Habitat and herbivores group

 

Our aim is to improve management practices by increasing our understanding of the species and processes occurring within forests, woodlands and associated open habitats. The group comprises the three research programmes detailed below.

The co-ordinator is Ralph Harmer.

Management and restoration of priority open habitats

This programme concentrates on plantation forests and aims to identify management practices that will promote biodiversity. Research is investigating the deforestation and restoration of bogs and heathlands and the use of cattle grazing as a habitat management option. A practice guide on managing open habitats in upland forests is currently being prepared.
Contact: Russell Anderson.

Priority native woodland habitats

Work within this programme is divided into the two broad areas described below:

Ecology of upland native woodlands

Lower plants are very important components of upland woods and studies within this programme are focussing on how these are affected by woodland management. Work is being undertaken in both native broadleaved woodland and plantations on ancient woodland sites.
Contact: Ralph Harmer.

Lowland native woodlands

This programme aims to improve our understanding of the changes that occur within woodlands following disturbance, with special emphasis on the relationship between tree seedlings and the development of the ground flora, and how this influences natural regeneration.
Contact: Ralph Harmer.

Impacts of large herbivores on woodlands

This is a broad programme of work on the impact that large herbivores, including wild deer and domestic stock, have on forests, woodlands and associated habitats. 

Deer impacts and population densities

The effects of deer on both trees and ground flora are often obvious but is it difficult to relate the damage that they cause to their abundance. Methods to assess deer numbers and their impacts have been developed and are being improved upon. A survey of deer numbers and damage to tree seedlings in lowland woodlands is helping to elucidate the nature of the relationship between deer density and damage.
Contact: Robin Gill

Deer population modelling

An initial model of red deer population dynamics, for use as an aid to cull setting, has been developed and is currently being improved.
Contact: Helen Armstrong

Domestic livestock

Domestic stock can have both positive and negative impacts on woodlands. Cattle grazing is often recommended as a tool to help achieve biodiversity or tree regeneration objectives in woodlands but little is known about suitable stocking regimes.
Contact: Helen Armstrong 

Other herbivores

Contact: Helen Armstrong