Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685046
B. Coppins
Summary The significance of the Scottish lichen flora is outlined within the context of the British Isles and Europe, prompting a cautionary note on an over-reliance of assessing conservation importance using national Red Data Book categorisations. The conservation needs of lichens and their habitats, from ‘gardening’ to landscape management are discussed.
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Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685013
H. Ingram
Summary Robert Smith (1874–1900) is credited with having made the first systematic ecological studies to be carried out in Britain. His childhood in Dundee is described and consideration is given to the possible influence of his brother William and of the countryside of Angus and Ayrshire in forming his early interest in field botany and vegetation science. His pioneering studies were encouraged by Patrick Geddes and D'Arcy Thompson, and later by Charles Flahault in Montpellier, so that Smith became an outstanding teacher and researcher at a time of momentous developments in the natural sciences.
{"title":"The life and times of Robert Smith","authors":"H. Ingram","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685013","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Robert Smith (1874–1900) is credited with having made the first systematic ecological studies to be carried out in Britain. His childhood in Dundee is described and consideration is given to the possible influence of his brother William and of the countryside of Angus and Ayrshire in forming his early interest in field botany and vegetation science. His pioneering studies were encouraged by Patrick Geddes and D'Arcy Thompson, and later by Charles Flahault in Montpellier, so that Smith became an outstanding teacher and researcher at a time of momentous developments in the natural sciences.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116271316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685058
D. Gilbert, L. Di Cosmo
Summary This paper summarises activity for the restoration of treeline woodland and montane scrub in Scotland over the last six years and into the near future. It concentrates on promotional activity by the Montane Scrub Action Group, but also includes restoration activities by other bodies. In recognising constraints on resources it proposes a method of prioritising sites in order to develop a strategic action plan for restoration. Better knowledge of the condition of sites will be fundamental to the final stages of such planning and the paper introduces Action Group plans to enlist the assistance of hill users to improve our knowledge.
{"title":"Towards restoration of treeline woodland and montane scrub","authors":"D. Gilbert, L. Di Cosmo","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685058","url":null,"abstract":"Summary This paper summarises activity for the restoration of treeline woodland and montane scrub in Scotland over the last six years and into the near future. It concentrates on promotional activity by the Montane Scrub Action Group, but also includes restoration activities by other bodies. In recognising constraints on resources it proposes a method of prioritising sites in order to develop a strategic action plan for restoration. Better knowledge of the condition of sites will be fundamental to the final stages of such planning and the paper introduces Action Group plans to enlist the assistance of hill users to improve our knowledge.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"44 3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130491335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685012
C. Gimingham
Summary Robert Smith and his brother William (W.G.) were described by Tansley (1939) as ‘the original pioneers of modern Ecology in Britain’. However, rather few are aware of R. Smith's important role in a revolution of Botanical science in Britain just over 100 yearsago. Smith entered the University College of Dundee (now the University of Dundee) as a student in 1893 and came under the influence of Patrick Geddes, then Professor of Botany, who appointed him Demonstrator in Botany as soon as he had graduated. Geddes encouraged his interest in the newly emerging science of plant ecology and, in particular, his programme for mapping the vegetation of Scotland. To this end, he arranged for Smith to spend some months in Montpellier, where he was much influenced by Professor C. Flahault's approach to vegetation mapping on the basis of recognisable associations of plant species. On his return to Scotland , he developed this theme and applied it to making vegetation maps in various parts of Scotland, regarding this as a preliminary to understanding relationships between vegetation, climate, soil and human impacts. Thus, the first stirrings of practical ecology in Britain were influenced by the phytosociological outlook which was developing in Europe. Sadly, Robert Smith died prematurely in 1900, but his work was continued for a time by his brother, W.G. Smith, and others. It was the primary inspiration for the formation of a ‘Central Committee for the Survey and Study of British Vegetation’ in which other pioneers of plant ecology, including A.G. Tansley, participated. Although, for various reasons, their interests moved away from vegetation mapping towards plant-environment interactions, ecological processes, and vegetation dynamics, Smith's work had laid the foundations for a series of important studies of Scotland's plant communities, including thoseof E.L. Birse and J.S. Robertson, M.E.D. Poore, D. McVean and D. Ratcliffe. In 1964 J.H. Burnett revived the aim of comprehensive description of Scottish vegetation with his book The Vegetation of Scotland. R. Smith's work helped to bring a fresh approach into British botany, and launch plant ecology as a scientific study of vegetation.
