Premium Essay

Tropical Grasslands Research Paper

Submitted By
Words 821
Pages 4
Tropical Grassland (Savanna)
A savannah can get so hot rounds dry up and the grass can catch fire. There will not be much food, water, or shade. If you are lucky it will rain up to 18 inches while you’re there. However if you go during the winter it won’t be freezing or hot, but it will still be dry. You won’t see many landforms but there will be dried valley’s and hills. Acacia trees are a main food source for giraffes. Leopards are one of the top predators in the Savannah. The Grass and bushes are food for the herbivores such as buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, etc. Those animals are food for other animals such as jackal, hyena, wild dogs, etc., and their food for lions, leopards, cheetahs, etc. Elephant numbers are plummeting because poachers are killing them taking their tusks and illegally selling them.
Location
Savannas are located north and …show more content…
Decomposers are organisms, especially a soil bacterium (germs), fungus, or invertebrate (lacking a backbone) that decomposes organic material. Some examples of producers which are plants who give 10% energy are acacia trees which are the only trees that you will find in a savanna but you can also find bushes and weeds. Acacia trees are the giraffes main food source, the other plants are mainly eaten by zebras, elephants, and other herbivores. Bacteria, fungi, and earthworms are three decomposers in a savanna (de Rothschild, 124-125).
Consumers
Consumers are organisms, usually animals, that feeds on plants or other animals. Some examples of consumers are cheetahs, leopards, lions, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, and Humans. Primary consumers are herbivores that eat plants. Secondary consumers, or carnivores that eat meat, include leopards, lions, cheetahs and hyenas. Consumers are animals that eat living matter to get nutrition, which is different from scavengers that eat dead meat (“Consumers in the Savanna”).

Environmental

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Rainforest Ecosystem

...1. Ecosystems and How They Work - Sustainable Development In this assignment, you will investigate the biotic and abiotic structure and function of an ecosystem. Choose one of the following ecosystems: * Tropical rainforest * Grassland * Coral Reef * Estuary * Desert You will write a two to three page APA-style research paper about your choice of ecosystem including: * Where might this type of ecosystem be located? Give one specific example. * Describe the structure of the ecosystem: List both the abiotic components and biotic components * Describe the function of the ecosystem: How do the abiotic and biotic components interact in biogeochemical cycles? Describe both the carbon and nitrogen cycles * Describe disturbance and recovery: Describe one natural and one human caused disturbance to the ecosystem. Explain the damage to the ecosystem, including how the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the ecosystem changed. * Explain how ecosystems recover naturally ... (More) Ecosystem Definition noun, plural: ecosystems A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit. Supplement An ecosystem is made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, minerals, water sources and the local atmosphere interacting with one another. Word origin: coined in 1930 by Roy Clapham, to denote the physical and biological components...

Words: 2080 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Sustainable Development of Oil Palm as the Major Plantation Crop in Malaysia

...PEST AND DISEASES OF PLANTATION CROPS PLP 5003 TITLE: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF OIL PALM AS THE MAJOR PLANTATION CROP IN MALAYSIA GROUP 7: MOHD HARLIZAN BIN MOHAMAD DARUS GS32853 ADIBAH NOOR BINTI KHAIRUDDIN GS36223 SHAHFAHZIELAH BINTI SHAMRAN GS36066 SITI NOR ANIZAM BINTI ZAMRI GS38320 1.0 INTRODUCTION The oil palm, Elaeis guineensis was brought over to the Bogor Botanic Garden in the Island of Jawa, Indonesia from West Africa in 1848 (Polunin, 2004). It has been planted in almost 43 countries in tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. It was planted in Malaysia in 1896 much later after Indonesia (Yacob, 2005). Now, this crop has become major plantation crop in Malaysia contribute to palm oil industry. Palm oil industry is one of the most traded agriculture commodities in the world. In Malaysia, this industry has been an important agriculture in the economy for the past three decades. Malaysia is one of the major producer of palm oil in the world which contribute17.6 million tonnes respectively in 2009. Recently, concern over the environment impact people around the world keeps on talking about global warming, greenhouses effect, deforestation and other environment impact caused by human activities or improper development. Government and private sectors are being urged to commence all agriculture activities include oil palm within the concept of sustainable development. Therefore, sustainability becomes the main word uses...

