HB HR Flashcards
Habitat creation is defined as (3)
- involving human intervention in combination with natural factors operating over time
- natural colonisation from adjacent habitats, or assisting in the process by planting or translocating suitable plants and/or animals to the habitat
- a dynamic community of interacting plants and animals
Habitat restoration, as opposed to habitat creation, restores
existing degraded semi-natural vegetation
What are 6 Basic Principles of Habitat Creation and Restoration?
- plans should be flexible to allow for opportunities for further ecological enhancement, where possible.
- Larger blocks of fewer habitat types, yield a better result for wildlife.
- most successful in areas where the environment is still rich in wildlife, where there are opportunities for natural colonisation and there is a reservoir of species in the long-term.
- Natural regeneration should be encouraged where appropriate.
- Biodiversity should be the priority and amenity and other end uses should fit around the main biodiversity objective.
- needs to be sustainable in the long-term
What % of ponds have been lost in the last 50 years?
75%
What % of wildflower meadow have been lost since WWII?
97%
What % of heathlands have been lost since WWII?
75%
How much hedgerow has been lost since WWII?
200,000 km
How much ancient woodlands have been lost since WWII?
half
SPAs
Special Protection Areas
SANG
Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace
SAC
Special Areas of Conservation
Habitats can be created and restored for what reasons? (5)
- attract a diversity of species.
- enhance the ecological value of a site.
- reverse the historical loss of biodiverse habitats.
- reverse the loss of habitats, which were removed to large scale land extractions.
- mitigate and compensate for the adverse impacts caused by developments.
Which semi-natural re-creatable habitats can be created and restored? (9)
- Grasslands
- Scrub and Hedgerows
- Woodlands
- Ponds
- Wetlands
- Coasts
- Heathland and Moorland
- Montane and Submontane
- Wasteland
Lush green, frequently mown and makes up most gardens, parks and football pitches?
Amenity grassland
Species-rich, biodiverse in terms of the flora and fauna it supports, increasingly rare and highly threatened in the UK?
Unimproved grassland - hay meadows and grazed calcareous
What is the main objective when creating or restoring grassland?
to achieve species-richness and a type of grassland which is fitting to the underlying geology and locality
Woodland, which have become established on previously abandoned or neglected ground?
Secondary woodlands - colonised naturally or been planted as part of a habitat restoration scheme.
What % of wetlands have been lost since Roman times?
90%
What services do wetlands provide to humans? (2)
- water purification (i.e. reedbeds)
- flood defence
Ponds are often lost as a result of (3)
- modern agricultural practices
- development
- lack of management
The main considerations when creating a wildlife pond are (6)
- The bigger the pond, the better
- Site the pond where there is minimal shade
- Create meandering edges with lots of shallow areas
- Ensure easy access into the pond for wildlife
- Use native plants around the periphery and submerged
- Avoid stocking the pond with fish
Heathland and moorland are important habitats in the UK for non plant species such as (3)
- dragonflies
- rare reptiles
- ground-nesting birds (Dartford Warbler / Nightjar)
Montane grasslands and heaths include a range of vegetation types that occur exclusively in mountains (4)
- prostrate dwarf shrub heath
- snowbed communities
- sedge and rush heaths
- moss heaths
Montane and submontane habitats exist in the UK mostly in?
Scotland
where the high altitude, latitude and shallow infertile soils provide a unique habitat - Hares / Golden Eagle
Montane habitat has been destroyed or damaged by what human interference (3)
- trampling
- construction/mining projects
- building of ski resorts
Overgrazing by sheep and deer also degrades this habitat
Restoration methods of Montane grasslands may include (3)
- reducing human footfall
- fencing off vulnerable areas
- transplanting bare roots, turf or potted plants to trampled areas
Vulnerable coastal habitats include (5)
- sand dunes
- saltmarshes
- mudflats
- coastal heaths
- unprotected soft cliffs
Some of the largest threats to coastal habitats (2)
- sea level rise
- coastal erosion
Coastal habitats provide support to a range of often rare wildlife, including (4)
- Invertebrates
- Birds
- Sand lizards
- Natterjack toads
Wasteland / brownfield is described as
land which has been previously developed upon and is then abandoned.
Brownfield sites often qualify as
Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land
Which are habitats of principal importance under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.
