MODULE 5PEOPLE, GRASSLAND AND SCRUBOBJECTIVES: • Classify the different grassland biomes.

•
Understand the importance of grassland and scrub to wildlife and humans.• Familiarize students with
the management and maintenance of grassland and scrub biome.Scrub can be valuable for a wide range
of wildlife, providing a continued source of nectar, fruits, seeds, shelter, breeding, and roosting sites. A
stand of scrub with varied plant species, age and structure will support a great variety of species.By
ensuring that scrub – the transitory stage between open habitats such as grassland and closed canopy
woodland - is part of your habitat mosaic you will be providing food and shelter for invertebrates,
amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds.IMPORTANCE OF SCRUB FOR WILDLIFEINVERTEBRATESSome
tall herbs, often associated with scrub edge, are vital to many grassland invertebrates that need nectar-
rich shrubs to complete their lifecycles. Species such as blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble, and herbs
provide early pollen and nectar, as well as foraging habitat for herbivorous and predatory invertebrates
in both adult and larval stages. Standing and fallen dead timber is valuable habitat for fungi and wood-
boring insects.AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILESAmphibians and reptiles prefer south facing areas of scrub for
basking and hibernation sites, for example south facing heathland gorse scrub edges provide basking for
adders. Scrub can also be used as a wildlife corridor to link habitats such as wetland areas for
amphibians.56Please DO NOT deface, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or anything similar in nature
the without permission Polytechnic University of the PhilippinesBIRDS AND MAMMALSScrub is
commonly used by birds such as bullfinch, yellowhammer, linnet, willow warbler, wren, blackbird,
dunnock, long-tailed tit and turtle dove. Coastal scrub is important for migratory birds such as redwing,
fieldfare, and waxwing, which use scrub as a ‘feeding station’. Fruits and seeds are a particularly
important feature of scrub which provides autumn and winter food for resident and migrant birds and
mammals.Certain species will show preferences for certain structures of scrub for example
yellowhammer and linnet nest in low, dense scrub edges that are thick at the base, whereas song thrush
nest in thick cover, preferring mature scrub, and feed in short marginal vegetation.Raptors will often use
scrub for roosting in winter and hunting small birds and mammals. Long-eared owl will utilize the old
nests of magpie in denser scrub areas. Nightingale are summer visitors (mid-April – August) and
restricted to the southern and eastern counties of England. Scrub has become increasingly important for
nightingale, preferring thickets of dense scrub such as blackthorn and bramble, with a margin of rough
grass.SCRUB MANAGEMENTSince scrub is a transitory habitat, it needs management to maintain it
otherwise it will develop into woodland or can become invasive and reduce the biodiversity of a site.
Initially it is important to look at a site and plan how it is going to be managed to ensure a balance with
other features of the site such as open habitat, species of conservation importance or geological
features.Work on scrub is best carried out in the autumn/winter, ideally early February, and should
never be done during the bird nesting season (March – July). Work on berry-bearing scrub is best
delayed until after December, leaving valuable autumn and winter fruits and seeds as food for
wildlife.Improvement – Increased biodiversity is associated with larger areas of wellmanaged scrub.If a
site does not have much scrub, creating it through natural regeneration or planting can improve the
variety of wildlife in the area. When planting, try to create a natural, 57Please DO NOT deface,
reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or anything similar in nature the without permission Polytechnic
University of the Philippinesuneven spread of planting with a mix of species and plenty of edges, which
are an important part of scrub.When planning to increase the amount of scrub it is important not to
create scrub at the expense of other existing high value habitat such as herb-rich grassland. Where a
stand of scrub does not attract a great variety of wildlife, the aim of managing the scrub should be to
improve its value for wildlife. This can be done by increasing the variety of species and structure,
encouraging natural regeneration and by rotational cutting to increase the age range within the
scrub.Generally, it is advised that species of local provenance are used for supplementary planting. The
ideal outcome is a mosaic of scrub stands of varying age and size structure with associated open habitat,
which in turn will increase the diversity of the associated plant and animal
communities.Farmers/landowners who apply for Natural England’s Environmental Stewardship Scheme
could receive payment for the restoration or creation of a succession of scrub habitat for specific target
species such as the dormouse, song thrush or turtle dove. Scrub creation is particularly aimed at sites
where target species already exist and where the site is adjacent to existing areas of scrub or
woodland.MAINTENANCE – Where a site has enough scrub in good condition it is important to maintain
its wildlife value by keeping a variety of stages of growth.Because scrub is a transitory habitat and
readily colonizes unmanaged open habitat, it is typically strong growing with a dense structure.
