Deer Habitat Assessment
Introduction
‘Students Habitat Assessment’ – © Glyn Satterley 2012, licensed to UHI
This unit will cover habitat classification and habitat impact assessment of some natural and semi-natural
terrestrial habitats in Scotland.
An important part of land management is being able to describe and classify different habitat types to
inform management decisions which support the sustainable use of our resources.
Habitat classification can be carried out at different levels in terms of scale and detail on the species
present. The following pages will take you through habitat classification at a broad scale i.e. equivalent to
2nd level habitat categories in Phase 1 Habitat Classification.
Objectives
On completion of the unit you should be able to:
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Content:
Identify broad habitat categories
Interpret and identify requirements of species within habitats being managed for conservation
interests.
Describe the principles of habitat impact assessment.
Assess the impacts of fauna and flora on habitats.
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Deer Survey Techniques
Guidance
As you work your way through this learning unit you are advised to log habitat information which should be
kept either on your computer or printed out and saved in a folder.
Where you are expected to undertake a task you will see this icon –
All task Information should be recorded in your task sheet – click here to download your task sheet.
Once downloaded, save the task sheet to your PC or external device.
Throughout this unit you may be asked some questions, some of which you may be able to answer using
the information gathered during the task, others which may require you to re-read the material or do some
independent/group based investigation.
Task: Habitat Classification
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On your task sheet you will find details of two species lists.
Your task is to compare the species lists with the habitat classification information as you progress
through the unit and decide which of the habitats each species list matches.
Some of the terms you come across as you read through the unit will be new to you. Also
contained on the task sheet is a list of words for which you should find out the meaning.
This can be done as you come across them in the text or you could do them before you start.
Your tutor will advise you what to do with your completed sheet at the end of the unit.
Advice Note: In practice it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between habitats when they
merge together in complex mosaics.
Habitat Degradation
It is important to note that habitats can appear to have a different species composition to the standard
habitat definitions. This could be the result of changes due to human activity and land management
Example
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Content:
Stage 1 - Bog habitat is present
Stage 2 - Land next to it is ploughed and planted with trees
Stage 3 - Water drains from bog
Stage 4 - Trees dry it out further as they grow
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Deer Survey Techniques
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Stage 5 - Bog habitat slumps and forms dry modified bog habitat.
This is known as habitat degradation which can lead to a loss of ecosystem services.
©HarperCollins, used under CLA licence.
‘The same stretch of Glen Esk moorland before (top, 1960, with cock grouse on its territory and a pile of
limestone ready for spreading), and after conversion (botton, 1994, heather has been ‘improved’ to grass,
through government subsidy). (Adam Watson)’
Watson, A; Moss, R (2008). Grouse. London: HarperCollins. 390.
Ecological Succession
Habitats can also go through a natural transition from one habitat classification to another type of habitat.
Example
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Stage 1 - Open water habitat is present
Stage 2 - Reeds, scrub and trees establish around edges
Stage 3 - Silt gets trapped by the reeds, scrub and trees
Stage 4 - Fen habitat forms
Stage 5 - Woodland forms as the habitat dries out and trees grow.
This process is known as ecological succession which is not always desirable if the original habitat is rare or
used for a specific purpose.
The return of an ecosystem or habitat to its original structure, natural complement of species, and natural
functions is known as habitat restoration.
Task: Species – Scientific Names
Content:
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Look up the Scientific names for 20 of the species below.
A1 native/semi-natural woodland
Scots Pine/ Pinus sylvestris
Juniper/ Juniperus communis
Birch/ Betula pendula
Rowan/ Sorbus aucuparia
Aspen/ Populus tremula
Oak/ Quercus robur
Hazel/ Corylus avellana
Holly/ Ilex spp.
Hawthorn/ Crataegus spp.
Bird-Cherry/ Prunus padus
Willows/ Salix spp.
Ash/ Fraxinus spp.
