Arctic-alpine rich fen
Description (English)
Fens developed on open substrates constantly flushed by icy, base-rich water alongside small rivers, springs or glaciers in the alpine belt of European mountains and in the Arctic. Constant disturbance by moving water and freeze-thaw, aeration with turbulent flow and low productivity prevent peat accumulation. Consequently, this fen typically occurs as small unstable patches colonising bare ground. The vegetation consists of small basiphilous sedges, rushes and herbs, brown mosses and liverworts, and can include endemic species that are perhaps glacial relics such as Carex atrofusca, Carex microglochin and Juncus triglumis.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code Q45 |
|---|---|
| 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
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants
Juncus triglumis
Flowering Plants
Carex microglochin
Flowering Plants
Carex capillaris
Flowering Plants
Tofieldia pusilla
Mosses & Liverworts
Catoscopium nigritum
Ferns
Equisetum variegatum
Flowering Plants
Carex bicolor
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Mosses & Liverworts
Oncophorus virens
Flowering Plants
Salix myrsinites
Flowering Plants
Thalictrum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Bistorta vivipara
Flowering Plants
Kobresia simpliciuscula
Flowering Plants
Carex saxatilis
Flowering Plants
Juncus arcticus
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Carex atrofusca
Flowering Plants
Juncus biglumis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Juncus triglumis | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex microglochin | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Tofieldia pusilla | Flowering Plants | |
| Catoscopium nigritum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Equisetum variegatum | Ferns | |
| Carex bicolor | Flowering Plants | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Oncophorus virens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Salix myrsinites | Flowering Plants | |
| Thalictrum alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Bistorta vivipara | Flowering Plants | |
| Kobresia simpliciuscula | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex saxatilis | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus arcticus | Flowering Plants | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex atrofusca | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus biglumis | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Bistorta vivipara
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Juncus triglumis
Ferns
Equisetum variegatum
Mosses & Liverworts
Bryum pseudotriquetrum
Ferns
Selaginella selaginoides
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga aizoides
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium
Flowering Plants
Carex capillaris
Flowering Plants
Tofieldia pusilla
Flowering Plants
Thalictrum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Pinguicula vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Parnassia palustris
Flowering Plants
Juncus alpinoarticulatus
Flowering Plants
Carex nigra
Flowering Plants
Bartsia alpina
Mosses & Liverworts
Palustriella commutata
Flowering Plants
Deschampsia cespitosa
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bistorta vivipara | Flowering Plants | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Juncus triglumis | Flowering Plants | |
| Equisetum variegatum | Ferns | |
| Bryum pseudotriquetrum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Selaginella selaginoides | Ferns | |
| Saxifraga aizoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum angustifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Tofieldia pusilla | Flowering Plants | |
| Thalictrum alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Pinguicula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Parnassia palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus alpinoarticulatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex nigra | Flowering Plants | |
| Bartsia alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Palustriella commutata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Deschampsia cespitosa | Flowering Plants |
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Carex microglochin
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex microglochin | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | D3.2 | Aapa mires | overlap |
| European Red List of Habitats | D4.2 | Arctic-alpine rich fen | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | D3.2 | Aapa mires | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | D3.2 | Aapa mires | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | D3.2 | Aapa mires | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | D3.2 | Aapa mires | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | D3.2 | Aapa mires | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | X03 | Aapa mires | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | D4.2 | Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 54.3 | Arctoalpine riverine swards | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 54.8 | Aapa mires | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 54.8 | Aapa mires | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 54.3 | Arctoalpine riverine swards | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 54.8 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 54.3 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 54.3 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 54.8 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 54.3 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 54.3 | same |