However, if allowed to grow unchecked scrub gradually develops a woodland structure. Growth tends to
become leggy and single stemmed; the understory is shaded out and the thicket qualities of the scrub
are then lost.By rotationally coppicing blocks of scrub and allowing them to re-grow, the scrub’s
characteristic thicket structure is rejuvenated and maintained.Scrub typically matures at about 15 years,
so coppicing 1/15th every year, i.e. a 15-year rotation, is a good rule of thumb; alternatively cutting
2/15th every other year or 3/15th every third year.58Please DO NOT deface, reproduce, modify,
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PhilippinesWhere scrub is almost entirely composed of bramble, the rotation can be shorter, between 5-
6 years (i.e. a fifth or sixth each winter) to provide a mosaic of bramble at different stages of growth.In
any event always try to avoid cutting adjacent patches sequentially in order not to reduce foliage for
invertebrates to feed on. Rough grassland fringes and damp ditch banks benefit from a shorter ‘cut and
rake’ rotation cycle of 2-3 years where a half or a third is cut in late summer/autumn. Try to integrate
this with the coppicing cycle i.e. cut and rake the edge of a block that you are coppicing in the same
year.Rotational cutting of bramble, marginal rough grass and tall herbs will increase the age ranges
within the scrub and give diversity in structure, which in turn will increase the diversity of the associated
wildlife. Aim to create long edges which are sunny and shelteredand a scrub mosaic effect with rides and
glades. Edges are particularly important for wildlife because they have flowering plants, which provide
continued nectar for invertebrates, fruits and seeds for birds and mammals, shelter and nest sites and
hunting grounds for raptors.Brash can be used to create habitat piles within the scrub. Limit the number
of piles and once these are established as part of the rotation, use the same locations in future
years.Livestock can be allowed rotational access to rougher grass alleviating the need to cut and rake.
Care should be taken that no toxic weeds are in rougher areas/scrub and that livestock does not push
into, or become caught up in, the scrub edge– for example sheep can become trapped by their fleeces in
bramble.REDUCTION – If scrub is encroaching on to habitats of higher conservation value, for example
unimproved grassland, it may be necessary to reduce the amount of scrub. The effect of scrub
encroachment on, for example, geological and historical features of a site should also be considered.
Once the extent of the scrub has been reduced, remaining scrub will need to be maintained to preserve
the balance between scrub and open habitat.ERADICATION – Where scrub composition is
predominantly invasive/non-native species and is damaging other habitats, for example rhododendron
or Japanese knotweed or snowberry eradication may be desirable. Complete eradication is difficult and
will require several years of management tailored to preventing re-growth.59Please DO NOT deface,
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University of the PhilippinesTECHNIQUES USED FOR MANAGING SCRUBThere are several ways to
manage scrub and methods will vary according to the aims of management and the species for which it
is being managed.Planting and sowing – for improvementNatural regeneration should be encouraged
but for quick results plant with whips of local provenance and from a sustainable
source.MANUAL/MACHINERY – for improvement, maintenance, reduction, or eradicationWhether hand
tools or large-scale machinery is used for scrub management will depend on the extent of the scrub and
site ground conditions. It is important to use tools appropriate to the task and ground conditions,
ranging from handheld tools, mower, chainsaw, to tractor-mounted hedge cutters or excavators.Where
the surrounding habitat is fragile, for example herb-rich grassland or wet ground, machinery may not be
feasible or advisable.GRAZING – for maintenance, reduction, or eradicationGrazing improves and
maintains the edges of scrub and helps with its reduction and eradication. The results will largely
depend on the type of livestock used and the palatability of the scrub species. Grazing requires careful
monitoring because if it becomes too intense, scrub structure can change through over-grazing of
palatable plants and fencing may be necessary to avoid an adverse impact on species such as
nightingale. Livestock should not be used for managing /eradicating scrub that contains species that are
toxic – for example rhododendron.THE GRASSLAND BIOME HABITATThe grassland biome includes
terrestrial habitats that are dominated by grasses and have relatively few large trees or shrubs. There
are three main types of grasslands—temperate grasslands, tropical grasslands (also known as savannas),
and steppe grasslands.GRASSLAND BIOME KEY CHARACTERISTICSThe following are the key
characteristics of the grassland biome:60Please DO NOT deface, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or
anything similar in nature the without permission Polytechnic University of the Philippines• Vegetation
structure that is dominated by grasses• Semi-arid climate• Rainfall and soils insufficient to support
significant tree growth• Most common at mid-latitudes and near the interiors of continents• Grasslands
