Grasslands

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  • Created by: ppogba
  • Created on: 14-08-19 16:25
What are sun-loving species known as?
Heliophile
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What are 'Landnam' clearances?
small, temporary forest clearances- land used until productivity declines, then farmers move on.
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In the moors, west of Sheffield, there are 5 peaks of Plantago pollen between the Elm decline and the Iron Age (500bc). What does this suggest?
suggests 5 landnam clearance phases, each progressively larger and longer.
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How did 'permanent' farmland and larger settlements develop?
arrival of Celts from Europe with better farming tech. climatic deterioration (marked increase in precipitation). Increased deforestation. Population increase led to more arable farming.
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Grasslands are managed by grazing or mowing. This results in the partial defoliation of plants. What adaptations do they have for this?
Intercalary meristem. Rhizomes. Adpressed growth. Low palatability. Ephemerals.
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How are intercalary meristems adaptive?
meristem present at base of each leaf and grazed plants can easily regrow from basal meristem. Only occurs in grasses and horsetails.
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How are Rhizomes adaptive?
rootstocks provide new nodes for growth, so grazed plants can spread without flowers.
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How is adpressed growth adaptive?
negatively-phototrophic rosettes. leaves tightly adpressed to the ground. So not easily grazed.
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How is low palatability adaptive?
spines, woody tissues, distastefulness and toxins prevent them being eaten.
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How are Ephemerals adaptive?
they exploit bare patches of soil, and grow during periods of limited grazing.
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What is the difference between Calcifuge and Calcicole species?
Calcifuge species grow in acidic soils. Calcicole species grow in calcareous soils.
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What type of grassland appears in the Derbyshire Dales?
Limestone grassland
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What is the name of the soil characteristic to limestone grasslands?
Rendzina
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What is the standard structure of soil?
O-organic. A-surface. B-subsoil. C- substrate. R- bedrock.
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What is the Rendzina structure of soil?
O-organic. A-surface. C-substrate. R-bedrock.
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What are characteristics of Rendzina soil?
immature soil. shallow surface soil (A horizon directly over limestone (C horizon)). high pH (>7). low fertility.
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What are the 3 layers of Limestone Toposequence?
Plateau (top)- Slope- Valley bottom.
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What soils are present in each of the layers?
Plateau (podzol soils- pH<5). Slope (rendzina- pH>7). Valley bottom (alluvial soils- pH5.5-7.5)
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What is fertility like at each layer?
Plateau (low fertility). Slope (very low fertility). Valley bottom (medium fertility).
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Despite poor Rendzina soils and low nutrient status, these grasslands have high species diversity. What was created to explain this?
Grime's classic "hump-backed curve".
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What does productivity mean in relation to the hump-backed curve?
maximum crop + litter
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What did the hump-backed curve show?
At low levels of productivity, soils can support few species. At high levels of productivity, 1 or 2 species dominate and outcompete others. At only slightly higher levels, stress and disturbance prevent domination by 1 species (so high diversity)
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What is the reservoir effect?
fewer species are adapted to grow on acidic soils than calcareous soils.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are 'Landnam' clearances?

Back

small, temporary forest clearances- land used until productivity declines, then farmers move on.

Card 3

Front

In the moors, west of Sheffield, there are 5 peaks of Plantago pollen between the Elm decline and the Iron Age (500bc). What does this suggest?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How did 'permanent' farmland and larger settlements develop?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Grasslands are managed by grazing or mowing. This results in the partial defoliation of plants. What adaptations do they have for this?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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