HB HM Flashcards
Without management many habitats disappear, for example, in the UK, grasslands scrub over and eventually become…
deciduous woodland
A classic example of extreme habitat management is
Agriculture
Ecosystems provide essential services to people including…
clean water, food, pollinators, seed-dispersers, fuel, medicines and building materials - even oxygen!
Reasons to manage a site for wildlife include…
enhancing wildlife habitats, protecting species and habitats, avoiding disturbance, avoiding degradation, complying with the law or a planning condition, enhancing the aesthetic value of a site and enhancing the enjoyment and intrinsic value of a site for people.
What is habitat management?
the process of managing habitats for a particular purpose, usually to maintain a habitat as it is, or restore or enhance a habitat in order to increase species diversity.
Habitat Management techniques may include…
grazing, mowing, planting, scrub removal, controlled burning, tree thinning, pond clearance, removal of invasive species, protective fencing or scraping off fertile soils.
The main ecological processes you need to consider in habitat management are…
succession and disturbance
Succession is…
the natural process of change from an area devoid of life to a stable climax community
an area that is devoid of life - retreating glaciers or a volcanic eruption
primary succession
secondary succession
soils and the seed bank remain after natural disasters e.g. floods and fire. So the area is not devoid of life.
Climax community is linked to our location in the world…
latitude and climate, and the influence of the sea
Many habitats are present due to natural disturbance…
erosion and flooding in coastal, river and upland systems, by trees falling and deer grazing in woodlands
Human disturbance in land management includes… (6)
mowing, cutting, coppicing, burning, grazing and ploughing
The release and encouragement of a species in an area where it formally occurred but is now extinct
Re-establishments
An attempt to establish a species where it did not previously occur
Introductions
Reintroductions
an attempt to establish a species in an area where it had been introduced but the reintroduction has been unsuccessful
Reinforcement
attempting to increase population size by releasing additional individuals
the transfer of individuals from one site to another (boost population or save individuals which would otherwise be destroyed).
Translocation
Succession – the classical model – is a continuous unidirectional, sequential change in the species composition of a natural community. (5 stages)
Annual weeds – Herbaceous perennials – Shrubs – Early successional trees – Late successional trees
Self-driven succession that begins on newly formed substrates not occupied by any organisms and where no organic material is present – newly posed rock faces, alluvial deposits and glacial moraines is primary succession. Where vegetation cover has been disturbed by humans, animals or by fire, wind, floods is secondary succession.
Autogenic succession
Degradative succession
particular type of autogenic, primary succession: the colonisation and subsequent decomposition of dead organic matter
Serial replacement of species can result from external environmental factors, such as geophysical-chemical changes
Allogenic succession
What is a hydrosere?
Natural succession that started with open water (e.g. pond or lake)
Name 8 global biomes
Tundra, Taiga, Grasslands, Savanna, Deciduous Forest, Chaparral, Desert, Desert-scrub, Rainforest, Alpine
What is a habitat?
A habitat (which is Latin for “it inhabits”) is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds (influences and is utilized by) a species population. It is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species or group of species (community) of animal, plant or other type of organism
Name 3 management techniques for grassland
Cutting, grazing, burning
Give 5 reasons why you might apply habitat management
- enhance biodiversity
- halt succession
- restore a habitat
- create new habitats
- retain a protected species
Baseline data on the habitats and species present helps you to… (3)
- To establish which habitats are present and their extent
- To establish which species are present, and their populations, distribution, rarity etc
- To establish a baseline with which to measure change over time.
Two standard vegetation/habitat survey methods are
- Phase 1 Habitat Survey
- National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
Phase 1 Habitat Survey is
Habitats are mapped and classified, e.g. an area of woodland would be either broadleaved, coniferous or mixed.
Target Notes are also made listing species or features of particular interest.
National Vegetation Classification (NVC) is
The classification is more detailed than Phase 1, e.g. 19 different woodland types are recognised as well as scrub communities.
The expected species found in each woodland type are also described.
Census techniques for Plants (2)
- Quadrats (frame or point)
- Transects (a sampling line)
Census techniques for Invertebrates (5)
- Light traps (moths)
- Beating (inverts on trees)
- Sweep netting
- Pitfall traps
- Kick sampling (freshwater stream inverts)
Census techniques for Fish (3)
- Electrofishing
- Netting
- Hyrodacoustics
Census techniques for Birds (6)
- Direct counts of roosts
- Nests
- Flock numbers
- Transect walking
- Territory mapping
- Mist netting
Types of Quadrat surveys… (2)
- percentage cover - estimate the area of the quadrat that each species covers
- Plant numbers
- Sward height
- Species list - can be compiled for the site and the average % cover for each species worked out
10-15 quadrats per site
How often should you review Habitat management plans?
