Editing Heath (section)

{{Short description|Shrubland habitat}}
{{About}}
{{distinguish|Health}}
[[File:Amrum (187753235).jpeg|thumb|upright=1.5|Flowering heath on [[Amrum]], Germany]]

A '''heath''' ({{IPAc-en|h|iː|θ}}) is a [[shrubland]] [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] found mainly on free-draining infertile, [[acid]]ic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. [[Moorland]] is generally related to high-ground heaths<ref>{{cite book|last1=Polunin |first1=Oleg |author1-link=Oleg Polunin |last2=Walters |first2=Martin |title=A Guide to the Vegetation of Britain and Europe |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1985 |isbn=0-19-217713-3 |page=220}}</ref> with—especially in [[Great Britain]]—a cooler and damper climate.

Heaths are widespread worldwide but are rapidly disappearing and considered a rare habitat in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lifeonland.org.uk/heath%20and%20moorland/index.htm |title=Heath and Moorland |last=Anon |work=[[Field Studies Council]] |publisher=FSC |access-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131004094204/http://www.lifeonland.org.uk/heath%20and%20moorland/index.htm |archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> They form extensive and highly diverse communities across [[Australia]] in humid and sub-humid areas where [[fire regime]]s with recurring burning are required for the maintenance of the heathlands.<ref name="Specht">Specht, R.L. 'Heathlands' in 'Australian Vegetation' R.H. Groves ed. Cambridge University Press 1988</ref> Even more diverse though less widespread heath communities occur in [[Southern Africa]]. Extensive heath communities can also be found in the Texas [[chaparral]], [[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 scattered locations across all continents, except [[Antarctica]].