Development of Distinctive Ecologies along Routeways free essay sample

Discuss the ways in which distinctive geologies can develop along reroutes (10 marks) Reroutes such as roads, railways and canals can provide habitats for many species of plant and insect life because they often act as protected areas in which ecological succession can occur. There are several ways in which this can happen. One way in which geologies can develop along reroutes is that plant seeds, e. G.Oxford ragwort or befuddle, that have become windborne can be transported along by cars or trains and are often planted in railway sidings or along grass verges next to main roads. In the case of roads, nitrogen in exhaust fumes can be beneficial to the growth of some species of wildflower, which encourages them to spread further along the protective area Of the grass verge, which is an area almost untouched by human interference due to its proximity to heavy traffic, therefore meaning that plant species have a lot of freedom to grow and spread. We will write a custom essay sample on Development of Distinctive Ecologies along Routeways or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This in turn then encourages an increase in plant, bird and animal life along the route, creating a diverse ecosystem such as along the MM corridor, which has come a home to kestrels and other birds of prey due to the increase in the number of insects and small mammals who inhabit the area. In addition, some human activities along reroutes can affect the types of plant species that can be found there.For example, the spreading of salt/grit on roads in icy conditions can lead to holiness (salt-loving plants) inhabiting the area, and as many grass verges are regularly maintained by weeding/mowing, natural succession can sometimes be restricted due to the fact that plant species are not allowed to grow naturally and can sometimes be managed by he use of chemical pesticides, possibly resulting in a plagioclase. Furthermore, forestation by groups such as the highways agency (who have planted over 1. Billion trees in order to soften noise and make reroutes aesthetically pleasing) can intr oduce new species of trees to an area where they may not normally have grown. All of these factors can heavily influence ecosystems along main roads and often mean that they are distinctive and unique to ecosystems that occur naturally elsewhere. Railways are also areas where distinctive geologies can form, mostly because non-native plant species re transported along them and end up colonizing areas along tracks where they would otherwise not have been found.Due to the restriction of human access to tracks, areas alongside rail reroutes are isolated and largely free of human interference. This, as in the case of roads, encourages wildlife such as badgers and urban foxes to live there and provides nesting sites for many birds. The natural succession of plant life in Britain is oak woodland, and as such areas along railways are often wooded due to their undisturbed nature. However in recent years, large areas Of woodland have been removed byNetwork Rail in areas such as Grange Park in Enfield, causing the destruction of habitats and again creating a plagioclase due to the interrupted succession. In conclusion, the mix of natural and human factors that is present along reroutes result in very distinct and unique ecosystems that are made up of species of plant and wildlife that would not always naturally grow together. Ecosystems along reroutes can either be heavily managed or allowed to go through ecological succession naturally, and this can significantly affect the types and amounts of species that develop in an area.