EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > Q - Wetlands > Q2 - Valley mires, poor fens and transition mires > Q24 - Intermediate fen and soft-water spring mire

Intermediate fen and soft-water spring mire

Description (English)

These weakly acidic minerotrophic mires occur on peat fed from upper catchments by diffuse seepage of non-calcareous groundwater discharged via springs. They occur widely throughout temperate Europe, though at higher altitudes in the warmer south. The vegetation is typically dominated by a carpet of brown mosses and minerotrophic sphagna, small sedges and associated herbs, though generally without rich-fen indicators, and sometimes with drier hummocks on which sub-shrubs and occasional trees can be found.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code Q24
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)
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
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	Aapa mires	7130	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
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	Transition mires and quaking bogs	7140	Overlap
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	Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion	7150	Overlap
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)	Aapa mires	D3.2	Overlap	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

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum auriculatum

Mosses & Liverworts Warnstorfia exannulata

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum subsecundum

Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Comarum palustre

Flowering Plants Carex echinata

Flowering Plants Carex canescens

Flowering Plants Viola palustris

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
Sphagnum auriculatum		Mosses & Liverworts
Warnstorfia exannulata		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum subsecundum		Mosses & Liverworts
Eriophorum angustifolium		Flowering Plants
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Comarum palustre		Flowering Plants
Carex echinata		Flowering Plants
Carex canescens		Flowering Plants
Viola palustris		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

Flowering Plants Carex nigra

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Carex echinata

Flowering Plants Potentilla erecta

Flowering Plants Comarum palustre

Flowering Plants Agrostis canina

Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea

Flowering Plants Menyanthes trifoliata

Flowering Plants Galium palustre

Flowering Plants Carex panicea

Flowering Plants Viola palustris

Mosses & Liverworts Warnstorfia exannulata

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum auriculatum

Ferns Equisetum fluviatile

Mosses & Liverworts Calliergonella cuspidata

Flowering Plants Epilobium palustre

Flowering Plants Carex canescens

Mosses & Liverworts Aulacomnium palustre

Mosses & Liverworts Straminergon stramineum

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
Eriophorum angustifolium		Flowering Plants
Carex nigra		Flowering Plants
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Carex echinata		Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta		Flowering Plants
Comarum palustre		Flowering Plants
Agrostis canina		Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea		Flowering Plants
Menyanthes trifoliata		Flowering Plants
Galium palustre		Flowering Plants
Carex panicea		Flowering Plants
Viola palustris		Flowering Plants
Warnstorfia exannulata		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum auriculatum		Mosses & Liverworts
Equisetum fluviatile		Ferns
Calliergonella cuspidata		Mosses & Liverworts
Epilobium palustre		Flowering Plants
Carex canescens		Flowering Plants
Aulacomnium palustre		Mosses & Liverworts
Straminergon stramineum		Mosses & Liverworts

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum auriculatum

Mosses & Liverworts Warnstorfia exannulata

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Carex nigra

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum subsecundum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum teres

Flowering Plants Menyanthes trifoliata

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
Sphagnum auriculatum		Mosses & Liverworts
Warnstorfia exannulata		Mosses & Liverworts
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Carex nigra		Flowering Plants
Sphagnum subsecundum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum teres		Mosses & Liverworts
Menyanthes trifoliata		Flowering Plants

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)	D2.2	Poor fens and soft-water spring mires	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	D3.2	Aapa mires	overlap
European Red List of Habitats	D2.2c	Intermediate fen and soft water spring mire	wider

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	D2.2	Poor fens and soft-water spring mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	X03	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	D2.2	Acid flushes and marshes, dominated by small sedges and often sphagna	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	54.4	Acidic fens	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	54.8	Aapa mires	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	54.8	Aapa mires	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	54.4	Acidic fens	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	54.8		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	54.4		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	54.4		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	54.8		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	54.4		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	54.4		same

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Intermediate fen and soft-water spring mire

Description (English)

Quick facts

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Indicator species

Other classifications

History