Australian Tropical Savanna

By: Roderick Jordan

Savanna Biome• Biomes are found in lower latitude areas and though it is a dry

and humid area it also consist of a very wet season. During dry seasons temperatures can average around 93 degrees while rainy seasons around 61 degrees. Prescribed burn(Fires) is very common during dry seasons and during wet seasons around 59 inches of rainfall is common.

• Soil types in the savanna are very diverse and scientist has found almost every type of soil. Even through large areas of fires only 10% of those burned will die.

• Tall Grass Prairie is the largest amount of plant life in savannas but also the most important which provide food for most animals.

• They often border and overlap other biomes.

Australian Savanna Location

• 20 degrees South, 140 degrees East• This biome is found along the northern area of

the Australian border and overlaps desert regions of the country.

Climatograms

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Climatogram - Australian Tropical Savanna

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Plants and adaptations• Jarrah Tree- Has grown lignotubers that stores carbohydrates and allows tree to

grow back after fires. It also has grown long roots that make it possible to get underground water.

• Kangaroo Paws- Has tiny hairs that make plant taste nasty so predators won’t eat them.

• Palm Tree’s• Cycad’s• Acacia Tree- Tap into water sources deep into ground water and has adapted to

dry, hot temperatures by becoming fire resistant. It has sharp thorns and a symbiosis relationship with stinging ants that dig deep hollows in the tree and feed on nectar. The ants protect the tree from other insects or animals by infesting leaves. If they take a bite of the leaves their mouths will be full of stinging ants.

• Candelabra Tree- This tree has adapted to small animal attacks making sap poisonous to the skin and can also blind your eyes.

Animals and Adaptations• Emu- Large Birds that have adapted to the life with no predators and

lost the ability to fly that are grazers that consume grasslands.• Koala Bear- Have adapted to hiding from predators by hiding on sharp

twigs but because of their padded bottoms they are not affected.• Kangaroo- Have adapted to the dry environment by allowing them to go

months without water.• Wallaby• Wombat• Zebra- This animal uses mutualism with the oxpecker. The Oxpecker

picks the ticks off the zebra and the zebra feeds the Oxpecker. The Oxpecker also flies high when it senses danger and screams a warning sign.

• Wild Hogs

Species Spotlight

• One endangered Species is the Emu bird. The have no natural enemies in the Tropical Savanna but because of its large size and its grazing they are hunted by only humans. Humans fear that this bird eats farm land and destroys crops. Their babies however are eaten by foxes and dingoes which limits mass production. It is endanger of becoming extinct and to prevent this some have been taken to France for breeding and were placed on environmental watch and are illegal to hunt.

• One Invasive Species is Olive Hymenachne. This plant attacks biodiversity and can grow in water 2mm deep. It blocks waterways and threatens drinking water. It also contaminates sugar cane crops and fish habitats.

Human Impact• Humans have impacted the Savanna by its increase of mining, farming and

tourism. • There is now less soil nutrients and water availability due to degradation from

shrub and tree deforestation that are being used for crop and agricultural use.• Also the introduction of foreign species and pests that are released into the wild

that cause many grassland species to go extinct. • Also Cattle raising has changed the environment as farmers have altered the area

to better the area for their cattle. Sometimes killing predators and clearing land.• Humans have also naturally affected the savannas natural land clearing by stopping

fires. These fires are needed to keep out foreign plants, trees and also serve as a border for animals not intended for that area. Most fires are started by humans whether intentional or accidental, and causes many plants and animals to be killed.

• Preventing these Biome threats can be solved by monitoring human tourism and not allowing farmers to clear areas for farming. Also screening humans in the savanna area for animals and plants to prevent foreign spread.

Citations• Tropical Savanna", http://www.wwf.org.au/tsavanna.htm (31 October,

2000)• Plants and Animals; Jarrah,

http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/treejarrah.html, (11/2/00)• Mangles' Kangaroo Paw,

http://www.anlog.gov.au/emblems/wa.emblem.html, (11/5/00) , retrieved on October, 8 2014.

• Author: Dr. Susan L. Woodward, Professor of Geography Emerita, Department of Geospatial Science, Radford University, Radford, Virginia. https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=105 Retrieved on October, 8 2014.