Bats in the UK are threatened by (4)
- habitat fragmentation
- increased night-lighting
- declining woodland and ponds
- declining numbers of insects due to pesticides
Bat habitat creation and restoration (6)
- Arable land can be improved by expanding field margins, maintaining treelines, hedgerows and ditches and reducing pesticide use
- Connecting old trees and woodlands by planting hedgerows
- Creation of ponds and wetlands to increase insect diversity, which increases foraging opportunities
- Replacement of conifer plantation with semi-natural woodland
- Bat boxes in a variety of locations
- Reduction of lighting at night especially near suitable habitat and over water
The biggest reasons for Hazel Dormouse decline include (2)
- habitat fragmentation
- reduction of traditional methods of woodland management, such as coppicing which creates a diverse mosaic of open and closed canopy woodland
Dormice generally live in (2)
- woodland or copses
- bushy hedgerows.
In the last 60 years, it is estimated that the UK hedgehog population has fallen from 30 million to
1 million
Hedgehog population has fallen due to (4)
- habitat loss
- overuse of pesticides
- ‘tidying up’ gardens and parks
- road deaths
Hedgehogs particularly thrive in (3)
- woodland edges
- hedgerows
- messy gardens
Reptiles in the UK are under threat from (3)
- habitat loss and degradation
- pesticide pollution
- introduced non-native reptile species
Reptiles are widely found on (7)
- sand dunes
- heathland
- moorland
- grassland
- allotments
- gardens
- brownfield sites
- woodland and scrub
Create or restore what habitat specifically for reptiles (3)
- long, tussocky grass on south facing slopes which provide basking opportunities
- log and rubble piles
- compost heaps
Great crested newts have declined in range and abundance in the last 100 years due to
huge decline in ponds in favour of urbanisation and agriculture
Great crested Newts require what habitats
aquatic and terrestrial (grassland, scrub and woodland)
White-clawed crayfish is under threat from (2)
- habitat loss
- introduced non-native crayfish, which carry diseases and compete for food
Are also pollution intolerant
White-clawed crayfish are found in (5)
- chalk rivers
- streams
- lakes
- large ponds
- ditches
White-clawed crayfish can be helped by working towards (2)
- clean rivers
- creating new habitats which are free from invasive crayfish
What are new habitats for White-clawed crayfish called
Ark Sites and are isolated sites with still and/or running water
What % of invertebrates are under threat?
15% (4,500 species declining)
What % of butterfly species are declining at significant rate
70%
Declines in invertebrates are due to (3)
- habitat loss
- loss of wetlands
- excessive use of pesticides in agriculture
What is the first stage of detailed project planning?
Defining of objectives
have clear links to local and national biodiversity targets, such as habitats and species of principal importance.
Project planning objectives can include (5)
- Nature conservation
- Education
- Research
- Access safety
- Screening and environmental improvements to urban areas
What are main areas of interest when setting objectives and targets for a habitat creation or restoration project? (8)
- Site history and location.
- Ecological, biological and geological context.
- Existing conditions of the site, in terms of area available, soil nutrient status and pH, geology, ecology, hydrology, archaeology, site access, disturbance and pollution.
- National and local biodiversity targets.
- Opportunities for research and links to other projects.
- Availability of Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
- Resources available, such as funding, manpower, skills base, fauna and flora bank.
- Evidence base of success.
Habitat creation and restoration should be appropriate to the location. Factors to consider include: (3)
- Physical conditions on site (soils, geology, hydrology, topography).
- Previous site history
- relationship to surrounding habitats.
Which features need to be identified during a site survey? (9)
- topography
- Aspect
- Hydrology
- Soil characteristics (pH, nutrient status, heavy metals, salinity and compaction)
- Local climate
- Existing habitats and species on site
- Adjacent habitats and species
- Invasive species (i.e. Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed)
- Presence of any infrastructure/utility constraints
On most habitat creation projects, there is a requirement to measure (2)
- Soil fertility
- Phosphorus and nitrogen
In most habitat creation schemes, some sort of ground preparation is required (5)
- Cultivation
- Stripping the topsoil
- Application of herbicides to reduce weed burden
- Clearing the site of rubbish/contaminants
- Power harrowing
With the recreation/restoration of species-rich grasslands from land formerly intensively managed for agricultural purposes, what is one of the main limiting factors
high residual soil fertility associated with repeated fertiliser applications
What techniques are used to grow a wildflower meadow? (4)
- Regenerate naturally is a low cost method, but slow
- Translocation of turfs from a donor site
- Strewing of green hay
- Brush harvesting of seed
Who should be consulted and included from the outset in the project plan? (2)
- Landowner
- Stakeholders
Management methods of projects may include (6)
- Removal of invasive plants
- Cutting
- Grazing
- Tree thinning
- Coppicing
- Plant replenishment
Long-term monitoring for a habitat recreation/restoration project is needed in order to (2)
- assess if the plant and animal assemblages are developing in the way that was intended
- objectives and targets are measured and assessed.
