UK Ecosystems (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
UK's Main Terrestrial Ecosystems
The UK has distinctive terrestrial and marine ecosystems
Distribution and Characteristics of the UK's Main Terrestrial Ecosystems
Ecosystem | Distribution | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
Woodland | 12% of the UK land is woodland Spread around the country in pockets At least 80% of UK woodland is less than 100 years old The oldest and rarest natural woodland is in north-west Scotland. It is a temperate rainforest adapted to the cool, wet climate of the UK | Some woodlands are deciduous broadleaved trees that lose their leaves in winter. Others are coniferous woods that have needle-like leaves. Common plants are bluebells and ferns Common animals are deer and badgers. |
Heathland | Found in lowland, porous, sandy soiled areas of the southern UK, such as the New Forest, Surrey Heaths and parts of Suffolk | Heathlands are not very fertile, as nutrients are easily washed out and the soil is usually acidic Lowland heathland is dominated by heather and gorse Poorly managed heathland allows bracken or silver birch to grow Common plants are heather and gorse Common animals are rabbits |
Wetland | Wetlands include open waters, floodplains, rivers, streams, and ponds. Floodplains are a key location of wetlands such as the River Severn and the Somerset Levels. Other major wetlands include Norfolk Broads; Otmoor, Oxfordshire and Minsmere, Suffolk | Wetlands contain waterlogged soils that are very fertile and support a variety of vegetation Common plants include reeds and bulrushes Common animals are otters and many types of birds |
Moorland | Found in upland areas where rainfall is high Mainly occurs above 250 metres, and is found in the Pennines, North Yorkshire, the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish Borders, Wales and most of upland Scotland such as the Cairngorms | Developed over time, the UK’s moorlands have been heavily used as grazing land, which has prevented the growth of trees and shrubs High altitude, strong winds, heavy rainfall and cloud cover restrict the growth of plants and form peat bogs and rough grassland Common plants are heather and bracken Common animals are deer, foxes and grouse |
Photo by Pete Ryan on Unsplash
A heathland in the UK
Photo by Julian Simpson on Unsplash
Wetlands of the Norfolk Broads
Photo by Gary Ellis on Unsplash
Scottish Moorlands
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember, you only need to be aware of where these ecosystems are in the UK and what their typical characteristics are in terms of vegetation and animals.
UK's Marine Ecosystems
Marine environments provide a wealth of resources used on a daily basis, from fuel sources to food supplies
The Importance of UK Marine Ecosystems
Resource | Importance |
|---|---|
Energy | North Sea oil and gas reserves lie beneath the sea floor Offshore wind energy reduces the reliance on fossil fuels. The London Array is one of the largest offshore wind farms, with 175 wind turbines Energy is also generated from tidal currents, barrages and waves Exhausted offshore oil and gas wells can be used to store CO2 from burning fossil fuels |
Food | Sea angling contributes over £1.5 billion a year to the UK economy Wild foraging of shoreline plants such as samphire and kale for use in high-end restaurants UK fisheries and aquaculture provide thousands of jobs |
Tourism | Around 250 million people visit the coast each year, generating income and employment for local people Education and conservation opportunities include day trips to see bottle-nosed dolphins and sea otters |
Protection | Saltmarsh and seagrass provide coastal defence against flooding and coastal erosion Coastal waters help to regulate the climate by absorbing greenhouse gases and releasing oxygen |
Degrading of UK marine ecosystems
Human activities can cause problems for marine ecosystems
Energy production
The construction of offshore wind farms and oil and gas rigs disturbs and destroys ecosystems on the seabed
Pollution
Fertilisers used by farmers can lead to eutrophication
This happens when chemicals reach the sea and lead to the excessive growth of algae
This reduces the supply of oxygen and light to the seabed, destroying marine ecosystems
Waste from industry can enter and pollute marine ecosystems
Plastic waste
Marine life can get caught or eat the plastic causing suffocation, starvation, and drowning
Damage to seabed
Dredging to create sailing routes removes important nutrients from the seabed
Plants are also damaged, reducing available food and shelter for fish and other aquatic organisms
Fishing with dredging nets also damages seabed habitats
Fishing
Overfishing of fish, such as Cod from the North Sea, has reduced fish stocks
Reduced fish stocks impacts the wider marine ecosystem and damage the food chain
Development
The development of coastlines destroys plant and wildlife habitats such as salt marshes
Climate change has allowed invasive species to enter the UK coastline
Wireweed originated in the Pacific and has spread to Britain from France. It grows very fast, out-competing native seaweeds and seagrasses, and reduces biodiversity
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Make sure you can explain how human activities can put pressure on marine ecosystems. For example, overfishing of cod has disrupted the food chain because cod eat smaller fish, allowing their numbers to increase.
Last updated:
You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week
Sign up now. It’s free!
Did this page help you?