A2 willow
Downy willow/ Salix Lapponum
Woolly willow/ Salix Lanata
Mountain willow/ Salix Arbuscula
Whortle-leaved willow/ Salix Myrsinites
C2 tall herbs
Greater woodrush/ Luzula sylvatica
Meadow sweet/ Filipendula ulmaria
Water avens/ Geum rivale
Globe flower/ Trollius europaeus
Angelica/ Angelica sylvestris
Roseroot/ Sedum rosea
Wood crane’s bill/ Geranium sylvaticum
Holly fern/ Polystichum lonchitis
D1 dry heath & D2 wet heath
Dwarf Shrub Heath species:
Ling Heather/ Calluna vulgaris
Cross-leaved heath/ Erica tetralix
Bearberry/ Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Blaeberry/ Vaccinium myrtillus
Cowberry/ Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Crowberry/ Empetrum nigrum
Purple moor-grass / Molinia caerulea
Deer grass / Tricophorum cespitosum
Bell Heather/ Erica cinerea
E1 bog
Cowberry/ Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Cotton-grass/ Eriophorum vaginatum
Cotton-grass/ Eriophorum augustofilium
Crow berry/ Empetrum nigrum
Bog moss/ Sphagnum species
Bear berry/ Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deer grass/ Trichophorum cespitosum
Cross-leaved heath/ Erica tetralix
Ling Heather / Calluna vulgaris
Bell Heather/ Erica cinerea
Content:
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E2 springs
Bristle sedge/ Carex microglochin
Sheathed sedge/ Carex vaginata,
Mountain scurvygrass/ Cochlearia micacea Two-flowered rush/ J. biglumis
Chestnut rush/J. castaneus
Three-flowered rush/ J. triglumis
False sedge/ Kobresia simpliciuscula
Iceland purslane/ Koenigia islandica
Scorched alpine-sedge/ Carex atrofusca
Alpine rush/ Juncus alpinoarticulatus
Scottish asphodel/ Tofieldia pusilla
Cratoneuron/ Cratoneuron spp
Purple saxifrage/ Saxifraga oppositifolia
Mossy saxifrage/ S. hypnoides
Yellow saxifrage/ S. aizoides
Alpine saxifrage/ S. nivalis
Starry saxifrage/ S. stellaris
Habitat Impact Assessment
The main objective of habitat impact assessment is to survey and describe the condition of a habitat in
order to provide an objective assessment of the impacts of grazing, trampling and browsing by herbivores.
Please read the best practice guide on habitat impact assessment below, which explains why this work
should be undertaken.
Best Practice Guide: Habitat Impact Assessment http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/impacts/principles
Task: Field Visit
You are required to read the best practice guide Habitat Impact Assessment: Principles in Practice before
undertaking this task.
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Content:
Make access arrangements and undertake a field visit to identify one of the habitats you learned
about earlier in this unit.
Identify the indicator plant species to confirm it is the correct habitat.
Carry out impact assessment for three plots following the best practice guide (e.g. blanket bog) for
that habitat.
Record the results in a data sheet which you can find in the best practice forms list.
Make a note of any areas which may be sensitive to impacts and log them in your task sheet
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Present the results to your tutor.
Coming home safely is the most important thing in any work activity.
Please ensure you undertake a risk assessment for field work and follow a lone working procedure.
Task: Damage and Impact
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Read the following SNH Guides
Search online for two websites that provide information on cases of damage and impact by deer in
Scotland.
Note: Use a search engine (e.g. Google) to search for terms such as: deer damage, deer impact
List details of your cases on your task sheet.
SNH Guides: Damage definition and impacts - http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/reference/damagedefinition
http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/reference/deer-impacts
SNH Best Practice Guide: Woodland Damage – Recognition of Cause (1) http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/impacts/damage-recognition
SNH Best Practice Guide: Woodland Damage – Recognition of Cause (2) http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/impacts/damage-recognition2
Summary
Content:
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In this unit you have:
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Acquired the knowledge to identify broad habitat types
Identified the requirements of fauna and flora in different habitat types
Applied the principles of habitat impact assessment.
Investigated the impacts of fauna and flora on habitats.
Learned about the health and safety risks when working alone.
Web Links
Joint Nature Conservation Committee http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4258
Best Practice Guidance http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/Default.aspx
Scottish Natural Heritage http://www.snh.gov.uk/
Scottish Outdoor Access Code http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/
Health & Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/
Content:
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