Changes on the Heathlands of Dorset, England, between 1978 and 1987

In 1987 the vegetation, topography and land use on the heathlands of Dorset (an area of southern England) were surveyed to a specification identical to that used in a survey in 1978. The new study showed that the area surveyed in 1978 had decreased by 425 ha (5%) and that the principal causes of thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological conservation 1990, Vol.51 (4), p.273-286
Main Author: Webb, N.R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
ecological surveys
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
heathlands
land use
mapping
surveys
topography
vegetation types
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Summary:In 1987 the vegetation, topography and land use on the heathlands of Dorset (an area of southern England) were surveyed to a specification identical to that used in a survey in 1978. The new study showed that the area surveyed in 1978 had decreased by 425 ha (5%) and that the principal causes of this loss were conversion of the farmland (46%) and development (50%). Changes in the composition of the heathland vegetation over nine years were assessed. The most significant trend was a 15% increase in the area of scrub and woody vegetation. Some areas were identified where heathland had developed since 1978. The results of the survey are discussed in relation to the conservation problems affecting these heaths and in the context of conducting large-scale ecological surveys.
ISSN:0006-3207
1873-2917
DOI:10.1016/0006-3207(90)90113-4