Words: 3727 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Sustainable Monitoring Systems

...Monitoring sustainability with a monitoring system that is itself sustainable: addressing the cause and the symptoms IAN WATSON,1 AND PAUL NOVELLY, 2 1 Department of Agriculture and Centre for Management of Arid Environments PO Box 483 Northam, Western Australia, 6401 Ph 08 9690 2000 Fax 08 9622 1902 iwatson@agric.wa.gov.au 2 Department of Agriculture and Tropical Savannas CRC Kununurra, Western Australia ABSTRACT Throughout the 1970s and 1980s much effort was expended on a range monitoring program in Western Australia. Unfortunately, much of the system put in place is now inactive. Such a situation is not unique and the rangelands of the world are littered with monitoring sites that are no longer part of an operating system. A need has emerged for a biodiversity monitoring system in the rangelands and the discussion is currently at the point where the range management discipline was in the early 1970s. Efficiencies can be made when developing the biodiversity monitoring system by learning from the experience of the range management profession. Monitoring sustainability will only be possible if the monitoring system is itself sustainable. We suggest a number of attributes for the system that need to be in place before the system can be judged at all sustainable. These attributes are a mix of biophysical, social and institutional and highlight the view that monitoring systems of the type being suggested constitute an unusual mixture of attributes not found in...

Words: 6034 - Pages: 25

Free Essay

Title: Latitudinal Diversity Gradient Hypothesis, the State of Knowledge

...The Latitudinal Diversity Gradient Hypothesis: the state of knowledge Biogeography Spring 2013, Term Paper Title: Latitudinal Diversity Gradient Hypothesis, the state of knowledge By Schibon 1. Introduction Latitudinal gradients in species diversity are generally understood to be increases in the number of species from high (cold-temperate) to low (warm) latitudes (Rohde, 2011). As early as 1807, von Humboldt provided the first formulation for this hypothesis (based on climate) to explain latitudinal gradients of richness (Hawkins 2001) which has remained one of the key questions in Evolutionary Ecology. No single pattern of biodiversity has fascinated ecologists more than the increase of richness toward the Tropics (Pianka 1966; Rohde 1992; Rosenzweig 1995; Gaston and Blackburn 2000). Still, there is an astonishing lack of consensus about the mechanisms leading to this spatial variation in diversity (Hillebrand, 2004). As the search for a primary cause to this latitudinal gradient has been hampered by the increase number of hypotheses (Pianka 1966; Rohde 1992), their interdependence (Currie 1991; Gaston and Blackburn 2000), and the lack of rigorous falsification (Currie et al. 1999), it makes sense to assess the current state of knowledge on this issue. The current paper aims at updating on the current state of knowledge concerning the latitudinal diversity gradient particularly through reviewing the most dominant hypotheses and theories striving...

Words: 4662 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Komdo Dragon

...Komodo Dragons Research Paper The komodo dragon is one of the largest lizard species, also known as the Monitor Lizard. The lizard has a prototype of a dragon body and a venomous bite as a snake. Komodo Dragons are amazing animals, with interesting characteristics, limited habitats, and few predators. According to the article” Komodo Dragon” the komodo dragon is an enormous reptile that can grow up to three meters long and weigh 150kg ( Komodo Dragon). The komodo dragon is a heavy reptile that very muscular with a long thick head and neck. There skin colour is a grayish- brown cover in small rough scales that looks beaded . It already come equipped with razor-sharp claws, lighting reflexes, and teeth notched like streak knives (“Komodo Dragon has Poisonous Bite?”). Komodo Dragons have relatively small heads compared to their large body size and wide, powerful jaws that conceal a mouth that is fulled with deadly bacteria. Although the komodo dragon has good eyesight, the majority of it’s surroundings are sensed to smell which the komodo dragon does with it long and deeply forked tough(“ Komodo Dragon”). So where exactly does these Monitor Lizards live? Although the komodo dragon would have once been widespread across many of the Indonesian islands, they are today confined to just five which all lie in the Komodo National Park(“ Komodo Dragon”). Most of theses lizards are inhabit in these islands named Flores, Rinca, Gillimontang, Padar, Rintia, and...

