The Biology of African Savannahs (Biology of Habitats Series)

Savannah habitats comprise an ecologically important but ultimately fragile ecosystem. They constitute one of the largest biomes on Earth, covering about twenty percent of the land surface, and can be simply described as tropical and subtropical grasslands with scattered bushes and trees. Most savannahs occur in Africa (with a smaller amount in South America, India and Australia), which is the region that this book concentrates on. Savannahs form a rich mosaic of diverse ecosystems, and The Biology of African Savannahs offers a concise but comprehensive introduction to their ecology. It describes the major plants (grasses, and trees such as Acacia) and animals (mainly large mammals) that live in this habitat, and examines the biological and ecological factors that influence their population size, interactions (such as predation) and community composition. Conservation issues such as climate change, hunting, and conflict between wildlife and domestic animals are also discussed. This accessible text is suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in savannah and tropical ecology as part of a wider ecology and/or conservation biology degree program. It will also be of relevance and use to the many professional ecologists and conservation practitioners requiring a concise but authoritative overview of the topic.

Savannah habitats comprise an ecologically important but ultimately fragile ecosystem. They constitute one of the largest biomes on Earth, covering about twenty percent of the land surface, and can be simply described as tropical and subtropical grasslands with scattered bushes and trees. Most savannahs occur in Africa (with a smaller amount in South America, India and Australia), which is the region that this book concentrates on. Savannahs form a rich mosaic of diverse ecosystems, and The Biology of African Savannahs offers a concise but comprehensive introduction to their ecology. It describes the major plants (grasses, and trees such as Acacia) and animals (mainly large mammals) that live in this habitat, and examines the biological and ecological factors that influence their population size, interactions (such as predation) and community composition. Conservation issues such as climate change, hunting, and conflict between wildlife and domestic animals are also discussed.

This accessible text is suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in savannah and tropical ecology as part of a wider ecology and/or conservation biology degree program. It will also be of relevance and use to the many professional ecologists and conservation practitioners requiring a concise but authoritative overview of the topic.

Savannahs Form A Rich Mosaic Of Diverse Ecosystems, And The Biology Of The African Savannah Offers An Introduction To Their Ecology. It Describes The Major Plants And Animals That Live In This Habitat, And Examines The Biological And Ecological Factors That Influence Their Populations Size, Interactions, And Community Composition. The Book Also Discusses Conservation Issues Such As Climate Change, Hunting, And Conflict Between Wildlife And Domestic Animals.--jacket. 1. Savannahs -- Distribution World-wide -- African Savannahs -- 2. The Vegetation -- Rainfall, Plant Biomass, And The Grass-tree Mixture -- Morphology And Life History -- Grasses -- Trees -- Local Vegetation Patterns : The Serengeti-mara Ecosystem -- 3. The Animals -- The Insects -- The Birds -- The Mammals -- 4. Single Species Populations -- Estimating Numbers -- What Changes Numbers? -- Population Models -- Other Species, In Other Areas -- 5. Species Interactions -- Predator-prey Type Interaction (+ -- ) -- Competitive Interactions ( -- ) -- Mutualistic Interactions (+ +) -- 6. The Savannah Community And Its Conservation -- Energy Flow And Food Webs -- Assembly Rules -- Island Biogeography -- Conserving Savannah Ecosystems -- References -- Index. Bryan Shorrocks. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Savannahs are tropical and subtropical grasslands with bushes and trees, and comprise about 20% of the earth's land surface. This book looks at the major plants and animals that live in African savannahs, and details biological and ecological factors that influence their size, interactions and community composition