Savanna

Alexis, Keira, and Hayley! :)

__**LOCATION:**__ =__CLIMATE__= The savanna has two main 'seasons'; the wet and the dry. They are also considered winter (dry) and summer (wet). The dry season lasts about 5 months, and only about 4 inches of precipitation is recieved, if that. The Annual precipitation is roughly 30 to 50 inches. The monthly tempuratures are at or above 64 Degrees Fahrenheit (18 Celsius). The Savanna biome has a wet/dry climate. There is a distinct dry season, which is in the winter. Savannas get all their rain in the summer months. It is usually cooler during the dry season by a few degrees. Because it is in the tropical latitudes that is still hot enough. The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C). In a Savanna the temperature does not change a lot. When it does, its very gradual and not drastic. There is an annual precipitation of 10 to 30 inches (100 to 150 cm) of rain. From December to February hardly any rain falls at all.  Climatogram for Kenya Climatogram for Nigeria =__ANIMALS__= These are some animals that are unique to the Savanna; __African Elephants (Savanna Elephants):__ //Loxodonta africana// Savanna Elephants are the largest mammals in the world, weighing up to 10,000 pounds, and growing up to 12 feet tall! Their long ivory tusks that extend from either side of their trunks, and their thick, grey skin protect them from deadly predators.These elephants are herbivores that feed on grasses, fruits, shrubs, tree leaves, are bark. They live to be about seventy years old. They usually starve to death because their teeth are too worn down to chew or eat.

__Nigriceps Ants__ //Cremeatogaster Nigriceps// A species of tree named the whistling thorn acacia, which is unique to the Kenya Savannas, is the home of this species of ants, which stings animals at the slightest graze of their branch.The ants feed off of the trees' special glands called 'nectaries.' If branches between the trees meet, the colony of ants will invade the other tree, taking it over from the other colony.

__Egyptian Mongoose__ //Herpestes Ichneumon// The Egyptian Mongoose is the largest species of mongoose. They are known for being talented snake killers. They range between 19 to 23 inches in height, and adults weight around 4 to 7 pounds. Egyptian mongooses are mostly carnivorous, eating rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, but will eat fruit if it's available to them. Their predators include birds of prey, and large carnivores.

__Grant's Zebra (Plains Zebra)__ //Equus Burchelli Bohmi// This is the most abundant of the three species of zebra. They are about 50 inches from shoulder to hoof, and weight somewhere between 500 and 600 pounds. All zebras stripe patterns are unique! Zebra harems (families) are usually up to 17 zebras, all let by one single male. They can live to be about 28 years old. Grant's Zebras can run at a speed of around 40 miles per hour. __Lion__ //Panthera Leo// The lions of the savanna weight between 265 and 420 pounds. They feed on gazelles, buffalo, zebras, and other small and medium sized mammals. A group of lions is called a pride. Prides can contain between 4 and 40 lions.

=__PLANTS__= Many grasses and trees of the savanna flourish during the brief wet season and then go into a state of dormancy. Grasses turn brown and trees lose their leaves to reduce the loss of water by transpiration.

Acacia Senegal **Common Name(s):** Gum Arabic, Senegal Gum, Kher, Kumta **Genus:** Acacia **Species:** senegal > years. > > > **Common Name**: Baobab **Genus**: Adansonia **Species**: digitata > Candelabra Tree > **Genus:** Euphorbia **Species:** ingens > Manketti Tree > **Common Names:** mongongo nut, feather weight tree **Genus:** Schinziophyton **Species:** rautanenii > River Bushwillow > **Common Names:** Vaderlandswilg (Afrikaans), Hiccup Nut **Genus:** Combretum **Species:** erythrophyllum > Umbrella Thorn Acacia > **Genus:** Acacia **Species:** tortillis > Whistling Thorn > **Common Name:** Whistling Thorn, Swollen Thorn Acacia **Genus:** Acacia **Species:** dreparalobium (taken/open to Savanna Biomes website)
 * Baobab The Baobab tree stores water in its huge trunk, drawing on the moisture during periods of drought stress. grow up to 25 meters tall and can live for several thousand

=__ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS/SOLUTIONS__= =- Over use of water resources= =- over use of land for agriculture (burning the grass for crops)= =- poaching animals=

__**Relations ships:**__ __Commensalism:__ hyena (+) The hyena benefits from the lions kill by eating the remains, which has Lion (n) no effect on the lions survival.

__Mutualism__ Cattle egrets (+) Cattle egrets feed on the parasites and flies that can make zebras ill or that simply Zebra (+) irritate them.

__Parasitism:__ ticks (+) Ticks feast on the blood of elephants which can weaken them or transfer illnesses. elephants (-)

__Interspecific competition__ leopards Leopards and lions share one of their main food sources which are zebras. Lions

=**__FUNGI__**= Here are some types of fungi that are unique to the Savanna; __1)Panaeolus africanus:__ little brown mushrooms, black almond shaped spores. class hymenomycetes, fungi with fruit bodies whose hymenophores (tissue layer of a fruiting body where cells develop which produce cells) develops either not enclosed or only so with a veil. Heterotrophic, grows on hippopataumus and elephant dung. Reproduces: multiple sexual spores.

2)Earthstar: // **Myriostoma** // //class; agaricomycetes// grows on humus-rich forest or woodland floor, especially on well-drained and sandy soils. the fungus uses the force of falling raindrops to help disperse the spores.  deriving nutrients by decomposing organic matter  The fruit body, is encased within an outer wall of the spore-bearing body splits open into the shape of a star,

3) __ Jelly ear: ____// Auricularia auricula-judae //__ //class; agaricomycetes// //lives on trees, processes dead decaying rot on trees// //releases many spores to multiply// The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown colouration

=__BIBLIOGRAPHY__= Radford [|grassland biome] Kids Nceas Plantz Africa savanna enchanted learning Savanna biomes websiteofeverything nationalzoo [|bioexpedition (plants&animals)] [|picture- climatogram, Zambia] geography-savannatoc [] savanna facts savanna environment (plants) savanna.org conventry (ecosystem) savanna biome