here include large herbivores such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes, buffalo, kangaroos, wildebeests, and ostriches. There are also many burrowing animals found here, including mice, gophers, snakes, as well as ants and termites. Animals in the savanna are most visible during the rainy season. During the dry season, many small animals are dormant, and larger mammals often migrate to other areas. |
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