Red List habitat classification > RLD - Mires and bogs > RLD3.1 Palsa mire

Palsa mire

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code RLD3.1
Threat status
Europe	Critically Endangered
EU	Critically Endangered
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) Resolution 4 habitat type (Bern Convention) EUNIS habitat classification (2007)
Source	European Red List habitat factsheet
	European Red List of habitats reports
	European Red List of habitats (Excel table)

Summary

This habitat type is consists of mires in the subarctic region with sporadic permafrost, most characteristically palsa mounds elevated by permafrost lenses. Palsa mires are found in the discontinuous permafrost zone of Iceland, northern Fennoscandia and arctic Russia, in areas with average annual temperature below -1 °C, with climatic optimum between -3 to -5 °C and annual precipitation below 450 mm. Typically, palsa mounds occur in groups in the central, thick-peated areas of palsa mires. Palsa mounds with dome shape are 10-100 m wide and 2-7m high. Other types are longitudinal string-form or extensive plateau- form palsas that reach 1-3 m high. Palsa mound summits are covered by Sphagnum peat that insulates heat so that the active layer of thaw is limited to 30-60 cm. The perennial frozen core of palsa mounds consists of frozen peat and silt material with ice lenses and crystals. Pounikko-type hummock ridges (D3.12) formed by seasonal frost action can be found particularly in marginal areas of palsa mires. Palsas can have different successional stages: young palsa formations have Sphagnum hummock vegetation, while older palsa mounds become dry and their exposed peat surfaces are subject to erosion that may lead to melting and partial collapse. Completely melted palsas result in the formation of thermokarst ponds.

The palsa mound summits provide dry microhabitats in palsa mires. Typical species growing on the palsa mounds include Dicranum elongatum, Polytrichum strictum, Empetrum nigrum and Rubus chamaemorus and many lichens. Sides of palsa mounds often have abundant Betula nana, Ledum palustris and Eriophorum vaginatum. Palsa mires resemble D3.2 Aapa mires in hydrology and vegetation of the wet mire surfaces of areas between the palsa mounds, but regular hummock-string patterning is usually not found. Palsa mires are usually weakly minerotrophic and vegetation types overlap with those of D2.2a Poor fens and D2.3 Quaking mires. In the wet surfaces, Sphagnum lindbergii, S. riparium, Eriophorum angustifolium and Carex rotundata are typical dominant species.

Indicators of good quality:

Under natural conditions, water table is very close to peat surface in fen areas between palsa mounds and carpets of mosses prevail with abundance of characteristic sedges.
There are no ditches that drain or disconnect water flow (seepage or overland flow) in the palsa mire complex.
Only few of the palsa mounds are melting and collapsing, indicating natural dynamics, while most palsa mounds remain frozen with intact peat cover.
Seasonal thaw of permafrost, the so called active layer, may reach 50-60 cm, while substantially deeper active layer approaching 1-m depth indicates melting and collapse.

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

This habitat type is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) under Criterion E as its probability of collapse within the next 50 years is estimated to be over 50% as a result of climate warming. This quantitative analysis has been performed by reviewing and analyzing published research articles, together with unpublished contributions from experts, by including probabilistic modeling of future trends and linear extrapolation of recent trends to support model predictions.
However, there are certain comments to the assessment that need to be mentioned. First of all, monitoring of the active layer depth was possibly undertaken on big palsa mounds whose degradation may have occurred as part of their natural cycle. Furthermore, palsa mounds themselves are only components of the palsa mire habitats, while other indicators of habitat quality are poorly known and have not been considered in this assessment. In addition, extrapolation of recent trends to the future is heavily dependent on which precise recent period of climate fluctuation was included in the data. It is also noteworthy that there is no complete information available on area cover and decrease throughout the whole distribution of the habitat type.