are often exploited for agricultural useCLASSIFICATIONThe grassland biome is divided into the following
habitats:TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS: Temperate grasslands are dominated by grasses, lacking trees, and
large shrubs. Temperate grasslands include tall-grass prairies which are wet and humid, and dry, short-
grass prairies that experience hot summers and cold winters. The soil of temperate grasslands has a
nutrient-rich upper layer, but fires that prevent trees and shrubs from growing often accompany
seasonal droughts.TROPICAL GRASSLANDS: Tropical grasslands are located near the equator. They have
warmer, wetter climates than temperate grasslands and experience more pronounced seasonal
droughts. Savannahs are dominated by grasses but also have some scattered trees. Their soil is very
porous and drains rapidly. Tropical grasslands are found in Africa, India, Australia, Nepal, and South
America.Steppe grasslands: Steppe grasslands border on semi-arid deserts. The grasses found in the
steppe are much shorter than those of temperate and tropical grasslands. Steppe grasslands lack trees
except along the banks of rivers and streams.SUFFICIENT RAINFALLMost grasslands experience a dry
season and a rainy season. During the dry season, grasslands can be susceptible to fires, which often
start as a result of lightning strikes. The annual rainfall in a grassland habitat is greater than the annual
rainfall that occurs in desert habitats, and while they receive enough rain to grow grasses and other
scrubby plants, it's not enough to support the growth of significant numbers of trees. The soils of
grasslands 61Please DO NOT deface, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or anything similar in nature the
without permission Polytechnic University of the Philippinesalso limit the vegetation structure that
grows in them. Grassland soils are generally too shallow and dry to support tree growth.VARIETY OF
WILDLIFESome common plant species that occur in grasslands include buffalo grass, asters, coneflowers,
clover, goldenrods, and wild indigos. Grasslands support a variety of animal wildlife as well, including
reptiles, mammals, amphibians, birds, and many types of invertebrates. The dry grasslands of Africa are
among the most ecologically diverse of all grasslands and support populations of animals such as
giraffes, zebras, and rhinoceroses. The grasslands of Australia provide habitat for kangaroos, mice,
snakes, and a variety of birds. The grasslands of North America and Europe support wolves, wild turkeys,
coyotes, Canadian geese, cranes, bobcats, and eagles. Additional grassland wildlife includes:African
elephant (Loxodonta africana): The two front incisors of African elephants grow into large tusks that
curve forward. They have a large head, large ears, and a long musculartrunk.Lion (Panthera leo): The
largest of all African cats, lions inhabit savannas and the Gir Forest in northwest India.American bison
(Bison bison): Millions used to roam North America's grasslands, boreal regions, and scrublands but their
relentless slaughter for meat, hides, and sport drove the species to the brink of extinction.Spotted hyena
(Crocuta crocuta): Inhabits of the grasslands, savannas, and semi-deserts of sub-Saharan Africa, hyena’s
have the highest population density in the Serengeti, a vast plains ecosystem stretching from northern
Tanzania to southwestern Kenya.62Please DO NOT deface, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or
anything similar in nature the without permission Polytechnic University of the PhilippinesHUMAN
IMPACT ON THE GRASSLANDSTHIS IS A POWER PLANT ON A GRASSLAND photo courtesy of
mset.rst2.edu• Grasslands are sadly being threatened by human impacts. They are disappearing due to
dividing up the land for farming and urban development. Dividing up the land for farming is bad because
the animals of the grasslands do not have any way to move around. • 25% of grasslands have
disappeared because of people building power plants, cities, schools, roads, permanent homes (also
known as urban development).• Prairie animals are also being endangered. For example, farmers think
that prairie dogs are pests because they burrow and can cause injury to cattle and horses. Farmers kill
them even though it is illegal. • In the tropical grasslands, people are illegally poaching endangered
animals. For example, people are poaching tigers, elephants, and leopards and more endangered
animals like that. • People tour the tropical grasslands and watch the animals. The animals are
developing behavior problems due to being observed for long periods. Plus, the cars the people are
touring in have a pollution effect on the tropical grasslands. 63PleTHIS PERSON IS DEALING WITH A
POACHED TIGER PELT photo courtesy of technotrades.com64Please DO NOT deface, reproduce, modify,
distribute, sell, or anything similar in nature the without permission Polytechnic University of the
PhilippinesHOW YOU CAN HELP?RECYCLING SIGN photo courtesy of pixmac.comYou can help the
grasslands by biking to school and recycling items such as paper, plastic bags/bottles, and paper bags.
You can also help by getting your family members to drive fewer miles in the car. If it is a short distance
and nice weather, it would be a good idea to walk or bike wherever you are going. Remember, if you see
litter, pick it up.