The Savanna

Meghan CannonTess HoffmannKhaleil Laracuente

Survivor Savanna!!

Meghan Cannon Khaleil Laracuente Tess Hoffmann

Location of Savannas

A savanna is a rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome. Not enough rain falls on a savanna to support forests. Savannas are also known as tropical grasslands. They are found in a wide band on either side of the equator on the edges of tropical rainforests.

Savannas are located in the following areas:

➢ Africa- primary location

➢ Australia

➢ Southern Asia

➢ Central America – Belize and Honduras

➢ South America- Venezuela and Columbia

Climate of the Savanna

▪ The climate of the Savanna is a wet/dry climate.

▪ Dry season is winter, wet season occurs during the summer

▪ Average temperature ranges from 68°-78° F (20-30° C)

▪ Winter temperature range is 68°-78° F (20-25° C)

▪ Summer temperature range is 78°-86° F (25-30°C)

▪ Annual precipitation is 10-30 inches of rain➢ From December through February there is very little rainfall

Climatogram of the Savanna

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Survival Items

▪ Carry items in a backpack that is water repellent, durable and has several compartments

▪ First Aid Kit➢ First aid items such as band-aids, bandages, triple antibiotic ointment, aspirin,

antimicrobial tablets for diarrhea or infection, antibiotic eye drops, butterfly sutures, lip balm, Vaseline, sunburn cream and surgical blades

▪ Water purification tablets or drops (iodine)

▪ Fire starting equipment- Lighter, metal torch, waterproof matches

▪ Signaling items such as a mirror or smoke, illumination signals, whistle

▪ Candles, flashlight

▪ Digital compass , handheld GPS

Survival Items

▪ Plastic bags to store water, small pot to boil water

▪ Sponge to soak up water

▪ Small frying pan

▪ Reversible sun hat, insect head net, poncho

▪ Knife

▪ Plastic spoon, forks

▪ Food packets

▪ Tarp

Sources of Natural Renewable Energy

▪ The Savanna is home to many natural renewable energy sources such as water, livestock, coal, oil, wheat, gas, and bloats.

Plants of the Savanna Umbrella Thorn Acacia

▪ Senegal Gum Acacia - Small to average sized thorn tree of the African grassland savanna. It can grow up to 20 meters tall and leaves are a grey-green color. The flowers are yellow or cream colored and grow on spikes just above the thorns.

▪ Bermuda Grass - One of the most sun loving warm season grasses. It grows in open areas where there are frequent disturbances such as grazing, flooding, and fire. It can be found growing in pastures and the understories of open woodlands and orchards. It will turn brown at the first dip in temperature. In the more warmer tropical south Bermuda will retain a beautiful green color all year round.

▪ Elephant Grass- Tall grass that originated in Africa. In the savannas of Africa. It grows along lake beds and rivers where the soil is rich. Local farmers cut the grass for their animals.

▪ Manketti Tree- Prefers hot and dry climates with low amounts of rain. It also prefers to grow in wooded hills and sand dunes. It has an upright manner of growth and is about 49 to 66 feet (15 to 20) meters tall.

▪ Umbrella Thorn Acacia- Grows in sand dunes and rocky grounds of Africa's grasslands. Acacia's grow in areas with annual rainfall as low as 4 cm. This tree can survive in 122° F temperatures during the day, and freezing temperatures at nights.

▪ River Bushwillow - Likes a warm and dry climate. It is 30-35 ft tall. The branches grow rapidly and at crazy angles with an upright manner of growth. The river bushwillow has made adaptations that include a hydrophilic root system, thick bark to resist forest fires and leaf drop during dry periods to conserve energy and water.

Elephant Grass

Plants of the Savanna Monkey Orange

▪ Plants that can be eaten➢ Abal - its flowers can be eaten, and contain high concentrations of both sugar and nitrogen.

➢ Acacia - its leaves, flowers and pods can be eaten, (either raw or cooked).

➢ Baobab - the root, the fruit pulp, the leaves (in a soup) and even the seeds that can be ground for flour can be eaten.

➢ Beech - pods produce edible beechnuts once the shell is remove. Beechnuts have a sweet flavor and high oil content.

➢ Common Guarri - black fruits are edible, while the bark can be used to get rid of headaches. The twigs can be frayed to make a toothbrush

➢ Raisin Bush- berries are edible, the leaves can be used for tea, whilst the bark is often utilized to make rope. Bushmen use the branches to make bows, arrows and friction sticks to make fire.

➢ Wild Melon - both the seeds and skin can be eaten when roasted. Could be a life saver when stuck in the middle of nowhere due to its high water content.

➢ Monkey Orange - round fruit with hard shell, easily crackable, and very juicy flesh. Important: Do not chew the soft seeds as they are poisonous !

