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Tentsmuir - scrub development and control
In addition to the to the loss of open dune vegetation and its associated animals
due to afforestation
drainage and evaporation through the growing forest canopy has resulted in a
lowering of the water table. In the adjacent unforested areas (notably at Tentsmuir
Point) this has reduced winter flooding of dune hollows so that species-rich
dune 'slacks' have become invaded by birch and pine causing a further loss of
open dune vegetation (see pictures below).
| Caption:
Dunes leading to Tentsmuir Point, Scotland: 'overgrazed' in 1980; 'undergrazed'
in 1985. The fence on the right was erected prior to 1980 to reduce the
impact of rabbit grazing, which it was thought was destroying important
dune slack vegetation. By 1985 signs of scrub growth outside the fence
are apparent following a decrease in the rabbit population. After 1985
the control of birch scrub became an important management issue and goats
have been introduced to provide a more sustainable and long-lasting approach
to managing this growth (Bullock
& Kinnear 1988). |
References
Bullock, D.J. & Kinnear, P.K.
1988.
The use of goats to control birch in dune systems: an experimental study.
Aspects of Applied Biology, 16., 163-168.
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