Ch.2 Habitat Management & Creation

Habitat ManagementSpecies depend on abiotic and biotic factorsAbiotic (physical) factors: water, temperature, light levels, pH, mineral/nutrient suppliesBiotic (biological) factors: food, predation, disease, competition, pollination, decompositionMaintained habitats are known as semi-natural habitats: Grassland Moorland Hay meadows Management activities include: Grazing Moorland burning It may also be necessary to remove invasive, non-indigenous species. All communities aim to reach their climax.  A plagioclimax is a halted climax.  Semi-natural habitats are plagioclimax habitats.Habitat features may also be provided by humans, for example: Bird/bat nest boxes Stopping drainage to raise water table in wetland habitats Planting hedges (biological corridors) Leaving uncultivated farmland for skylarks Planting nectar plants for butterflies

Habitat CreationHumans can create habitats that benefit wildlife, for example: Roadside verges Mine spoil heaps Flooded quarries Forestry plantations Reservoirs Urban gardens Urban parkland By creating habitats, conditions are being created for different species of wildlife, however it is increasingly difficult to create the correct conditions needed for certain wildlife species, therefore habitat creation is not always successful.

Maintaining habitats increase their aesthetic value.  More importantly, it maintains a plagioclimax.  Maintaining a plagioclimax increases species biodiversity in a habitat, as tertiary and maybe even secondary predators aren't presented with the opportunity to move into the area and form a niche.  This means that the endemic/current species living in that habitat will not be out-competed for food or become the subject of predation.

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