Habitat Types of the Falkland Islands
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Coastal Margins |
Rocky cliffs, Weddell Island |
Maritime Rock, Shingle, Cliff and Slope
Rocky (large rocks and boulders), shingle (small stones and pebbles), cliffs and sloping top shores within the supralittoral zone (stretching from the high-water mark and covering the region influenced by wave-splash/ sea-spray) with few plant species such as chickweed Stellaris media, sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella, wild celery Apium australe and thrift Armeria maritima.
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Sand dunes, Bertha's Beach |
Sand Dunes
Coastal and inland sand dunes, often covered in Marram grass Ammophila arenaria, with common plant species including sea cabbage Senecio candicans, southern dock Rumex magellanicus and lyme-grass Leymus arenarius.
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Tussac grassland, New Island |
Tussac
Usually confined to coastal regions above the supralittoral zone but below 200 m. a. s. l., and especially prevalent on small offshore islands, this vegetation is dominated by tussac grass Poa flabellata. Tussac grassland habitat was once much more widespread in the Islands and has been dramatically reduced as a result of grazing practices.
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Inland Habitat Types |
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Native terrestrial habitats of the Falkland islands are dominated by a variety of heathlands on generally peaty soils. These habitat types are usually found above the tussac grassland line, and often extend to the higest peaks.
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Camp with white grass, West Falkland |
Acid Grassland
Any grassland dominated by white grass Cortaderia pilosa, with short rush Rostkovia magellanica in wetter regions. Acid grassland is generally found on poorly drained peat.
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Dwarf shrub heath, West Falkland |
Dwarf Shrub Heath
Vegetation dominated by diddle-dee Empetrum rubrum, other common species including mountain berry Gaultheria pumila and Christmas bush Baccharis magellanica. This habitat type is generally found on better-drained shallower soils.
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Fern Beds
Continuous patches of tall fern Blechnum magellanicum at least 0.25ha in size, often found within dwarf shrub regions.
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Gorse Scrub, Stanley, 2003 |
Scrub
Habitats dominated by stands, > 0.25ha, of either fachine Chiliotrichum diffusum, boxwood Hebe elliptica or gorse Ulex europaea.
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Feldmark habitat, Mt Donald |
Feldmark
Stony or clay soils (generally over 500 m. a. s. l. though it can be found closer to sea level in exposed areas) which support cushion plants, mosses and lichens but are also categorised by plant free areas of soil.
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Stone runs, Mount Donald |
Inland Rock
Inland rocky outcrops, cliff faces, stone runs or other rocky debris, usually at higher altitudes and virtually devoid of vegetation save lichens.
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Wet Habitats |
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Neutral Grassland (Greens)
Unimproved and some semi-improved grasslands found on circum-neutral soils or in areas of nutrient flushing. This includes most moist/waterlogged grasslands.
Bog
Habitats, > 0.25ha, comprising peat-forming vegetation on nutrient poor wetlands, dominated by low-lying plants including soft-camp-bog Astelia pumila, dwarf marigold Caltha appendiculata, gaimardia Gaimardia australis, sundew Drosera uniflora, bristle sedge Carex microglochin and blinks Montia fontana. Small areas of Sphagnum (spp.) mires may be present.
Fen, Marsh and Swamp
Permanently, seasonally or periodically waterlogged herb-rich vegetation, often bordering streams, including ‘reed-beds’ of California club-rush Schoenoplectus californicus, and wet regions dominated by native rush Juncus scheuchzerioides and/or pig vine Gunnera magellanica.
NOTE: this does not include waterlogged grasslands (see Neutral Grasslands above)
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West Falkland |
River or Stream
Running fresh water.
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West Falkland |
Standing Open Water
Ponds and lakes.
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Non-Native Habitats |
Settlement with improved grasslands and plantation:
Hill Cove |
Close to 80 settlements are spread across the archipelago comprising buildings, and gardens of primarily introduced plant species. In addition, much of the native vegetation has been modified for and by farming practices. Improved and semi-improved grassland, has replaced oceanic heath at many localities, and may have been created by burning to remove native species, the sowing of fodder species (particularly grasses) and/or modified by fertilisers and herbicides. These grasslands are usually composed of introduced grass species, with a lower diversity of native plants. In addition there are some fields of arable crops/commercial horticultural land and several conifer plantations.
Built Up Areas / Gardens
Man made constructions including homes, work places, roads, gardens and allotments.
Arable / Horticultural Land
Arable land and commercial horticultural land, not including gardens and allotments. This type of habitat is of negligible significance at present in the Falkland Islands.
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Hill Cove Forest, West Falkland |
Coniferous Woodland
Mature conifer plantations where broad-leaved trees make up less than 20% of the canopy cover. This includes glades or rides found within such woodland.
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Improved Grassland
These are species poor regions with few plant species except grasses, including improved grasslands, either sown or created by modification by fertilisers and/or herbicides.
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© Falklands Conservation |
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