title: Base-richness
text: # Base-richness
  
  In ecology, base-richness is the level of chemical bases in water or soil, such as calcium or magnesium ions. Many organisms prefer base-rich environments. Chemical bases are alkalis, hence base-rich environments are either neutral or alkaline. Because acid-rich environments have few bases, they are dominated by environmental acids (usually organic acids). However, the relationship between base-richness and acidity is not a rigid one – changes in the levels of acids (such as dissolved carbon dioxide) may significantly change acidity without affecting base-richness.
  
  Base-rich terrestrial environments are characteristic of areas where underlying rocks (below soil) are limestone. Seawater is also base-rich, so maritime and marine environments are themselves base-rich.
  
  Base-poor environments are characteristic of areas where underlying rocks (below soil) are sandstone or granite, or where the water is derived directly from rainfall (ombrotrophic).
  
  ## Examples of base-rich environments
  
  * Calcareous grassland
  * Fen
  * Limestone pavement
  * Maquis shrubland
  * Yew woodland
  
  ## Examples of base-poor environments
  
  * Bog
  * Heath (habitat)
  * Poor fen
  * Moorland
  * Pine woodland
  * Tundra
  