Tropical Grasslands

1
Tropical Grasslands

• By
• Madison Clark
• Hanna Hartsell
• Raul Doyle

2
Plants

• Plants in the tropical grasslands generally must
  be able to withstand the dry season. Many have
  long tap roots to reach underground water. 
• Thick bark is often present as a defense against
  fire. Trunks may be able to store water, and
  leaves are dropped during the dry season to
  conserve water. Storage organs, such as bulbs,
  can also help plants survive the drought. 

3
Bermuda Grass

• Bermuda grass is a specific species that has
  adapted to thrive throughout disturbances such as
  fire, drought, flooding, and grazing--all common
  aspects of the tropical grasslands. It is a
  creeping grass that forms a mat on top of the
  ground.
• A deep root system allows the grass to have
  better access to water in dry conditions. The
  roots can be up to 59 inches deep. Bermuda grass
  produces seeds for reproduction 3 months after
  planting, which allows for quick reproduction.
• The seeds germinate in temperatures above 68
  degrees, which is ideal for life in the tropical
  grasslands. It's ability to grow in poor soil
  also allows this grass to survive in the savanna.
  During the dry season, this grass is able to have
  its upper parts die but it still grows
  underground.

4
Animals

•   Animals must have several adaptations to live
  in the tropical grasslands. Many have long legs
  or wings to aid in migration. Others burrow to
  escape the heat. Large ears or surfaces of
  skin allow the animals to lose heat to
  the environment. To avoid competition among the
  various species, each has developed its own
  feeding preference. Animals eat vegetation at
  different heights or times and migrate to
  different places during the dry season.
• Tropical grasslands are full of life. In the
  savanna, insect populations are very high.
  Insects like termites and even locusts, number in
  the billions. What is more amazing is the variety
  of animals that live in the savanna
• Predators need to be quick, powerful, smart, and
  sneaky to bring down fast and alert animals, like
  gazelles.

5
Cheetahs Hyenas

• Cheetahs, for instance, are built to move fast.
  These animals can reach speeds of up to 80 miles
  an hour (129 kilometers per hour). Other savanna
  predators, like lions, sneak up on their prey.
  Sometimes they will hunt with their pride and
  ambush unsuspecting prey.
• Hyenas and Australian dingoes also hunt in
  groups. These animals are also scavengers.

6
Location

• Tropical grasslands, or savannas, lie north and
  south of tropical rain forests that are on the
  equator.
• Some areas beyond savannas are hot deserts. Other
  savannas may be lined with mountains, dense
  forests, and seas.
• South America is home to several large savannas.
  An example of one of these savannas is the
  llanos, which means plains, located in the
  Orinoco River basin.
• The llanos is north of the Amazon forests and is
  shared in areas of Columbia and Venezuela. It is
  the size of France or Texas.
• Another large tropical grassland can be found
  south of the Amazon forest in the Brazilian
  Highlands, called Campos. Other South American
  grasslands can be found in southeast Venezuela
  and southern Guyana.

7
Climate

• Plants usually start growing when the daily
  temperature reached about 50 F
• Tropical grasslands experience hot weather in
  every season. In the winter, it can be a rainless
  and relatively hot season. Temperatures can be
  well over 64 F (18 C) during the winter.
• The summer, is considered the rainy season. Rain
  clouds form over the savanna as warm, moist air
  arrives from the equator. The temperatures remain
  above 80 F (27 C).
• Savannas that have warm and dry winters and hot,
  rainy summers are called monsoon climates.
  Monsoon comes from the Arabic word mauism,
  meaning season. Monsoon climates experience winds
  that go in different directions at different
  times of the year.
• Although most tropical grasslands are located in
  the tropics, precipitation in savannas can
  greatly vary. For instance, some Australian
  savannas receive only 18 inches (46 centimeters)
  a year, while African savannas can receive more
  than three times that.

8
Biomass

• Biomass is the dry weight of all organic matter
  contained in its organisms. Productivity is the
  rate at which producers convert solar energy into
  chemical energy as biomass. The soil contains
  very few nutrients.  Plants must be able to
  withstand drought in order to be productive.
  Productivity is higher during the rainy season,
  so this makes the average net productivity
  higher.
• This biome has low to moderate rain (30-40
  inches). No rain falls at all between December
  February. Its drought season is in
  the winter and its rainy season in the summer.
  The monsoon season typically starts in
  May. Temperatures range between 60-80 degrees
  Fahrenheit year-round. It is considered part of
  the tropical wet/dry climate zone.