Overview:
The Savanna is an important biome and is to be preserved for future generations of the human race. It should be preserved for its historical importance and because of its abundance of life. It is the historical birthplace of the human race and is a biome rich in unique animal life found nowhere else in the world. The Savannas (especially those in Africa) are helped in preservation by the number of tourists who wish to go to these places for trips such as safaris. These tourists are also a hindrance to these biomes as their touring also spoils the natural beauty of them.
Historical Birthplace:
The human race became the human race (Homo sapiens) in the Savanna area of Africa. Primates began the evolutionary path to Homo sapiens in Africa somewhere between 85 million years ago (late Cretaceous period) and 55 million years ago although the first of the Homo genus did not appear till many years later. Homo sapiens are the only surviving species of the Homo genus. The word Homo (which is the name of the genus that humans are a part of) comes from the Latin word for human or man. Homo sapiens spread over the world from Africa approximately 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. They then either replaced the Homo erectus and the Neanderthals which inhabited Europe and Asia or interbred with the others of the Homo genus. From the ancestors of humans five separate genuses have arisen. These are the genus Homo, Pan, Gorilla, Pongo and Hylobates.
One of the earliest known creatures of the Homo genus is the Homo habilis which evolved in southern and eastern Africa. Homo habilis roughly translates to handy man in Latin. It was named thusly because of the association it had with stone tools. The only known creature of the Homo genus to come before Homo habilis is the Homo gautengensis.
After the Homo habilis came the Homo ergaster and the Homo erectus. The Homo erectus lived approximately from 1.8 million years ago to about 70,000 years ago. Homo erectus had by this point spread out from Africa but most of them were probably wiped out by the Toba catastrophe which was an enormous volcanic eruption roughly 69,000 to 77,000 years ago. The Homo ergaster is thought to have come earlier then the Homo erectus. Homo ergaster mainly stayed in Africa but other then that was very similar to the Homo erectus.
Homo heidelbergensis is thought to be a candidate as direct ancestor of Homo sapiens as well as Homo neanderthalensis. Homo heidelbergensis roughly translates to Heidelberg man in Latin and it lived from about 800,000 years ago to about 300,000 years ago.
Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) lived about 400,000 to 30,000 in Europe and Asia. There is some evidence that before they were driven to extinction (mainly because of competition from the Homo sapiens) that it is possible that they interbred with the Homo sapiens that travelled north from African Savanna regions.
Homo sapiens (which roughly translate to wise man or intelligent man) evolved to become what they are in the African Savanna region about 250,000 years ago and then proceeded to migrate out of Africa and spread over the world, replacing all other forms of creature from the Homo genus. Humans have many characteristics and abilities (such as use of fire) which have allowed them to become the dominant species of this planet which have been developed because of the harsh environment of which they evolved in.
One of the earliest known creatures of the Homo genus is the Homo habilis which evolved in southern and eastern Africa. Homo habilis roughly translates to handy man in Latin. It was named thusly because of the association it had with stone tools. The only known creature of the Homo genus to come before Homo habilis is the Homo gautengensis.
After the Homo habilis came the Homo ergaster and the Homo erectus. The Homo erectus lived approximately from 1.8 million years ago to about 70,000 years ago. Homo erectus had by this point spread out from Africa but most of them were probably wiped out by the Toba catastrophe which was an enormous volcanic eruption roughly 69,000 to 77,000 years ago. The Homo ergaster is thought to have come earlier then the Homo erectus. Homo ergaster mainly stayed in Africa but other then that was very similar to the Homo erectus.
Homo heidelbergensis is thought to be a candidate as direct ancestor of Homo sapiens as well as Homo neanderthalensis. Homo heidelbergensis roughly translates to Heidelberg man in Latin and it lived from about 800,000 years ago to about 300,000 years ago.
Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) lived about 400,000 to 30,000 in Europe and Asia. There is some evidence that before they were driven to extinction (mainly because of competition from the Homo sapiens) that it is possible that they interbred with the Homo sapiens that travelled north from African Savanna regions.
Homo sapiens (which roughly translate to wise man or intelligent man) evolved to become what they are in the African Savanna region about 250,000 years ago and then proceeded to migrate out of Africa and spread over the world, replacing all other forms of creature from the Homo genus. Humans have many characteristics and abilities (such as use of fire) which have allowed them to become the dominant species of this planet which have been developed because of the harsh environment of which they evolved in.
Map of the World Showing Human Evolution:
Human Habitation:
The human communities in the Savannas of the world depend on the little vegetation which is in the Savanna. This vegetation is very vunerable to affect from the various things which are threatening the Savanna landscape and therefore must be protected if these small human communities are to survive.
Unique Wildlife:
Savannas have many unique forms of life, many of which are not found elsewhere. This biome has a very low amount of trees, usually only 10% to 25%, however it is almost entirely covered with grass (as can probably be guessed as it is a sub-biome of grasslands). The animals and plants of the Savanna have also adapted in ways in which animals of other biomes never would such as in areas of Savanna which are annually flooded there are creatures such as the semi-aquatic marsh deer.
Africa has probably the best known Savannas in the world, as well as some of the best known animals in these Savannas, animals ranging from birds to insects, mammals to reptiles. Some such of these well known animals are: gazelles, jackals, impalas, cheetahs, zebra and, probably the most well known the lion. These animals are so famous and liked that books are written, stories are told and movies are made about them. Some of these many stories are; The Lion King, Madagascar and The Wild. Tourism of people coming to see these animals even benefits the Savanna because it is preserved in an attempt to keep people coming to see the pure beauty of the creatures. If this biome is not preserved then the amazing, beautiful life which inhabits the Savanna with be gone, never to be seen again.
Africa has probably the best known Savannas in the world, as well as some of the best known animals in these Savannas, animals ranging from birds to insects, mammals to reptiles. Some such of these well known animals are: gazelles, jackals, impalas, cheetahs, zebra and, probably the most well known the lion. These animals are so famous and liked that books are written, stories are told and movies are made about them. Some of these many stories are; The Lion King, Madagascar and The Wild. Tourism of people coming to see these animals even benefits the Savanna because it is preserved in an attempt to keep people coming to see the pure beauty of the creatures. If this biome is not preserved then the amazing, beautiful life which inhabits the Savanna with be gone, never to be seen again.