One of the following adapts baobab tree to savanna habitat.

Answer Details

The savanna biome is characterised by distinct wet and dry seasons, with prolonged dry periods that bring drought and frequent bush fires. Plants that thrive in this habitat must possess adaptations that help them survive water scarcity and fire damage.

The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) has a thick bark that serves as a critical adaptation to the savanna. The thick, fire-resistant bark insulates the living cambium tissue beneath it from the intense heat of bush fires, allowing the tree to survive fires that would kill thinner-barked species. The bark also helps reduce water loss from the trunk, which is important during the long dry season.

While the baobab does shed its leaves during the dry season (deciduous habit) and has a deep root system, among the options given, the presence of thick bark is the most distinctive and widely recognised savanna adaptation for this species. Broad leaves would actually be a disadvantage in the savanna because they increase the surface area for water loss through transpiration. Tap roots help access deep water but are common to many trees in various biomes and are not unique to the baobab's savanna adaptation in the way thick bark is.

Exam tip: Savanna plant adaptations centre on surviving fire and drought. Thick bark (fire resistance), water-storing trunks, deep roots, and deciduous leaves are all relevant, but thick bark is the hallmark adaptation most frequently tested.