wildlifescotland

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he flora of Scotland is an assemblage of native plant species including over 1,600 vascular plants, more than 1,500 lichens and nearly 1,000 bryophytes. The total number of vascular species is low by world standard but lichens and bryophytes are abundant and the latter form a population of global importance. Various populations of rare fern exist, although the impact of 19th century collectors threatened the existence of several species. The flora is generally typical of the north west European part of the Palearctic ecozone and prominent features of the Scottish flora include boreal Caledonian forest (much reduced from its natural extent), heather moorland and coastal machair. In addition to the native varieties of vascular plants there are numerous non-native introductions, now believed to make up some 43% of the species in the country.

The fauna of Scotland is generally typical of the north-west European part of the Palearctic ecozone, although several of the country's larger mammalsextinction in historic times and human activity has also led to various species of wildlife being introduced. Scotland's diverse temperate. Wild Cats, important numbers of Grey and Harbour Seals and the most northerly colony of Bottlenose Dolphins in the world were hunted to environments support 62 species of wild mammals, including a population of Wild Cats and important numbers of Grey and Harbour Seals. media type="youtube" key="zDFkYDG0l40" height="344" width="425"

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