Words: 932 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Lesson Plans

...Bhamani 5-6 English (Creative Writing) Tuesday, March 29, 2005 45 mins Shape Poem The Student will be able to: 1=Share and write more creactive ideas. 2=Describe different objects Papers Pens Charts Markers Colours OHP(OHT)for the presentation of sample poem(WB can be used too) PRESENTATION: The Teacher will ask the student following questions.(How many of you like butterfly/balloon? Why ou like balloons/butterfly? Do you love poems(yes/no) well,then lets try to write one. Teacher will show an example or two like of balloon(MY RED BALLOON IS LIKE AN AEROPLANE WITHOUT WINGS.IT FLOATS LIKE A BIRD IN THE SKY.A STRONG WIND MAKES MY BALLOON RUN FAST AND TO THE GROUND.POP!OHNO..PIECE OF RUBBER DRIFTING TO THE GROUND)Than SS will asked to choose shapes draw it and write a peom inside that shape) for production you can display all the shapes poems on the school board /bulletin board/soft board.. production stage could be considerd as evaluation Evaluation Lesson Plan Teacher Class Subject Date Duration Topic Objectives Material Needed Methodology Sonia Sham Dupte grades 3-4 language arts Tuesday, March 01, 2005 30 mins telling a story Students will learn how to use descriptive and imaginative language to tell a story. * Telling a Story pictures (allow each student to choose their own picture) * paper * pencils Discuss with students the structure of a good story. Stress that a good story has a beginning, middle, climax, and end. Read a sample story to the class. Have the class discuss...

Words: 9857 - Pages: 40

Premium Essay

Deforestation

...UNIT I DEFORESTATION CHAPTER 1 What is deforestation? Deforestation is the removal or damage of vegetation in a forest to the extent that it no longer supports its natural flora and fauna. In other words, deforestation can be defined as the transformation of forest land to non-forest uses where forest land includes lands under agro-forestry and shifting cultivation, and not simply closed canopy primary forests (FAO/UNEP, 1982). However, this definition does not include “logging”. More inclusive was Myers’s 1980 definition, where deforestation refers, “generally to the complete destruction of forest cover through clearing for agriculture … [so] … that not a tree remains, and the land is given over to non-forest purposes … [and where] very heavy and unduly negligent logging … [result in a] … decline of biomass and depletion of ecosystem services … . So severe that the residual forest can no longer qualify as forest in any practical sense of the world.” Alan Graigner (1980, AS quoted in Saxena and Nautiyal, 1997) asserts that selective logging does not “lead to forest clearance and does not constitute deforestation”, whereas Norman Myers (1980, 1993) thinks that logging is crucial because, although it may only affect a small proportion of trees per hectare, it damages wide areas and is the precursor of penetration by the forest farmers. For the purpose of this study, the FAO’s latest definitions (1993) will be used. The FAO defines forests as “ecosystems with a minimum...

Words: 17310 - Pages: 70

Premium Essay

Global

...The effects of global warming on the environment and human life are numerous and varied. Scenarios studied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict that global warming will continue and get worse much faster than was expected even in their last report. Research by NOAA indicate that the effects of global warming are already irreversible. The IPCC reports attribute many specific natural phenomena to human causes. The expected long range effects of recent climate change may already be observed. Rising sea levels, glacier retreat, Arctic shrinkage, and altered patterns of agriculture are cited as direct consequences of human activities. Predictions for secondary and regional effects include extreme weather events, an expansion of tropical diseases, changes in the timing of seasonal patterns in ecosystems, and drastic economic impact. Concerns have led to political activism advocating proposals to mitigate, or adapt to it. Geoengineering is a further potential response, which could potentially reverse some effects that may otherwise be irreversible. It is notable that many of the effects of global warming are non-linear in nature, with potential for dramatic positive feedback effects. This means that the climate may enter a critical state where small changes can trigger runaway or abrupt climate change. Geoengineering has been suggested as a means of interrupting or reversing these effects. A notable example of a 'runaway' effect is the release of methane...

