U1-T6

Question 1

What can be done to maintain semi- natural habitats in UK

Answer 1

Because most important wildlife habitats in the U.K. Are semi- natural and have been affected by long-term human activities, the main conservation strategy is often to maintain the traditional land uses

Question 2

State 2 traditional land uses that have produced valuable wildlife habitats

Answer 2

Farming

Hunting and fishing

Question 3

Explain the traditional land uses in the farming area

Answer 3

Farming include grazing and field boundary maintenance.
Grazing : Wildflowers may survive in permanent grassland as grazing prevents taller plants such as foxgloves from shading and out- competing the wildflowers
Field boundary maintenance: hedges act as biological corridors for dormice; hawthorn berries provide food for birds such as red wings that migrate to Britain

Question 4

What can you say about “maintenance of cover” in “hunting and fishing”?

Answer 4

1. Maintenance of cover: small woodlands that provide cover for pheasants, offer habitats for mammals, nest sites for birds and dead wood provides food for woodpeackers.

Question 5

What are the 3 main traditional land uses included in “Hunting and Fishing”?

Answer 5

1. Maintenance of cover
2. Moorland burning
3. Fishing

Question 6

What can you say about “moorland burning” in “Hunting and Fishing”

Answer 6

The moorlands that are maintained for shooting red grouse provide habitats for other species. Silver-studded blue butterfly caterpillars feed on young heather and hen harries are birds of prey that nest between the heather plants and feed on small birds and mammals. Hen harriers are still killed (illegally)?because they kill some young grouse.

Question 7

What can you say about “fishing” I’m “hunting and fishing”?

Answer 7

Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities, many other species such as water voles, kingfishers and otters will live in these wetlands. Interest in fishing has maintained many rivers and lakes, and protected them from pollution or development. The economic value of fishing has led to the excavation of many small lakes and the development of old quarries into fisheries.

Question 8

Conservation of the River Test in Hampshire - case study

Answer 8

The River Test is a clean aquifer-fed chalk stream. It is a valuable habitat for water voles, otters and kingfishers. It is managed primarily for trout fishing but wildlife conservation is also a high priority.
Bank repairs and islands maintain the flow to create gravel beds needed for trout breeding. The branches used are ideal for bank vegetation and creates valuable wildlife habitats.

Question 9

Broadleaf woodland

Answer 9

When the ice sheet receded at the end of the last Ice Age, Britain was bare or had the remains of arctic tundra, As the climate warmed up species that had survived further south moved north and colonised. Eventually almost of Britain was covered in woodland. Most of this woodland was dominated by deciduous trees, such as oak, beech and ash. In parts of Scotland where it was too cold or the soils too acidic for deciduous trees, Scots pine domined. The native woodlands had a mis of tree species and a varied age structure. This resulted in a high diversity of other plant species and animals found there.

Question 10

Traditionally, woodland have been managed in 3 main ways, which ones?

Answer 10

• mature trees: used to produce large timber for house and ship construction. These trees are valuable for nesting birds and roosting bats.
• coppicing : trees cut to ground level on a rotation every 7-12 years. As they re-grow they produce thin, straight branches for products such as fencing and wall panels. The mixed habitat produced is very valuable for many species such as butterflies, insect and dormice.
• pollarding: this is similar from coppicing but the trees are cut to about 1.8m. This protect the new from grazing livestock, deer and rabbits.

Question 11

The importance of native woodland (8) :

Answer 11

1. It is the terrestrial habitat with the highest biodiversity
2. a range of recreational activities possible
3. It regulates water flow in catchment areas around rivers and reservoirs
4. Trees reduce soil erosion
5. Growing forest absorb carbon dioxide and help limit global climate change
6. Trees return water to the atmosphere by evapo-transpiration and therefore return water downwind
7. Woodland can provide a sustaibnable supply of fuel for domestic and industrial use as wood or charcoal
8. The timber from particular species was used for house construction, carts, barrels, tools, ship building and bark for leather tanning,

Question 12

Explain 3 ways in which native woodland have been lost

Answer 12

1. As the population grew, woodland exploitation became less sustainable with too many mature trees being felled or for construction or fuel for domestic and industrial use.
2. Clearance took place to create farmland to produce food for the growing population, and to accommodate the expansion of urban areas and roads.
3. As the needs of society have changed, the need to maintain native broadleaf woodland decreased. Their management was also very labour intensive and therefore expensive increasing supplies of coal, oil. Metals and plastic have replaced wood for many uses.

Question 13

In the 20 the century the uses of wood are better met by conifer plantations, which produce:

Answer 13

• timber for floorboards, window frames, door frames, etc.

- Wood pull for paper

Question 14

The change in woodland type has had great effect on the ecology of the woodlands. Modern conifer lactations are very different from native deciduous woodlands:

Answer 14

• large areas are cleared and planted with a small range of conifer species, which may be grown as monocultures.
• imported species such as Sitca spruce and Douglas fir are often used- > they suffer less pest damage but are used by fewer native wildlife species
• close planting produces tall straight trunks but lets through little light so there is little undergrowth
• herbicides are often used to clear weeds, including wildflowers

Question 15

What are wetlands?