What % of lowland waterbodies in the UK are degraded?
90%
A network of clean freshwater ponds throughout the UK to help support which protected species and species of conservation concern (5)
- Great crested newts
- Natterjack toads
- Tubular water dropwort
- Lesser horseshoe bat
- Water voles
Where the objective is to create/restore a woodland with a high ground-flora diversity what might need to be done to the ground?
Soil fertility reduction
Sources of new plant material for woodlands include (5)
- Natural colonisation
- Commercially produced seeds
- Whips
- Nursery transplants and container grown plants
- Transference of topsoil/woodland flora turves/cuttings
Which trees normally colonise new woodland first?
Birch and willows
Woodlands can be created on (2)
- Species-poor grassland/arable land
- Abandoned/cleared land
Tree planting season is when?
mid-November to late March
What habitat do Hedgerows provide? (4)
- Provide shelter
- Nesting opportunities
- Food sources
- Connecting habitats such as woodlands
Hedgerows are under constant threat of removal… (2)
- to create larger agricultural fields
- access roads for development
Why is it worth creating hedgerows on top of old abandoned hedge lines?
as typical hedgerow wildflower species will often reappear once shrub species have been reintroduced
An ideal hedgerow for wildlife should be how wide?
4 to 5 metres
For a quicker growing, more substantial hedgerow, shrubs should be planted in two rows how far apart?
20–30 centimetres apart, using three shrubs per metre
What shrubs and climbers should included in a hedgerow? (8)
- blackthorn
- hawthorn
- hazel
- elder
- spindle
- dog-rose
- honeysuckle
- wild clematis
What plant species should included in scrub? (5)
- blackthorn
- hawthorn
- willow
- dog-rose
- bramble
Wetlands should be cropped how often to prevent scrub from developing?
once a year
If you are creating a wetland habitat from scratch, what do you need to know your area? (4)
- How high is the water table?
- How much precipitation does your area receive each month?
- is there a chance a new water body could dry out?
- Is there a natural water source which could flow into the wetland area?
Wetland creation often involves creating (4)
- ditches
- reedbeds and open water
- the use of water transfer pipes
- the creation of bunds and sluices
Ponds need to be (5)
- in a sunny position
- have a curvy shape
- gentle slopes around the edges
- an area at least 60 cm deep, to protect wildlife in extreme weather conditions
- planted with native species of aquatic and emergent plants such as yellow flag, water mint and water crowfoot.
Heathland has (describe it)
no or very few trees, dominated by dwarf-shrub vegetation, particularly heather
Heathland has been lost to (3)
- urbanisation
- conifer plantations
- scrub encroachment
In heathland scrub levels are kept down by (2)
grazing or controlled fires
What sites can be used for heathland creation? (3)
- clear-felled forestry plantation on poor soils
- Exposed mineral surfaces
- abandoned agricultural land (often too high nutrients)
Which factors need to be taken into account when restoring species-rich grassland? (5)
- Soil including fertility, pH and structure
- Weed burden
- Location
- Management
- Sow a seed mix/spread hay.
Soil which has a high level of phosphorus (P), promotes growth of?
coarse grasses and white clover
Plants that create a weed burden include? (3)
- creeping thistle
- common nettle
- broadleaved dock
Cattle help maintain the correct conditions for species-rich grassland creation by (2)
- trample seed into the ground
- create new areas of bare ground/soil
Benefits of living roofs, include (5)
- Biodiversity – increase opportunities for invertebrates and birds - ground nesting birds.
- Sustainable drainage – Reduces run off and grey water collected can be used to irrigate the roof, when required.
- Improved building performance – Increases lifespan of the roof as it is protected from frost, high temperatures, UV and mechanical damage. Heating and cooling is reduced.
- Climate change – living roofs remove carbon from the atmosphere. They also replace dark roofs, reducing the absorption and re-radiation of heat.
