Query: moorland

title: Effects of rotational prescribed burning and sheep grazing on moorland plant communities: Results from a 60 year intervention experiment
abstract: The effect of prescribed burning for conservation management of plant communities is controversial for moorlands growing on peat. These ecosystems provide many services that may be damaged by fire, hence it is important to fully assess its impact on all aspects of ecosystem structure and function experimentally over relatively long time scales. This paper describes change in community composition, major plant species, and plant functional types on moorland on peat in upland Britain over 60 years subject to 3 burning treatments after an initial burn in 1954/1955: no further burn and burning at 10 and 20 year intervals (all sheep grazing) Data were analysed using multivariate and univariate methods. Vegetation composition and individual species abundance reflected the degree of disturbance. The least disturbed was dominated by Calluna vulgaris and pleurocarpous mosses, whereas the most disturbed treatment (burned every 10 years) had greater Eriophorum vaginatum, Sphagnum spp. acrocarpous mosses, liverworts, and lichens. The 20 year treatment was intermediate in response disturbance. Repeated burning increased species abundance weighted Ellenberg values for moisture, reaction, light through time, and fertility; the exception was the 10 year rotation for fertility. These confirm that prescribed burning is not deleterious to peat forming species (Eriophorum spp. and Sphagnum spp. indeed these species were found in greater abundance in frequently burned treatments. It also confirms that a no burn policy will lead to increasing dominance of C. vulgaris, a flammable, fire adapted shrub, which increases summer wildfire risk. These results inform conservation management policy for moorland vegetation growing on peat; for this site, a 20 year prescribed burning rotation is recommended.

title: Climate, pollution and grazing drive long term change in moorland habitats
abstract: Dwarf shrub moorland dominated by ericaceous plants is a distinctive, internationally important feature of northwest Europe, with its stronghold in Scotland. There have been major declines in its condition and extent. How has moorland composition changed within Scotland over the past ca. 35 yr and what is the role of climate change, pollution and grazing in driving these changes? Location Five hundred and forty locations across Scotland, UK.  We used a long term resurvey approach to assess change across Scottish moorlands. We relocated plots sampled ca. 35 yr previously in alpine heath, dry heath, wet heath and bog, and recorded vegetation species composition. We assessed change in species group richness and cover and mean Ellenberg values between surveys, using paired t tests. We used CCA with variation partitioning and regression analysis to analyse the vegetation data with spatial data sets on climate, pollution and grazing, to assess the role of each driver in driving vegetation changes.  Significant diversity and compositional changes between surveys were found for all habitat types, particularly alpine heath. Significant associations were found with climate (many variables) pollution (N and S) and herbivore number (primarily deer) Species richness generally increased, but several specialist species declined in cover, especially those associated with higher altitude habitats (e.g. Arctostaphylos uva ursi, Salix herbacea and alpine lichens) Many of the most successful species are ubiquitous, e.g. the widespread grazing and pollution tolerant graminoids Anthoxanthum odoratum, Juncus squarrosus, Festuca rubra and Nardus stricta and the generalist mosses Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus and Hylocomium splendens.  Diversity and composition of moorlands in Scotland have changed significantly over the ca. 35 yr period studied; the drivers of these changes are complex, with climate, pollution and grazing playing variable roles across habitats. The reduction in specialist species, homogenization of alpine heaths and declines in forb and lichen cover all represent negative changes in the biodiversity value of Scottish moorlands.

title: The role of fire in UK peatland and moorland management: the need for informed, unbiased debate
abstract: Fire has been used for centuries to generate and manage some of the UK's cultural landscapes. Despite its complex role in the ecology of UK peatlands and moorlands, there has been a trend of simplifying the narrative around burning to present it as an only ecologically damaging practice. That fire modifies peatland characteristics at a range of scales is clearly understood. Whether these changes are perceived as positive or negative depends upon how trade offs are made between ecosystem services and the spatial and temporal scales of concern. Here we explore the complex interactions and trade offs in peatland fire management, evaluating the benefits and costs of managed fire as they are currently understood. We highlight the need for (i) distinguishing between the impacts of fires occurring with differing severity and frequency, and (ii) improved characterization of ecosystem health that incorporates the response and recovery of peatlands to fire. We also explore how recent research has been contextualized within both scientific publications and the wider media and how this can influence non specialist perceptions. We emphasize the need for an informed, unbiased debate on fire as an ecological management tool that is separated from other aspects of moorland management and from political and economic opinions. This article is part of the themed issue 'The interaction of fire and mankind'

title: Quantifying the importance of multi scale management and environmental variables on moorland bird abundance
abstract: UK moorlands are semi natural habitats managed for a mix of livestock, game shooting and forestry, among other activities. An assessment of the importance of characteristics that correlate with moorland bird populations of high conservation importance can inform appropriate management at appropriate locations. We use hierarchical partitioning to assess the absolute and relative importance of climate, topography, soil, landscape management (wider scale habitat configuration of forestry and agriculture) and site based management (indices of predator control, and vegetation characteristics) in determining the abundance of a suite of upland birds in four regions of the UK. Unmeasured region specific effects often made the largest contribution to models. Physical characteristics (climate, topography, soil) were important and on average explained a similar amount of variation to site based management. However, there was considerable interspecific variation in the importance of both. Landscape scale variables were generally of low importance. An index of predator control was positively correlated with the abundance of Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica and two waders. Vegetation characteristics (composition and structure) were, together, strong correlates of the abundance of passerine species. Vegetation characteristics were as important as indices of predator control for waders and grouse. The importance of regional effects, physical characteristics and variables relating to management suggest targeting site based management (such as predator control or vegetation management) to the areas where physical characteristics are most favourable. The most beneficial management will vary between species, necessitating a mosaic of management options across upland areas to benefit all species.

