Transcript Hot semi-arid grassland ecosystem

Hot semi-arid grassland ecosystems
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
Answer
Where are the hot, semi-arid grasslands located?
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North
America
Europe
Asia
Tropic of Cancer
Africa
Equator
South
America
Tropic of Capricorn
Oceania
 Nearly all the hot, semi-arid grassland biome is located between
5oN and the Tropic of Cancer, and 5oS of the Tropic of Capricorn;
 It is found in South America, Africa, India and Australia;
 Over half of Africa is covered in hot, semi-arid grassland called
Savanna;
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 The hot, semi-arid grassland is usually found between the desert
and rainforest biomes
Hot semi-arid grassland biome
What is the climate of the hot, semi-arid grassland areas?
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Warmer in the
dry season
Warm all year. Never below 20oC).
Small temperature range
Total rainfall is
similar to London
Cooler in the
wet season
Wet season
Most rainfall occurs
in heavy storms
Dry season
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Wet season
Dry season
Hot semi-arid grassland biome
What is the vegetation like?
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The ecosystem is dominated by grasses with varying amounts
of scattered trees and shrubs.
All the plants are adapted to cope with long periods of little or
no rain.
Click here to see how plants have adapted to the environment
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have plants adapted to the environment?
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have Acacia trees adapted to the environment?
If a giraffe eats the leaves, the tree pumps a
poisonous alkaloid into the leaves which makes
them taste bad so the animal stops eating them.
Small leaves to reduce water
loss by transpiration.
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The tree emits
a chemical
intoleft
the air which
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or on the
warns other trees in the area to do the same.
The tree creates shade
which encourages animals.
Their droppings provide
nitrogen for the tree.
Long thorns to prevent
animal grazing;
Ants live in hollowed
out thorns. If it gets
eaten by an animal it
also gets stinging ants.
Fire resistant trunk.
Long tap roots to reach deep
ground water sources.
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have Baobab trees adapted to the environment?
Leaves only grow in the wet
season to reduce water loss
by transpiration.
Leaves are small to reduce
transpiration.
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Thick bark to
prevent water loss.
Elephants can break
into the trunk to get to
the water supply.
Water stored in trunk
to use in dry season.
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How has Grass adapted to the environment?
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Can grow quickly to over a metre in height in
the wet season.
Goes brown and dies back during the dry
season to limit water loss.
Stores water and nutrients in its roots which
can survive fire.
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How have Eucalyptus trees adapted to the environment?
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Leaves hang down to reduce transpiration.
Trees lose leaves in the dry season to
reduce transpiration.
Trees can withstand fire.
Fire triggers the release of seeds to
encourage regrowth.
Long tap root to reach water deep underground.
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Hot semi-arid grassland biome
Part of an African savanna food web
Tertiary
consumers
(Carnivores)
which are eaten (along with primary consumers) by
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Secondary
consumers
(Carnivores)
which are eaten by
Primary consumers
(Herbivores)
They are eaten by
Producers
(Plants)
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Convert the energy from the sun into
chemical energy by photosynthesis
Hot semi-arid grassland biome
How nutrients are recycled in the semi-arid grassland ecosystem?
Carnivores take
in nutrients by
eating animals
Animals die
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Herbivores take
in nutrients by
eating plants
Plants take
up nutrients
from the soil
Waste such
as animal
dung
Animals die
How nutrients are
recycledPlants
in thediesemi-arid
creating leaf litter
grassland ecosystem?
Nutrients are stored
in the soil
Rock weathering
releases nutrients
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Decomposers
such as
bacteria, fungi
and insects
break down
dead plants
and animals
Nutrients returned
to soil
Some nutrients lost by
leaching and surface
run-off when it rains