{"title":"The Smith Brothers: Scottish pioneers of modern ecology","authors":"C. Gimingham","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685012","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Robert Smith and his brother William (W.G.) were described by Tansley (1939) as ‘the original pioneers of modern Ecology in Britain’. However, rather few are aware of R. Smith's important role in a revolution of Botanical science in Britain just over 100 yearsago. Smith entered the University College of Dundee (now the University of Dundee) as a student in 1893 and came under the influence of Patrick Geddes, then Professor of Botany, who appointed him Demonstrator in Botany as soon as he had graduated. Geddes encouraged his interest in the newly emerging science of plant ecology and, in particular, his programme for mapping the vegetation of Scotland. To this end, he arranged for Smith to spend some months in Montpellier, where he was much influenced by Professor C. Flahault's approach to vegetation mapping on the basis of recognisable associations of plant species. On his return to Scotland , he developed this theme and applied it to making vegetation maps in various parts of Scotland, regarding this as a preliminary to understanding relationships between vegetation, climate, soil and human impacts. Thus, the first stirrings of practical ecology in Britain were influenced by the phytosociological outlook which was developing in Europe. Sadly, Robert Smith died prematurely in 1900, but his work was continued for a time by his brother, W.G. Smith, and others. It was the primary inspiration for the formation of a ‘Central Committee for the Survey and Study of British Vegetation’ in which other pioneers of plant ecology, including A.G. Tansley, participated. Although, for various reasons, their interests moved away from vegetation mapping towards plant-environment interactions, ecological processes, and vegetation dynamics, Smith's work had laid the foundations for a series of important studies of Scotland's plant communities, including thoseof E.L. Birse and J.S. Robertson, M.E.D. Poore, D. McVean and D. Ratcliffe. In 1964 J.H. Burnett revived the aim of comprehensive description of Scottish vegetation with his book The Vegetation of Scotland. R. Smith's work helped to bring a fresh approach into British botany, and launch plant ecology as a scientific study of vegetation.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124873381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685048
P. Hollingsworth
Summary Groups of plants that are undergoing active diversification often do not fall into neat and tidy taxonomies. In such groups it can sometimes be very difficult to establish what does, and what does not, constitute a species. This presents problems for species-based conservation programmes that are based around prioritised species-lists (e.g. the UK Biodiversity Action Plans; BAPs), particularly as the inclusion or exclusion of taxa on these lists largely determines the allocation of conservation resources. This is an important issue as almost half of the BAP priority higher plant species for which Scotland has prime responsibility are taxonomically controversial. Recent research using population genetic approaches to tackle some taxonomically complex plant groups has enhanced our understanding of their biology. Such approaches provide objective and independent assessments of whether a given entity is distinct or not. This information can then be used to contribute towards the decision making process of which taxa to prioritise for conservation, and address specific questions regarding BAP listed species. In the long term, however, a broader issue needs tackling. Actively evolving groups often contain a series of localised lineages, as well as complex populations that exhibit atypical levels of morphological diversity. These types of diversity do not fit well into a ‘standard’ species-based conservation system. In most cases protection will best be supplied by designated site protection or wider countryside habitat schemes. Where additional protection is need, a conservation policy is required that accepts the diversity in these actively evolving groups for what it is, rather than trying to squeeze it into conservation legislation derived for taxa whose delimitation is routine.