title: Formation, vegetation succession and acidification of a Mid Holocene moorland pool in the western Netherlands
abstract: We studied a Holocene peat fill of a small depression in Pleistocene coversand, in the western border zone of Het Gooi, to assess the early local and regional vegetation history in relation to sea level rise, soil development and potential human impact. In the fourth millenium BC, a podzol which had formed in the depression became stagnative, leading to the development of a moorland pool. The local vegetation changed from dry heathland, through an amphibic vegetation type with, among others, Littorella uniflora and Lycopodiella inundata, to a permanently moist Sphagnum dominated vegetation. The existence of moorland pools and the development of such habitats into Sphagnum dominated vegetation are known from Late Holocene anthropogenic, more or less open landscapes that were formed on a podzolising sandy soil under ericaceous vegetation. However, the recorded vegetation succession did not show any recognisable local human impact and therefore is attributed to natural succession. In the period concerned, sea level was still about 4 m below the land surface in the depression, implying that water logging occurred independent from a rise in sea level and associated groundwater level. It took until the Late Middle Ages before such rise led to significant water logging and peat growth in this border zone, but the mean groundwater level never reached to above NAP (Dutch Ordnance Datum)

title: Changes in upland bird abundances show associations with moorland management
abstract: Changes in abundance of six bird species showed associations with moorland management.  To assess responses of breeding birds to moorland management over a 14 year period.  Vegetation and birds were surveyed at 2 3 year intervals and changes examined in relation to sheep and cattle grazing, vegetation burning and cutting.  Seven correlations between change in management and change in bird abundance were detected, and six between change in vegetation and change in bird abundance. On plots where sheep numbers declined, Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria and Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe declined. Where a greater area was burned, Golden Plover increased in the initial post burning period but Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica declined. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata and Sky Lark Alauda arvensis increased where a greater area of moorland vegetation was cut. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra declined with increasing cattle numbers on a plot.  Bird populations respond to changes in moorland management, but these changes are not always associated with detectable changes in vegetation. These responses of moorland breeding birds to management could help refine agri environment options and other conservation interventions on moorland. Responses differed between bird species, ideally requiring site specific planning where managing for multiple species is a goal.

title: Prescribed moorland burning meets good practice guidelines: A monitoring case study using aerial photography in the Peak District, UK
abstract: Upland moors in the UK have been managed for centuries using rotational prescribed burning, but in recent years there has been contentious debate over its continuing use due to varying effects on moorland ecosystem services. Prescribed burning should only be carried out using good practice codes, which include restrictions on the size, location and frequency of burns. Good burning practice is an indicator of management standards and habitat condition in moorland landscapes. However, there has been little attempt to assess management performance with respect to these restrictions. We investigated prescribed burning on a case study estate (Howden Moor) in the Peak District National Park from 1988 to 2009 using management maps and aerial photography. The annual area burned (0.9% was far below recommendations (10% and patches were in keeping with the target sizes specified (mean se: 2370 70 m 2 The risk of a large or escaped fire was very low, with less than 1% of fires greater than 15,000 m 2 However, only 28.9% of the total burnable area was burned, leaving the rest unmanaged and accumulating fuel. Future guidelines might recommend the application of prescribed burning across the range of Calluna vulgaris growth phases, to reduce fuel load and promote biodiversity at the landscape scale. We show that vegetation mapping and aerial photography are an effective method for monitoring prescribed burning practice on moorlands. The information derived from such monitoring studies should lead to greater confidence in the standard of prescribed burning and adherence to good practice guidelines and requirements imposed by statutory authorities.

title: An alternative view of moorland management for Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica

title: Moorland vegetation burning debates should avoid contextomy and anachronism: a comment on Davies et al. (2016)
abstract: Davies et al [1][1] called for informed and unbiased debate into the role of fire in UK peatland and moorland management. This general message is something we wholeheartedly agree with, having seen our research presented in various outlets in both a sensationalist and/or a partisan manner

title: Habitat use by Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix in a mixed moorland forest landscape in Scotland and implications for a national afforestation strategy
abstract: Capsule Long term conservation of Black Grouse in Scotland may rely upon the retention of sufficiently large and well connected patches of moorland and a diversity of adjacent forest types.  To study Black Grouse habitat use within a moorland forest mosaic and make recommendations for their conservation in more heavily forested future landscapes.  We carried out radio telemetry on Black Grouse over three years to investigate individual habitat use. We used compositional analyses to investigate habitat selection in different seasons. We examined whether this matched previous population level patterns and whether it differed between males and females. We used logistic regression to examine whether movements into large scale commercial forests were restricted to the periphery relative to random locations.  Males used seasonal ranges of >200 ha and females >70 ha. Birds selected strongly for moorland throughout the year, matching other population level studies. Underlying this, however, males and females differed in their use of forests, with males associated with broadleaf woodland, while females preferred new native pinewoods in spring summer or commercial conifer forests in autumn winter. Use of commercial plantation forests was generally limited to their periphery, particularly to within <300 m of the forest edge.  When planning afforestation, moorland patches of at least 200 ha must be retained and their fragmentation should be minimized, particularly as young forests may provide breeding habitat over a limited duration. However, mature forests also form an important habitat component and, at a local scale, both coniferous and broadleaf forests should be made available to provide resources for both sexes. Some management decisions will therefore need to be made at the landscape scale to balance broad national targets of afforestation with individual landowner/contractor decisions.