5 years Grassland
10 years for other sites
A management plan serves a number of functions (8)
- Gathers together or identifies all information concerning the site, i.e. resource to be managed.
- Objectives for management are clearly set out.
- Actual tasks to be carried out are set down and who will be responsible for carrying them out and when.
- Any necessary survey, monitoring or research work is described. Periodic reviews in the form of surveys will be programmed into the plan.
- Allows links to be made between local site management and wider policies, e.g. Biodiversity Action Plans or local conservation strategies on a landscape scale.
- Allows continuity of management, e.g. when the reserve manager retires/changes job.
- Aids communication between interested organisations that are typically consulted during the preparation of the plan (e.g. local users, parish council, fishermen).
- Should result in the best use of resources and people. Resources can then be allocated (e.g. staff time) or if funding is required then the management plan can be submitted to funding bodies.
A standard management plan format would cover three main sections.
- Description
- Evaluation and Objectives
- Prescriptions and Projects
A site description covers (4)
- General Information: map of the site and information on its actual area (hectares), ownership and status (e.g. is it a Site of Special Scientific Interest?).
- Physical Information: elevation, slope, climate, hydrology/drainage, geology and soils.
- Biological Information: Main vegetation and habitat types, flora and fauna (including a list of rare or notable species present). Species lists and an indication of the populations and if they are breeding or are significant for the area.
- Cultural Information: History and past land uses, recreational use (including rights of way), undesirable activities (e.g. vandalism or fly tipping), previous conservation management.
Evaluation and Objectives of a management plan would cover
Evaluation - out identifying significant habitats and species in area, importance and rarity, as well as the opportunities and constraints on management
Objectives - management of different habitats but also for visitors, recreational use, educational use, research and monitoring. Objectives really need to be quantifiable.
Woodland and dominant tree species in the UK is dictated by
- Climate
- Elevation
- Geology
- Land use history of a site
Phase 1 classification divides woodland into (5)
- deciduous
- conifer
- mixed
- semi-natural
- plantation
National Vegetation Classification (NVC) classifies how many woodland communities in the UK?
19
High Forest is
woodland that has a closed canopy, it is fully developed woodland.
Ancient Woodland is
woodland that has been in existence since at least 1600
Ancient woodland indicators plants are (9)
- bluebells
- primroses
- wood anemone
- wild garlic
- yellow archangel
- wood sorrel
- sanicle
- dog’s mercury
- scaly male fern
PAWS
Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site
Coppice is
either a plantation or ancient woodland which is under a coppice regime which involves cutting the trees close to the ground on a rotation to produce stems for wood products
Plantation is
woodland planted by people
Primary woodland is
long-standing woodland probably of ancient origin
Secondary woodland is
usually consisting of even-aged trees but not in rows. Usually arisen from abandoned land such as a field
Woodland Conservation at a national level priorities include (4)
- Conserving all areas of ancient semi-natural woodland.
- Creating new semi-natural woodlands
- Restoring PAWs to broadleaf and
- Conserving woods that are typical or representative of different locations
Factors that influence ecology in woodland will be (7)
- size
- isolation
- age
- amount of woodland edge
- structural diversity
- growth stage
- amount of dead wood
Saproxylic
Dead wood invertebrates
Coppicing is typically on a rotation of how many years?
7-20
Wood products from coppicing include (7)
- stakes
- fence posts
- tool handles
- walking sticks
- firewood
- charcoal
- hurdle-making poles
Coppice rotation should be how many years?
15-20 as it takes 8 years to produce nuts
What things can a woodland manager can do in a managed wood to enhance biodiversity? (6)
- Favouring natural regeneration of native tree species.
- Encouraging a diverse age structure and good shrub layer.
- Retaining some large mature trees as well as standing and fallen dead wood.
- Removing undesirable species, e.g. Rhododendron can shade out natural scrub and ground flora.
- Managing other habitats such as tracks, glades, streams and rocky outcrops.
- Ensuring that other forestry operations have minimum negative impacts, e.g. not felling too close to streams, not clear felling.
A woodland structure is made up of: (3)
- Ground layer
- Shrub layer
- Canopy layer
Grassland can only occur with disturbance of what kinds to stop succession? (3)
- grazing
- mowing
- burning
The type of grassland community found on a site will depend on a number of factors (3)
- soil conditions (nutrient levels, pH, soil depth and water level)
- climate and altitude,
- past and present management.
