- Soil and geography: in grasslands, the soil is red/yellow/grey or red/black clay. Grass-
land soil has rich fertile upper layers. - Flora: vegetation is mainly grass, but trees can grow on the hills and along river beds.
- Fauna: many types of grass-eating herbivores can be found in this habitat, such as
black wildebeest, blesbok and eland. Rodents are also common in grasslands which
makes this biome an ideal hunting ground for birds of prey. The diverse plant species
also support many plant-eating insects such as butterflies, grasshoppers, crickets and
ants.
Figure 9.5: Grasslands are regions where the vegetation is dominated by grasses.
Activity: Burning of grassland
Reason:
Burning of grassland impacts on the environment in important ways. These can be positive
or negative.
Materials:
Internet, Articles, Books
Instructions:
Using these resources, write down the advantages and disadvantages of burning grassland
2.Savanna biome
- Location: the Savanna biome is the largest biome in Southern Africa. It is found mainly
in the Northern Cape, North West Province, Northern Province and KwaZulu Natal. - Climate: summers are hot and wet and the winters are cool with little or no rain. Frost
occurs in winter. - Soil and geography: the soil is red/black clay, red/yellow, grey soil and is often sandy.
- Flora: this biome is also known as the bushveld, where grasses are mainly found and
regular fires prevent the trees from dominating. Herbaceous plants and woody plants
can be found in different areas. Plants are able to withstand fire.
Chapter 9. Biospheres to ecosystems 261