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| Description: Physical Environment: Hot, tropical areas, averaging 24°C–29°C with a low or seasonal rainfall of between 50 cm and 130 cm per year. There is often an extensive dry season. Location: Extensive savannahs occur in Africa, South America, and northern Australia. Plant Life: Wide expanses of grasses dominate savannahs but occasional thorny trees, such as acacias, may occur. Fire is prevalent in this biome, so most plants have well-developed root systems that enable them to resprout quickly after a fire. Animal Life: The world's greatest assemblages of large mammals occur in the savannah biome. Herds of antelope, zebras, and wildebeest are found, together with their associated predators: cheetah, lion, leopard, and hyena. Termite mounds dot the landscape in some areas. The extensive herbivory of large grazers, together with frequent fires, may help maintain savannahs and prevent their development into forests. Effects of Humans: Savannah soils are often poor because the occasional rain leaches nutrients out. Nevertheless, conversion of this biome to agricultural land is rampant, especially in Africa. Overstocking of land for domestic animals can greatly reduce grass coverage through overgrazing, turning the area more desert-like. This process is known as desertification.
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