intro to heathland

Question 1

devensian cold stage

Answer 1

115,000 ya

generally cold but has temp fluctuations

Question 2

interstadial

Answer 2

embedded periods of temporarily warm conditions

Question 3

stadial

Answer 3

embedded periods of cold conditions

Question 4

chelford insterstadial

Answer 4

60,000 bp
rich vertebrate fauna
mean feb temp of -10
july mean temp 16

Question 5

upton warren interstadial complex

Answer 5

42,000-38,000 bp
july mean of 16
species rich flora - thermophilous species, arctic alpines

Question 6

dimlington stadial

Answer 6

maximum expansion of devensian ice

21,000 bp

Question 7

windermere interstadial

Answer 7

rapid climatic warming after 13,000 bp
july mean temps 17-18
more continuous woodland
strong reduction in ice caps

Question 8

loch lomond stadial

Answer 8

return to colder conditions for 1000years
july mean temps -10
ends with rapid temp rise

Question 9

subdivision of the post glacial - periods:

Answer 9

pre boreal
boreal
atlantic 
sub boreal 
sub atlantic

Question 10

pre boreal

Answer 10

sub arctic, godwin zone IV

Question 11

boreal

Answer 11

warmer and dry, godwin zone V, VI

Question 12

atlantic

Answer 12

warm and wet - oceanic, godwin zone V11a

Question 13

sub boreal

Answer 13

warm and dry - continental, godwin zone V11b

Question 14

sub atlantic

Answer 14

cool and wet - oceanic, VII

Question 15

zones I-III

Answer 15

pre windermere
windermere interstadial
loch lomond stadial

Question 16

zone IV

Answer 16

sub arctic climate

birch dominant

Question 17

zone V

Answer 17

hazel expansion
birch dominant in NW despite warming
in south pine dominates
pollen evidence for thermophilous trees

Question 18

zone VI

Answer 18

pine abundant everywhere
hazel still important
appearance of thermophilous trees in some quantity

Question 19

zones VII

Answer 19

the forest maximum in britain
rapid increase in alder
oak relatively abundant
lime reaches peak
cooler and wetter

Question 20

3 types of (semi) natural woodland

Answer 20

ancient
native
recent

Question 21

native woodland

Answer 21

40% uk woodland native

mainly consists of native woodland

Question 22

ancient woodland

Answer 22

continually wooded since 1600 AD

Question 23

recent woodland

Answer 23

planted or established naturally

Question 24

primary woodland

Answer 24

survived continually since ice age

Question 25

secondary woodland

Answer 25

planted or established since last ice age

Question 26

why do communities occur

Answer 26

- environmental factors - community factors . competitive exclusion . co-existence through tolerance . co- existence through complementation . dependence

Question 27

competitive exclusion

Answer 27

Gause's law - 2 species that compete for the exact same resources cannot stably coexist

Question 28

structure

Answer 28

the spatial organisation of plant material within a community

Question 29

structure includes 3 components

Answer 29

``` vertical structure (stratification) - grouped horizontal structure (pattern) species abundance ```

Question 30

4 layers of woodland

Answer 30

``` ground layer field layer: - tall herbs and under shrubs - layer of low herbs shrub layer tree layer ```

Question 31

horizontal structure - 3 distribution types

Answer 31

1. regular - overdispersed 2. random 3. clumped - underdispersed, most common type

Question 32

pattern shown by a species is a product of:

Answer 32

morphology and growth characteristics seed dispersal mechanisms environmental heterogeneity species interactions

Question 33

species abundance

Answer 33

the amount a species contributes to the vegetation

Question 34

ways of measuring species abundance

Answer 34

density - number of individuals per unit area frequency - chance of finding a particular species in a sample of vegetation cover - generally expressed as a %

Question 35

2 main approaches to survival

Answer 35

shade tolerance | complementation - growing when light intensity is relatively high

Question 36

shade plants

Answer 36

large thin leaves leaves with singles palisade layer large surface area to weight ratio

Question 37

shade tolerance - respiration

Answer 37

shade leaves may respire more slowly maintained at both high and light intensities have lower compensation points than sun leaves

Question 38

phenology

Answer 38

the study of seasonal periodicity and timing of plant growth

Question 39

vernal plant species

Answer 39

grow in spring

Question 40

aestival species

Answer 40

grow in summer

Question 41

autumnal species

Answer 41

grow in autumn

Question 42

hiemal species

Answer 42

grow in winter

Question 43

brown forest soil

Answer 43

mixing of organic and mineral matter no sharp boundaries between horizons less acidic - 5-7 pH

Question 44

podzol soil

Answer 44

almost no mixing of mineral and organic matter by organisms sharp boundaries between horizons more acidic - <5.5 pH

Question 45

heliophile

Answer 45

sun loving

Question 46

pollen spectrum

Answer 46

distinctive decline in elm pollen

Question 47

landnam clearances

Answer 47

small, temporary land clearances | for pasture or first cultivated then grazed

Question 48

grassland adaptations

Answer 48

intercalary meristem adpressed growth low palatability ephemeral life history

Question 49

intercalary meristem

Answer 49

meristems at internodes or stem regions between the places where leaves attach growing point not necessarily destroyed when grazed

Question 50

adpressed growth

Answer 50

not easily grazed | leaves tightly adpressed to the ground

Question 51

ephemeral life history

Answer 51

exploit bare patches of soil | grow during periods of limited grazing

Question 52

calcifuge species

Answer 52

grow in acidic soils

Question 53

calcicole species

Answer 53

in calcareous soils - containing calcium carbonate, chalky- limestone grassland = very species rich

Question 54

rendzina soil

Answer 54

characteristic soil of limestone grasslands immature soil thin soil - due to purity of the bed rock high pH

Question 55

heathland

Answer 55

typically needs low nutrient status and acidic soil | high conservation status

Question 56

upland heath

Answer 56

up to montane zone - treeline 300-400m above sea level 75% worlds total

Question 57

lowland heath

Answer 57

20% worlds total altitudes less than 300m 58,000 ha in uk

Question 58

peatlands

Answer 58

largest carbon reserve in uk | 3 billion tonnes c

Question 59

origin of heathland

Answer 59

in or after bronze age | dimbleby noted occurrence of brown earth underneath bronze age barrows yet surrounded by podzsol soil

Question 60

broxa reforestation

Answer 60

possible to grow birch trees after 70 years small and contorted no real commercial value

Question 61

important soil changes with planting

Answer 61

increase in earthworm numbers reversion of podsol soil to brown earth soil increase in pH