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Section 1. Introduction.- Section 2. Structure.- 1. Australian Savannas.- 2. Brazilian "Savannas".- 3. Chaco and Caatinga - South American Arid Savannas, Woodlands and Thickets.- 4. The Structure and Dynamics of a West African Savanna.- 5. Southern African Savannas.- 6. Woody Plant Biomass Distribution in Burkea africana Savannas.- Section 3. Determinants.- 7. The Influence of Soils, Geomorphology and Geology on the Distribution of Plant Communities in Savanna Ecosystems.- 8. The Influence of Soil Moisture Balance on Ecosystem Patterns in Southern Africa.- 9. The Effect of Soil Nutrient Availability on Community Structure in African Ecosystems.- 10. The Influence of Large Herbivores on Savanna Structure in Africa.- 11. Fire in Australian Tropical Savannas.- 12. Ecological Effect of Fire in Brazilian Cerrado.- 13. Ecological Effects of Fire in South African Savannas.- Section 4. Function.- 14. Physiological Ecology of Neotropical Savanna Plants.- 15. Water Relations of Southern African Savannas.- 16. Factors Influencing the Consumption of Plant Products by Large Herbivores.- 17. Response of the Humid Subtropical Grassland of South Africa to Defoliation.- 18. Consumption and Decomposition in Tropical Grassland Ecosystems at Lamto, Ivory Coast.- Section 5. Nylsvley, a South African Savanna.- 19. Structure of the Nylsvley Savanna.- 20. Towards the Development of an Energy Budget for a Savanna Ecosystem.- 21. Phytomass, Seasonal Phenology and Photosynthetic Studies.- 22. Nitrogen in the Burkea Savanna.- 23. Trophic Ecology and Plant/Herbivore Energetics.- 24. Litter Decomposition.- Section 6. Dynamics and Management.- 25. Aspects of the Stability and Resilience of Savanna Ecosystems.- 26. Stability of Plant-Herbivore Models and Possible Applications to Savanna.- 27. A Developing Computer Model of the Auob River Ecosystem. Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.- 28. Management Strategies for the Utilization of Southern African Savanna.- Section 7. Conclusion: Characteristic Features of Tropical Savannas.