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Machair

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English name Machair Open code browser    Diagram icon

EUNIS habitat type code   B1.9 Level   3
Edition   EUNIS Habitat Classification 2012 - a revision of the habitat classification descriptions.

Description ( English )

Short-turf grasslands formed on dry and seasonally waterlogged, relatively flat and low-lying sand plains, where windblown calcareous sand overlies peat or impermeable bedrock. Machair grasslands are machair in the strict sense, and form part of the machair complex (X27), characteristic of the Outer Hebrides and western Ireland, with dunes (B1.3, B1.4), shallow lochs (C1) and land cultivated on a strip rotation (I1). They support a flower-rich, and correspondingly insect-rich, dune grassland studded with shallow lochs and cultivated on a strip rotation. The grassland is dominated by [Poa pratensis] and [Festuca rubra], accompanied by [Thalictrum minus ssp. arenarium], [Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus] ([Thymus drucei]), [Bellis perennis], [Prunella vulgaris], [Erodium cicutarium], [Trifolium] spp., [Euphrasia] spp. and many orchids, among which [Dactylorhiza fuchsii ssp. hebridensis], [Dactylorhiza purpurella], [Gymnadenia conopsea], [Coeloglossum viride], [Platanthera chlorantha] and [Orchis mascula] are the most prominent. This grassland harbours a plant community of very restricted distribution comprising vulnerable species; [Cochlearia scotica], [Euphrasia marshallii] and [Dactylorhiza fuchsii ssp. hebridensis] are endemic. As a whole, machair is an essential habitat for breeding waders such as [Haematopus ostralegus], [Vanellus vanellus], [Charadrius hiaticula], [Calidris alpina], [Tringa totanus] and [Gallinago gallinago]; it supports the healthiest western European population of the threatened corncrake [Crex crex].

Source

Hill, M.O., Moss, D. & Davies, C.E. (2001)

External links


Relationships with other classifications

Classification Code Title Relation type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 B1.9 Machair same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 B1.9 Machair same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 B1.9 Machair same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 B1.9 Machair same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 B1.9 Machair same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 B5.5 Machair same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 1A.1 Machair same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 1A.1 Machair same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 1A.1 Machair same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 1A.1   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 1A.1   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 1A   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 1A   same
CORINE Land Cover 2.3.1. Pastures n/a
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993 H65 Sand-dune: dune grassland wider
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK) 29 Machair same
  B Coastal habitats Go to key navigator, starting with this habitat    Ancestor
  B1 Coastal dunes and sandy shores Go to key navigator, starting with this habitat    Parent
EUNIS

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