The flora of Scotland is an assemblage of native plant species including over 1,600 vascular plants, more than 1,500 lichens and nearly 1,000 bryophytes. The total number of vascular species is low by world standard but lichens and bryophytes are abundant and the latter form a population of global importance. Various populations of rare fern exist, although the impact of 19th century collectors threatened the existence of several species. The flora is generally typical of the north west European part of the Palearctic realm and prominent features of the Scottish flora include borealCaledonian forest (much reduced from its natural extent), heather moorland and coastal machair.[1] In addition to the native varieties of vascular plants there are numerous non-native introductions, now believed to make up some 43% of the species in the country.[2][3]
There are a variety of important trees species and specimens; a Douglas fir near Inverness is the tallest tree in the United Kingdom and the Fortingall Yew may be the oldest tree in Europe. The Shetland mouse-ear and Scottish primrose are endemic flowering plants and there are a variety of endemic mosses and lichens. Numerous references to the country's flora appear in folklore, song and poetry.
The fauna of Scotland is generally typical of the north-west European part of the Palearctic realm, although several of the country's larger mammals were hunted to extinction in historic times. Scotland's diverse temperate environments support 62 species of wild mammals, including a population of wild cats and important numbers of grey and harbour seals.[4][5]
Scotland’s seas are among the most biologically productive in the world; it is estimated that the total number of Scottish marine species exceeds 40,000.[9] Included in the country's ocean inventory are the Darwin Mounds, are an important area of cold water coral reefs discovered in 1988. Inland, nearly 400 genetically distinct populations of Atlantic Salmon live in Scottish rivers.[10] Of the 42 species of fish found in the country's fresh waters, half have arrived by natural colonisation and half by human introduction.
Only six amphibians and four land reptiles are native to Scotland, but many species of invertebrates live here that are otherwise rare in the United Kingdom (UK).[11] An estimated 14,000 species of insect, including rare bees and butterflies protected by conservation action plans inhabit Scotland.
Mycotaedit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2008)
Approximately 1,650 species of fungal species are found in Scotland.[12] The rare Phelloden confluens is found in five or fewer 10 km squares.[13]
Conservation of the natural environment is well developed and various organisations play an important role in the stewardship of the country's flora and fauna. Many agencies in the UK are concerned that climate change, especially its potential effects on mountain plateaus and marine life, threaten much of the flora and fauna of Scotland.[17]
It is possible to view whales, dolphins, porpoise, and basking sharks in their natural environment on boat tours of the Hebridean waters. Other places which exhibit Scottish wildlife include:
Benvie, Neil (2004) Scotland's Wildlife. London. Aurum Press. ISBN1-85410-978-2
Brown, Leslie (1989) British Birds of Prey. London. Bloomsbury. ISBN1-870630-63-7
Edwards, Kevin J. & Ralston, Ian B.M. (Eds) (2003) Scotland After the Ice Age: Environment, Archaeology and History, 8000 BC - AD 1000. Edinburgh. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN0-7486-1736-1
Fraser Darling, F. & Boyd, J.M. (1969) Natural History in the Highlands and Islands. London. Bloomsbury. ISBN1-870630-98-X
Gooders, J. (1994) Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. London. Kingfisher. ISBN0-86272-139-3
Hull, Robin (2007) Scottish Mammals. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN1-84158-536-X
MacLean, Charles (1972) Island on the Edge of the World: the Story of St. Kilda. Edinburgh. Canongate. ISBN0-903937-41-7
Matthews, L. Harrison (1968) British Mammals.London. Bloomsbury. ISBN1-870630-68-8
Miles, H. and Jackman, B. (1991) The Great Wood of Caledon. Lanark. Colin Baxter Photography. ISBN0-948661-26-7
Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland. London. Eyre Methuen. SBN 413303802
Smout, T.C. MacDonald, R. and Watson, Fiona (2007) A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland 1500-1920. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN978-0-7486-3294-7
Notesedit
^"Flowering Plants and Ferns" 2008-03-21 at the Wayback Machine SNH. Retrieved 26 April 2008
^"Natural Heritage Trends. Species diversity: plant species" 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine SNH. Retrieved 26 April 2008
^"LICHENS: Biodiversity & Conservation" RBGE. Retrieved 26 April 2008
^"Endangered fungus at Ayr Gorge Woodlands". (March 2008) Scottish Wildlife. No 64.
