african ecology

I. Biomes and OrganismsII. Ecological RelationshipsIII. Surviving the Elements

AFRICAN ECOLOGY

BIOMES• Several types of biomes located on this continent:• Terrestrial• Desert• Grasslands• Savanna• Rainforest• Chapparal

• Aquatic• Rivers• Lakes• Ocean

Biome Types =Precip. and Temperature

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

DesertFauna• 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 RainforestFauna• 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?

The People

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?