Biology

Today there are four different biotopes in the area: the Quarry, Hay Meadow, Moorland and Deciduous Forest. We celebrate these biotopes in “The Song of the Four Biotopes”.

Right at the back of the room you can see four small cabinets, each with a picture representing one of the four biotopes. Furthest left is the Quarry. From a distance the open sandy soil may look like a desert, but if you open the cabinet you will see close-up pictures of three insects that live here (but watch out for the bee-killer wasp! (Philanthus Triangulum)). There are lots of pollinators (hymenoptera) and wild bees in the Quarry and recent studies have shown that even this biotope plays an important role for biological diversity.

The Hay Meadows, the flowering meadows close to the church, are also important for the area’s biological diversity. These were once grazing pastures, but today the meadows are mown. Thanks to mowing there is a fantastic wealth of flowers in the meadows here in Fjärås Bräcka. All these flowers, grasses and herbs in turn attract bees, butterflies and birds. A beautiful effect of mowing is the growth of scabious (Succisa pratensis), which flowers in the late summer and attracts the red-listed small scabious mining bee (Andrena marginata). If you open the door of the second cabinet from the left you will see a model of the small scabious mining bee and a picture of scabious.

The third biotope, Moorland, also deserves conservation, and the County Board in Region Halland addresses this seriously. This area to the south was previously grazing pastures that were burned every fifth year to keep the heather in check. Today the Moorland contributes to the area’s biological diversity, and a large number of rare and red-listed insects are found here. If you open the third cabinet from the left you will however find a number of much bigger animals, but as small models … Do you know the names of these grazing animals?

The Deciduous Forest also lies to the south, close to the old village of Limmanäs. Here you will find oak and beech trees and can enjoy the birdsong from for example hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), small woodpeckers (Picidae) and wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes). If you open the fourth cabinet you can test how many bird songs you can recognize in our bird song game.

Before you go on to the next room: Take a close look at our beautiful diorama! Can you find all the animals and insects?