Machair
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLB1.9 |
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Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Least Concern |
Relation to |
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Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
Machairs are complex landscapes that support more or less extensive, short-turf dune grasslands in mosaics with calcareous lochs, saltmarshes, fens and other coastal habitats. In the National Vegetation Classification of the United Kingdom, twelve vegetation types have been mentioned belonging to the machair landscape. The grassland part is generally considered as ‘machair in the strict sense’ or ‘machair grassland’. The landscape always shows a long history of human intervention, especially through grazing, low-intensity systems of rotational cropping and fishery-related activities. Grazing may include cattle and/or sheep grazing, sometimes grazing by horses or goats is involved. Grazing by rabbits is an important natural phenomenon. The habitat type is found along the Atlantic coasts of Ireland and Scotland (where the largest and richest examples are found on the Outer Hebrides), characterised by a moist and cool climate, on calcareous sandy soils, that are blown inland from the shores by strong prevailing western winds, overlying peat or impermeable bedrock. The pH values are normally above 7.0. The dynamics of the system are enhanced by the digging and trampling activities of rabbits and domestic animals. The name machair is derived from the Irish word magh, meaning low-laying, fertile plain. A smooth surface is often considered an important criterion, like in the definition of Curtis: ‘systems in which the bulk of the area consists of a flat to gentle-sloping landform from which ridges are absent or very restricted and with a consequent restriction of the area of Ammophila’. The more or less humid sandy soils contain a significant proportion of shell fragments (up to 60 % of the soil or even more), producing lime-rich conditions. During winter, the low-lying parts of the system are flooded or at least waterlogged. The grasslands are dominated by rather generalist grasses including Poa pratensis and Festuca rubra, but a species- and flower-rich herb layer attracts many insects, whereas the complex landscape setting is important for breeding waders and other birds. As an example, at present, machairs support the healthiest western European population of the threatened Corncrake (Crex crex). On the European continent, to some extent, similar landscapes can be found, but not in the same complex landscape setting. In the Netherlands, for instance, low-lying, undulating plains with species-rich dry to humid dune grasslands do occur on old grazing grounds in the southwestern part of the country (vroongronden), but these sites are not dynamic and to a large extent decalcified. Calcareous, dynamic grasslands with a long history of human interference can be observed in the mainland dunes of Holland province (zeedorpenlandschap), but these are lacking the other landscape elements and wide-ranging grazing.
Indicators of good quality:
The following characteristics can be considered as indicators of good quality:
- High richness in herb species
- Long-term, non-intensive human land-use, including grazing
- Complex landscape setting, with grasslands and small water bodies and other elements
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Agriculture
- Agricultural intensification
- Intensive grazing
- Human intrusions and disturbances
- Golf course
- Camping and caravans
- Natural System modifications
- Water abstractions from groundwater
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to agriculture and open habitats
- Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
Distribution
Geographic occurrence and trends
EU28 | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ireland | Present | 29.4 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
United Kingdom | Present | 145 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
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Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 142950 | 129 | 174.6 | |
EU28+ | 129 | 174.6 |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
Characteristic species
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
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Crex crex | Corncrake | Birds |
Achillea millefolium | Flowering Plants | |
Arabis brownii | Flowering Plants | |
Asperula cynanchica | Flowering Plants | |
Bellis perennis | Flowering Plants | |
Cochlearia scotica | Flowering Plants | |
Coeloglossum viride | Flowering Plants | |
Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. hebridensis | Flowering Plants | |
Dactylorhiza purpurella | Flowering Plants | |
Erodium cicutarium | Flowering Plants | |
Euphrasia marshallii | Flowering Plants | |
Euphrasia officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca rubra | Flowering Plants | |
Galium verum | Flowering Plants | |
Gentianella campestris | Flowering Plants | |
Gymnadenia conopsea | Flowering Plants | |
Orchis mascula | Flowering Plants | |
Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
Platanthera chlorantha | Flowering Plants | |
Poa pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
Sedum acre | Flowering Plants | |
Spiranthes spiralis | Flowering Plants | |
Thymus praecox | Flowering Plants | |
Trifolium repens | Flowering Plants |