Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside Biodiversity Action Plan - Upland - Montane (habitats above the treeline) Fragmentation of Habitat The resulting loss and fragmentation of some montane habitats as a result of long-term overgrazing gives rise to particular problems for some of the rarer plants. Some populations of mountain willows, for example, are now so small and dispersed, clinging to inaccessible ledges out of reach of browsing animals, that they have been reduced to one or two individuals in a number of places. If these individuals are of the same sex then the population can no longer regenerate naturally and they are often particularly susceptible to landslide or damage from rockfall. There are a number of other rare plants associated with montane habitats in a similarly precarious situation, threatened in the longer term with extinction from Scotland if resources are not made available for seed collection, propagation and re-introduction to suitable protected areas. Mountain willow scrub is now largely restricted to steep and rocky areas which are inaccessible to grazing animals. Muirburn Poorly managed muirburn followed by heavy grazing will result in the loss of dwarf shrubs and can lead to a transition to grassland. It can also cause long-term damage to the soil and vegetation, allowing bracken to colonise. Erosion and sedimentation of watercourses may also occur. Increasing Recreational Use Numbers of hillwalkers, climbers and off-piste skiers are increasing and can cause localised damage to fragile vegetation and soils. The most likely places where this might cause a problem is where paths cross wet boggy areas or traverse just below cliffs where calcareous grassland and tall herb vegetation are growing. On the summits of hills paths may become indistinct and recreation use more dispersed, but where damage to the fragile vegetation and soils occurs it can take many years to recover. This kind of impact is generally very localised, the scale of the damage is insignificant and path management techniques can be used to ensure that erosion does not escalate. Hillwalkers may indirectly cause a degree of damage to vegetation by unintentionally causing large herds of deer to move around the hillside more frequently. At current deer densities this can cause trampling to vegetation and soils. Occasionally recreational users may disturb deer during a stalk, but estates provide information through seasonal signage or the Hillphones Scheme to help minimise these occurrences. Visitors and their dogs can also potentially cause disturbance to ground nesting birds adjacent to popular routes in montane areas. Dotterel, Golden plover and Dunlin Calidris alpina are all vulnerable to disturbance from their nests which may give predators an opportunity to take eggs or young. Dogs off lead increase the disturbance potential considerably. There is also a small risk of direct trampling of eggs or young, especially for Dotterel which nest on the open summit plateau where walkers are more likely to wander about off any defined path. Studies to date, however, have found no significant detrimental effect of hillwalkers on Dotterel, even on a very heavily visited site. Nevertheless, the birds’ response to human disturbance varies from site to site and so visitors should endeavour to stay on paths wherever possible and keep their dogs under close control, preferably on a leash. Such assistance also tends to restrict any damage to the vegetation to a very limited area. Visitors should be encouraged to remove any litter and not to feed birds such as Black-headed gulls Larus ridibundus as the latter can also potentially take other birds’ eggs. Dotterel The female of this elusive wader species is unusually more intensely coloured than the male. Although their plumage is very striking, they are superbly camouflaged against the montane background. The female also takes the lead in display and rarely incubates the eggs nor looks after the young. Climate change and pollution The montane areas of Scotland are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. By the 2050s the mean annual temperature is expected to rise by about 1.7 degrees centigrade. This is likely to have profound effects on many montane species which will be unable to colonise other suitable areas where there is less competition. It will also lead to changes in the distribution and abundance of species, including invertebrates, some of which – the Heather Beetle for instance, which is a pest species - may over proliferate to the detriment of other species. Changes in vegetation composition and structure may also occur which may cause the loss of many of our rare alpine plants. Acidification as a result of atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds may alter the natural nutrient levels in the soil and profoundly affect the composition and structure of vegetation communities. Lack of Information and Knowledge There is a lack of up to date information on the quality and management of a lot of montane areas in Tayside. There is also a lack of basic information on the ecology of many species associated with montane habitats, especially lower plants and invertebrates. Some montane habitats are of great importance for biodiversity, but often get undervalued because there is low public awareness of the complexities of this environment and the issues affecting it. The requirements of all key Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species dependent upon montane areas should be considered when reviewing or negotiating changes to land management support systems. Land managers and local advisors also need impartial advice and information on all key BAP montane habitats and species in the area to enable them to manage land for the benefit of wildlife. Mountain Hare Conversion of heather moorland to rough grassland as a result of overgrazing Sport shooting and control by gamekeepers UK Importance of Tayside population: high Golden Plover Predation of eggs and young by foxes, crows and dogs Increased trampling by deer and people UK Importance of Tayside population: small Dotterel Predation of eggs and young by foxes, crows and dogs Increased trampling by deer and people UK Importance of Tayside population: high Golden Eagle Localised persecution by gamekeepers Illegal collection of eggs UK Importance of Tayside population: moderate Ptarmigan Predation of eggs and young by foxes, crows and dogs Increased trampling by deer and people UK Importance of Tayside population: high Mountain Ringlet No obvious threats - population fluctuates widely from natural causes. UK Importance of Tayside population: high Alpine sowthistle Grazing pressure from deer and sheep Small populations with little genetic diversity reducing chances of natural regeneration UK Importance of Tayside population: high Alpine forget-me-not Grazing pressure from deer and sheep UK Importance of Tayside population: high Alpine catchfly No obvious threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high - the Tayside site hosts 99% of UK population Alpine fleabane Grazing pressure from deer and sheep UK Importance of Tayside population: high - all UK sites are within Tayside Alpine gentian While some grazing is essential, too much grazing and trampling by deer and sheep can be deleterious UK Importance of Tayside population: high - all UK populations are in Tayside Alpine pearlwort Little known about potential threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high Blue heath Little known about potential threats, but numbers appear to be declining UK Importance of Tayside population: high Close-headed alpine sedge Little known about potential threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high Blue dew moss Little known about potential threats but numbers appear to be declining. UK Importance of Tayside population: high - all UK sites are in Tayside Hair silk moss May now be extinct in UK. Further survey work required. UK Importance of Tayside population: high - both UK records are from Tayside Large yellow feather-moss Little known about potential threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high - only known UK site is in Tayside Vaucher’s feather-moss Little known about potential threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high - only UK sites are in Tayside Rusty alpine psora Little known about potential threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high - only known UK site is in Tayside Psora globifera (lichen) Little known about potential threats UK Importance of Tayside population: high - only known UK site is in Tayside The following species all have their own UK Species Action Plan: Woolly willow Salix lanata Mountain scurvy-grass Cochlearia micacea Oblong woodsia Woodsia ilvensis Newman’s lady-fern Athyrium flexile Lichen Halecania rhypodiza Snow caloplaca Caloplaca nivalis Their Plan’s main objectives are: To monitor known sites for impacts from land management; To reverse decline in populations and ensure all existing populations are successfully regenerating; To attempt re-introductions to former sites where suitable habitat still occurs.

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