{"title":"Taxonomic complexity, population genetics, and plant conservation in Scotland","authors":"P. Hollingsworth","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685048","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Groups of plants that are undergoing active diversification often do not fall into neat and tidy taxonomies. In such groups it can sometimes be very difficult to establish what does, and what does not, constitute a species. This presents problems for species-based conservation programmes that are based around prioritised species-lists (e.g. the UK Biodiversity Action Plans; BAPs), particularly as the inclusion or exclusion of taxa on these lists largely determines the allocation of conservation resources. This is an important issue as almost half of the BAP priority higher plant species for which Scotland has prime responsibility are taxonomically controversial. Recent research using population genetic approaches to tackle some taxonomically complex plant groups has enhanced our understanding of their biology. Such approaches provide objective and independent assessments of whether a given entity is distinct or not. This information can then be used to contribute towards the decision making process of which taxa to prioritise for conservation, and address specific questions regarding BAP listed species. In the long term, however, a broader issue needs tackling. Actively evolving groups often contain a series of localised lineages, as well as complex populations that exhibit atypical levels of morphological diversity. These types of diversity do not fit well into a ‘standard’ species-based conservation system. In most cases protection will best be supplied by designated site protection or wider countryside habitat schemes. Where additional protection is need, a conservation policy is required that accepts the diversity in these actively evolving groups for what it is, rather than trying to squeeze it into conservation legislation derived for taxa whose delimitation is routine.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"113 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127319833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685045
G. Rothero
Summary Scotland has an internationally important bryophyte flora. The oceanic element in our flora is the most important, with the bryophyte communities of broadleaf woodland and montane heath being of particular significance. Until recently, all management for bryophyte conservation has been incidental; with bryophytes possibly benefiting from measures for the protection of the habitats in which they occur. Conservation interest in bryophytes as a result of wildlife legislation and the production of action plans has given an impetus to species conservation. So far this has been limited to baseline surveys, necessary because of the lack of knowledge of the status of most of the species involved. The small size and critical nature of the plants means that even basic survey work is problematic, the problems differing from species to species. Implementation of the action plans will need more autecological studies of some species and possibly some direct action for a small number with critical populations. Lack of knowledge at the beginning of the Biodiversity Action Plan process meant that a number of species of conservation concern were overlooked and a mechanism needs to be found to include these in future action. Future work on the conservation of bryophytes may be hampered by a shortage of bryologists.
{"title":"Bryophyte conservation in Scotland","authors":"G. Rothero","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685045","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Scotland has an internationally important bryophyte flora. The oceanic element in our flora is the most important, with the bryophyte communities of broadleaf woodland and montane heath being of particular significance. Until recently, all management for bryophyte conservation has been incidental; with bryophytes possibly benefiting from measures for the protection of the habitats in which they occur. Conservation interest in bryophytes as a result of wildlife legislation and the production of action plans has given an impetus to species conservation. So far this has been limited to baseline surveys, necessary because of the lack of knowledge of the status of most of the species involved. The small size and critical nature of the plants means that even basic survey work is problematic, the problems differing from species to species. Implementation of the action plans will need more autecological studies of some species and possibly some direct action for a small number with critical populations. Lack of knowledge at the beginning of the Biodiversity Action Plan process meant that a number of species of conservation concern were overlooked and a mechanism needs to be found to include these in future action. Future work on the conservation of bryophytes may be hampered by a shortage of bryologists.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125367380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685051
R. Ennos
Summary The objective of this paper is to outline the diverse ways in which population genetic analysis can be used to develop effective species conservation policies. Studies of the geographic distribution of genetic markers have provided us with novel insights into the origins of the Scottish flora. The results reinforce the need for a conservation policy that embraces change over time. Investigations of quantitative characters have demonstrated the existence of substantial local adaptation of plant populations within Scotland. This has implications for conservation management involving transplantation and restoration. Analysis of the diversity and distribution of genetic markers within populations of rare and declining Scottish species have highlighted populations that are of particular conservation concern, and assisted in developing management guidelines for these species. Current research centres on understanding and modelling the genetic behaviour of fragmented populations. Key issues include the ability of such populations to produce seed of high genetic quality, and the extent to which gene flow via pollen and seed can take place between populations. These genetic processes are crucial for facilitating adaptive responses to environmental change, and will be major determinants of the ability of fragmented populations to persist in the future.
