THE SAVANNA TIMES

"a mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem characterized by scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, so that the canopy does not close which allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses."

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some lion king content to make your day a little brighter :) 

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The energy pyramid above shows an example of specific organisms and amount of energy loss.

source: Biome Project

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The web above shows a basic food web in the savanna biome.

source: Savanna Biome

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Limiting Factors

DENSITY-INDEPENDENT [exert their influences on population size regardless of the population's density(i.e. weather and climate)]:

Lack of rainfall and forest fires are two factors of density-independent factors. Both do not depend on the size of a population of organisms inhibiting the biome, which is why they are both independent.

DENSITY-DEPENDENT [effects on the size or growth of the population vary with the population density]:

Parasitism and predation are two factors that depend on the size of a population of organisms residing in the savanna biomes, which is why they are dependent.

sources: Savanna + The Savanna Biome

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Symbiotic Relatioships

Symbiotic relationships are involved interactions between two different organisms living in close physical association.

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Mutualism: [between two different species in which both benefit from] The relationship between the oxpeckers, or tickpeckers, and rhinoceros. The oxpeckers recieve sustenance—food—by feeding off of the rhinoceros, and the rhinoceros receives the removal of parasites and are provided warnings by the birds of approaching predators.

Commensalism: [between two different species in which one benefits from and the other derives neither benefit or harm] The red-headed woodpecker and the oak savanna is a form of commensalism in the savannas. The red-headed woodpecker benefits from the oak savanna because it provides a shelter and sustenance for the bird, but the oak savanna does not gain/benefit from the woodpecker.

Parasitism: [between two different species in which one organism, the parasite, lives on or in another organism, the host, causing it some harm] An example of this type of relationship would be between a tick and an elephant. The tick lives on the elephant and feeds off its blood. There is no benefit from the tick for the elephant, and only the tick receives sustenance.

 sources: The Biome Savanna + Tropical Savanna Grassland Biome + Symbiotic World + Savanna Biome

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Competitive Resources

Competition in the savanna is just like any other competition in the wild: survival of the fittest. 

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EX. 1: Carnivores in African savanna such as lions and cheetahs compete for shelter, or living space, and food (antelopes and gazelles). This can happen within a species itself, not limited to only two or more species.

EX. 2: A competitive relationship within the flora of the savanna would be between the grass and acacia tree(a scientific study was done that if you remove the grass surrounding said acacia tree, the tree will double its growth). They compete for water and nutrients.

EX. 3: If you were to take a look at a giraffe for example, they have a long neck(thanks to evolution) which makes it possible to eat foods with little to no competition. As a herbivore, it completes with other grazing herbivores such as zebras and antelope for food.

sources: Sciencing + The Savanna Biome

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The climate graph above shows average monthly temperatures and rainfall levels in the savanna region of Mali.

source: BBC Bitesize

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Seasonal Climates

Summer: Savannas temperature ranges for 78° to 86°(25° - 30° C). Savannas exist in areas where there is a 6 - 8 month wet summer season. Temperature changing doesn’t happen a lot; when it does occur, it’s very gradual and not drastic. Winter: During the winter, Savannas are usually cooler and reigns 4 - 6 month of a dry winter season. Because it lays in the tropical latitudes, it’s climate doesn’t have a significant change. During the winter season, the savanna usually has a temperature of about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C)

sources: Blue Planet Biomes + Kids Do Ecology