Subarctic volcanic field
Description (English)
This habitat comprises sparsely vegetated volcanic features such as active volcanos, recently formed lava streams, and older lava fields and rocks, as well as volcanic slopes and plains in the subarctic and arctic regions of Europe, mostly on Iceland and parts of Jan Mayen. The rock surfaces and volcanic soils are only slowly colonised, are nutrient-poor and subject to continuing effects of wind erosion and desiccation. Vascular plants and few and cryptogams are generally sparse but accumulating soil and deptressions benefiting from snow-lie may sustain more extensive vegetation
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code U61 |
|---|
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga cespitosa
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Flowering Plants
Salix lanata
Flowering Plants
Oxyria digyna
Flowering Plants
Koenigia islandica
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga cespitosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga oppositifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix lanata | Flowering Plants | |
| Oxyria digyna | Flowering Plants | |
| Koenigia islandica | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Flowering Plants
Poa alpina
Flowering Plants
Oxyria digyna
Flowering Plants
Carex bigelowii
Flowering Plants
Thymus serpyllum
Flowering Plants
Silene uniflora
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga cespitosa
Flowering Plants
Festuca vivipara
Flowering Plants
Empetrum nigrum
Flowering Plants
Betula pubescens
Flowering Plants
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Flowering Plants
Alchemilla alpina
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga oppositifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Oxyria digyna | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex bigelowii | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymus serpyllum | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene uniflora | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga cespitosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca vivipara | Flowering Plants | |
| Empetrum nigrum | Flowering Plants | |
| Betula pubescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Flowering Plants | |
| Alchemilla alpina | 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 |
|---|
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | H6.1 | Active volcanic features | overlap |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | H6.2 | Inactive recent volcanic features | overlap |
| European Red List of Habitats | H5.1c | Subarctic volcanic field | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | H6.1 | Active volcanic features | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | H6.2 | Inactive recent volcanic features | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | H6.1 | Active volcanic features | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | H6.2 | Inactive recent volcanic features | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | H6.2 | Inactive recent volcanic features | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | H6.1 | Active volcanic features | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | H6.2 | Unvegetated lava and ash fields | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | H6.3 | Fumaroles, solfataras and mofettes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | H6.2 | Unvegetated lava and ash fields | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | H6.3 | Fumaroles, solfataras and mofettes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | H6.2 | Unvegetated lava and ash fields | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | H6.3 | Fumaroles, solfataras and mofettes | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 66.6 | Fumaroles, solfataras and mofettes | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 66.6 | Fumaroles, solfataras and mofettes | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 66.6 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 66.6 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 66.6 | same |
