Savanna

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

– Hot wet summers
– Long to very long summers (longer than other biomes)
– Rainfall: 235 – 1350 mm
– Warm dry winter with mild frost

Question 2

Vegetation structure

Answer 2

C4 grasses
Shrubveld
Bushveld
Woodland

Question 3

Determinants of savanna

Answer 3

Lack of sufficient rainfall = prevent tree dominance
Summer rain = grass dominance = frequent fires (annual)
Fires + herbivory = grass dominance

Question 4

Tree grass interactions

Answer 4

Niche separation - different ecological spaces
Balanced composition - intrAspecific competition greater than interspecific
Competitive exclusion - either would dominate but prevented by disturbances
Multiple stable states

Question 5

Bush encroachment

Answer 5

the invasion and/or thickening of woody species resulting in an imbalance of the grass:tree ratio, a decrease in biodiversity, and a decrease in carrying capacity