Unvegetated or sparsely vegetated shore with mobile sediments in montane and alpine regions
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLC3.5d |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Vulnerable |
EU | Vulnerable |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
The habitat includes the bed and banks of rivers and streams from alpine to mountain (and partially sub-montane) belts and of the northern boreal area. The habitat is highly dynamic because it is characterized by periodical floods and frequent and considerable variation of speed and intensity of the water current, which however remains always rather high. The sediment of the habitat includes mainly gravel deposits and banks of alluvial material, characteristically poor in organic materials and nutrients. The vegetation types occupying these gravel deposits include pioneer vegetation and subsequent early stages in the colonization sequence, with plants specialised to survive in this habitat, having narrow leaves and elastic stems adapted to or tolerant of submersion and rapid changes of the water current: for example Myricaria germanica, and species of Epilobium Salix, Agrostis, Elimus, Poa. An important feature is that the vegetation stays in its pioneer stage and is ephemeral but eventual succession leads to willow scrub.
Indicators of good quality:
- Natural hydrological cycle of spates
- Suitable geological substrate which is easily erodible
- High water velocity
- Pioneer vegetation with absence or sporadic abundance of nitrophilous species
- No high abundance of exotic invasive species
- No negative anthropogenic influence (gravel extraction, regulation of the water regime, construction of artificial banks)
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | A1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | A1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Mining, extraction of materials and energy production
- Mining and quarrying
- Sand and gravel extraction
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Pollution to groundwater (point sources and diffuse sources)
- Invasive, other problematic species and genes
- Invasive non-native species
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Climate change
- Changes in abiotic conditions
- Droughts and less precipitations
- Flooding and rising precipitations
- Changes in biotic conditions
- Habitat shifting and alteration
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 wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
- Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime
- Managing water abstraction
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Manage landscape features
- Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport
- Other measures
- Urban and industrial waste management
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Present | 103 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Bulgaria | Present | Unknown | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Finland mainland | Present | 02-Oct | Stable | Stable |
Aland Islands | Present | 02-Oct | Stable | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 90 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 90 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Germany | Present | 1 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Italy mainland | Present | 263 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Romania | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovakia | Present | 0.75 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 86 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 0.73 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Poland | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Sweden | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
United Kingdom | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Northern Island | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Switzerland | Present | 135 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Albania | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Iceland | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Kosovo | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Norway Mainland | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Svalbard | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Jan Mayen | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Serbia | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 7647600 | 2796 | 549-557 | AOO/EOO incl. potential |
EU28+ | 6125 | 687-695 | AOO/EOO incl. potential |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).