Planned and unplanned introduction of new species

• What plantations has caused ecological change in the Ainsdale Dune ecosystem?

  pine tree plantations
• When was Pine trees planted in Ainsdale Dunes?

  early 1900s
• What was the aim of planting pine trees in Ainsdale dunes?

  Stabilise the dunes and for timber
• What impacts did Pine Tree plantations have in Ainsdale dunes:

  • Habitat Change
  • Soil Chemistry Alteration
  • Decreased Biodiversity
• What impacts did Pine Tree plantations have in Ainsdale dunes:


  • Habitat Change
  • Soil Chemistry Alteration
  • Decreased Biodiversity
• How has Pine tree plantations in Ainsdale Dunes caused habitat change?

  • The pine trees prevented light from reaching the forest floor
  • This created a different habitat compared to open dunes
  • Leading to specialist dune species such as yellow bartsia not being able to survive in dark acidic conditions
• What has caused habitat change in Ainsdale Dunes?

  Pine tree plantations
• How do pine trees affect light in Ainsdale Dunes?

  They prevent light from reaching the forest floor
• What is the result of pine trees preventing light from reaching the forest floor?

  It creates a different habitat compared to open dunes
• What happens to specialist dune species like yellow bartsia in dark conditions?

  They cannot survive in dark acidic conditions
• What type of conditions do yellow bartsia struggle to survive in?

  Dark acidic conditions
• How has Pine tree plantations in Ainsdale dunes caused soil chemistry alteration?

  • Pine trees drop needles which are acidic and change the chemistry of the soil which is originally alkaline
  • Pine needles take a long time to break down
  • Therefore they build a thick layer instead of contributing organic material to the soil
• What type of trees are causing soil chemistry alteration in Ainsdale dunes?

  Pine trees
• How do pine trees affect the soil chemistry in Ainsdale dunes?

  They drop acidic needles, changing alkaline soil
• What is the original soil chemistry of Ainsdale dunes before pine tree influence?

  Alkaline
• Why do pine needles contribute less organic material to the soil?

  They take a long time to break down
• What happens to the layer of pine needles over time in Ainsdale dunes?

  It builds a thick layer instead of decomposing
• What are the effects of pine tree plantations on soil chemistry in Ainsdale dunes?

  • Pine trees drop acidic needles
  • Soil chemistry shifts from alkaline to acidic
  • Pine needles decompose slowly
  • Thick layer forms instead of organic material
• How has Pine tree plantation caused colonisation of new species?

  Pine trees provide a habitat for the endangered red squirrel
• What endangered species benefits from pine tree plantations?

  The red squirrel
• What are the impacts of unplanned introduction of new species in Ainsdale Dunes?

  • Outcompeting native flora
  • Soil chemistry alteration
• What unplanned species has invaded Ainsdale dunes?

  Sea Buckthorn
• How has the unplanned invasion of sea buckthorn caused native flora to be outcompeted?

  • Sea buckthorn spreads quickly and shades out other plants
  • This decreases the light availability for native flora
• What is the effect of sea buckthorn on native flora?

  It causes native flora to be outcompeted
• How does sea buckthorn outcompete native plants?

  By spreading quickly and shading them out
• What is the consequence of sea buckthorn shading out other plants?

  It decreases light availability for native flora
• How has the unplanned invasion of sea buckthorn caused soil chemistry alteration?

  Sea buckthorn changes the soil composition making it unsuitable for original dune flora