UCC Library and UCC researchers have made this item openly available. Please let us know how this has helped you. Thanks! Title The impacts of past land-use on the ecology of an ancient woodland in south-west Ireland Author(s) Cudmore, Aileen V. Publication date 2012-02 Original citation Cudmore, A.V., 2012.The impacts of past land-use on the ecology of an ancient woodland in south-west Ireland. PhD Thesis, University College Cork. Type of publication Doctoral thesis Rights © 2012, Aileen V. Cudmore. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ Item downloaded http://hdl.handle.net/10468/520 from Downloaded on 2021-10-10T20:16:02Z The impacts of past land-use on the ecology of an ancient woodland in south-west Ireland Aileen V. Cudmore, BSc. (Hons) This thesis is presented to the National University of Ireland, Cork, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Research supervisors: Dr. Simon Harrison Prof. Peter Jones Head of School: Prof. John O’Halloran School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, University College Cork February 2012 Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration ................................................................................................................ vi List of figures............................................................................................................. vii List of tables .............................................................................................................. xv Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: General introduction ............................................................................... 3 1.1 The importance of history in ecology ............................................... 4 1.2 Land-use change and woodlands ...................................................... 5 1.3 Woodland terms and definitions ...................................................... 7 1.4 Ancient woodland characteristics ..................................................... 8 1.5 Ancient woodland in Ireland ........................................................... 10 1.6 Study overview ................................................................................ 12 1.7 References ....................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2: The evolution of the present-day landscape of the Gearagh v woodland ................................................................................................ 21 2.1 Abstract ........................................................................................... 22 2.2. Introduction ................................................................................... 22 2.3 Materials and methods ................................................................... 23 2.4 The Gearagh woodland ................................................................... 24 2.5 Woodland prior to AD 1650 ............................................................ 29 2.5.1 Formation of the Lee Valley .................................................... 30 2.5.2 Development of an anastomosing river channel .................... 31 2.5.3 Early post-glacial period (11,000 – 7,000 BC) .......................... 34 2.5.4 Mesolithic period (7,000 – 4,200 BC) ...................................... 35 i Contents 2.5.5 Neolithic period (4,200 – 2,000 BC) ......................................... 36 2.5.6 Bronze Age (2,000 – 500 BC) ................................................... 36 2.5.7 Iron Age (500 BC – 500 AD) ..................................................... 37 2.5.8 Early Medieval period (500 – 1000 AD) ................................... 39 2.5.9 Late Medieval period (1000 – 1650 AD) .................................. 42 2.6 Woodland from AD 1650 to present ............................................... 43 2.6.1 Landscape of the Gearagh AD 1650 - 1842 ............................. 43 2.6.2 Landscape of the Gearagh AD 1842 ........................................ 48 2.6.3 Landscape of the Gearagh AD 1842 - 1904 ............................. 51 2.6.4 Landscape of the Gearagh AD 1904 - 1938 ............................. 55 2.6.5 Landscape of the Gearagh AD 1938 - present ......................... 57 2.7 Conclusions ..................................................................................... 59 2.8 References ....................................................................................... 60 Chapter 3: The impacts of land-use history on the soil properties in the Gearagh .................................................................................................................... 68 3.1 Abstract ........................................................................................... 69 3.2 Introduction .................................................................................... 69 3.3 Materials and methods ................................................................... 73 3.3.1 Study area and history ............................................................. 73 3.3.2 Site selection and sampling ..................................................... 75 3.3.3 Laboratory analyses ................................................................. 78 3.3.4 Data analyses ........................................................................... 78 3.4 Results ............................................................................................. 79 3.4.1 Soil morphological characteristics ........................................... 79 3.4.2 Soil chemical properties .......................................................... 87 3.5 Discussion ........................................................................................ 94 ii Contents 3.6 Conclusions ..................................................................................... 99 3.7 References ....................................................................................... 99 Chapter 4: The impacts of land-use history on vegetation composition in the Gearagh ........................................................................................................... 105 4.1 Abstract ......................................................................................... 106 4.2 Introduction .................................................................................. 106 4.3 Materials and methods ................................................................. 109 4.3.1 Vegetation sampling .............................................................. 109 3.3.2 Data analysis .......................................................................... 111 4.4 Results ........................................................................................... 113 4.4.1 Tree stand composition and structure .................................. 113 4.4.2 Ground flora characteristics .................................................. 117 4.4.3 Life-history characteristics ..................................................... 123 4.5 Discussion ...................................................................................... 126 4.5.1 Tree characteristics................................................................ 126 4.5.2 Ground flora characteristics .................................................. 129 4.5.3 Life-history traits .................................................................... 131 4.5.4 Ellenberg indicator values ..................................................... 133 4.6 Conclusions ................................................................................... 135 4.7 References ..................................................................................... 135 Chapter 5: The impacts of land-use history on the seed bank and germination potential of woodland plants in the Gearagh ................................. 142 5.1 Abstract ......................................................................................... 143 5.2 Introduction .................................................................................. 143 5.3 Materials and methods ................................................................. 148 5.3.1 Study site ............................................................................... 148 iii Contents 5.3.2 Soil seed bank sampling......................................................... 148 5.3.3 Seed germination and survival .............................................. 150 5.3.4 Data analysis .......................................................................... 152 5.4 Results ........................................................................................... 154 5.4.1 Seed bank composition ......................................................... 154 5.4.2 Seed germination and survival .............................................. 159 5.5 Discussion ...................................................................................... 166 5.5.1 Seed bank composition ......................................................... 166 5.5.2 Seed germination and survival .............................................. 170 5.6 Conclusions ................................................................................... 173 5.7 References ..................................................................................... 174 Chapter 6: The impacts of land-use history on woodland decomposer 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