Long-term woodland dynamics in West Glen Affric, northern Scotland

Upland agriculture and environmental risk: a new model of upland land-use based on high spatial-resolution palynological data from West Affric, NW Scotland

“…The start of stock grazing is dated to c.5000e4840 cal BP (phase 1), becoming more intense from c.4280e4230 cal BP (phase 2). This closely post-dates the start of the mid-Holocene woodland decline (Davies, 1999(Davies, , 2003a, which is primarily attributed to climatic change (Anderson et al, 1998;Tipping et al, 2006). More consistent arboreal pollen frequencies at the westernmost site of Torran Beithe (Fig.…”

“…Contraction and abandonment imply the failure of buffering mechanisms within social and agricultural systems. occurred despite dramatic evidence for climatic deterioration in the form of widespread mid-Holocene woodland contraction (Anderson et al, 1998;Tipping, 1994;Tipping et al, 2006). Rather than perceiving climatic change per se, settlers may have been attracted by the open pastoral resources which emerged in the wake of this climatic shift, as increased visibility would also have provided livestock farmers with greater security from predator attacks (Davies, 1999(Davies, , 2003b).…”

Microclimate variability and long-term persistence of fragmented woodland

“…The transition to pine dominance from c. 1060 cal BP has resulted in a prolonged decline in diversity and the existing pine-dominated stand may still be in a state of flux, characterised by high levels of compositional change more typical of the early Holocene (Fig. 4) (Froyd and Bennett, 2006;Seddon et al, 2015;Tipping et al, 2006). Predicted future milder climatic conditions may allow broadleaved species like birch, oak and rowan to expand, thus replaying the successional replacement of pine seen at all except marginal, peat-dominated sites over the course of the Holocene.…”

“…Description Migdale pinewood, Ledmore & Migdale NNR Main study site Location: 4°15'22" W 57°53'14" N, 40 m OD Sampling site: valley mire edge Current vegetation: Betula with mire understorey and P. sylvestris and Quercus within 100 m Current climate: <14 °C July mean temperature but immediately N of 14-15 °C limit, on boundary between <750 mm and 750-1000 mm annual rainfall, comparable index of oceanicity (mean wet days/monthly mean temperature range) to Reidchalmai, Reidh-lochan and Loch an Amair (Averis et al, 2004 Comparison: example of upland pinewood contraction Location: 5°6'2" W 57° 14'29" N, 265 m OD Sampling site: peat-filled bedrock basin, c.56 m surface diameter Current vegetation: blanket mire Current climate: <14 °C July mean temperature, >1500 mm annual rainfall, higher index of oceanicity than the other four sites Chronology: 9 AMS 14 C dates Sources: Davies 1999, Tipping et al 2006…”

Long-term approaches to native woodland restoration: Palaeoecological and stakeholder perspectives on Atlantic forests of Northern Europe

“…However, comparisons are difficult since the exact nature of past climatic shifts (e.g. seasonality) are as yet poorly understood (Tipping et al, 2006).…”