Please Do Now What in terms of climate separates the temperate grassland from the temperate forests Agenda Do Now Begin Savanna Notes Savanna Video Return Exams Tropical GrasslandSavanna Found near the equators in place to dry to support a forest Largest examples are found on Africa an ID: 181277
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Slide1
AIM: SWBAT describe the unique features of the tropical grassland/savanna biome
Please Do Now: What, in terms of climate, separates the temperate grassland from the temperate forests?Slide2
AgendaDo NowBegin Savanna Notes
Savanna Video
Return ExamsSlide3
Tropical Grassland/Savanna
Found near the equators in place to dry to support a forest. Largest examples are found on Africa and South AmericaSlide4
Out of order *Unique sub-habitats* out of order
The tropical grassland consist of just grass, while the savanna has widely spaced trees also. Their animal communities are very similar and that is why they are grouped together. They are found right next to each other
in many
locations.Slide5
ClimatePrecipitation is variable with a wet season and a dry season
Temperature are hot throughout the yearSlide6
SoilLike the temperate grasslands, the soils tend to be very rich, with lots of organic content, which is replenished by the frequent wildfires.Slide7
Plant Lifecharacterized by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grassesSlide8
Plant’s AdaptationsTrees have thick bark, thorns, loose leaves in dry season
Grasses grow in clumps, shoots (aboveground tissue) dies during dry seasonSlide9
Seasonal VariationIn terms of temperature, very little
In terms of precipitation, very high. There is a marked dry season and wet season, which drive the migrations here, the largest on earthSlide10
Limiting Factors and AdaptationsOn your ownSlide11
Diversity and ProductivityAbove average diversity, thanks to the many micro-habitats, and high productivity
Productivity: 8Slide12
DO NOWWhat is likely the limiting factor for herbivores in the savannah? (Write on the packet in 3 minutes or no credit).Slide13
AgendaDo NowAnteaters
Savannah
VideoSlide14
Succession
The savannah biome is constantly changing, wildfires restart succession all the time, with tough grasses
regrowing
quickly after, and some trees with fires resistant bark surviving largely intact
When the climate changes (for the drier or wetter) trees die off or grow more dense
Animals themselves also influence succession. The savannah would probably have many more trees than it does if it were for the damage large herbivores like elephants do to young treesSlide15
Keystone species
The elephants use their huge size to take down trees, which keeps the savannah open canopied for grasses to grow
Termites are very common on the savannah, and convert the energy in grasses and wood to more edible formsSlide16
MigrationsExtremely common because of the dry season.
Grazers move to find areas with better grass to rear their young
Predators follow or attack them along the routeSlide17
Mating SystemsLek
mating and
polygyny
is common in the grazers of the tropical grasslands and savannah
Lions and some other big cats are famous for their
polygynous
mating habits (alpha males)Slide18
Example organisms / Trophic Pyramid
During the videoSlide19
SymbiosesMany birds live off the bugs that parasitize large herbivores
Example:
oxpecker
Also, acacia trees have a protective symbioses with stinging antsSlide20
Threats to ConservationConversion to farmland or cattle pasture
Poaching of the important large herbivoresSlide21
AIM: The savanna continued
Please Do Now: Think about it (hard question) write minimum 2-3 sentences.
Why might the structure of the savanna (grasslands with trees) be more likely to have high biodiversity than a plain tropical grassland?Slide22
AgendaDo NowFew Savannah Slides
Explain tomorrow
Correct MidtermsSlide23
Famous ExamplesThe
Cerrado
of Brazil
The Serengeti of East AfricaSlide24
Vocabulary
Perennial: In reference to plants, a life-strategy where individual plants live more than one year (usually above ground parts die and are
regrown
from the roots) (opposite of perennial = annual)
The grasses in the savannah are almost
all perennialsSlide25
TomorrowTomorrow we will be in the computer lab, where you will use the internet to fill in a packet on your own (so exciting YAY)
It will count as half your quiz grade for the week
The biome will be:
Mediterranean forestsSlide26
Correcting your examsOn loose leaf WITH
justifications for those you got incorrect