Large expanses of land in the tropics do not receive enough rainfall to support extensive tree cover. The tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands are characterized by rainfall levels between 90–150 centimetres (35–59 in) per year.[1] Rainfall can be highly seasonal, with the entire year's rainfall sometimes occurring within a couple of weeks.
African savannas occur between forest or woodland regions and grassland regions. Flora includes acacia and baobab trees, grass, and low shrubs. Acacia trees lose their leaves in the dry season to conserve moisture, while the baobab stores water in its trunk for the dry season. Many of these savannas are in Africa.
Large mammals that have evolved to take advantage of the ample forage typify the biodiversity associated with these habitats. These large mammal faunas are richest in African savannas and grasslands. The most intact assemblages currently occur in East African Acacia savannas and Zambezian savannas consisting of mosaics of miombo, mopane, and other habitats.[3] Large-scale migration of tropical savanna herbivores, such as wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and zebra (Equus quagga), are continuing to decline through habitat alteration and hunting.[1] They now only occur to any significant degree in East Africa and the central Zambezian region. Much of the extraordinary abundance of Guinean and Sahelian savannas has been eliminated, although the large-scale migrations of Ugandan Kob still occur in the savannas in the Sudd region.[1] The Sudan type of climate is characterized by an alternating hot and rainy season, and a cool and dry season. In the Northern Hemisphere, the hot rainy season normally begins in May and lasts until September. Rainfall varies from 25 cm to 150 cm and is usually unreliable. The rest of the year is cool and dry. Rainfall decreases as one goes either towards North in Northern Hemisphere or South in the Southern Hemisphere. Drought is very common.
Occurrenceedit
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands occur on all continents but Antarctica. They are widespread in Africa, and are also found all throughout South Asia and Southeast Asia, the northern parts of South America and Australia, and the southern United States.
^ abcd This article incorporates text available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license. World Wide Fund for Nature. "Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrubland Ecoregions". from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
^Waugh, David (2009). Geography : an integrated approach (4th ed.). Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. ISBN978-1-4085-0407-9. OCLC 318672928.
^McClanahan, TR; Young, TP, eds. (1996). East African ecosystems and their conservation. New York: Oxford University Press.
External linksedit
Media related to Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
tropical, subtropical, grasslands, savannas, shrublands, tropical, savanna, redirects, here, climate, classification, tropical, savanna, climate, terrestrial, biome, defined, world, wide, fund, nature, biome, dominated, grass, shrubs, located, semi, arid, semi. Tropical savanna redirects here For the climate classification see Tropical savanna climate Tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands is a terrestrial biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature 1 The biome is dominated by grass and or shrubs located in semi arid to semi humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical latitudes Tropical grasslands are mainly found between 5 degrees and 20 degrees in both North and south of the Equator 2 extent of tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands Contents 1 Description 2 Occurrence 3 Ecoregions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription editGrasslands are dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees Shrublands are dominated by woody or herbaceous shrubs Large expanses of land in the tropics do not receive enough rainfall to support extensive tree cover The tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands are characterized by rainfall levels between 90 150 centimetres 35 59 in per year 1 Rainfall can be highly seasonal with the entire year s rainfall sometimes occurring within a couple of weeks African savannas occur between forest or woodland regions and grassland regions Flora includes acacia and baobab trees grass and low shrubs Acacia trees lose their leaves in the dry season to conserve moisture while the baobab stores water in its trunk for the dry season Many of these savannas are in Africa Large mammals that have evolved to take advantage of the ample forage typify the biodiversity associated with these habitats These large mammal faunas are richest in African savannas and grasslands The most intact assemblages currently occur in East African Acacia savannas and Zambezian savannas consisting of mosaics of miombo mopane and other habitats 3 Large scale migration of tropical savanna herbivores such as wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus and zebra Equus quagga are continuing to decline through habitat alteration and hunting 1 They now only occur to any significant degree in East Africa and the central Zambezian region Much of the