Adaptations of Plants Common Guarri

▪ Plants of the savannas are highly specialized to grow in this environment of long periods of drought.

▪ They have long tap roots that can reach the deep water table, thick bark to resist annual fires, trunks that can store water, and leaves that drop of during the winter to conserve water.

▪ The grasses have adaptations that discourage animals from grazing on them; some grasses are too sharp or bitter tasting for some animals, but not others, to eat. ➢ The side benefit of this is that every species of animal has something to eat. Different species

will also eat different parts of the grass.

▪ Many grasses grow from the bottom up, so that the growth tissue doesn't get damaged by grazers.

▪ Many plants of the savanna also have storage organs like bulbs and corms for making it though the dry season

Animals of the Savanna Lion

▪ Savanna Elephant - African bush elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals, being up to 3.96 m (13.0 ft) tall at the shoulders on average. The most characteristic features of African elephants are their trunks, and their very large ears, which they use to radiate excess heat.

▪ Zebra - The zebra is the horse of the savanna. It doesn't sound like a horse, and "barks" instead of neighs. Its height is about 50 in. from shoulder to hoof, and weighs in at 500 to 600 pounds. It has rather short legs and a large head. The zebra has black and white stripes, a black nose, and black hooves.

▪ Giraffe – Giraffe live in dry and woody savannas in Africa, south of the desert and is a symbol of the savanna. Local tribes think that it is a sacred animal. Grown-up male giraffe eats leaves of acacia 6 meters up the ground. Its weight is up to 750 kg. Giraffe's is differs from other animals with its long neck - almost 2 meters long. Its body is in red-brown spots separated by white strips

▪ Hyena - The hyena is Africa's most common large carnivore. In ancient Egypt, hyenas were domesticated, fattened and eaten, and in turn, humans have on occasion become food for hyenas. Reputed to be cowardly and timid, the hyena can be bold and dangerous, attacking animals and humans.

▪ Lion - The lion is the powerhouse of the savanna, weighing in at 265-420 pounds and up to 10 feet long and is a powerful predator. Lions have dirty beige colored fur and rounded heads. Males have something females don't... manes. Manes are a ruff of long hair around the neck which is brown in the front and black in the back. Lions live in the savanna of Africa south of the Sahara.

Giraffe

Animals of the Savanna Chacma Baboon

▪ Antelope - An antelope lives until 8 and 10 years old in the wild although they have been known to live for longer when kept in captivity. However, many wouldn't last that long in the wild as antelopes are a key target for many large carnivorous mammals.

▪ African Wild Dog – Mostly found in Africa, they have a light body and long legs. The bones of its lower front legs are fused together to keep them from twisting when it runs. It has large ears which help radiate heat away from its body. Its short and broad muzzle has powerful muscles that allow it to grab and hang on to its prey. Its multi colored coat helps it blend in with the surroundings.

▪ Black Mamba Snake - The most deadly snake in the world. They grow 14 feet in length, and can travel at speeds of up to 12 mph. They have a head shaped like a coffin. The Black Mamba is not actually black. They have a brownish-grey body with a light belly and brownish scales along its back. It gets its name from the colour of the lining of its mouth, which is purple-black, and which it displays when threatened.

▪ Egyptian Mongoose – The largest of all mongooses in Africa. Egyptian mongooses live in shrub thickets, rocky areas, and small woodlands and forested areas within the Savanna. These mammals prefer to live in forested areas near water. All mongooses are known for being talented snake killers.

▪ Chacma Baboon - The Savanna's version of the monkey, and are the largest member of the monkey family. The males can weigh from 59 to 97 pounds (30-40 kg) and are about 20 to 30 in. long (50-70 cm). Females can weigh from 31 to 37 pounds (15- 20 kg) and are 16 to 24 in. long (40-60 cm). It has beady, close-set eyes under a heavy brow, and a dog-like muzzle with sharp tusk-like upper canine teeth. They are very hairy animals with olive-grey fur. Its fur sticks up all over its body. They walk on all four feet with their tails that are around 2 feet long.

Egyptian Mongoose

Adaptations of Animals Black Mamba Snake

▪ Most of the animals on the savanna have long legs or wings to be able to go on long migrations. Long, strong legs also enable them to escape predators.

▪ Many animals burrow under ground to avoid the heat or raise their young.

▪ The savanna is a perfect place for birds of prey like hawks and buzzards. Hot air drafts keep them in flight and the wide, open plain provides them with a clear view of their prey.

▪ Animals don't sweat to lose body heat, so they lose it through panting or through large areas of exposed skin, or ears, like those of the elephant.

