Organisms in Serengeti Plains

Producers

Since the hardpan (discussed under soil composition tab) prevents the extensive growth for trees, grasses are able to prosper in the Serengeti Plains. In addition, frequent fires, large grazing animals, poorly suitable soils, and other factors keep the density of trees and shrubs low. Most dominant type of grasses are Rhodes grass and red oat grass in the Serengeti Plains. Depending on depth, stability, and age of the underlying ash, different types of grasses can be prosperous in the region. Since a savanna supports a large number of plants and animals, few types of grasses are usually more successful in a region.  

Especially during the wet seasons, most of the grasses are consumed by the grazing animals. From its characteristics to re-grow with higher nutrients, grasses, often known as a "grazing lawn" can meet the demand of constantly being cut. During a period of severe drought, the Serengeti Plains have the capability of virtually becoming standing vegetations.  

Consumers

Serengeti Plain, known as the one of the biggest sanctuaries for animals, supports more than four million animals and birds. Consumers play an important role of allowing the system to flow as the energy is continuously passed to the next. The herbivores and predators in this region cause spatial redistrubution of resources by consuming them in one location and depositing them in another. For example, the large herbivores cause large-scale transport of nutrients because of the unique migration pattern. Spatial transport is extremely important for both ecosystems with low or high NPP because it significantly increases the productivity.

There are various types of animals in Serengeti Plains such as prairie dog, hyena, and bison. The top carnivores would be cheetahs, lions, and leopards. These animals have the capability to prey on herbivores and omnivores such as buffalo, giraffe, and elephants.  

Decomposers

The scanvangers (vultures and hyenas) and detritivores feed on dead carcasses and utilize the unused energy. However, there is considerable unused energy even after the scavengers and dertritivores. The decomposers in the Serengeti Plains play an important role of completing decomposition. Decomposers, such as dung beetle, fungi, and bacteria, convert all remaining organic matter into nutrients for the soil. The plants and algae can use this nutrients to increase the primary production and to main the balance of the system.

Typical Food Web in Serengeti Plains

In this food web, the role of decomposers is played by bacteria, dung beetle, and fungi. The bacteria break down the remains of living things in the soil while the dung beetle breaks down animal droppings. Lastly, fungi break down dead plants and animals and waste materials. The producers are Acacia Tree and grass, which supports the animals in the higher level and provides for the consumers. The herbivores/omnivores in this food web are baboon, impala, wildebeest, zebra, and giraffe. These animals mainly eat a diet of grass, fruit blossoms, flowers, roots, or seeds. The top carnivores are cheetah, leopards, lion, and hunting dog. Since they prey on the herbivores/omnivores, there is less number of top carnivores. The scavengers are the hyena and vulture. They eat the leftovers produced by the other animals.

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Energy Pyramid in Serengeti Plains

This demonstrates the flow of energy in Serengeti Plains, where higher tropic levels receive less energy than the previous. The hawk would receive only 10% of the energy that was available to the snakes.

Endangered Animals

The Serengeti Plains represents the "last remnant of large mammals dominated ecosystem which has existed in Afircan at least since the Pleistocene". Although the National Parks and game reserves were created to protect its unique species, the threat on the endangered animals cannot be completely ignored.  In the past, several species have been driven close to extinction from human interference. With the introduction of professional hunters into the region in 20th century, many animals, such as lions, were viewed as a burden on civilization and were often encouraged to be killed. In addition, animals were illegally hunted for their meat or extripirated of the valuable body parts. This had a disastrous effect on the number of black rhinoceros, which still suffers heavy consequences. Despite the recent restrictions and regulations to protect the abundant wildlife, the damage previously done cannot be reversed. As the movement to save the Serengeti Plains gains popularity, more people have been attentive to the situations in Tanzania.

African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)

The African Wildlife Foundation was created in 1961 with a purpose to protect the wildlife and land of Africa. This organization has been working in various places in Africa to stop the increasing disappearance of native animals such as African Wild dogs. The purpose of AWF is to empower people, protect the land, and conserve wildlife. In 1963, AWF trained over four thousand wildlife managers from twenty-eight African countries. AWF have also picked eight key places to focus their attention to save the Africa's Heartlands.

Past Laws in Serengeti Plains

In order to prevent extinction of Serengeti’s unique species, British Game Preservation Ordinance of 1921 laid out the basics for game reserves, game licenses, professional hunters, and trophy dealers. This law prohibited people without a game license to kill animals unless in act of self-defense. The ordinance also restricted guns as the only permissible weapons, which officially made the indigenous hunting methods illegal. In addition, the Game Ordinance of 1940 restricted residence and entry in the Serengeti Plains until the areas was declared a park in 1951. Currently, the government does not try to stop all hunting, but tries to eradicate frequent “organized and constant game drives”. In addition, large areas of Serengeti Plains have been transformed into Serengeti Conservation Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. 

Bibliography

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"Introducing Serengeti - Tanzania Safari." Africa Safari & Travel: Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Mombasa & Zanzibar Vacations, African Holidays, Hotels, Scuba Diving, Fishing Safaris & Mount Kilimanjaro Climb. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. http://www.africanmeccasafaris.com/tanzania/safaris/parks/serengeti.asp.

Wardle, David A. Communities and Ecosystems Linking the Aboveground and Belowground Components. Princeton [u.a.: Princeton Univ., 2002. Print.

Training, By, and Conservation Professionals. "About AWF." AWF. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.awf.org/section/about>.

Shetler, Jan Bender. Imagining Serengeti: a History of Landscape Memory in Tanzania from Earliest times to the Present. Athens: Ohio UP, 2007. Print.