Savanna Biome

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About 25 million years ago, ocean temperatures began to cool, especially around African and Asian regions. Cooler oceans caused reduced evaporation levels, and therefore less rain. As these forests dried, out a new type of biome was formed: the savanna, a hot grassland scattered with trees and shrubs. The savanna has a very unique climate that is unlike any other biome. First of all, it has two seasons. Winter in the savanna is the longer season, averaging a few degrees cooler than the other season. Winter is also called the dry season, as less than five inches will fall during these months. Summer, on the other hand, has significantly higher temperatures and humidity levels. To illustrate, rainfall during this period can increase by 500% …show more content…
Much like desert vegetation, such as cacti, the plants found in the savanna has adapted to absorb what little water that may be around them and store it for months, rationing it carefully. These plants include elephant grass, lemon grass, Bermuda grass, umbrella thorn trees, jackalberry trees, jarrah trees, gum trees, and a few species of palm trees. They display a wide range of adaptations that help them survive in the hot, dry savanna, such as leaves that fall off during the winter so that water and energy is not wasted, trunks that store water for long periods of time, and long tap roots that reach far beneath the dry surface. These basic adaptations, and many more, work together in the plants of the savanna to help them survive, despite the challenging …show more content…
Of course, savannas in South America will be home to slightly different organisms than the savannas found throughout India. I have focused on East African savannas, as these are the most well-know. This biome is often found in South America; however, very few organisms are found there. In fact, the few plants and animals found in these savannas have usually migrated from nearby biomes. Overall, the most common savannas are found in Africa, northern South Africa, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, and northern Australia. These regions and countries all have their own distinct species of plants and animals; therefore, so do their
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