African Savanna Woodland Food Web
Terrestrial
Tropical & Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
Southern and Eastern Africa — Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique
Description
The miombo woodland of southern and eastern Africa covers over 2.7 million square kilometers, making it the largest tropical dry woodland in the world. Brachystegia and Julbernardia trees dominate, with frequent fires shaping the understory. Elephants act as ecosystem engineers by toppling trees and creating habitat heterogeneity.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Termite mounds
Coprophilous fungi
Bacteria
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Lion
Nile crocodile
2 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
African wild dog
Leopard
Martial eagle
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
African elephant
Sable antelope
Impala
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Brachystegia trees
Julbernardia
Savanna grasses
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Elephants convert woodland to grassland by pushing over trees
- African wild dogs hunt cooperatively with success rates above 60%
- Fire-adapted grasses resprout rapidly after seasonal burns
- Termite mounds create nutrient hotspots that support distinct plant communities