Words: 4242 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Environmental Studies

...author and editor – Erach Bharucha Unit 1 – Erach Bharucha Unit 2 – Erach Bharucha, Behafrid Patel Unit 3 – Erach Bharucha Unit 4 – Erach Bharucha Unit 5 – Shamita Kumar Unit 6 – Erach Bharucha, Shalini Nair, Behafrid Patel Unit 7 – Erach Bharucha, Shalini Nair, Behafrid Patel Unit 8 – Erach Bharucha, Shambhvi Joshi Case Studies – Prasanna Kolte Co-ordination and compilation – Behafrid Patel Textbook Design – Narendra Kulkarni (Mudra), Sushma Durve Manuscript review and editing – Chinmaya Dunster, Behafrid Patel Artists – Sushma Durve and Anagha Deshpande CD ROM – Jaya Rai and Prasanna Kolte © Copyright Text – Erach Bharucha/ UGC, 2004. Photographs – Erach Bharucha Drawings – Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research All rights reserved. Distributed by University Grants Commission, New Delhi. 2004. ii Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses Preliminary Pages.p65 2 4/9/2004, 5:06 PM Vision The importance of Environmental Studies cannot be disputed. The need for sustainable development is a key to the future of mankind. The degradation of our environment is linked to continuing problems of pollution, loss of forest, solid waste disposal, issues related to economic productivity and national as well as ecological security. The increasing levels of global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer and a serious loss of biodiversity have also made everyone aware of growing environmental concerns. The United Nations Conference on...

Words: 125061 - Pages: 501

Free Essay

Mr. Peter Williams

...CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Information The Cross River gorilla, Gorilla gorilla diehli (Matschie, 1904), a subspecies of the western gorilla, Gorilla gorilla, is found in contiguous forest patches bordering South-Southern Nigeria and South-Western Cameroon, an area recognized as a biodiversity hotspot characterized by species diversity and endemism (Edet, 2011). The subspecies is one of the most critically endangered primates of Africa (Oates et al., 2008; IUCN, 2013). The subspecies is also one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates (Mittermeier et al., 2009). As humans extend their land use, Cross River gorilla habitat is rapidly disappearing, and this may have adverse effects on number of individuals within the subspecies. The Cross River gorilla, Gorilla gorilla diehli, chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes vellorosus) and drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), though legally protected by the Endangered Species Decree 11 of 1985, are some of the primates hunted for bushmeat and other purposes (Edet, 2011). The Major threat to the survival of the subspecies is lack of thorough conservation strategy necessary for its protection. The survival of this endangered species and ecosystems depends on long-term participation and understanding of local populations (Oates, 1999). Due to the close relationship between cultural diversity and biodiversity, traditional knowledge systems play an important role when developing species conservation and management strategies (Caldecott...

Words: 12465 - Pages: 50

Premium Essay

Final-Global Environmental Change

...ENS-314 Global Environmental Change Living in the Environment: Concepts, Connections, and Solutions, 16th ed., by G. Tyler Miller, Jr., and Scott E. Spoolman (Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole CENGAGE Learning, 2009). FINAL PROJECT Climate Change Prepared by Student at Thomas Edison State College Assignment Distributed Prepared for Global Environmental Change (ENS-314) Thomas Edison State College Technical summary of climate change Overwhelming scientific study demonstrate the earth’s atmosphere is warming rapidly, mostly because of human activities, and that this will lead to significant climate change during this century (Miller, Spoolman 2010). Climate change throughout history has affected evolution and natural selection, moving continents and dispersing populations throughout the world with these movements. Until the industrialization of the human population a hundred and sixty years ago our atmosphere...

