Heaths and moors

Question 1

What is a heathland?

Answer 1

physiognomically-distinct type of vegetation, dominated by ericoid dwarf shrubs.

Question 2

What is Heather?

Answer 2

Calluna vulgaris, most important and characteristic orchid in British heaths

Question 3

What are the other main species of heather?

Answer 3

Bell heather and cross leaved heather

Question 4

What diversity and conservation do heathlands have and why?

Answer 4

Low diversity, high conservation, as a low nutrient status and acidic soil, however, much of vegetation type is restricted to the UK

Question 5

What are upland heaths?

Answer 5

Above upper edge enclosed agricultural land, 300-400m above sea level, 2-3 million hectares in the UK

Question 6

What are lowland heaths?

Answer 6

Grows at altitudes less than 300m58 000 ha in the UK, which is 20% of the worlds total

Question 7

What types of soil is characteristic of heathlands?

Answer 7

Podsols

Question 8

How are podsols characterised?

Answer 8

characteristic of cool, wet climates
have intense eluviation of surface horizons
nutrients and bases leached are from upper horizons, a massive store of carbon

Question 9

How are peaty podsols produced?

Answer 9

water logging of upper horizons can stimulate peat formation

Question 10

How much carbon is stored in UK peatlands?

Answer 10

3 billion tonnes, more than forests of Britain and France combined

Question 11

When did most heathland originate?

Answer 11

In or after Bronze Age

Question 12

When did heather dominate the moors of Sheffield?

Answer 12

400 AD, more recent in many moors

Question 13

How are moors managed for Lagopus scoticus scoticus, the red grouse?

Answer 13

Abundance of grouse strongly affected by availability of its main food source, young heather shoots. Rotational burning used to increase amount of edible biomass

Question 14

What are the problems with burning in the moors?

Answer 14

moorlands intrinsically nutrient poor, but smoke and ash cause further nutrient loss

Question 15

How many nutrient loss in smoke be balanced out?

Answer 15

By nutrient inputs in rainfall

Question 16

Which nutrients are most at risk of loss from smoke?

Answer 16

N, P, S, N and P most critical as will limit growth, not replenished for 12 years

Question 17

What is afforestation?

Answer 17

establishment of trees in an area where there was previously no tree cover

Question 18

What is the problem with reforestation of heathland?

Answer 18

Loss of diversity or distinctive species and the loss of visual appeal and amenity value. Conifer woodlands generally species poor

Question 19

Why might reforestation be appealing?

Answer 19

Conifers not necessarily more species impoverished than moorlands
Other woodland types may be more appealing e.g. deciduous

Question 20

What happened when they reforested Broxa?

Answer 20

Was possible to grow birch trees, but even after 70 years trees were small and had no real commercial value, and no greater biodiversity than coniferous woodland

Question 21

What happened when they reforested tulchan?

Answer 21

Planting birch was successful, led to important soil change,