Lowland Grassland and Heathland Habitats

Changes in agricultural land use have led to a drastic decrease in grassland and heathland habitat in Britain. This book presents an illustrated and practical guide to Britain's range of natural and semi-natural grasslands and heaths.

Liz Price is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Acknowledgements

ix

Series introduction

xi

Introduction

1

(6)

Some definitions

1

(1)

Extent and location of lowland grasslands and heathlands in the UK

2

(1)

Why lowland grasslands and heathlands?

3

(2)

The structure of the book

5

(2)

Lowland Grassland and Heathland Habitats

7

(79)

The importance of climate and soils

7

(7)

Climate

7

(1)

Geology and soils

8

(5)

Climate and soils summary

13

(1)

Some general characteristics of grasslands and heathlands

14

(4)

Ecological succession

14

(1)

General characteristics of grassland plants

15

(1)

General characteristics of heathland plants, heather in particular

15

(3)

Cyclical change

18

(1)

The plant species composition and classification of major grassland and heathland habitats

18

(38)

Classification of habitat types

18

(2)

Mesotrophic grasslands

20

(10)

Lowland calcareous grasslands

30

(8)

Lowland acid grasslands

38

(6)

Coastal grasslands

44

(2)

Open communities

46

(1)

Grassland community summary

46

(3)

Lowland dry heath

49

(2)

Lowland wet heath

51

(2)

Maritime heath

53

(2)

Heathland community summary

55

(1)

Fauna of lowland grasslands and heathlands

56

(30)

Fauna of lowland grasslands

56

(19)

Fauna of heathlands

75

(10)

Fauna summary

85

(1)

Management and Conservation of Grasslands and Heathlands: Problems and Opportunities

86

(80)

The history of grasslands and heathlands

86

(13)

Grasslands and heathlands in prehistoric times

87

(1)

Grasslands in historical times

87

(9)

Heathlands in historical times

96

(3)

Current problems and opportunities

99

(1)

Problems

100

(19)

Habitat loss and fragmentation

100

(8)

Land use change

108

(1)

Pollution

109

(10)

Opportunities

119

(7)

Protection and subsidies

119

(5)

Defining management objectives and monitoring outcomes

124

(2)

Habitat maintenance and enhancement

126

(25)

Fertilisers, lime and pesticides

127

(1)

Grazing

128

(9)

Mowing and cutting

137

(5)

Scrub and bracken removal on grasslands and heathlands

142

(3)

Burning on grasslands and heathlands

145

(2)

Turf cutting or stripping

147

(1)

Management of grasslands to enhance plant species richness

147

(1)

Water levels

148

(1)

Management for different species on grasslands and heathlands

149

(2)

Summary

151

(1)

Habitat restoration and expansion

151

(15)

Site selection

154

(1)

Substrate characteristics

155

(2)

Source of plant material

157

(1)

Vegetation establishment

158

(1)

Animals

158

(5)

Community or habitat translocation

163

(2)

Summary

165

(1)

Case Studies

166

(20)

The response of two contrasting limestone grasslands to simulated climate change

166

(3)

Effects of elevated nitrogen and drought at Budworth Common

169

(2)

Manchester Airport second runway environmental mitigation programme

171

(4)

Landlife and creative conservation at Stockbridge Meadow

175

(4)

Heathland management and restoration at Arne, Dorset

179

(4)

Conservation of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) in the UK

183

(3)

Practical Work

186

(13)

Experimental design

186

(1)

Health and safety

187

(1)

Woodlice and nutrient cycling

188

(1)

Metal toxicity

189

(1)

Vegetation description and NVC analysis

190

(4)

Responses to increasing levels of nitrogen

194

(1)

Vegetation height and invertebrate diversity

195

(1)

Insects on nettles, docks and thistles

196

(1)

Seed bank assessment

197

(1)

Other options

198

(1)

Glossary

199

(5)

Species list

204

(10)

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Lowland Grassland and Heathland Habitats

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Lowland Grassland and Heathland Habitats

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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