Ecosystems Flashcards
Where is Wytham Woods?
Wytham Woods is a 390 hectare area of forest in Oxfordshire
What is the geology around Wytham Woods like and what might that tell us about the dominant species of tree?
The forest covers two limestone hills so we would expect ash to dominate
How long would it take soil under new woodland to reach the complexity of soil under existing woodland?
500-600 years
Which disease wiped out a species of tree in Wytham Woods?
Dutch elm disease
How much of Wytham Woods is ancient semi-natural woodland?
35%
How much of Wytham Woods is recent plantations?
42%
How much of Wytham Woods is secondary woodland?
23%
Wytham Woods has over 1000 species of what?
Moths and butterflies
How many species of animal are there in Wytham Woods?
3800, a fifth of Britain’s fauna can be found in this particular area of woodland
Grey squirrels were introduced to the area in the early 20th Century. How do they harm the ecosystem?
They strip the bark of trees, particularly beech and oak
What is myxomatosis?
A disease used as a rabbit population control in the 1950s. In the UK the disease is thought to have killed more than 99% of the rabbit population as well as causing stoats to disappear. It took 30 years for the rabbit population to re-establish itself.
Who owns Wytham Woods now?
The University of Oxford, whose forestry department use it for education and research purposes, as well as to improve the quality and quantity of timber production
How many visitors does Wytham Woods receive each year?
20,000
How does acid rain affect Wytham Woods?
It changes the calcium content of vegetation and egg shells and may be caused by the nearby Didcot power station
Wytham management aim: to minimise major disturbances to…
…fauna
Wytham management aim: to improve quality and quantity of…
…timber
Wytham management aim: to produce a closed…
…canopy forest of native hardwoods
Wytham management aim: to allow regeneration of a range of…
…native plants
Wytham management aim: to improve range of age…
…classes of trees
Wytham management aim: to minimise adverse…
…visual impacts
What effect does putting up nesting boxes for blue tits have on a woodland?
The presence of blue tits leads to reduced caterpillar numbers and increased tree productivity
What is happening to non-native species such as scots pine and sycamore at Wytham Woods?
They are being felled to make way for native species
What was the effect of building a fence to stop deer grazing throughout different fields?
There were low deer numbers in 2009
What is the governments target regarding non-native canopy cover?
Less than 10%
Why were restrictions on chemical use in Wytham Woods put in place?
To allow sparrowhawks to breed again
How many visitors does Studland receive?
25,000 a day in peak times
What is deflation?
Erosion by wind blowing sand particles
Who manages Studland?
National Trust and English Nature
What effect do boardwalks have on a sand dune environment?
Discourages trampling whilst making walking easier for visitors
What has been replanted at Studland?
Marram grass to stabilise dunes and encourage succession
How have people been managed at Studland?
Fire beaters, hydrants and barbecue areas in areas at low risk of fires, bins
What hard engineering strategies have been implemented at Studland?
Gabions, enlarged car park to ensure visitors follow provided routes to beaches
Briefly explain psammosere succession.
Embryo dune -> marram grass -> humus for next stage of succession -> rosette plants, shrubs, small trees -> developed soil, trees
How many ridges are there at Shell Bay?
4
What are the threats to Keyhaven marshes?
The marshes are protected by Hurst Castle spit, which is receiving a reduced shingle supply due to groynes in the west
What hard engineering has been used at Hurst Castle spit?
550m of Rock armour at Milford, groynes on spit, 100m revetment