Ecosystems in the British Isles

Heather Moorland: Plagioclimax

Developed on poor soil, important part of British Isles and managed to keep in uniform frozen state. Case studies to include: areas of North Yorkshire, Scottish highlands and Pennines. Red grouse feed on it – lucrative hunting industry. Managed by 5-10 year burning cycles creating variety of habitats to encourage new growth (ash natural fertiliser) for Red Crouse. Grazed on by sheep (overgrazing leads to invasion)

Succession: Psammosere
Embryo and Fore – sea couch grass, sand sedge
Yellow –main dune ridge Marram dominant
Grey – vegetation covered marram in decline red fescue
Dune slack ridge – bog cotton, bracken rushes and reeds.

Climactic climax – Birch, Alder, Sycamore (poor soil)

 

Deciduous woodland biome