Introduction to Biomes: Start with a foundational overview of biomes as extensive ecosystems

on Earth characterized by unique climate conditions, flora, and fauna. This includes terrestrial
biomes like forests and deserts, as well as aquatic biomes such as freshwater and marine
ecosystems.
​ A biome is an ecological community or ecosystem that is classified based on the area’s
climate, wildlife, vegetation, and soil type. Biomes can be divided into two primary categories
depending on its varying features:
-​ Terrestrial biomes
-​ land-based biomes (tropical forests, savannas, deserts)
-​ Unique features:
-​ Precipitation:
-​ Influences the amount of water available in a terrestrial biomes
-​ Determines vegetation distribution and the amount of nutrients
plants and wildlife are able to sustain
-​ Example: Tropical rainforests are abundant in plants due to the
higher levels of rainfall it receives yearly
-​ Soil type:
-​ Can directly affect and determine the vegetation distribution, water
retention, temperature regulation, and nutrient cycle of a terrestrial
biome
-​ Example: Cacti are able to sustain life in dry weather conditions
such as the desert because of its sandy soil that drains quickly
and are low in nutrients
-​ Flora and fauna
-​ Flora: contains root systems to aid anchorage into the soil and
water absorption
-​ Fauna: perform land-based activities such as walking, climbing,
and flying
-​ Aquatic biomes
-​ Water-based biomes (oceans, freshwater, lakes)
-​ Unique features:
-​ Salt concentration:
-​ Influences the nutrient availability and productivity of an aquatic
area, as well as the types of aquatic organisms present
-​ The salt concentration of a body of water can further divide the
category into two: freshwater and marine habitats
-​ Freshwater biomes have low salt concentrations of less than 1%
while marine habitats have high concentrations of more than 1%.
-​ Flora and fauna:
-​ Flora: contain buoyant structures and root systems that allow
plants to be submerged in water
-​ Fauna: contain fills for breathing underwater, perform water-based
activitys such as swimming
-​ Shared features
 -​ Temperature
-​ Analyzing the biome’s temperature variation is crucial for understanding
and predicting the geographic distribution and vegetation of the terrestrial
biome.

SAVANNA
​ The terrestrial biome “savanna” is a type of grassland biome that consists of grass with a
few scattered trees in the area.

Geographical Distribution - Identify the global presence of the selected biome.

-​ Located in every continent except Antarctica
-​ It is most abundant in Africa near the equator. However, there are also various savannas
in Australia, South America, and India
-​ In fact, savannas cover more than 50% of the African continent

Climate - Outline the typical climate conditions prevalent in the biome

The climate of savannas vary depending on its location and season. During dry season,
savannas can reach extremely hot temperatures, with an average rainfall of four inches each
month. However, during the wet season, the temperature is still warm but can reach rainfall of
up to 50 inches of rain.

It is also important to note that fires are common in savannas. Due to the abundance of dry
grass, the heat during dry season ends up heating this grass and starting fires. Meanwhile,
lighting strikes during the wet season is also another factor behind these natural fires.

Despite this general overview of the savanna’s climate, there are still different types of savannas
with varying locations and climate.
1.​ Tropical savannas
a.​ Location: Located near the equator
b.​ Climate:
i.​ Experiences wet and dry seasons like heavy rainfall and drought
ii.​ Maintains a high temperature of more than 30C throughout the year and
does not experience significant temperature fluctuations

2.​ Subtropical savannas

a.​ Location: mid-latitude zones that lie between the tropics and temperate areas
b.​ Climate:
i.​ Experiences wet and dry seasons but with less rainfall and longer periods
of drought
ii.​ Encounters high temperatures (35C) like the tropical savannas but
reaches lower temperatures during the winter (10C)

3.​ Dry savannas

a.​ Location: found in arid to semi-arid areas
 b.​ Climate:
i.​ Droughts are longer and rainfall is much more rare. However, when
rainfall does occur, it is intense and can even lead to localized flooding
ii.​ During the daytime, temperatures are usually 40C or higher but can reach
much lower temperatures during the night

4.​ Flooded savannas

a.​ Location: often located in areas along riverbanks and can also be found in
low-lying areas
b.​ Climate:
i.​ Experiences flooding because of abundant and intense rainfall or river
flow
ii.​ Has high humidity levels
iii.​ Temperature is similar to topical savannas

5.​ Montane savannas

a.​ Location: found in elevated areas such as mountains
b.​ Climate:
i.​ Experiences colder temperatures due ot the higher elevations but still
varies depending on the montane savanna’s altitude
ii.​ Can either have distinct wet and dry seasons or much less distinguishable
seasons depending on the specific location. Some montane savanas
expxerience evenly distributed rainfall.
iii.​ The difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures is much
more evident

