Managing Habitat

Acidic: Describes soil or rock with a low pH value, such as some sandstones, which influences the types of plants that can grow there.

Archaeophyte age: The period starting around 1492, used to distinguish plants and animals present in Britain before this date (generally considered indigenous) from those introduced afterwards.

Aspect: The direction in which a slope faces, influencing the amount of light and warmth it receives and thus affecting the vegetation.

Biodiversity Networks: A concept involving creating pathways (like hedgerows and roadside verges) and refuelling points (like gardens and village greens) to connect isolated wildlife colonies, allowing species to spread and mix.

Buzzards: A type of bird of prey mentioned in a simplified food chain example.

Calcareous: Describes soil or rock that is alkaline or contains lime, such as chalk and limestone, which influences the types of plants that can grow there.

Caterpillars: Larval stage of butterflies and moths, mentioned as a food source for Blue tits.

Climax Habitat: The final, stable stage of ecological succession where no further major changes in vegetation are likely to occur, often woodland but can be other habitats depending on environmental conditions.

Clay: The smallest size grade of soil particles (less than 0.002mm in diameter). Clay-dominant soils are fine-grained and can become waterlogged.

Cows: Livestock mentioned in a human food chain example.

Dartford Warblers: A type of bird mentioned in a simplified food chain example.

Flies: Insects mentioned as prey for spiders.

Food chains: Simplified examples illustrating how different organisms depend on each other for food, starting from vegetation.

Grass: A type of vegetation mentioned in a food chain example, eaten by rabbits and cows.

Habitat: A combination of soil, plants, and animals in a specific place, which can be identified and classified.

Humus: Decaying organic matter found in soil, contributing to its composition.

Human beings: Mentioned in a food chain example related to beef consumption.

Igneous: Rock formed from volcanic activity, common in the north and west of Britain.

Intervention: Actions, both natural (like storms) and unnatural (like human felling), that reverse, halt, or slow down the natural process of ecological succession.

Leaves: Part of broadleaved trees, eaten by caterpillars.

Loam: An ideal soil type for many plants, where silt-sized particles are dominant, allowing good moisture retention and drainage.

Mineral: The layer of soil composed of ground-up rock fragments.

Mosaic: A mix of different habitat types occurring in the same area, often seen on heathland with areas of acid grassland.

Nature Reserves: Designated areas intended to protect remaining ancient habitats and wildlife, categorized as National or Local.

Neutral: Describes soil that is neither acidic nor alkaline, with a pH value around 7.

Notified: The process by which a site is officially designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England.

Pasture: Land covered in grass, used for feeding cows.

Pollen: A fine powder produced by plants, mentioned as a food source for insects.

Primary: The source material title prefix, referring to "PRIMARY_ Managing Habitat."

Rabbits: Animals mentioned in a simplified food chain example, eaten by Buzzards.

Relief: The height and shape of the land, influencing temperature and plant preferences.

Restoration and Management: Active efforts to recover lost habitats and maintain existing ancient habitats by intervening in the succession process.

Sandy: Describes soil where the grain sizes are mainly large, resulting in good drainage but difficulty retaining moisture and providing a firm foothold for plants.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Designated areas in Britain intended to conserve and protect the best wildlife, geological, and physiographical heritage.

Silt: Soil particles ranging from 0.06mm to 0.002mm in diameter.

Soil: The basis of all life on Earth, composed of ground-up rock fragments, humus, water, and air, providing nutrients for vegetation.

Spiders: Animals mentioned in a simplified food chain example, catching flies and other insects.

Substrate: The underlying material of a habitat, which can be fine grains of soil, pebbles, or bare rock.

Succession: The natural process of gradual change in vegetation over time in a cleared area, leading towards a climax habitat.

Transitions: Gradual boundaries between different habitat types.

Vegetable: The layer of plants in a habitat that feeds on the mineral layer.

Woodland: An area covered by trees, often the climax habitat in Britain.