Carr (landform) in the context of "Alder carr"

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⭐ Core Definition: Carr (landform)

A carr is a type of waterlogged wooded terrain that, typically, represents a succession stage between the original reedy marsh and the likely eventual formation of forest in a sub-maritime climate. Carrs are wetlands that are dominated by shrubs rather than trees. The carr is one stage in a hydrosere: the progression of vegetation beginning from a terrain submerged by fresh water along a river or lake margin. In sub-maritime regions, it begins with reed-marsh. As the reeds decay, the soil surface eventually rises above the water, creating fens that allow vegetation such as sedge to grow. As this progression continues, riparian trees and bushes appear and a carr landscape is created – in effect a wooded fen in a waterlogged terrain. At this stage, overall, unlike the overwhelming acidity of decaying reeds, the pH is not too acidic and the soil is not too deficient in minerals, making a habitat for endemic and other wildlife. Characteristic water-tolerant trees include alder and willow.

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👉 Carr (landform) in the context of Alder carr

An alder carr is a particular type of carr, i.e. waterlogged wooded terrain populated with alder trees. They can be found across the United Kingdom, sometimes attracting Ash trees should they become drier. Many have developed alongside streams in the New Forest, where the Alder's capacity to thrive in a water logged environment allows them to become the dominant species of tree in these areas. The presence of particular bacteria, Frankia alni, enables their root systems to extract nitrogen from the air, thus making up for the lack of nitrogen in waterlogged soil.

Alder carrs have often been coppiced, whereby cutting away growth at ground level encourages new trunks to grow at ground level. This means the wood can be repeatedly harvested. This wood can then be used to make water pipes, wooden pumps, as well as piles under bridges. Other uses have included charcoal for making gun powder, and filters for gas masks.

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Carr (landform) in the context of Marsh

In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants. More in general, the word can be used for any low-lying and seasonally waterlogged terrain. In Europe and in agricultural literature low-lying meadows that require draining and embanked polderlands are also referred to as marshes or marshland.

Marshes can often be found at the edges of lakes and streams, where they form a transition between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They are often dominated by grasses, rushes or reeds. If woody plants are present they tend to be low-growing shrubs, and the marsh is sometimes called a carr. This form of vegetation is what differentiates marshes from other types of wetland such as swamps, which are dominated by trees, and mires, which are wetlands that have accumulated deposits of acidic peat.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Marsh ← Marshland ← Alder carr
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Alder carr → Moor Park, Farnham → Ecological succession → Marsh → Forest → Maritime climate → Shrub → Tree → Hydrosere → River → Lake → Reed bed → Fen → Sedge → Riparian zone → PH → Acidic → Alder → Willow →