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Celtic rainforest and ancient woodland indicator plants on an anthropogenic site at the Holy Loch, Argylll, Scotland
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Abstract
This study documents the floristic, bryological and rainforest lichen composition of a young, anthropogenic woodland at Holy Loch Nature Reserve (HLNR), Argyll. Although the woodland is no more than 75 years old and established on upper, roadside saltmarsh and on an adjacent, capped industrial landfill, it supports a species assemblage characteristic of hyper-oceanic temperate rainforest. Surveys conducted between 2022 and 2025 recorded many bryophytes and lichens, including several oceanic species such as Radula complanata, Riccardia palmata and Neckera complanata, alongside rainforest-associated lichens including Lobaria pulmonaria and Peltigera membranacea. Multiple vascular plant Ancient Woodland Indicators (AWIs), including Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Carex sylvatica and Stellaria holostea, were also present despite the site’s young age. A freshwater swamp and regenerating carr contribute to habitat heterogeneity. At least 700 higher invertebrates and vertebrates have so far been recorded as using this woodland. The coexistence of AWIs, oceanic bryophytes, rainforest lichens and high invertebrate diversity supports the interpretation of woodland at HLNR as a young but developing temperate rainforest. These findings highlight the ecological value of post?industrial landscapes and provide a rationale for the site’s designation as a Local Nature Reserve.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32942/X29674
Subjects
Life Sciences
Keywords
Acaena novae-zelandiae, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ajuga reptans, Alchemilla sp., Alnus glutinosa, Allium paradoxum, Allium ursinum, Ancient Woodland Indicators, Anthropogenic woodland, Anthoceros agrestis, Arum maculatum, Asplenium scolopendrium, Asplenium trichomanes, Atlantic biogeographic zone, Atlantic temperate rainforest, Athyrium filix-femina, Atrichum undulatum, Barbarea vulgaris, Bellis perennis, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Blechnum spicant, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Brackish ecotone, Bryophyte microscopy, Bryophyte–lichen assemblages, Bryum capillare, Buddleja davidii, Caltha palustris, Calliergonella cuspidata, Calypogeia muelleriana, Carex echinata, Carex hirta, Carex laevigata, Carex pendula, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Carpinus betulus, Carr woodland, Cerasus avium (Prunus avium), Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Climate‑sensitive epiphytes, Coastal resilience vegetation, Coastal woodland, Coenogonium luteum, Conopodium majus, Conservation value of post‑industrial land, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Crocosmia sp., Cynosurus cristatus, DAFOR abundance scoring, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia caespitosa, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Digitalis purpurea, Didymodon insulanus, Diplophyllum albicans, Disturbance ecology, DNA barcoding, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris affinis, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Ecological succession, Epiphytic communities, Epiphytic ferns, Epilobium ciliatum, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Epilobium palustre, Epilobium parviflorum, Erinus alpinus, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum sylvaticum, Euphorbia peplus, Eurhynchium striatum, Fagus sylvatica, Ficaria verna, Fine‑scale habitat mapping, Fissidens bryoides, Fissidens celticus, Flat Neckera, Frullania dilatata, Frullania tamarisci, Fraxinus excelsior, Freshwater swamp, Galium uliginosum, Geomorphology, Geum urbanum, Geranium × oxonianum, Geranium robertianum, Glyceria fluitans, Gnaphalium uliginosum, Gravel‑bar geomorphology, Habitat heterogeneity, Harmer succession dynamics, Hedera helix, Hesperis matronalis, High‑resolution floristic survey, Hyacinthoides hispanica, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Hypericum androsaemum, Hyperoceanic bryophytes, Hyperoceanic indicator lichens, Hypnum andoi, Hypnum cupressiforme, Ilex aquifolium, Impatiens glandulifera, Invasive non‑native species management, Isothecium myosuroides, Jacobaea aquatica, Juncus effusus, Kindbergia praelonga, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Landfill vegetation dynamics, Lapsana communis, Lemna minor, Lepidozia reptans, Lepidium didymum, Ligustrum ovalifolium, Lichen succession, Lichens of Atlantic rainforest, Lobaria pulmonaria, Lonicera periclymenum, Lolium perenne, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophocolea semiteres, Luzula campestris, Lycopersicon esculentum, Lysimachia nemorum, Malus pumila, Malaise trapping, Marsupella emarginata, Matricaria discoidea, Mentha aquatica, Metzgeria furcata, Metzgeria violacea, Microclimatic buffering, Mycena sp. (rainforest microfungi), Neckera complanata, Neckera pumila, Novel ecosystems, NVC limitations, Oenanthe crocata, Oceanic liverworts, Oxalis acetosella, Pellia endiviifolia, Peltigera membranacea, Peltigera hymenina, Persicaria maculosa, Phragmites australis, Pinus sylvestris, Plantago major, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Pohlia wahlenbergii, Polypodium vulgare, Polystichum setiferum, Polytrichum formosum, Populus tremula, Post‑industrial ecosystems, Postglacial landforms, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla sterilis, Prunella vulgaris, Prunus avium, Prunus padus, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Quercus sp., Radula complanata, Rainforest indicator species, Rainforest lichens, Ranunculus repens, Reynoutria × bohemica, Rhododendron ponticum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Ribes nigrum, Ribes sanguineum, Riccardia palmata, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Rubus odoratus, Rubus spectabilis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex longifolius, Rumex obtusifolius, Saltmarsh–woodland ecotone, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix hybrid sp., Scrophularia nodosa, Scytinium gelatinosum, Scytinium lichenoides, Sedum anglicum, Secondary woodland succession, Senecio vulgaris, Shade‑tolerant woodland herbs, Silene dioica, Sisyrinchium montanum, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorbus aucuparia, Species colonisation pathways, Spiraea japonica, Stachys sylvatica, Stellaria alsine, Stellaria holostea, Successional transitions, Supralittoral vegetation, Symphoricarpos albus, Symphytum sp., Taraxacum officinale agg., Teucrium scorodonia, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tilia cordata, Trifolium dubium, Tropaeolum majus, Tussilago farfara, Ulmus glabra, Urtica dioica, Valerianella locusta, Veronica serpyllifolia, Vicia sepium, Viola riviniana, Woodland hydrology, Woodland microhabitats, Woodland regeneration, Young woodland maturity paradox
Dates
Published: 2026-04-01 15:52
Last Updated: 2026-04-01 15:52
License
CC BY Attribution 4.0 International
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Language:
English
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