Alvar steppes
Description (English)
Steppic grasslands of palaeozoic limestones of the Baltic islands of Åland and Gotland and of calcareous enclaves of southern Sweden, in Vestgotland, dominated by fescues with numerous species of continental affinities, many at the northern limit of their range, in particular, Artemisia oelandica, Artemisia saxicola, Ranunculus illyricus, Globularia vulgaris. They are rich in endemic species and in orchids. Besides the steppe communities included in this unit, their environment includes pioneer rock swards included in unit E1.1 and lowland rock crack communities included in unit H3.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code E1.25 |
|---|---|
| Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (E1.2) |
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
| Legal text | Annex | Name in legal text | Code in legal text |
Habitat type relationship |
More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007 | Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation | Nordic alvar and precambrian calcareous flatrocks | 6280 | Overlap | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Flowering Plants
Artemisia oelandica
Flowering Plants
Globularia vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus illyricus
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisia oelandica | Flowering Plants | |
| Globularia vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus illyricus | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 | 34.317 | Alvar steppes | source |
| CORINE Land Cover | 3.2.1. | Natural grassland | n/a |
| HELCOM Baltic Sea Marine and Coastal Biotopes 1998 | 03.07.02.04 | Coastal wetlands and meadows: meadows / pastures: dry meadows (incl. alvars) | same |
| Nordic Vegetation Classification 1994 | 5.2.1.3c | Alvar dry meadow-variant | n/a |
| Nordic Vegetation Classification 1994 | 5.1.5.2 | Sheep's Fescue alvar type | n/a |
| Nordic Vegetation Classification 1994 | 5.1.5.2a | Helianthemum oelandicum variant | n/a |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E1.25 | Alvar steppes | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E1.25 | Alvar steppes | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E1.25 | Alvar steppes | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E1.25 | Alvar steppes | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E1.25 | Alvar steppes | same |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 34.317 | Alvar steppes | same |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 34.317 | Alvar steppes | same |