- Amenity – roofs can be aesthetically pleasing and can provide areas for recreation and relaxation.
It is estimated that there how many green roofs in London?
are over 700 covering an area of 17.5 hectares
To maximise opportunities for many species of invertebrate, bird and mammal, on a living roof what methods can be employed? (6)
- Some vegetation should be left uncut during winter to provide hibernating opportunities for invertebrates.
- Provide areas of bare ground - basking opportunities.
- Piles of dead wood - shelter for birds, invertebrates and small mammals.
- Wet areas and small ponds - encouraging aquatic and semi aquatic species such as dragonflies.
- Bug hotels or habitat walls
- Bird/bat boxes
Areas of grassland can be created using (3)
- brick rubble or crushed concrete waste from construction sites covered in subsoil
- soil-stripping
- arable plots
What are the factors, which may need to be considered in species-rich grassland creation projects? (5)
- Site selection;
- Field preparation;
- Existing soils;
- Brick rubble and
- Crushed concrete.
In situations where nutrient levels are too high for grassland establishment, preparation will entail some form of soil fertility reduction (3)
- Growing crops with limited inputs of fertiliser and removing nutrients with the harvest. This may take at least 3 years to deplete e.g. available P
- Deep or inversion ploughing to expose nutrient poor soil horizons
- Topsoil stripping to remove surface fertile layers
What seed mix should be used when creating grassland on crushed concrete?
calcareous
The Management Plan is also to ensure that appropriate monitoring methods are employed and should aim to achieve the following (3)
- That all elements of the monitoring of the project is properly recorded, including taking photographs.
- That the project is achieving its objectives, which were clearly set out at the planning stage.
- That changes in the created/restored habitat are detected and responded to (feedback loop).
Monitoring grassland creation projects often involves
periodically surveying the vegetation using quadrats (every 3-4 years). This is a way of quantifying change over time.
Management of hay meadows requires (4)
- cutting in late summer
- aftermath’ grazing, which encourages the flowers to thrive
- No or very little manure, fertilisers or herbicides
- undesirable and invasive plants should be controlled
Management of grassland restoration and encouraging natural regeneration of flowers and fine-leaved grasses, nutrient levels can be reduced by management techniques such as (2)
- a ‘double hay cut’ or use of a forage harvester
- A short period of intensive winter grazing
Species-rich grasslands, which have become rank or partially invaded by scrub, restoration can be achieved by (2)
- mechanical scrub removal
- followed by short intensive periods of grazing with cattle.
Early management of a newly created woodland will involve (2)
- effective weed control, herbicides or mulching (i.e. chipped bark). Weed control is required until the woodland canopy has closed over and ground-flora has become established.
- To achieve a varied age structure of trees, planting will be required at various stages, as well as selective thinning and allowing trees to establish via seeding.
Long-term management of a woodland will involve
Coppicing
Light into the understory layer, allowing ground flora to thrive and therefore increasing the diversity of plants, on a rotation increases a varied age structure of trees, many of the older ones provide holes and crevices, Increased light also encourages invertebrates and ground flora plants which thrive, bushier structure to trees, increasing nesting opportunities for birds and mammals such as the Hazel Dormouse.
Management of heathland and moorland involves (6)
- controlling the invasion of scrub and bracken
- scrub invasion can be lessened by the use of heather cuttings, which act as a mulch
- pulling of Scot’s pine, birch, willow and bracken
- Herbicides and crushing for Bracken
- Light grazing on established sites (lowland New Forest)
- Mechanical cutting - typically at a sward height of 15cm at 3-4 year intervals, during late summer
Monitoring of heathland and moorland involves
quadrat surveys and in the case of bracken may consist of looking at height and density of bracken stems whilst being treated
Many butterfly species are in decline due to (3)
- habitat loss and fragmentation
- Pesticides
- increasing urbanisation
On UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme transects you… (3)
- walk a fixed transect
- lasting between 45 minutes to 2 hours
- every week during April to September (26 weeks)
How do we monitor plants for grassland management? (6)
- to identify species and abundance of species
- new species should be identified
- perennial rye-grass is an indicator of high nutrient, species poor grassland - restoration not worked.
- weeds and other undesirable species need to be dealt with (thistles, ragwort, nettles and docks)
- broad leaved herb species should cover 40-90% of the grassland
- surveys undertaken in summer
