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African ecology. Biomes and Organisms Ecological Relationships Surviving the Elements. BIOMES. Several types of biomes located on this continent: Terrestrial Desert Grasslands Savanna Rainforest Chapparal Aquatic Rivers Lakes Ocean. Biome Types =Precip. and Temperature.
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African ecology Biomes and Organisms Ecological Relationships Surviving the Elements
BIOMES • Several types of biomes located on this continent: • Terrestrial • Desert • Grasslands • Savanna • Rainforest • Chapparal • Aquatic • Rivers • Lakes • Ocean
Biome Descriptions • Temperate Grasslands “The Veldt”-South Africa; seasonal variation, moderate rainfall; rich, organic soil; much is used for farming • Savanna (Tropical/Subtropical Grasslands)-distinct seasonal changes, high rainfall (harsh dry season) **alternating wet/dry seasons; rich, organic soil • Desert-very hot and dry; can be cold during the night; little rainfall/plant life • Tropical Rainforest-land areas closest to the equator; most diverse in plant and animal species; abundant rainfall all year • Chapparal-long, hot, dry summers; rainy, mild winters; subject to fires (**helpful to some plant life that needs the fire for their seeds to germinate)
Temperate Grasslands…The VeldtSavanna…Tropical/Subtropical Grasslands • Fauna • Africa - aardvark, African wild cat, African elephant, many antelopes, baboon, buffalo, Cape hunting dog, cheetah, giraffe, gnu, hartebeest, hippopotamus, hyena, impala, jackals, kudu, leopard, lion, meerkat, mongoose, oryx, ostrich, red-billed oxpecker, rhinoceros, vulture, wildebeest, zebra, and many other animals
Desert Fauna • Hot Desert: addax antelope, barn owls, cape hare, dama deer, desert hedgehog, dorcas gazelle, fan-tailed raven, Fennec fox, gerbil, horned viper, jackal, jerboa, mouse, Nubian bustard, ostrich, sand fox, shrew, slender mongoose, spiny-tailed lizard, spotted hyena, ground squirrel, hyena, jackal, meerkat, springbok • Cold and Hot Desert: fringe-toed lizard, golden mole, jackal, sidewinder, viper, web-footed gecko
Tropical Rainforest Fauna • West Africa • mammals (antelopes, bonobo, chimpanzee, gorilla, Mandrill, scaly-tailed squirrels, otter shrews, duikers, okapi, hippopotamus, Cercopithecus monkeys, bushbabies, pygmy hippo, duiker) • birds (Congo peafowl, African Gray Parrot) and millions of other animals.
Chaparral • Fauna • Mediterranean Sea coast - Apennine wolf, beech-marten, deer, black stork, black vulture, dormouse, Egyptian mongoose, great bustard, hare, hedgehog, Iberian lynx, Spanish Imperial eagle, weasel, wild boar, wild goat, wild sheep • South Africa - Cape sugarbird, sunbirds
ECOLOGY-FOCUS • Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environments • So….what does this mean for the populations of people in African countries? **People are found in all the biomes discussed** • Ecological Considerations: • Land (Biomes) • Climate • Rainfall • Natural disasters • Food • terrestrial and aquatic availability • Meat sources and Crops grown; Water for drinking • Healthcare/Pollution/Habitat Stability/Population Growth/Global Warming • ARE THESE ISOLATED FACTORS OR IS THERE MORE TO CONSIDER?
Natural Disasters • DROUGHT • FAMINE • FLOOD • EPIDEMICS
What are your thoughts??? • What connections have you made? • What can you gather from the “small” overview of ecological points given? • Keep in mind: ecology links us all together: men, women, boys, girls, animals, bacteria, fungus, plants, viruses…BUT THIS IS JUST ONE PIECE TO THE PUZZLE. • How does one survive the African experience?