Heath (habitat)

Heaths are anthropogenic habitats found primarily in northern and western Europe, where they have been created by thousands of years of human clearance of natural forest vegetation by grazing and burning on mainly infertile acidic soils. They subdivide into two broad categories depending on climate, with true heathland developing in warm, dry conditions, and moorland developing in cooler, wetter conditions. As they have developed over a long period, a unique assemblage of plants and animals has adapted to thrive in these habitats. Modern techniques of agriculture now threaten much of this habitat, by ploughing, fertilising and planting with arable crops, or conversion to commercial forestry plantations. Some are also threatened by urban sprawl.

Related Topics:
Anthropogenic - Habitats - Europe - Human - Forest - Vegetation - Burning - Acid - Climate - Plant - Animal - Agriculture - Plough - Fertilising - Arable - Crop - Forestry - Plantation - Urban sprawl

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