Answer 15

These are areas of shallow water, including lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers and flooded gravel pits. They are very important to wildlife as they are relatively rare. Natural silting up and ecological succession results in continual loss of wetlands, many species live there all the time while others visit to drink water or to breed such as frogs and toads. Because most UK wetlands remain ice-free in the winter, they attract many birds that migrate south to escape the cold of areas such as Siberia, Iceland and Greenland.

Question 16

Threats to wetland include: (6)

Answer 16

1. Drainage to produce more productive farmland
2. Urban expansion onto flood-plains
3. Straightening of rivers to speed up drainage and reduce flooding risks
4. Excessive recreation pressure
5. Bank reinforcement to reduce flooding risk
6. Pollution from industry, sewage and agriculture

Question 17

What are the broads?

Answer 17

The broads in Norfolk and Suffolk were cut for their peat between the 12th and 14th century for use as fuel when wood supplie disminished. They flooded when sea level rose and produced a network of about 40 broads(lakes).
They are the richest and most varied freshwater habitat in the U.K. With unique Fisheries, wildfowl, marsh birds, insects and plants as well as historical and landscape value.

Question 18

What can you say about the “traditional craft” that threat broads?

Answer 18

Traditional crafts such as as cutting reeds and sedge for roof thatching and cutting marsh hay for horses have declined over the last 100 years as long distance mass transport has made the import of roof titles and slates easier and fossil-fueled vehicles have replaced horses. Secondary success il. Has replaced large areas of reed bed with carr (wet) woodland.

Question 19

State the threats of broads

Answer 19

1. Traditional crafts
2. Eutrophication
3. Introduced species
4. Recreation pressure
5. Global climate change and sea level rise

Question 20

What can you say about the fact that eutrophication is a threat to broads?

Answer 20

Eutrophication is caused by phosphate from sewage and notaires from fertiliser runoff encouraged the growth of algae and the decline of natural foodwebs.

Question 21

What can you say about the fact that introduced species are a threat to broads?

Answer 21

Introduced species such as Coypu (a large South American rodent) have caused problems. They have escaped from fur farms and their burrows have damaged banks and caused flooding. They have all been caught and killed.

Question 22

What does recreation pressure as a threat of broads include?

Answer 22

Recreation pressure includes litter, noise, trampling, fuel pollution and wash from boats

Question 23

Explain how climate change and sea level rise may be a threat to broads?

Answer 23

Global climate change and sea level rise may cause flooding and saltwater incursions

Question 24

Management strategies of broads include:

Answer 24

1. Sediment removal from broad and rivers - to remove phosphate
2. Phosphate removal from liquid effluents at sewage works
3. Coypu eradication
4. Carr woodland and reed clearance followed by the re-establishment of commercial reed cutting
5. Better boat design to reduce wash
6. Speed limits for boats
7. Path maintenance
8. Public education

Question 25

What are lowland heathland and which management is needed

Answer 25

This is a plagioclimax habitat, usually found on sand and gravel soils. Because the soils are naturally infertile heathlands have not usually been farmed intensively. The low use of fertilisers and pesticides has allowed many wildlife species to remain. Grazing and burning prevent woodland gorse to thrive.

Question 26

Which animal species are found in lowland heathland?

Answer 26

Sand lizard, smooth snake, nightjar and Dartford warbler

Question 27

What are the threats to lowland heathland?

Answer 27

1. Urban expansion
2. Conifer plantation
3. Golf courses
4. Stopping the use of burning a technique used in the management of heathland

Question 28

Which species live in hedgerows?

Answer 28

The species that live in hedgerow are often the species that would naturally be found in woodlands, particularly around edges or next to clearings

Question 29

State the 2 types of hedgerow

Answer 29

1. Woodland relic hedges

2 planted hedges

Question 30

What are woodland relic hedges?

Answer 30

Strips of woodland left between fields as woodland was cleared, often hundreds of years ago. These age usually rich in plant - life and therefore animal life too, so they are of great wildlife value.

Question 31

What are the planted hedges?

Answer 31

They are planted to divide up Common Land on the open farming landscape, often as part of the “enclosure movement” since Middle Ages, some were planted to provide barriers to keep livestock in, they usually have fewer plant species so they are of lower wildlife value than woodland relic hedges

Question 32

What can you say about the wildlife value of hedgerows

Answer 32

The total area of hedgerow is small yet their importance is great. Zpthey are dispersed over a large area and so are available to a huge number of animals. They can be used by animals that spend most of their lives in other habitats but need hedges for part of their lives, for example nesting birds, hibernating insects and feeding birds, especially on thorn bushes in winter.

Hedgerows act as biological corridors linking other habitats such as isolated woodlands for species such as mice, squirrels, weasels, stoats and dormice

Question 33

What does the reasons for hedgerow loss include?

