EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > U - Inland habitats with no or little soil and mostly with sparse vegetation > U2 - Screes > U25 - Boreal and arctic base-rich scree and block field

Boreal and arctic base-rich scree and block field

Description (English)

Boreal and arctic base-rich screes and block fields comprise talus or freeze-thaw block fields of calcareous rocks in the southern boreal to arctic regions, mainly in the Scandinavian Mountains, Iceland and Svalbard. Because of the considerable variation in climate, the habitat harbours a large diversity of species and plant communities, but it includes only sparse assemblages of vascular plants growing in sparse patches. These are dependent on the natural or semi-natural disturbance regime, periodic rockfall and continuing instability of the substrate in the case of screes, and in some regions also a long tradition of grazing.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code U25
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

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
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Calcareous and calcshist screes of the montane to alpine levels (Thlaspietea rotundifolii)	8120	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Cold limestone screes	H2.2	Same	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Flowering Plants Saussurea alpina

Flowering Plants Thalictrum alpinum

Ferns Selaginella selaginoides

Flowering Plants Tofieldia pusilla

Flowering Plants Juncus biglumis

Flowering Plants Betula nana

Flowering Plants Viola biflora

Flowering Plants Potentilla nivea

Flowering Plants Arenaria pseudofrigida

Flowering Plants Salix reticulata

Flowering Plants Erigeron uniflorus

Flowering Plants Pedicularis palustris

Flowering Plants Trichophorum alpinum

Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Saussurea alpina		Flowering Plants
Thalictrum alpinum		Flowering Plants
Selaginella selaginoides		Ferns
Tofieldia pusilla		Flowering Plants
Juncus biglumis		Flowering Plants
Betula nana		Flowering Plants
Viola biflora		Flowering Plants
Potentilla nivea		Flowering Plants
Arenaria pseudofrigida		Flowering Plants
Salix reticulata		Flowering Plants
Erigeron uniflorus		Flowering Plants
Pedicularis palustris		Flowering Plants
Trichophorum alpinum		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Saussurea alpina

Ferns Selaginella selaginoides

Flowering Plants Festuca ovina

Flowering Plants Viola biflora

Flowering Plants Betula nana

Flowering Plants Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Flowering Plants Thalictrum alpinum

Flowering Plants Vaccinium uliginosum

Flowering Plants Ranunculus acris

Flowering Plants Solidago virgaurea

Ferns Equisetum palustre

Flowering Plants Empetrum nigrum

Flowering Plants Carex bigelowii

Flowering Plants Andromeda polifolia

Flowering Plants Tofieldia pusilla

Flowering Plants Potentilla erecta

Flowering Plants Geranium sylvaticum

Mosses & Liverworts Aulacomnium palustre

Flowering Plants Salix reticulata

Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Saussurea alpina		Flowering Plants
Selaginella selaginoides		Ferns
Festuca ovina		Flowering Plants
Viola biflora		Flowering Plants
Betula nana		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium vitis-idaea		Flowering Plants
Thalictrum alpinum		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium uliginosum		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris		Flowering Plants
Solidago virgaurea		Flowering Plants
Equisetum palustre		Ferns
Empetrum nigrum		Flowering Plants
Carex bigelowii		Flowering Plants
Andromeda polifolia		Flowering Plants
Tofieldia pusilla		Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta		Flowering Plants
Geranium sylvaticum		Flowering Plants
Aulacomnium palustre		Mosses & Liverworts
Salix reticulata		Flowering Plants

Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group

Please note that a maximum of 20 species of each indicator category is shown.

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	H2.2	Cold limestone screes	same
European Red List of Habitats	H2.2	Boreal and arctic base-rich scree	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	H2.2	Cold limestone screes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	H2.2	Cold limestone screes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	H2.2	Cold limestone screes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	H2.2	Boreal limestone screes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	H2.2	Boreal limestone screes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	H2.2	Boreo-alpine limestone screes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	61.62	Arctic sandwort calcicline screes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	61.62	Arctic sandwort calcicline screes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	61.62		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	61.62		same

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