Wytham Wood - Climatic Climax

Question 1

Key Facts

Answer 1

• Protected area that has existed for over a thousand years.
• Main aim is to protect nature from the many harvesters and hunters.

Question 2

Location

Answer 2

A temperate deciduous ecosystem near Oxford

Question 3

Size of area

Answer 3

• 35% is ancient semi-natural woodland.
• 23% is secondary woodland.
• 42% is recent plantations.

Question 4

Species diversity

Answer 4

• Over 500 species of vascular plants.
• Almost 1,000 species of moths and butterflies have been recorded.
• Over 1/5 of Britain’s fauna can be found here.

Question 5

Conservation status

Answer 5

relatively low compared to ancient woodland

Question 6

Management aims

Answer 6

1. Minimise major disturbances to fauna.
2. Allow regeneration of a range of native plants.
3. Improve the range of age classes of trees.
4. Minimise adverse visual impacts both from within the woodland and external viewpoints.

Question 7

Human intervention - Deer

Answer 7

• 1980s
• Deer were a problem due to ground and tree regeneration.
• A deer fence placed in 1989 led to increased grazing pressure within them because they could not roam.
• The damage deer had done has led to a £26,000 claim with the University.

Management:
1. Concentrate on reducing overall deer numbers.
2. Protect key conservation sites by internal fencing.
3. Manage habitats to alleviate pressures on the more sensitive areas. (Favoured option).

Question 8

Human intervention - Squirrels

Answer 8

• Grey squirrels can cause issues like bark-stripping for example.
• Specific beech and oak trees are most susceptible.
• Only ash and cherry seem to be immune to it.

Management:
- Controlled by specially designed hoppers containing warfarin-treated grain.

Question 9

Human interventions - Garlic injections

Answer 9

• Injecting trees with a concentrated form of garlic might help save trees in the UK from deadly diseases.
• Could save trees of historic or sentimental value although widespread use is impractical.
• Garlic is one of nature’s most powerful antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Question 10

Positive Human Impact

Question 11

Negative Human Impact

Answer 11

• When squirrels were introduced, Wytham lost all its Elm trees.
• An introduced disease of rabbits (myxamatosis) has also had an effect on Wytham.
• Many biological processes are sensitive to climate change. E.g. egg-laying and flowering season.