Ben Alder and Aonach Beag

Location:Scotland, United Kingdom
Area:16,453 acres (6,658 hectares)
Species:All  Endangered  Invasive
Website:View website
Climate:View Climate Data
Land Use:View Land Use Data
Köppen climate classification:Cfc (Climate: warm temperate; Precipitation: fully humid; Temperature: cool summer)
Natura 2000 Data Sheet:View Data Sheet  Explanatory notes

Ecoregions

Caledon conifer forests

Soils

Protected Area Boundary
 AB
   
Share50 %20 %20 %50 %30 %10 %10 %
Soil TypeUmbric LeptosolsLithic LeptosolsFerric PodzolsFerric PodzolsFibric HistosolsLithic LeptosolsUmbric Gleysols
Topsoil TextureMediumCoarseCoarseCoarseFineMediumFine
Reference Depth30 cm10 cm100 cm100 cm100 cm10 cm100 cm
DrainageImperfectlyModerately wellSomewhat excessiveSomewhat excessiveVery poorImperfectlyVery poor
Available Water Capacity15 mm15 mm15 m100 m150 m15 mm150 m
Phase 1  Stony    
Root Obstacle  60 - 80 cm40 - 60 cmNone to 80 cm None to 80 cm
Impermeable Layer  40 - 80 cm80 - 150 cmNone to 150 cm 40 - 80 cm
Soil Water Regime  Wet within 40 cm depth for over 11 monthWet within 40 cm depth for over 11 monthWet within 40 cm depth for over 11 month Wet within 40 cm depth for over 11 month
Topsoil Properties
Gravel6 %21 %3 %3 %1 %21 %1 %
Sand49 %73 %86 %86 %20 %42 %17 %
Silt31 %18 %8 %8 %40 %34 %29 %
Clay20 %9 %6 %6 %40 %24 %54 %
USDA TextureLoamSandy loamLoamy sandLoamy sandClayLoamClay
Reference Bulk Density1.43 g/cm³1.59 g/cm³1.67 g/cm³1.67 g/cm³1.26 g/cm³1.38 g/cm³1.22 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.1 g/cm³1.45 g/cm³1.41 g/cm³1.41 g/cm³0.1 g/cm³1.3 g/cm³1.23 g/cm³
Organic Carbon2.4 %1.4 %2.02 %2.02 %33.63 %1.61 %4.54 %
PH5.17.54.54.54.37.55
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity34 cmol kg⁻¹85 cmol kg⁻¹78 cmol kg⁻¹78 cmol kg⁻¹45 cmol kg⁻¹42 cmol kg⁻¹23 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity12 cmol kg⁻¹12 cmol kg⁻¹5 cmol kg⁻¹5 cmol kg⁻¹77 cmol kg⁻¹16 cmol kg⁻¹24 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation36 %86 %17 %17 %62 %100 %22 %
Total Exchangeable Bases4.7 cmol kg⁻¹5.2 cmol kg⁻¹2.5 cmol kg⁻¹2.5 cmol kg⁻¹31.4 cmol kg⁻¹15.5 cmol kg⁻¹7.1 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate0 %0 %0 %0 %0 %3.9 %0 %
Calcium Sulphate0 %0 %0 %0 %0 %0 %0 %
Exchangeable Sodium4 %1 %0 %0 %2 %3 %1 %
Electrical Conductivity0.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-1
Subsoil Properties
Gravel  3 %3 %2 % 1 %
Sand  86 %86 %47 % 22 %
Silt  6 %6 %26 % 25 %
Clay  8 %8 %27 % 53 %
USDA Texture  Loamy sandLoamy sandSandy clay loam Clay
Reference Bulk Density  1.63 g/cm³1.63 g/cm³1.38 g/cm³ 1.23 g/cm³
Bulk Density  1.57 g/cm³1.57 g/cm³0.1 g/cm³ 1.28 g/cm³
Organic Carbon  0.51 %0.51 %32.89 % 1.23 %
PH  5.15.14.6 5
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity  50 cmol kg⁻¹50 cmol kg⁻¹71 cmol kg⁻¹ 15 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity  2 cmol kg⁻¹2 cmol kg⁻¹78 cmol kg⁻¹ 19 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation  21 %21 %40 % 27 %
Total Exchangeable Bases  1.5 cmol kg⁻¹1.5 cmol kg⁻¹27.4 cmol kg⁻¹ 5.7 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate  0 %0 %0 % 0 %
Calcium Sulphate  0 %0 %0 % 0 %
Exchangeable Sodium  0 %0 %1 % 2 %
Electrical Conductivity  0.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-1 0.1 dS m-1
Soil data provided by FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.
Köppen climate classification provided by Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263