heath (habitat)

Heaths are shrubland habitats characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, found on mainly infertile acidic soils. In the latter respect they are similar to moorland, but they differ in terms of climate – heathland is generally warmer and drier than moorland – and vegetation.Heaths are widespread worldwide. Heaths form extensive and highly diverse communities across Australia in humid and sub-humid areas. Fire regimes with recurring burning are required for the maintenance of the heathlands. Even more diverse though less widespread heath communities occur in Southern Africa. Extensive heath communities can also be found in California, New Caledonia, central Chile and along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to these extensive heath areas the vegetation type is also found in more scattered locations across all continents, except Antarctica.
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