Acid grassland communities are most associated with what soils? (2)
- peat
- waterlogged
at higher altitudes and in the north and west of the UK
Lowland grasslands are often managed by
extensive sheep grazing
short turf with many low growing herbs and grasses
Old hay meadows are usually cut in?
July and August
Some aspects of grazing will affect its use in nature conservation management, such as (3)
- the intensity of grazing (number of animals),
- the pattern of grazing (e.g. all year, seasonally or just occasionally)
- the type of grazing animal (e.g. sheep graze the grass to a very low sward height).
One important point when planning grazing is to (2)
- identify the most suitable stock for the job required 2. the appropriate husbandry on site (i.e. water, shelter)
Barn Owls have declined by what % in the last 50 years?
70%
We have around 4,400 pairs
Barn Owls hunt in open ground feeding on?
field voles, bank voles, wood mice and shrews
Barn Owls hunt mainly by sound, usually following linear features such as
hedges, ditches and woodland edges
What width grassy margins should be left for Barn Owls?
2-3m
Dormice feed on a combination of
plant materials including flowers, fruits and nuts as well as invertebrates such as caterpillars and spiders
Dormice are only active from
about April to October/November
Great Crested Newts ponds are ideally what size?
50 – 250 m²
Great Crested Newts are widespread but occur mainly in (where in the UK)
southern, eastern and central England
Great Created Newts feed on
invertebrates such as earthworms, spiders, slugs and insects
Many species seem to be restricted to habitats not because they grow better there but because that is the only habitat in which they
escape competition
Oligotrophic lakes are
nutrient-poor
What is a metapopulation?
a population of populations
The existence of the metapopulation depends upon suitable habitat being continually present within dispersal of previous colonies
Species have to be previously known within what distance of a site, to be known as a reintroduction, re-establishment or reinforcement?
a 1km radius
A distinct successional stage is known as
Serial stage
A sequence of communities is termed a
Sere
i.e Annual weeds – Herbaceous perennials – Shrubs – Early successional trees – Late successional trees
Interruption or interference that occurs sufficiently often for it to have exerted some selection pressure on the species experiencing it
Disturbance
Disturbance can increase community species richness by
it prevents dominance by a few competitive species and allows opportunistic species to invade
Maximum species diversity will be achieved when the rate of disturbance is sufficient to create gaps for colonisation, but does not exceed the rate at which new species colonise
The intermediate disturbance hypothesis
Colonisation is determined by priority effects – the first species to arrive will be the one that occupies the site
Founder-controlled communities
As any species may become the replacement, community species-richness is maintained at a high level.
Management plan format should include: (8)
- Summary
- General Information
- Environmental Information (Physical, Biological, Cultural)
- Evaluation
- Management Policy
- Management prescriptions and operations (Research, Monitoring, Survey)
- Five-year work programme
- Appendixes
Practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, and quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production
Silviculture
The study of forests and woods
Silvology
Three questions to keep in mind for woodland management:
- is management always needed?
- what general prescription is appropriate for the site?
- how should general prescription be modified in recognition of the special features of a wood. And its surroundings?
The two main traditions of woodland management in Britain are
coppicing and wood-pasture
Animals graze within the woodland and trees are managed for timber or for large poles by pollarding
Wood-pasture
A felled patch in which the trees subsequently grow as an even-aged stand
Coupe
Trees are cut in large coupes, typically at least 1ha, often larger
Clear-fell
Cutting a stand (of trees) in at least two stages with restocking by natural regeneration
Shelterwood systems
Smaller scale of clear-felling
Group-fell systems (group selection)
Management at the level of an individual tree
Selection systems
At the upper limit of tree growth on British mountains, scrub consisting of Sallow, Junipers and Birches would once have been the characteristic vegetation, though now extremely rare
Submontane scrub
Grasslands which develop on nutrient-poor soils of low pH and are generally less rich in plant species
Acid grasslands
Grasslands comprising plant species with a preference for soils that are neither too acid nor too basic.
Mesotrophic grassland
Grasslands comprise those with a high water table (ill-drained permanent pastures - made up of moisture-loving or moisture tolerant species) and those subject to periodic flooding
Lowland wet grasslands
Grasslands built during the seventeenth century to control flooding in the reclaimed Norfolk – Cambridgeshire-Lincolnshire fenland
Washlands
Grasslands developed on soils rich in calcium, typically overlying chalk or limestone. Soils are shallow with a pH of 7.0-8.4, free draining and well-aerated because of the porous underlying rock.
Calcareous Grasslands
