Valley mires
Description (English)
Topogenous wetlands in which the peat-forming vegetation depends on water draining from the surrounding landscape. Most valley mires are habitat complexes including poor fens, transition mires and pools. Acid valley mires (D2.11) often have vegetation resembling that of bogs (D1), especially in those parts relatively distant from flowing water. Basic and neutral valley mires (D2.12) support mainly poor-fen vegetation (D2.2), but in large mire systems, this is accompanied by acid wet grassland (E3.5), large sedges (D5.2) and reeds (D5.1). Sphagnum hummocks form locally and transition mires (D2.3) or littoral (C3.2) and spring (D2.2C) communities colonize small depressions. Excluded are rich-fen valley mires (D4.1).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code D2.1 |
|---|
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
| Name | Definition | Other names | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ericion tetralicis Schwickerath 1933 | Moist peaty heathlands on gley and podsolic soils within oceanic areas in Western and Central Europe | Calluno-Sphagnion papillosi Tx. in Tx. et al. 1972; Droserion longifoliae Julve 1992; Narthecion ossifragi Vanden Berghen 1958; Scirpion caespitosi Oberd. 1957; Ulici-Ericion tetralicis (Schwickerath 1933) Tx. 1937; Erico mackaianae-Sphagnion papillosi (Fernández Prieto et al. 1987) Rivas-Mart. et al.1999; Trichophoro-Ericion tetralicis (Schwickerath 1933) Duvigneaud 1947 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
| Caricion lasiocarpae Vanden Berghen in Lebrun et al. 1949 | Mesotrophic sedge fens of wet sites on peat and mineral soils of Europe | Acrocladio-Caricion Succow 1974; Caricion diandrae Palczynski 1975; Eriophorion gracilis Preising in Oberd. 1957; Junco acutiflori-Caricion lasiocarpae Julve 1993; Junco subnodulosi-Caricion lasiocarpae Julve 1993; Stygio-Caricion limosae Nordhagen 1943 p.p.; Caricion chordorrhizo-lasiocarpae (Vanden Berghen in Lebrun et al. 1949) Julve 1993; Meeseo-Caricion limosae (Preising in Oberd. 1957) Passarge 1978; Carici lasiocarpae-Eriophorion vaginati Voroiov et al. 1997 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
| Oxycocco-Ericion tetralicis Nordhagen ex Tx. 1937 | Oligotrophic vegetation on bogs and acidic fens in oceanic and suboceanic regions of Europe | Carici-Sphagnion papillosi Malmer 1964; Erico-Sphagnion papillosi Moore 1968; Oxycocco-Ericion tetralicis Nordhagen 1936; Sphagnion europaei Schwickerath 1940; Calluno-Sphagnion papillosi (Schwickerath 1933) Tx. in Tx. et al. 1972 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
Species mentioned in habitat description
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CORINE Land Cover | 4.1.1. | Inland marshes | n/a |
| Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993 | E31B | Fen: valley mire, basic | narrower |
| Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993 | E31 | Fen: valley mire | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | D2.1 | Valley mires | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | D2.1 | Valley mires | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | D2.1 | Valley mires | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | D2.1 | Valley mires | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | D2.1 | Valley bogs | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | D2.1 | Valley bogs | same |
