Natural history of Scotland
The flora of Scotland is an assemblage of native plant species including over 1,600 vascular plants, more than 1,500 lichens and nearly 1,000 bryophytes. The total number of vascular species is low by world standard but lichens and bryophytes are abundant and the latter form a population of global importance. Various populations of rare fern exist, although the impact of 19th century collectors threatened the existence of several species. The flora is generally typical of the north west European part of the Palearctic ecozone and prominent features of the Scottish flora include boreal Caledonian forest (much reduced from its natural extent), heather moorland and coastal machair. In addition to the native varieties of vascular plants there are numerous non-native introductions, now believed to make up some 43% of the species in the country.
There are a variety of important trees species and specimens; a Douglas fir near Inverness is the tallest tree in the United Kingdom and the Fortingall Yew may be the oldest tree in Europe. The Shetland mouse-ear and Scottish primrose are endemic flowering plants and there are a variety of endemic mosses and lichens. Numerous references to the country's flora appear in folklore, song and poetry.
The fauna of Scotland is generally typical of the north-west European part of the Palearctic ecozone, although several of the country's larger mammals were hunted to extinction in historic times. Scotland's diverse temperate environments support 62 species of wild mammals, including a population of wild cats and important numbers of grey and harbour seals.
Many populations of moorland birds, including blackcock and the famous red grouse, live here, and the country has internationally significant nesting grounds for seabirds such as the northern gannet. The golden eagle has become a national icon, and white-tailed eagles and ospreys have recently re-colonised the land. The Scottish crossbill is the only endemic vertebrate species in the British Isles.
Scotland’s seas are among the most biologically productive in the world; it is estimated that the total number of Scottish marine species exceeds 40,000. Included in the country's ocean inventory are the Darwin Mounds, are an important area of cold water coral reefs discovered in 1988. Inland, nearly 400 genetically distinct populations of Atlantic Salmon live in Scottish rivers. Of the 42 species of fish found in the country's fresh waters, half have arrived by natural colonisation and half by human introduction.
Only six amphibians and four land reptiles are native to Scotland, but many species of invertebrates live here that are otherwise rare in the United Kingdom (UK). An estimated 14,000 species of insect, including rare bees and butterflies protected by conservation action plans inhabit Scotland.
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Syringammina fragilissima is a xenophyophore found off the coast of Scotland, near Rockall. It is the largest single-celled organism known, at up to 20 centimetres (8 in) across and was the first xenophyophore ever to be described after its discovery in 1882.
Conservation of the natural environment is well developed and various organisations play an important role in the stewardship of the country's flora and fauna. Many agencies in the UK are concerned that climate change, especially its potential effects on mountain plateaus and marine life, threaten much of the flora and fauna of Scotland.
Where to see Scottish wildlife
- Highland Wildlife Park
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- Cairngorms National Park
- Forestry Commission (Scotland)
- Central Scotland Forest Trust
- Benvie, Neil (2004) Scotland's Wildlife. London. Aurum Press. ISBN 1-85410-978-2
- Brown, Leslie (1989) British Birds of Prey. London. Bloomsbury. ISBN 1-870630-63-7
- Edwards, Kevin J. & Ralston, Ian B.M. (Eds) (2003) Scotland After the Ice Age: Environment, Archaeology and History, 8000 BC - AD 1000. Edinburgh. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-1736-1
- Fraser Darling, F. & Boyd, J.M. (1969) Natural History in the Highlands and Islands. London. Bloomsbury. ISBN 1-870630-98-X
- Gooders, J. (1994) Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. London. Kingfisher. ISBN 0-86272-139-3
- Hull, Robin (2007) Scottish Mammals. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-536-X
- MacLean, Charles (1972) Island on the Edge of the World: the Story of St. Kilda. Edinburgh. Canongate. ISBN 0-903937-41-7
- Matthews, L. Harrison (1968) British Mammals.London. Bloomsbury. ISBN 1-870630-68-8
- Miles, H. and Jackman, B. (1991) The Great Wood of Caledon. Lanark. Colin Baxter Photography. ISBN 0-948661-26-7
- Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland. London. Eyre Methuen. SBN 413303802
- Smout, T.C. MacDonald, R. and Watson, Fiona (2007) A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland 1500-1920. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-3294-7
- "Flowering Plants and Ferns" SNH. Retrieved 26 April 2008
- "Natural Heritage Trends. Species diversity: plant species" SNH. Retrieved 26 April 2008
- "LICHENS: Biodiversity & Conservation" RBGE. Retrieved 26 April 2008
- Matthews (1968) p. 254.
- "animals". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
- Fraser Darling and Boyd (1969) pp. 7, 98–102.
- Benvie (1994) p. 12.
- Gooders (1994) p. 273.
- "RSPB Scotland Parliamentary Briefing" (pdf). RSPB. Retrieved 16 February 2007.[dead link]
- "Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries". Scottish Executive. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
- Miles and Jackman (1991) p. 48.
- "Fungi" SNH. Retrieved 26 April 2008
- "Endangered fungus at Ayr Gorge Woodlands". (March 2008) Scottish Wildlife. No 64.
- "As large as life". New Scientist 2157. October 24, 1998.
- Michael Marshall (February 3, 2010). "Zoologger: 'Living beach ball' is giant single cell". New Scientist.
- J. Alan Hughes & Andrew J. Gooday (2004). "Associations between living benthic foraminifera and dead tests of Syringammina fragilissima (Xenophyophorea) in the Darwin Mounds region (NE Atlantic)". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 51 (11): 1741–1758. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2004.06.004.
- See for example Johnston, I. (29.11.2006) "Sea change as plankton head north'". Edinburgh. The Scotsman. This report quotes James Lovelock's concern that global warming will "kill billions" of people over the coming century.
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Forestry Commission Scotland
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
- Scotland's National Nature Reserves
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Scottish Seabird Centre
- Cairngorms National Park Authority
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority
- John Muir Trust
- Trees for Life
- Butterfly Conservation Scotland