Where is the African Savanna?
African Savanna ecosystem and abiotic factors.
The African Savanna's ecosystem is a grassland biome, characterised by grasslands with trees and shrubs that grow far apart and are widely spaced. Large herds of herbivores graze on the grass, shrubs and trees.
In terms of rainfall, the African Savanna has a rainy and a dry season. Very little rainfall occurs during the dry season, which means that water is scarce. During the wet season water is more plentiful and allows the shrubs and grasses to thrive.
The Savanna stays warm all year round but cools down slightly in the dry season, with day time temperatures at least 5°C cooler. In central Africa, the grassland is located near the Equator which makes it tropical, with temperatures around 20°C to 30°C all year round. Further from the Equator, the temperatures are more extreme, with 50°C day time temperatures and freezing night temperatures that can drop below -18°C.
The soil in the African Savanna tends to be very fertile in the wet (Summer) season due to the nutrients in the droppings of the herds of grazing herbivores. The soil becomes very infertile during the dry (Winter) season and many small grasses and shrubs die off.
The Savanna's biotic factors!
Savanna's ecosystem is full of wildlife and different plants. There are many roles including, carnivores. Animals like the African lion and many other organisms are carnivores. Producers, such as elephant grass, Bermuda grass, the umbrella thorn tree and the jackal-berry tree. There are also herbivores such as rhinos and the giraffe. Smaller biotic organisms such as fungi and bacteria play a big role in Savanna by returning any energy back to the soil, and a main source of food for humans (mushrooms).