As we crossed the moss and soft turf of the Glas Maol plateau we came across several of these structures. I think they are a form of ‘quadrats’ used to sample and study, in this case, the montane vegetation.
If anyone knows anything different, I’ll be happy to hear from you.
Also, after our descent to the col on the way to Creag Leacach we came across a small howff which in the best traditions was wet and dank! We had lunch outside.
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4 comments:
looks like it's to stop the grazing on that patch for study purposes...maybe?
Thanks for that Owdbum. Sounds a likely explanation. The other 'quadrats' I've seen didn't have the protection - they were just rectangles of wood.
These are grazing cages which I have erected with colleagues to determine the influence of primarily sheep grazing on the summit vegetation on Glas Maol. We are particularly interested in the fate of woolly fringe moss, or Racomitrium lanuginosum, which is perhaps best knows as key habitat for dotterel to exist.
Rene van der Wal, University of Aberdeen
Thanks very much for geting in touch and explaining exactly what these cages are. Much appreciated.
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