Savanna Grasslands

Savanna Grasslands are located next to the tropical rainforests. The savanna climate has a distinct hot, wet season and a hot, dry season. The savanna changes as you move north or south from a mix of trees and grass to just grasses. Eventually, it gradually merges into the desert ecosystem.

Vegetation

There are only two layers of vegetation in the grasslands- the grasses and the trees.

Grasses are tall and form a continuous cover, whereas trees are dotted around and there can be wide spaces between them.

A denser covering of trees shows places where more water is available.

Soil

During the dry season, minerals in the soil, such as calcium are drawn up to the surface by the high temperatures and high evaporation rates.

Heavy rains in the wet season cause leaching, which washes the minerals deep into the soil.

Adaptation

The main problem for the vegetation is survival during the dry season. Most plants are xerophtytic (drought resistant). Grasses turn brown and die back in the dry season.

Trees adapt to the drought by losing their leaves to reduce water loss or the leaves are small and waxy to reduce transpiration.

The roots are usually long to reach underground supplies of water. Some trees have very thick bark to store water during the dry season e.g. baobab tree.