Biodiversity – Detail the diversity of life within the biome, highlighting key species of
plants and animals.
Savannas are characterized by their grassland with scattered trees and is home to many land
mammals familiar to many.
Flora (Plants)
-​ Due to the dry nature of savannas, the biome is not entirely covered with trees like a
forest. Instead, the ground consists of mostly grass with a few shrubs and trees around
the area.
-​ Savanna grass
-​ Usually grows in patches and can be observed as rough or course
-​ The grass in savannas are able to adapt to the unpredictable environment of its
location by growing quickly during the wet season and conserving this water
during the dry season
-​ Ex. lovegrass: a type of grass that thrives in sandy soils and can withstand long
periods of drought
-​ Savanna trees
 -​ Due to the savanna’s weather conditions, plants have been able to develop
systems that help them sustain life such as deep roots for better water storage
and absorption.
-​ Ex.
-​ Acacia tree
-​ A tall tree with an umbrella-like structure
-​ Has a long, thin, twisted trunk with small and feathery leaves that
are able to store and conserve water in arid weather conditions
-​ The tree’s shape provides shade for different animals from the
scorching sun
-​ Baobab tree
-​ An iconic tree of the African continent, Madagascar, and Australia
that can live up to 5,000 years and reach heights of 30 meters.
-​ Has a very wide and thick bark that can store thousands of liters of
water to sustain its life during the dry season. Its thick trunk also
allows it to withstand any wildfires, a common natural disaster in
savannas.
-​ The tree also provides food and shelter for wildlife such as birds
and mammals.

Fauna (Animals)
There are various grazing herbivores located in savannas.
-​ Grazing herbivores: animals that mostly consume grass and low-lying vegetation
-​ Giraffes
-​ Elephants
-​ Antelopes
-​ Zebras

Although a lot of the animals in the savanna are grazing herbivores, it is also home to many
predators, including
-​ Lions
-​ Cheetahs

These grazing herbivores depend on their herd numbers and speed when escaping from
predators. However, some of these predators carry camouflage and mimicry characteristics that
help them blend in with the savanna environment.
-​ Ex. puff adder – a sandy-colored snake that blends in with the dry shrubs and grass of
the savanna

Ecological Significance - Explore the global ecological roles played by the biome, such as its
contribution to nutrient cycles or climate regulation.
-​ Habitat for Animals
-​ Savannas serve as homes for many species of animals like those previously
mentioned
 -​ These animals all play an important role in biological communities as they are all
involved in crucial ecosystem dynamics such as the food chain and more
-​ Hydrological Functions
-​ Savannas are able to store water despite hot weather conditions which is
essential for the ecosystem’s water cycle
-​ The savanna plants’ long roots give them the ability to attain water from deeper
soil layers, contributing to the regulation of water availability
-​ Nutrient cycle
-​ When grazing herbivores consume grass in savannas and dispose them through
feces in another area, they are contributing to the overall nutrient cycle of the
savannas and overall ecosystem
-​ Climate regulation
-​ Trees, grass, and shrubs in the savannas absorb carbon dioxide through
processes like photosynthesis, positively contributing to the environment.
-​ According to the WWF, savanna systems “store carbon more reliably than
other vegetation types” because of their deep root systems that withstand
droughts and fires
-​ Additionally, the long roots of plants in the biome prevent soil erosion from
occuring

Human Impact - Examine the effects of human activities on the biome, both detrimental and
beneficial.
Beneficial
-​ Savannas are home to many indigenous people, ultimately leading to the cultural
significance of this biome
-​ Ancient cultural values and traditions of indigenous people are heavily influenced and
embedded in Savannas
-​ Nomadic cultures like the East Africa’s Maasai people use savannas to perform their
spiritual and cultural ceremonies
-​ Since these indigenous people greatly respect this biome, their culture successfully
integrates sustainable practices and managements.

Detrimental
-​ Savannas are experiencing many detrimental effects. Many of these areas are being
converted into urban communities, leading to biodiversity loss and an increase in carbon
emissions. However, according to World Wildlife Fund, the main human activity that
contributes to the loss of savannas is unsustainable agricultural production.

Conservation Efforts: Investigate ongoing efforts to conserve and sustainably manage the
biome.
There are different programs and organizations that aim to conserve savannas in various
locations. An example of a conservation effort in Africa is the Savannah Conservation Program
-​ In partnership with the University of Flordia and University of Eswatini, this program aims
to sustain the lowveld bushveld, a savannah ecosystem in Eswatini and Mphumalanga.
-​ They perform research initiatives that study the ecosystem’s dynamics and investigate
the right way to approach the interaction between the savanna and humans.
-​ The program carries out various conservation activities such as the biodiversity
monitoring project to monitor the biodiversity in the area.
-​ Moreover, they train and educate local and international ecologists to expand their
advocacy.
-​ https://www.alloutafrica.org/savannah-conservation.html
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