▪ Animals depend on the each other to keep the environment in balance. Up to 16 different species of browsers (those who eat leaves of trees) and grazers can coexist in one area because they have developed their own food preferences. They also browse/ graze at different heights, vary the time of day or year to use a given area, and have different places to go during the dry season.

▪ Animals move with the rain, they are able to do this due to their size or speed.

▪ Different herbivores provide a wide range of food for carnivores, like lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals and hyenas. Each species has its own preference, making it possible to live side by side and not be in competition for food.

Survival : Food, Shelter and Water Baobab

▪ Food➢ Edible Plants

• Abal - Flowers can be eaten, and contain high concentrations of both sugar and nitrogen.

• Acacia - Leaves, flowers and pods can be eaten , either raw or cooked.

• Baobab - The root, the fruit pulp, the leaves (in a soup) can be eaten, and the seeds that can be ground for flour.

• Beech - Beech pods produce edible beechnuts once you remove the shell and white kernel within. Beechnuts have a sweet flavor and high oil content.

• Common Guarri - Black fruits are edible, while the bark can be used to get rid of headaches. Interesting bonus: you can fray the twigs to make a toothbrush.

• Marula - Very tasty fruit, out of which the famous Amarula liquor is made.

• Monkey Orange - Round fruit with hard shell. Easily crackable, and very juicy flesh. The soft seeds as they are poisonous, so they cannot be chewed.

• Raisin Bush - Raisin Bush berries are edible, the leaves can be used for tea.

• Wild Melon - Looks pretty much like the usual melon variety. Could be a life saver when stuck in the middle of nowhere due to its high water content. Both the seeds and skin can also be eaten when roasted.

Survival: Food, Shelter and WaterHow Do You Know Fruit is Safe to Eat?

▪ The smell of the fruit plays a large role in detecting whether it is poisonous or not. Cut the fruit open, if it smells like peaches or almonds, it’s poisonous.

▪ If the fruit passes the scent test, place the fleshy part of the fruit on the skin. Rub this part of the fruit up and down the forearm and wait a minute to see if it produces a rash on the skin. If so, it’s poisonous.

▪ If the fruit passes the above tests, it’s time to bring the fruit to the lips. If there is a burning sensation on the lips, the fruit is not safe to eat. If not, move the fruit to the tongue, but don’t swallow. If the fruit doesn’t sting the tongue, bite the fruit and wait several hours to see if sickness occurs. If not, the fruit is edible.

Survival : Food, Shelter and Water

▪ Food ➢Edible Animals

• Edible animals are herbivores , since they eat plantso Giraffes

o Antelopes

o Zebras

o Caracal

• Elephants are edible, but are on the endangered species list

➢Carnivores are not edible

Antelope

Survival : Food, Shelter and Water

▪ Shelter ▪ Natural Shelter

▪ Caves

▪ Rock formations with space inside

▪ Man made shelter▪ Making a shelter out of mud, sticks, tree branches and stones

▪ Use rope tied between two trees. Cover with branches and leaves form a tent

▪ Pile up grass or leaves to sleep on to help retain body heat

▪ Block the door with tree branches or rocks to protect against animals

Survival : Food, Shelter and Water

▪ Water ➢Follow the tracks of an animal or the animal itself to lead you to water➢Travel to a high spot to find a source of a stream➢Find an underground well and by digging at the lowest point of a dried

up riverbed. This may provide a clean water source.➢Find a stream and follow it, it may lead to civilization➢Look for root plants that may be a good source of water

▪ Make sure the water you find is safe!➢Avoid standing pools of water which may harbor bacteria and

parasites➢Boil water before you drink it to make sure it is safe

Organism Threats and Defense

▪ African wild dog: considered an “enemy” free animal good at hunting and being able to find food easily. Many are dying from diseases and hunters. They have 2 main enemies- the lion and the spotted hyena. They want the dog’s food and the lion can steal its food easily and kill the dog for food. It can blend into its surroundings easily with its multi-colored coat. With its broad muzzle and powerful muscles it allows the dog to grab and capture the prey easily.

▪ Antelope: must always be on the look our for danger, it is a main target for predators. Some of its many ways to defend itself is its freeze frame where it freezes on spot when sensing danger making itself less noticeable. Some more are its alarm calls, running, jumping hiding, odor, ad horns. Some threats are the overexploitation which is historic hunting that greatly reduced its population size. Another is the humans- wildlife conflicts which is when the wildlife federation doesn’t protect certain land for these animals.

Food Web of the Savanna

Protecting the Environment

1. The savanna is home to many unique plants and animals. It is a flat grassland with widely spread trees. With different temperatures and can be wet or dry. The largest savannas are Australia, Africa, and South America.2. Savannas are threatened by logging, development, and overgrazing etc.3. To protect the savannas you can: respect and reserve grasslands where you live, have less human traffic, and cut down on the logging