Selected Habitats - Temperate Broadleaf Woodland

Question 1

General

Answer 1

N hemisphere 
Europe N America E Asia 
Most deciduous trees loose leaves each yr
Wide range tree species 
Britain dominant tree either:
 - oak: wide range tolerance
 - beech: moist souls eg clay
 - ash: alkaline soils eg limestone

Question 2

Ecological feats

Answer 2

• no major temp extremes
• no pronounced dry season
• soils deep fertile - trees important role soil formation w DOM retention veg cover and root binding
• spring - autumn canopy layer - limited ground plants opportunity as shaded when temps gd - so their growing season early spring eg bluebells
• lack food winter - hibernate / migrate / store food / less active

Question 3

Importance of broadleaf woodland

5

Answer 3

1 High biodiversity- ^ ecological stability no specie completely dominant - change in pop. Of 1 specie eel. Small impact on overall community
2 woodland resources
Building construction, fencing, tools, carts, wood fuel, charcoal, food resource for other species
3 recreation
4 hydrological cycle - interception, evapotranspiration, control h2o soil
5 carbon sequestration- cellulose and lignin stores

Question 4

Threats

2

Answer 4

• woodland clearance - pop growth - farm, plantations monocultures, urban dev, transport infrastructure, mineral extraction
• habitat fragmentation- isolation vulnerable to extinction

Question 5

Conservation efforts

(3) woodland management

Answer 5

1 Historical methods
- wildwood
-mature standard trees - oak timber framed house
- coppiced woodland - hazel fencing
- pollarding
High habitat diversity biodiversity wildlife value
2 modern methods
- monoculture plantations 
- new woodland around field margins
- community forests recreation and amenity use
3 conservation management 
- coppicing
- clearing creation
- plant mixed specie forest

Question 6

Legal protection of ancient woodlands

Answer 6

Existed b4 1600 likely dev. Naturally

High biodiversity lots species had time to colonise slowly - evidence ancient

Question 7

Designated protected areas

Answer 7

• Sherwood Forest National nature reserve
• Epping forest SAC
• SSSIs
• UK national parks w deciduous woodland
• 2012 National planning policy framework means pp refused if result in loss irreplaceable habitats inc. ancient woodlands unless benefits out weigh losses
  Overgrazing can damage ancient woodlands- degrade loose wildlife value

Question 8

Planting new woodland

Answer 8

Large areas woodland planted uk last 30 yr mainly small amount round farmland - mix indigenous trees increase in wildlife as mature.
More valuable if join existing woodland eg hedgerows