Transcript Acacia Tree - Mercer Island School District

TIMON & PUMBAA
Travel Co.
Location
Features
• Large expanse of grassland with punctuated trees and shrubs
• Trees are Characteristically flat topped and are “xerophytic” which
means drought resistant. They have small thick leaves, rough bark,
or waxy leaf surfaces.
• Trees have deep roots so that they can utilize water present in the
soil during the dry season.
• Africa’s savanna biome regions have been like zoological gardens as
home to various herbivores such as giraffe, zebra, antelope, and
elephant.
• There are also large carnivores such as lions and also scavengers
such as the hyena.
• The soil in Tropical Savanna is often termed as infertile because of
it’s Lateric soils which have a great lack access to nutrients. There is
also
Climate
• Warm temperatures year round
• Two different seasons:
– A very long dry season (winter)
– Wet season (summer)
– Tropical Savanna climates have a monthly mean
temperature about 18 degrees Celsius in every
month of the year.
– Driest month has less that 60mm of precipitation
and less than 100mm of total annual precipitation.
Climate Graph of Tropical Savanna
Seasonal Information
• The best time to visit is during the dry season
• April/May through September/October
• Many areas are inaccessible during the wet
season
Special Facts
• Not enough rain falls to support a forest
• Large expanse of grasslands are punctuated
w/ trees and shrubs
• Annual rainfall is between 40-60 in.
• Harbors the largest mammal, herbivore
diversity on the planet
Plant Adaptions to the Tropical
Savanna
Grasses
• To survive dry season & fires, they grow
quickly where there is an adequate amount of
water
• When H20 is scarce, grass turns brown to limit
H20 loss; store moisture & nutrients in roots
• Food & H20 stored below ground, so they can
survive effects from fires
Acacia Tree
Baobab Tree
• Adaptations:
– Deep taproot so it
can access water
during the dry
season
– Umbrella shaped
tops allows the
leaves to catch as
much sunlight as
possible
• Adaptations:
– During wet
months, tree
stores water in it’s
thick trunk
– Trunk is fire
resistant
Animal Adaptations to the Tropical
Savanna
Elephants
• Physical adaptation to access water that is
unavailable to other animals
• Physical strength & anatomy allow them to
tear open tree trunks to suck the water stored
in the tree trunks
Native Animals
• Lions
• Grants Zebra
• African Wild Dog
Suggested Activities (for African
Savanna)
• Go on a wildlife safari
• View the tribal life & meet natural healers and
tribe members
• Go birding and on a nature walk
• Rafting
Current Envi. Issue T & P Co. is fighting
to help solve:
• Weeds can out compete native plants for
essential resources (space, light, water,
nutrients)
• They change the landscape forever.
• Important Factors that encourage weeds:
– Disturbance of natural environment
– Increased nutrient levels
– Absence of Predators
Bibliography
• "Tropical Savanna." Tropical Savanna. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 16
Dec. 2013.
• "The Main Characteristic Feature of the Tropical Savanna
Biome Are:." The Main
Characteristic Feature of the
Tropical
Savanna Biome Are:. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
Dec. 2013.
• "Biomes." Science for Kids: Savanna Grasslands Biome. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
• "Earth Floor: Biomes." Earth Floor: Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
Dec. 2013.