^"As large as life". New Scientist. 2157. October 24, 1998.
^Michael Marshall (February 3, 2010). "Zoologger: 'Living beach ball' is giant single cell". New Scientist.
^J. Alan Hughes & Andrew J. Gooday (2004). "Associations between living benthic foraminifera and dead tests of Syringammina fragilissima (Xenophyophorea) in the Darwin Mounds region (NE Atlantic)". Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 51 (11): 1741–1758. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2004.06.004.
^See for example Johnston, I. (29.11.2006) "Sea change as plankton head north'". Edinburgh. The Scotsman. This report quotes James Lovelock's concern that global warming will "kill billions" of people over the coming century.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Natural history of Scotland.
Forestry Commission Scotland
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Scotland's National Nature Reserves
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Scottish Seabird Centre
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority
John Muir Trust
Trees for Life
Butterfly Conservation Scotland
January 01, 1970
natural, history, scotland, concerns, flora, fauna, mycota, scotland, contents, flora, fauna, mycota, micro, organisms, conservation, organisations, where, scottish, wildlife, also, references, notes, external, linksflora, editmain, article, flora, scotland, n. Natural history of Scotland concerns the flora fauna and mycota of Scotland Contents 1 Flora 2 Fauna 3 Mycota 4 Micro organisms 5 Conservation organisations 6 Where to see Scottish wildlife 7 See also 8 References 9 Notes 10 External linksFlora editMain article Flora of Scotland nbsp The Birnam Oak located in the Tay Valley The flora of Scotland is an assemblage of native plant species including over 1 600 vascular plants more than 1 500 lichens and nearly 1 000 bryophytes The total number of vascular species is low by world standard but lichens and bryophytes are abundant and the latter form a population of global importance Various populations of rare fern exist although the impact of 19th century collectors threatened the existence of several species The flora is generally typical of the north west European part of the Palearctic realm and prominent features of the Scottish flora include boreal Caledonian forest much reduced from its natural extent heather moorland and coastal machair 1 In addition to the native varieties of vascular plants there are numerous non native introductions now believed to make up some 43 of the species in the country 2 3 There are a variety of important trees species and specimens a Douglas fir near Inverness is the tallest tree in the United Kingdom and the Fortingall Yew may be the oldest tree in Europe The Shetland mouse ear and Scottish primrose are endemic flowering plants and there are a variety of endemic mosses and lichens Numerous references to the country s flora appear in folklore song and poetry Fauna editMain article Fauna of Scotland The fauna of Scotland is generally typical of the north west European part of the Palearctic realm although several of the country s larger mammals were hunted to extinction in historic times Scotland s diverse temperate environments support 62 species of wild mammals including a population of wild cats and important numbers of grey and harbour seals 4 5 Many populations of moorland birds including blackcock and the famous red grouse live here and the country has internationally significant nesting grounds for seabirds such as the northern gannet 6 The golden eagle has become a national icon 7 and white tailed eagles and ospreys have recently re colonised the land The Scottish crossbill is the only endemic vertebrate species in the British Isles 8 Scotland s seas are among the most biologically productive in the world it is estimated that the total number of Scottish marine species exceeds 40 000 9 Included in the country s ocean inventory are the Darwin Mounds are an important area of cold water coral reefs discovered in 1988 Inland nearly 400 genetically distinct populations of Atlantic Salmon live in Scottish rivers 10 Of the 42 species of fish found in the country s fresh waters half have arrived by natural colonisation and half by human introduction Only six amphibians and four land reptiles are native to Scotland but many species of invertebrates live here that are otherwise rare in the United Kingdom UK 11 An estimated 14 000 species of insect including rare bees and butterflies protected by conservation action plans inhabit Scotland Mycota editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2008 Approximately 1 650 species of fungal