[Part 3]- TOPIC 3: Ecosystems, biodiversity and management 🐙🪼 Flashcards
What are the UK’s four main terrestrial ecosystems ?
-* the UK’s four main terrestrial ecosystems are:*
- heaths
- moorlands
- wetlands
- woodlands
Where are heaths found ?
- heaths are found in lowland areas of heath in the south of England. For example, the new forest and the Dorset heaths.
Where are moorlands found ?
- moorlands, are found in upland areas. For example, in Scotland, Northern England and Wales.
Where are wetlands found ?
Hint: the Somerset levels
- wetlands are often found on floodplains [e.g- the Somerset levels]
- ; they can also be found in some upland areas, as well as near rivers or lakes too- [e.g- the Norfolk broads in east anglia.]
Where are woodlands found ?
- small areas of woodlands can be found throughout the UK’s lowlands, since they use to cover most of the UK.
- ; larger areas can include: the Forest of Dean [southern England], and Kielder forest [which is located in northern England.]
What is a terrestrial ecosystem ?
- a terrestrial ecosystem, is a ecosystem that is land-based.
What are the distribution of heaths ?
- distribution- heaths, are found in lowland areas, meaning different types of species can survive there.
What are the characteristics of heaths ?
Hint: landscapes
- characteristics- open landscapes with poor soils, such as: dry and sandy soils [mainly in the south and east of the UK] and wet and peaty soils [in the north and west of the UK]
- heaths can also provide habitats for rare plants, such as yellow centaury, a species of a thorny plant.
What else can you tell me about the characteristics of heaths ?
- heaths also have plants which provide habitats for lots of insects= provides food for birds [e.g- nightjars] and rare reptiles, such as sand lizards.
- heaths’ soil are acidic and receive a high amount of rainfall- this affects the kind of plants which can grow in heaths- [the main plants are: grasses, gorse and heather]
What are the distribution of moorlands ?
- moorlands are upland ecosystems, meaning different species survive there.
What are the characteristics of moorlands ?
Hint: provide
- moorlands provide habitats for important animals and birds- [e.g- mountain hares, golden plovers and hen harriers.
- most moorlands areas are typically used for: grazing animals [such as sheep] and to raise wild birds such as grouses. Grouses are a species of wild bird, that are shot for sport.
What do grouses do in moorlands ?
- grouse eat the shoots of the heather, and nest in the plants each year.
- this is to encourage new growth of heather, for the grouse to eat, areas of heather moorland are burnt.
What else can you tell me about the characteristics of moorlands ?
- -characteristics- like heaths, moorlands are open landscapes with poor soils, and few trees.
- on flatter ground, the soil in moorlands can become waterlogged, therefore creating a bog.
What can you tell me about vegetation in bogs ?
- in bogs, vegetation slowly decomposes, therefore this will form a layer of peat.
- this layer of peat, cam store large amounts of water and carbon.
What are the distribution of wetlands ?
- found in places where soils are waterlogged for most of the year- [e.g- bogs], wetlands can also includes place that flood seasonally.
- For example, the Somerset levels.
What are the characteristics of wetlands ?
- characteristics- wetlands are home to many insects and they provide habitats for mammals.
- they also have the ideal breeding conditions for flying insects, which are a source of food for other animals.
What animals and flying insects are found in wetlands ? 🦇
- mammals: otters, water voles
- birds: snipe and bittern.
- flying insects: dragonflies and damselflies- these are a source of food for other animals [e.g- bats]
What other characteristics can you tell me about wetlands ?
- since wetlands can include places that flood seasonally, they have anaerobic soils- meaning water stops oxygen from getting into the soil.
- and as a result of these anaerobic and wet conditions, only certain plants such as reeds and mosses can grow there.
What are the distribution of woodlands ?
- there are two types of woodlands: coniferous and deciduous woodlands.
- ; they’re found across the UK, since woodlands make up 10% of land in England, 15% in Wales, 19% in Scotland and 9% in Northern Ireland.
What are the characteristics of coniferous woodlands ? 🐝
- characteristics- most of the trees in coniferous woodlands are evergreen- [e.g- Scots Pine], this means they keep their leaves all year round.
- moreover, most coniferous woodlands are commercial plantations- trees are grown for timber, which can be used for bee hives or matches.
What are the characteristics of deciduous woodlands ?
- characteristics- deciduous woodlands have fertile soils, Aswell as the shelter of trees, which provide the correct conditions for smaller plants such as bluebells.
- ; in deciduous woodlands, fallen leaves from trees decompose, and mix with exiting soil, to form brown Earth. [a thick soil]
What are the overall characteristics of woodlands ?
- overall characteristics- animals such as badgers, foxes and grey squirrels live in woodlands.
- ; woodlands provide habitats for birds, such as owls or woodpeckers- [the great spotted woodpecker]
What else can you tell me about the overall characteristics of woodlands ?
- they have a fast nutrient cycle [the way that nutrients move through an ecosystem], because of moist conditions.
- they have a high mineral and moisture soil content.
What are deciduous trees ?
- deciduous trees, are trees that lose their leaves in the autumn, to prepare for winter.
What is the difference between coniferous 🆚 deciduous trees ?
- deciduous trees, are trees that lose their leaves in the autumn, to prepare for winter
- ; coniferous trees, keep their leaves during autumn and dont lose them, to prepare for winter.
Do woodlands have seasonal variation ?
- yes, woodlands have seasonal variation- their leaves will be lost, and then regrown annually.
What are some species that live in woodlands ? 🦋
- lichen
- ferns
- and the woodland butterfly
