Introduction

In the introduction for this unit, you learnt that the tropical savanna biome is defined by having a continuous cover of tall grass understory and a discontinuous overstorey.

This vegetation structure is determined by environmental factors, primarily water availability, soil nutrient availability, fire and herbivory.

In this module, we’ll learn more about the ecology and function of this unit, and an overview of the main threats reducing the ecosystem services provided by savanna ecosystems. Specifically, you'll understand;

• The characteristics of tropical savannas
• The factors that determine their structure, and
• Major threats to their ecology and function

Next topic - Characteristics of tropical savannas