species are found in Scotland 12 The rare Phelloden confluens is found in five or fewer 10 km squares 13 Micro organisms editSyringammina fragilissima is a xenophyophore found off the coast of Scotland near Rockall 14 It is the largest single celled organism known at up to 20 centimetres 8 in across 15 and was the first xenophyophore ever to be described after its discovery in 1882 16 Conservation organisations editConservation of the natural environment is well developed and various organisations play an important role in the stewardship of the country s flora and fauna Many agencies in the UK are concerned that climate change especially its potential effects on mountain plateaus and marine life threaten much of the flora and fauna of Scotland 17 Where to see Scottish wildlife edit nbsp The High Cairngorms Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine from Braeriach It is possible to view whales dolphins porpoise and basking sharks in their natural environment on boat tours of the Hebridean waters Other places which exhibit Scottish wildlife include Highland Wildlife Park Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Cairngorms National Park Forestry Commission Scotland Central Scotland Forest TrustSee also editGeography of Scotland Geology of ScotlandReferences editBenvie Neil 2004 Scotland s Wildlife London Aurum Press ISBN 1 85410 978 2 Brown Leslie 1989 British Birds of Prey London Bloomsbury ISBN 1 870630 63 7 Edwards Kevin J amp Ralston Ian B M Eds 2003 Scotland After the Ice Age Environment Archaeology and History 8000 BC AD 1000 Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press ISBN 0 7486 1736 1 Fraser Darling F amp Boyd J M 1969 Natural History in the Highlands and Islands London Bloomsbury ISBN 1 870630 98 X Gooders J 1994 Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland London Kingfisher ISBN 0 86272 139 3 Hull Robin 2007 Scottish Mammals Edinburgh Birlinn ISBN 1 84158 536 X MacLean Charles 1972 Island on the Edge of the World the Story of St Kilda Edinburgh Canongate ISBN 0 903937 41 7 Matthews L Harrison 1968 British Mammals London Bloomsbury ISBN 1 870630 68 8 Miles H and Jackman B 1991 The Great Wood of Caledon Lanark Colin Baxter Photography ISBN 0 948661 26 7 Murray W H 1973 The Islands of Western Scotland London Eyre Methuen SBN 413303802 Smout T C MacDonald R and Watson Fiona 2007 A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland 1500 1920 Edinburgh University Press ISBN 978 0 7486 3294 7Notes edit Flowering Plants and Ferns Archived 2008 03 21 at the Wayback Machine SNH Retrieved 26 April 2008 Natural Heritage Trends Species diversity plant species Archived 2008 12 01 at the Wayback Machine SNH Retrieved 26 April 2008 LICHENS Biodiversity amp Conservation RBGE Retrieved 26 April 2008 Matthews 1968 p 254 animals Scottish Natural Heritage Archived from the original on 30 December 2006 Retrieved 1 January 2007 Fraser Darling and Boyd 1969 pp 7 98 102 Benvie 1994 p 12 Gooders 1994 p 273 RSPB Scotland Parliamentary Briefing PDF RSPB Archived from the original pdf on September 30 2007 Retrieved 16 February 2007 Protecting and Promoting Scotland s Freshwater Fish and Fisheries Scottish Executive Retrieved 13 January 2007 Miles and Jackman 1991 p 48 Fungi SNH Retrieved 26 April 2008 Endangered fungus at Ayr Gorge Woodlands March 2008 Scottish Wildlife No 64 As large as life New Scientist 2157 October 24 1998 Michael Marshall February 3 2010 Zoologger Living beach ball is giant single cell New Scientist J Alan Hughes amp Andrew J Gooday 2004 Associations between living benthic foraminifera and dead tests of Syringammina fragilissima Xenophyophorea in the Darwin Mounds region NE Atlantic Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers 51 11 1741 1758 doi 10 1016 j dsr 2004 06 004 See for example Johnston I 29 11 2006 Sea change as plankton head north Edinburgh The Scotsman This report quotes James Lovelock s concern that global warming will kill billions of people over the coming century External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Natural history of Scotland Scottish Natural Heritage Forestry Commission Scotland Joint Nature Conservation Committee Scottish Wildlife Trust Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Scotland s National Nature Reserves Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scottish Seabird Centre Cairngorms National Park Authority Loch Lomond amp The Trossachs National Park Authority John Muir Trust Trees for Life Butterfly Conservation Scotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Natural history of Scotland amp oldid 1190253290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