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Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685010
David Welch
Summary Seasonal grazing treatments were begun in 1990 on two sites of bilberry moorland that lay 60–200 m from a strip of riverside woodland in Northern England. Treatments were summer grazing, winter grazing, year-round and no grazing, fences being moved in mid April and mid October each year to open or close plots. The main plant species, Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum nigrum and Vaccinium myrtillus, showed negligible response in cover or height to season of grazing, but colonisation by deciduous trees was much affected. On plots given summer protection (total area 2000 m2) 249 Sorbus aucuparia saplings were counted in 2000, together with one Quercus robur sapling, but no saplings were found in summer-grazed and year-round-grazed plots. Each winter the rowan saplings in the summer-protected plots were severely browsed by sheep, but they recovered in the next growing season. Their increasing trunk diameter and shoot increment up to 2000 suggested that some would soon escape herbivore control. But the fence moves did not take place in 2001,and in April 2002 these saplings were found to have been very heavily browsed. Nearly all survived but regrowth was much poorer in summer 2002 than summer 2000, so several more years of recovery are needed before it can be decided if summer protection from grazing allows succession to woodland at these sites.
{"title":"An example of the seasonal impact of sheep on colonisation by deciduous trees","authors":"David Welch","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685010","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Seasonal grazing treatments were begun in 1990 on two sites of bilberry moorland that lay 60–200 m from a strip of riverside woodland in Northern England. Treatments were summer grazing, winter grazing, year-round and no grazing, fences being moved in mid April and mid October each year to open or close plots. The main plant species, Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum nigrum and Vaccinium myrtillus, showed negligible response in cover or height to season of grazing, but colonisation by deciduous trees was much affected. On plots given summer protection (total area 2000 m2) 249 Sorbus aucuparia saplings were counted in 2000, together with one Quercus robur sapling, but no saplings were found in summer-grazed and year-round-grazed plots. Each winter the rowan saplings in the summer-protected plots were severely browsed by sheep, but they recovered in the next growing season. Their increasing trunk diameter and shoot increment up to 2000 suggested that some would soon escape herbivore control. But the fence moves did not take place in 2001,and in April 2002 these saplings were found to have been very heavily browsed. Nearly all survived but regrowth was much poorer in summer 2002 than summer 2000, so several more years of recovery are needed before it can be decided if summer protection from grazing allows succession to woodland at these sites.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125593715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685056
A. M. Coppins, B. Coppins
Summary Atlantic Hazelwoods form a distinctive (yet apparently over-looked) habitat that appears to be unique to western Scotland and, to a lesser degree, western Ireland. The origins of this habitat appear to date from the early Holocene, and there is compelling evidence that some stands may have existed in unbroken succession for 10,000 years. Recognition of the potential relict status of some areas of hazel gradually emerged as a result of several decades of study of the lichen flora. The smooth bark of hazel in western Scotland is known to support a species-rich and specialised lichen community (the Graphidion), including rare, endemic and old woodland indicator species. However, the full expression of this community is found to occur only in certain stands: often coastal, with no (or very few) other trees or shrubs present, and with a long history, but with little evidence of intensive exploitation. Seeking further evidence to back up the relic status of these Atlantic Hazelwood stands proved elusive. Very little work appears to have been directed towards looking at ‘natural’ hazel dynamics, with always the assumption that all stands of hazel have undergone coppice management at some time. It appears that Tansley (1949) is the only authority to recognise that in certain situations and conditions, hazel will form a climax scrub. However, how hazel stools develop over time in the absence of coppicing has been tentatively investigated by using DNA evidence to test for clonality between adjacent stools, with some convincing results. Atlantic Hazelwoods are already recognised as of international importance for their lichen flora. Suggestions are put forward for sympathetic conservation of this habitat, whilst at the same time recognising the need to promote more research to investigate the relict woodland status of the Atlantic Hazelwoods.