extraordinary abundance of Guinean and Sahelian savannas has been eliminated although the large scale migrations of Ugandan Kob still occur in the savannas in the Sudd region 1 The Sudan type of climate is characterized by an alternating hot and rainy season and a cool and dry season In the Northern Hemisphere the hot rainy season normally begins in May and lasts until September Rainfall varies from 25 cm to 150 cm and is usually unreliable The rest of the year is cool and dry Rainfall decreases as one goes either towards North in Northern Hemisphere or South in the Southern Hemisphere Drought is very common Occurrence editTropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands occur on all continents but Antarctica They are widespread in Africa and are also found all throughout South Asia and Southeast Asia the northern parts of South America and Australia and the southern United States Ecoregions editAfrotropical tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands ecoregionsvte Angolan miombo woodlands Angola Angolan mopane woodlands Angola Namibia Ascension scrub and grasslands Ascension Island Central Zambezian miombo woodlands Angola Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Malawi Tanzania Zambia East Sudanian savanna Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Ethiopia South Sudan Sudan Uganda Eastern miombo woodlands Mozambique Tanzania Guinean forest savanna mosaic Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea Bissau Ivory Coast Nigeria Senegal Togo Itigi Sumbu thicket Tanzania Zambia Kalahari Acacia Baikiaea woodlands Botswana Namibia South Africa Zimbabwe Mandara Plateau mosaic Cameroon Nigeria Northern Acacia Commiphora bushlands and thickets Ethiopia Kenya South Sudan Uganda Northern Congolian forest savanna mosaic Cameroon Central African Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo South Sudan Uganda Sahelian Acacia savanna Burkina Faso Cameroon Cape Verde Chad Eritrea Ethiopia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal South Sudan Sudan Serengeti volcanic grasslands Kenya Tanzania Somali Acacia Commiphora bushlands and thickets Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Somalia South Arabian fog woodlands shrublands and dune Oman Saudi Arabia Yemen Southern Acacia Commiphora bushlands and thickets Kenya Tanzania Southern Africa bushveld Botswana South Africa Zimbabwe Southern Congolian forest savanna mosaic Angola Democratic Republic of the Congo Southern miombo woodlands Malawi Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Saint Helena scrub and woodlands Saint Helena Victoria Basin forest savanna mosaic Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda South Sudan Tanzania Uganda West Sudanian savanna Benin Burkina Faso Gambia Ghana Guinea Mali Ivory Coast Niger Nigeria Senegal Western Congolian forest savanna mosaic Angola Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Western Zambezian grasslands Angola Zambia Zambezian and mopane woodlands Botswana Eswatini Malawi Mozambique Namibia South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands Angola Botswana Namibia Zambia Zimbabwe Australasian tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands ecoregionsvte Arnhem Land tropical savanna Australia Brigalow tropical savanna Australia Cape York Peninsula tropical savanna Australia Carpentaria tropical savanna Australia Einasleigh Uplands savanna Australia Kimberley tropical savanna Australia Mitchell grass downs Australia Trans Fly savanna and grasslands Indonesia Papua New Guinea Victoria Plains tropical savanna Australia Indomalayan tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands ecoregionsvte Terai Duar savanna and grasslands Bhutan India Nepal Nearctic tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands ecoregionsvte Western Gulf coastal grasslands Mexico United States Neotropical tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands ecoregionsvte Beni savanna Bolivia Campos rupestres Brazil Cerrado Bolivia Brazil Paraguay Clipperton Island shrub and grasslands Clipperton Island is an overseas territory of France Cordoba montane savanna Argentina Guianan savanna Brazil Guyana Venezuela Humid Chaco Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Llanos Venezuela Colombia Uruguayan savanna Argentina Brazil Uruguay Oceanian tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands ecoregionsvte Hawaiian tropical high shrublands Hawaiʻi Hawaiian tropical low shrublands Hawaiʻi Northwestern Hawaii scrub Hawaiʻi Midway AtollSee also editTropical vegetationReferences edit a b c d nbsp This article incorporates text available under the CC BY SA 3 0 license World Wide Fund for Nature Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands Savannas and Shrubland Ecoregions Archived from the original on 2012 04 25 Retrieved 2019 05 29 Waugh David 2009 Geography an integrated approach 4th ed Cheltenham Nelson Thornes ISBN 978 1 4085 0407 9 OCLC 318672928 McClanahan TR Young TP eds 1996 East African ecosystems and their conservation New York Oxford University Press External links edit nbsp Media related to Tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tropical and subtropical grasslands savannas and shrublands amp oldid 1215873768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
