Causes of change in mountain heaths:
The Culardoch study
Scottish montane ecosystems occur above the natural tree-line. They have a high conservation value due to the rare arctic
alpine-species of plants, lichens and birds that occur there.
They are also important because the water draining from
montane soils makes a significant contribution to the quality
of Scottish headwaters which are key breeding areas for salmon
and trout.
Montane ecosystems are important indicators of human impacts
on the environment because of their sensitivity.
Study system
The site was established in 1999 in the Cairngorms within an
area of heath at 750m above sea level.
This project aims to investigate the response of a typical
montane heathland community to four impacts-nitrogen pollution,
fire, grazing and climate change.
Measurements
Monitoring of ecosystem response includes recording the type and growth of plants, and the
chemistry of the heather tissue, soil and soil water.
Weather data is recorded by an automatic weather station. Nitrogen pollution is also monitored
regularly. Monitoring has taken place for 7 years and will continue until at least 2011.
Key findings to date
Pollution at current rates (10 kg N
ha yr) is causing nitrogen accumulation in plants and soils,
effectively fertilizing upland areas.
This contributes to biodiversity loss,
with lichens and mosses particularly
affected.
This saturation of upland areas results
in harmful amounts of excess nitrogen
leaking into our rivers, thereby
reducing water quality for both wildlife
and people.
Climate change experiments
Experimental chambers were established in August
2004. The chambers modify air temperature by 1-2°C
and reduce wind speed.
We predict that climate warming will:
- lead to further loss of important montane lichen
species.
- increase the positive effect of nitrogen on dwarf shrub
growth.
- increase flower and fruit production.
- reduce winter injury in plants exposed to high N levels.
Contact
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