Savannas: A Very Short IntroductionSavannas form one of the largest and most important of the world's ecological zones. Covering one fifth of the Earth's land surface, they are home to some of the world's most iconic animals and form an extremely important global resource for plants and wildlife. However, increasing recognition of their land potential means that they are extremely vulnerable to accelerating pressures on usable land. This Very Short Introduction considers savannas as landscapes. Discussing their origin, topography, and global distribution, Peter A. Furley explores the dynamic nature of savannas and illustrates how they have shaped human evolution and movements. He goes on to discuss the unrelenting pressures that confront conservation and management and considers the future for savannas. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
Savanna landscapes | 1 |
Shaping the savannas | 16 |
Savanna vegetation | 47 |
Wildlife and microbes | 79 |
Savannas and human evolution | 100 |
Changing patterns in the landscape | 115 |
Savanna futures | 138 |
| 149 | |
| 155 | |
End Add | 158 |
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Common terms and phrases
acacia adapted African savannas agriculture appearance areas Arnhem Land Australia biomass biome Botswana BrasÃlia Brazil Brazilian cerrado burning Campo capybara cent cerrado characteristic climatic changes colonization conservation continuous cover David diversity dominated drainage drier dry season East ecosystem environment environmental example favourable Figure fire forms Furley gallery forests global Gondwana grasses grassland grazing ground surface growth habitats herbaceous hominins human impact increased infertile influence Kakadu National Park land llanos Maya Mountains migration million miombo moist moisture Namibia National Park northern nutrients open grassland open savannas organic matter Pantanal patterns period Photo by Peter plateau population rainfall range result root savanna landscapes savanna regions savanna vegetation savanna woodlands sea level Serengeti Shaping the savannas shrubs soils South America South-east Asia species subsurface Tanzania temperatures termite trees tropical typically urban varied wet season wetter widespread wildlife woody savanna woody vegetation zone