Hannah's UEA Ecology blog

A male blackbird sitting on a hedgerow Blackbirds are curious creatures that are very recognisable and abundant in the UK. There are over 5,100,000 breeding pairs in the UK and their population is doing well which is shown by their conservation status being Green. The females and males of the species both have an individually unique look. Adult males are just as their name describes them - black. They have black feathers, brown legs and a typically orange, medium length beak. However, females are not black but instead they are brown with spots and streaks on their breasts. They are medium sized birds weighing 80-100g and having a wingspan of 34-38cm. They are part of the thrush bird family and have the scientific name Turdus merula. They can be found all over the UK in woodland, grassland, farmland and also urban and suburban areas. On average blackbirds live about 3-4 years and have a fairly high mortality rate as a population especially during breeding months March to June...

Succession has occurred and created a richly biodiverse community Bure Marshes is a national nature reserve in Horning, Norwich in the East of the UK. Over time succession has occurred in the area and shaped the landscape that can be seen today. Humans have intervened in many ways and taken advantage of the area to aid themselves through cash crops. Succession is the process of change in the environment over a period of time. The end product of succession is a climax community which involves the environment reaching a secure state. In the UK this community is typically Oak ( Quercus)   but in Bure Marshes where the land is fairly waterlogged the climax community comprises of Alder ( Alnus glutinosa ) as it grows very well in wet conditions.  Alder is part of the Betulaceae family and is native to the UK. It is particularly important for the symbiotic relationship it has with  Frankia alni -   a  nitrogen-fixing bacteria that is found in root nod...