Answer 33

1. Increase the size of arable field for easier use of machinery
2. Increase in the farmable area or food harvest
3. Road widening
4. Replacement by fences, which are easier to maintain
5. Damage by vehicles, which creates gaps
6. Neglect by ceasing traditional management such as hedge- laying

Question 34

What can you say about hedge-laying / case study

Answer 34

Hedges that were planted to keep livestock in become less effective as they get older. The stems get woody with fewer side branches so animals can escape through the gaps. Hedge- laying involves cutting the stems and bending them over to produce a denser hedge base
This creates a hedge with greater wildlife value with more ground cover.

Question 35

State some problems cause by hedgerow loss:

Answer 35

1. Loss of wildlife
2. Loss of habitats for predators that control agricultural pests
3. Increased wind erosion in neighboring fields
4. Reduction in the scenic quality of the Countryside

Question 36

What can you say about chalk grassland

Answer 36

This was originally covered withnwoodland but was cleared to create farmland from Stone Ages onwards. Arable farming led to serious soil erosion, which meant crop growing had to stop, the land was then used for sheep grazing which allowed the grass to protect the remaining thin soil, but prevented the natural ecological succession which would have re-established the woodland.

Question 37

Which species important grassland include?

Answer 37

Plants such as cow lips and monkey orchids, the chalkhill blue butterfly and birds including the stone curlew and skylark

Question 38

What are the threats to chalk grassland?

Answer 38

1. Intensive farming with ploughing and use of fertilisers to substitute for fertile soil
2. “Improvement” of the grassland using fertilisers, pesticides and re-seeding with more productive grass varieties
3. Urban expansion and road building
4. Abandonment of grazing when sheep farming is not profitable. This lead to secondary succession where thorn and scrub woodland replaces the grassland

Question 39

How were hay meadow traditionally managed?

Answer 39

Tradition hay meadows were not cut until the end of summer when the mature dry grasses could then be stores as nutritious winter fodder for livestock. By the end of the summer the annual wildflowers had flowered and produced seeds, which could have safely fallen to the ground, thus ensuring wildflowers for the future years. No weed killer were used.no fertilisers were used, which would have made grasses grow taller and shade wildflowers.

Question 40

What are the rare species that live in hay meadows?

Answer 40

Plants such as the firtillary and greater butterfly orchid and birds such as corncrake

Question 41

Threats to hay meadows include:

Answer 41

• improved grassland : the ground is sprayed with weed killers, the ploughed and re-seeded with fast growing varieties of grass that provide a higher crop yield. The wildflowers are killed and reduced plant diversity means there are fewer insects and birds that feed off them
• a change in grassland management to silage cutting : the grass is cut several times during the summer and stored wet in silage clamps. The regular cutting kills the wildflowers before they can produce seeds and destroys the nests of ground nesting birds

Question 42

What can you say about upland moorland?

Answer 42

When the woodlands of upland Britain were cleared for fuel, the land was often used for sheep grazing which produced a heather and grass community of great wildlife value.
Regular burning helps to maintain the moorland plagioclimax, which may be used for grouse shooting.

Question 43

What does threats to moorland include?

Answer 43

1. Conversion to “improved grassland where high yielding grass variety are planted
2. Afforestation with conifers
3. Reservoir construction
4. Abandonment of grazing or grosse shooting, allowing secondary succession
5. Increased visitor pressure as a exult of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Question 44

What can you say about coasts ( climates)

Answer 44

Coastline next to open oceans often have relatively stable climates because of the high heat capacity of the seawater, which resists temperature changes, especially if the coast has a consistant ocean current.

Question 45

What can you as about the coasts of Britain and UK?

Answer 45

Britain has a temperate maritime climate, which is warmer than many areas at the same latitude because the Gulf Stream brings warm water from Carribean Sea.
The coastline of UK is over 18000km long and varies from mountainous areas of hard rock to lowland areas with soft sedimentary rocks. This produces a wide range of different coastal habitats. There are over 1000 island and many cliffs where birds can often nest in the ground with no threats from mammal predators.

Question 46

What can you say about estuaries ?

Answer 46

A rise in sea level in medieval times flooded river valleys near the coast and produced a large number of estuaries of different types, depending on the shape of the valley.
Estuaries are very biologically productive because of the large amounts of dead organic matter carried downstream by rivers or brought in by the incoming tides. Shallow, warm conditions also allow rapid growth of algae.

Question 47

The abiotic feature of different areas in an eastward can vary, producing locally different communities as follows:

Answer 47

1. Salinity - ranging from pure seawater to freshwater where the river flows in
2. Depth
3. Turbidity - ranging from clear water with fine suspended solids brought in by river from the sea
4. Water flow rates-from very slow movement to speeds over 10mph
5. Period of exposure to air- from almost never covered with water to almost never exposed to the air
6. Temperature fluctuations- especially when the tide is out as water has smaller seasonal temperature fluctuation than the air
7. Substrate type- from coarse gravel to fine clay

Question 48

Threats to estuaries include:

Answer 48

1. Port developments
2. Pollution form rivers that drain into estuaries
3. Land reclamation
4. Pollution from industrial developments such as oil terminals