{"title":"Atlantic Hazelwoods – a neglected habitat?","authors":"A. M. Coppins, B. Coppins","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685056","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Atlantic Hazelwoods form a distinctive (yet apparently over-looked) habitat that appears to be unique to western Scotland and, to a lesser degree, western Ireland. The origins of this habitat appear to date from the early Holocene, and there is compelling evidence that some stands may have existed in unbroken succession for 10,000 years. Recognition of the potential relict status of some areas of hazel gradually emerged as a result of several decades of study of the lichen flora. The smooth bark of hazel in western Scotland is known to support a species-rich and specialised lichen community (the Graphidion), including rare, endemic and old woodland indicator species. However, the full expression of this community is found to occur only in certain stands: often coastal, with no (or very few) other trees or shrubs present, and with a long history, but with little evidence of intensive exploitation. Seeking further evidence to back up the relic status of these Atlantic Hazelwood stands proved elusive. Very little work appears to have been directed towards looking at ‘natural’ hazel dynamics, with always the assumption that all stands of hazel have undergone coppice management at some time. It appears that Tansley (1949) is the only authority to recognise that in certain situations and conditions, hazel will form a climax scrub. However, how hazel stools develop over time in the absence of coppicing has been tentatively investigated by using DNA evidence to test for clonality between adjacent stools, with some convincing results. Atlantic Hazelwoods are already recognised as of international importance for their lichen flora. Suggestions are put forward for sympathetic conservation of this habitat, whilst at the same time recognising the need to promote more research to investigate the relict woodland status of the Atlantic Hazelwoods.","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"62 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126621082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2003-01-01DOI: 10.1080/03746600308685052
C. Gimingham
Summary Scottish habitats are here reviewed in a European context. Examples are selected in order to identify those recognisable as distinctively Scottish as well as others related to Scandinavian or European counterparts. The paper begins with a resumé of the main environmental influences in Scotland, then describes examples of habitats almost unique to, or best represented in Scotland. This is followed by reference to some distinctively western versions of more widely distributed habitats, and others corresponding to related types elsewhere. The bearing of this on site selection for nature conservation is discussed. Hitherto, in the UK selection for National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest has been based largely on the criteria listed in A Nature Conservation Review (Ratcliffe, 1977). It is important, however, also to review Scottish habitats in a European context, as attempted in this paper. In making proposals (now approaching completion) for Special Areas of Conservation, to be recommended by the UK Government for adoption by the European Commission, it is now our duty to include not only habitats for which we have special responsibility because they are unique to or best represented in Scotland, or have distinctively western features, but also sufficient examples of all the main European types occurring in our country. Nomenclature of British flowering plants and ferns follows Stace (1991).
{"title":"An overview of Scottish habitats","authors":"C. Gimingham","doi":"10.1080/03746600308685052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03746600308685052","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Scottish habitats are here reviewed in a European context. Examples are selected in order to identify those recognisable as distinctively Scottish as well as others related to Scandinavian or European counterparts. The paper begins with a resumé of the main environmental influences in Scotland, then describes examples of habitats almost unique to, or best represented in Scotland. This is followed by reference to some distinctively western versions of more widely distributed habitats, and others corresponding to related types elsewhere. The bearing of this on site selection for nature conservation is discussed. Hitherto, in the UK selection for National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest has been based largely on the criteria listed in A Nature Conservation Review (Ratcliffe, 1977). It is important, however, also to review Scottish habitats in a European context, as attempted in this paper. In making proposals (now approaching completion) for Special Areas of Conservation, to be recommended by the UK Government for adoption by the European Commission, it is now our duty to include not only habitats for which we have special responsibility because they are unique to or best represented in Scotland, or have distinctively western features, but also sufficient examples of all the main European types occurring in our country. Nomenclature of British flowering plants and ferns follows Stace (1991).","PeriodicalId":365547,"journal":{"name":"Botanical Journal of Scotland","volume":"120 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114121889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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