Lindsay B. Hutley, Samantha A. Setterfield



    Savannas are characterized by the coexistence of trees and grasses and occur largely in the seasonal tropics between the equatorial rainforests and mid-latitude desert ecosystems. This article describes the defining elements of the savanna biome and documents global savanna distribution and relationships with climate. It examines the influence of the four dominant environmental factors that determine savanna structure and function; available moisture and nutrients, fire occurrence and impacts from herbivory, and the interactions between these environmental determinants. Savannas can be considered as a metastable mixture of trees and grasses and theories advanced to explain the stability, or otherwise, of this coexistence are discussed. Current issues in savanna management and threats to long-term sustainability are also described.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEncyclopedia of Ecology
    EditorsBrian Fath
    Number of pages11
    ISBN (Electronic)9780444641304
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019


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