Words: 3592 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Banana Used as Fertilizer

...THE EFFECTIVENESS BANANA (MUSA X PARADISIACA) PEELS USED AS FERTILIZER APPLIED IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANTS SAMPLES RESEARCHER: BERLENE GAIL H. LAMA CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Background of the study A banana peel, known as a banana skin in British English, is the outer covering of the banana fruit. As bananas, whether eaten raw or cooked, are a popular fruit consumed worldwide, with yearly production over 145 million tonnes in 2011, there is a significant amount of banana peel waste being generated as well. Banana peels are used as feedstock as they have some nutritional value. Banana peels are widely used for that purpose on small farms in regions where bananas are grown. There are some concerns over the impact of tannins contained in the peels on animals that consume them.[3][4] Banana peels are used as feedstock for cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, rabbits, fish and several other species. The specific nutrition contained in peel depends on the stage of maturity and the cultivar; for example plantain peels contain less fibre than dessert banana peels, and lignin content increases with ripening (from 7 to 15% dry matter). On average, banana peels contain 6-9% dry matter of protein and 20-30% fibre (measured as NDF). Green plantain peels contain 40% starch that is transformed into sugars after ripening. Green banana peels contain much less starch (about 15%) when green while ripe banana peels contain up to 30% free sugars. Banana peels are also used for water purification...

Words: 11002 - Pages: 45

Premium Essay

Coffee Descriptive Essay

...Coffee Coffee is a dark brown/black naturally caffeinated drink made from passing water through ground roasted coffee beans. Coffee is used as a great medicine to help patients, and it can be taken as a popular drink all over the world. Caffeinated coffee drinks are largely consumed by people around the world regularly. It has become an internationally popular drink in almost every country. Coffee is so important to our daily lives that some people cannot live a day without drinking it. The word coffee was derived from the Ottoman Turkish kahve, via the Italian caffè. The Turkish word was derived from the Arabian word qahwah. Arab lexicographers report that qahawah originally referred to wine. Since this beverage was thought to dull one’s hunger the word, qaha which signifies “to have no appetite” was given to it. Other etymologies also indicate that the Arab form was a loanword from an Ethiopian source word Kaffe, which refers to the highland in the southwestern Ethiopia where the plant grows indigenous. However, the word that is used in that area is bunn, the native Shoa name būn meaning a native plant. Today coffee has different names all over the world, like caffè in French, Kaffee in Germany, kahvi in Finland etc. No matter what it is called, the Ethiopian people were the first to recognize the stimulating effect of the coffee beans that grow as a coffee plant. No one knows who among the natives earlier than 17th century grew coffee in Africa or used it as a stimulant...

Words: 1977 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Neho

...gospel. They way to open the communications with people that do not know the gospel is with love. Like a family member that needs something you give help with your love and let the course to knowledge flow from there. Using the information found on the Joshua Project there is 41.9 percent of people unreached by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Joshua Project shows that there are 41.3 percent of people in the world that do not know the Gospel. This paper will focus on Neho people found in the Cote d’Ivoire which is also called the Ivory Coast. The Neho people are not Christians and as of date even though there are many Christians are in the south of Cote d’Ivoire. While bringing medical, agriculture, and other supplies are needed, nothing connects people better than family. This paper will give a brief background of the Neho people which will include their history, language, culture, economy, religion, and family structure. This paper will also go into the history and current status of mission work among them. At the end this paper will propose a strategy using the belief in strong family ties that will bring Christ to these lost people. This strategy will use some of the work from past missions which include some basic physical needs such as medical and schooling, and spiritual needs such as prayer and biblical studies. All of these will have at their core will...

Words: 3309 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

The Burma Road Riot

...Name: Julian Burroughs Grade: 12 Subject: Biology Topic: Global Warming Intro: Define Global Warming Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation. Since the early 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.These findings are recognized by the national science academies of all major industrialized nations. What Causes the Greenhouse Effect? Life on earth depends on energy from the sun. About 30 percent of the sunlight that beams toward Earth is deflected by the outer atmosphere and scattered back into space. The rest reaches the planet's surface and is reflected upward again as a type of slow-moving energy called infrared radiation.The heat caused by infrared radiation is absorbed by "greenhouse gases" such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone and methane, which slows its escape from the atmosphere.Although greenhouse gases make up only about 1 percent of the Earth's atmosphere, they regulate our climate by trapping heat and holding it in a kind of warm-air blanket that surrounds the planet.This phenomenon is what scientists...

Words: 1989 - Pages: 8