Flowers

[teepeeat]

if any of you guys are interested theres an event coming up you would all probably enjoy.

 

[ATTACH]95673[/ATTACH]

 

Cant seem to open that Tony, do you have a web site?

After a quick google seem to be a few of these going on around the country.

Which event does the poster refer to?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Cant seem to open that Tony, do you have a web site?

After a quick google seem to be a few of these going on around the country.

Which event does the poster refer to?

 

info contact Liz Clarke

07881 961145 [email protected]

 

[teepeeat]

Cheers Tony, much obliged

[Goaty]

Tony you say indicator species. How does that work. I know they reckon you can tell the age of a hedge by the different species in a certain length, which I don't trust at all because now hedges are specified to have a greater mix of different species and in 30 years or so, you wont be able to tell hedge age if they have been laid or trimmed.

 

Maybe Im just a sceptic. But I test it out for myself rather than being an easy yes man. I do imagine anenomes need a certain level of decay. Because they dont thrive in gardens naturally that well?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Tony you say indicator species. How does that work. I know they reckon you can tell the age of a hedge by the different species in a certain length, which I don't trust at all because now hedges are specified to have a greater mix of different species and in 30 years or so, you wont be able to tell hedge age if they have been laid or trimmed.

 

Maybe Im just a sceptic. But I test it out for myself rather than being an easy yes man. I do imagine anenomes need a certain level of decay. Because they dont thrive in gardens naturally that well?

 

An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change. Indicator species can be among the most sensitive species in a region, and sometimes act as an early warning to monitoring biologists. (ref Wiki)

 

Ive been studying ecology of fungi for over a decade now and if there is one thing I have become increasingly and acutly aware of is that certain species are very fragile and indeed do act as good indicators with regard to management regimes etc

 

There are many indicator species, stereum subtomentosa is a fungal indicator of ancient woodland and it is one of those I KNOW for sure is never IME found in disturbed sites, and I have no idea why this should be so, it is after all a common and widespread SP the stereum group.

 

With regards to the wood anemone Anemone nemorosa it spreads by rhizomes so soil damages or disturbance will be detrimental to such a delicate wildflower and also they require old growth woodland for the dappled and patchy sunlit spots caused by big mature trees falling in old age. It is for these reasons that the best example are to be found in traditional coppice that has been managed that way for many centuries.

 

Gollums site In Kent is a wonderful example and the historic nature of the site clarifies the long term managment of the site, there is even a stone circle older than that of stone henge on site. I would recommend a visit to Gollums site to anyone who has a countryside management/history interest. The wood anemones and other wild flowers are a joy.

 

so have faith in the viability of indicator species, they really are what they are.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Its all about species diversity, which esculates with time, so time must elapse for certain species to move into an area, this is the basic concept in indicators

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Alan Rayner will be talking at the event I spoke of earlier in the thread, He and his wife Marion have a passion for the flora and fauna that is second to no one so if anyone really is interested in these subjects youll not want to miss an oportunity to discuss such things with a legend of Biology/ecology.

 

I have always had a deep respect for Alan, he has a depth of understanding that is beyond even "deep ecology" .

[Goaty]

Thanks Tony I knew there would be a deeper definition. I understand what your saying. I cannot recollect ever seeing naturalized anenomes in woodland. East Yorkshire was the most underwooded county in a survey a few years back.

[Luke Quenby]

An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change. Indicator species can be among the most sensitive species in a region, and sometimes act as an early warning to monitoring biologists. (ref Wiki)

 

Ive been studying ecology of fungi for over a decade now and if there is one thing I have become increasingly and acutly aware of is that certain species are very fragile and indeed do act as good indicators with regard to management regimes etc

 

There are many indicator species, stereum subtomentosa is a fungal indicator of ancient woodland and it is one of those I KNOW for sure is never IME found in disturbed sites, and I have no idea why this should be so, it is after all a common and widespread SP the stereum group.

 

With regards to the wood anemone Anemone nemorosa it spreads by rhizomes so soil damages or disturbance will be detrimental to such a delicate wildflower and also they require old growth woodland for the dappled and patchy sunlit spots caused by big mature trees falling in old age. It is for these reasons that the best example are to be found in traditional coppice that has been managed that way for many centuries.

 

Gollums site In Kent is a wonderful example and the historic nature of the site clarifies the long term managment of the site, there is even a stone circle older than that of stone henge on site. I would recommend a visit to Gollums site to anyone who has a countryside management/history interest. The wood anemones and other wild flowers are a joy.

 

so have faith in the viability of indicator species, they really are what they are.

 

Top explanation Tony, really well put!

 

Indicator species are exactly what they say they are, and are a sure-fire way of having a good idea of what is going on in a certain area or an indication to past management regimes.

 

Because a lot of them are so highly speacialised in their environmental requirements to grow and reproduce, this is what gives us the 'indication'.

[Austin Spanners]

Of particular importance are the soils of ancient woodland, as these have remained undisturbed throughout the life of the wood. This relationship of long-standing continuity of the woods and their undisturbed soils makes it the most valuable natural habitat supporting a large variety of wildlife with many plants specifically associated with these woods; these are known as ancient woodland indicator species.

Many of these have poor dispersal ability, short-lived seed banks, poor ability to compete with more generalist species in sunlight, an adaptation to deep shade and low nutrients, and reliance upon vegetative propagation which often means they are unable to colonise new areas due to their dependence upon these specialist conditions and the fragmentation of much of Britain’s countryside.

Plants closely associated with aw’s, include Wood anemone, Woodruff, Bluebell, Yellow archangel, Wild strawberry, Sanicle, Herb paris, Wood spurge & Wood forget-me-not.

 

The Francis Rose Key to Wild Flowers is the book that I've carried around and used for many years.