Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

Four habitats assessed in 2005 were re-assessed in 2008 (Table 9.1): blanket bog;
limestone pavement; upland calcareous grassland; upland heathland. Assessments are
based on systematic survey where possible, but sometimes rely on expert judgement.
All four habitats were in decline (slowing) in 2005, but one had become stable by 2008
(limestone pavement).
Table 9.1
Trends in upland priority habitat status between 2005 and 2008
Source: Biodiversity Action Reporting System
Upland habitats 2005 2008
Assessed in both years count % count %
Declining (slowing) 4 100 3 75
Fluctuating - probably declining
No clear trend
Fluctuating - probably stable
Stable 1 25
Fluctuating - probably increasing
Increasing
The overall appraisal of upland priority habitats is better.
Priority species
Some 122 biodiversity priority species (e.g. mosses, liverworts, fungi and flowering
plants; bees and butterflies; mammals and birds) occur in Scottish upland ecosystems.
Thirteen species which were assessed in 2005 were re-assessed in 2008 (Table 9.2): a
lichen, Alectoria ochroleuca; northern prongwort (liverwort), Herbertus borealis; leadmoss,
Ditrichum plumbicola; stalked puffball, Tulostoma niveum; Norwegian mugwort
(flowering plant), Artemisia norvegica; Shetland mouse-ear (flowering plant), Cerastium
nigrescens; sword grass, Xylena exsoleta; mountain scurvy-grass, Cochlearia micacea;
yellow marsh saxifrage, Saxifraga hirculus; oblong woodsia, Woodsia ilvensis; wooly
willow, Salix lanata; argent and sable moth, Rheumaptera hastate; and netted mountain
moth, Macaria carbonaria.
In 2005 and 2008, 8% were declining (the declining status of flowering plant Shetland
Mouse-ear, Cerastium nigrescens deteriorated). The number of species which were
stable or increasing (84%) also remained the same (although wooly willow, Salix lanata,
changed from increasing to stable).
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