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Critically Endangered	E

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Critically Endangered	E

Confidence in the assessment

high

Red List of habitat categories and criteria descriptions

European Red List of Habitats categories

Based on Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Reduction in quantity (area of distribution)	A	A1 Present decline (over last 50 years) A2a Future decline (over the next 50 years) A2b Future/present decline (over a 50-year period inclunding present and future) A3 Historic decline
Restricted geographic distribution	B	B1 Restricted Extent of Occurrence (EOO) B2 Restricted Area of Occupancy (AOO) B3 Present at few locations
Reduction in abiotic quality	C	C/D1 Reduction in quality over the last 50 years C/D2 Reduction in quality in the future or in a period including present and future C/D3 Historic reduction in quality
Reduction in biotic quality	D
Quantitative analysis of probability of collapse	E

From Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

Pressures and threats

Transportation and service corridors

Paths, tracks, cycling tracks

Human intrusions and disturbances

Off-road motorized driving
Trampling, overuse

Natural System modifications

Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions

Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)

Erosion

Climate change

Temperature changes (e.g. rise of temperature & extremes)
Flooding and rising precipitations

Habitat restoration potential

New palsas may form naturally if climate stays favourable or if climate cooling was expected.

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

Only strong climate change mitigation measures can be considered as an effective approach to possibly limit the decline of palsa mires in the future. In some individual cases, restoration and improvement of hydrological regime can be needed. Establishing protection for palsa mires may increase the likelihood of persistence of at least some palsa mires in localities with the most favorable conditions.

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats

Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime

Measures related to spatial planning

Establish protected areas/sites
Establishing wilderness areas/allowing succession
Legal protection of habitats and species

Distribution

For each habitat a distribution map was produced from a wide variety of sources indicating known and potential occurrences of the habitat in 10x10 km grids within Europe. Occurrences in grid cells were given in two classes: actual distribution from relatively reliable sources (surveys, expert knowledge), and potential distribution based on models or less reliable indicators. Please download the fact sheet to see the map.

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)
Finland mainland	Present	104	Decreasing	Decreasing
Sweden	Present	137	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)
Norway Mainland	Present	150	Decreasing	Decreasing
Iceland	Present	Unknown	Decreasing	Decreasing

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

	Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km²)	Area of Occupancy (AOO)	Current estimated Total Area	Comment
EU28	104750	287	241
EU28+	417		391	Iceland area missing

AOO = the area occupied by a habitat measured in number of 10x10 km grid cells.
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).

Characteristic species

The full list of characteristic species and genus are available above from the Summary. The species available in the EUNIS database are shown here.

Birds Anthus pratensis

Birds Calcarius lapponicus

Birds Calidris alpina

Birds Carduelis flammea

Birds Gallinago gallinago

Birds Lagopus lagopus

Birds Limicola falcinellus

Birds Limosa lapponica

Birds Luscinia svecica

Birds Motacilla flava

Birds Phalaropus lobatus

Birds Philomachus pugnax

Birds Pluvialis apricaria

Birds Tringa glareola

Ferns Equisetum fluviatile

Ferns Huperzia selago

Flowering Plants Andromeda polifolia

Flowering Plants Betula nana

Flowering Plants Carex diandra

Flowering Plants Carex lapponica

Flowering Plants Carex lasiocarpa

Flowering Plants Carex limosa

Flowering Plants Carex livida

Flowering Plants Carex rariflora

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Carex rotundata

Flowering Plants Carex vesicaria

Flowering Plants Chamaedaphne calyculata

Flowering Plants Dactylorhiza maculata

Flowering Plants Drosera longifolia

Flowering Plants Drosera rotundifolia

Flowering Plants Empetrum nigrum

Flowering Plants Epilobium palustre

Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

Flowering Plants Eriophorum russeolum

Flowering Plants Eriophorum scheuchzeri

Flowering Plants Eriophorum vaginatum

Flowering Plants Juncus stygius

Flowering Plants Ledum palustre

Flowering Plants Menyanthes trifoliata

Flowering Plants Pinguicula villosa

Flowering Plants Potentilla palustris

Flowering Plants Rubus chamaemorus

Flowering Plants Salix lapponum

Flowering Plants Tofieldia pusilla

Flowering Plants Trichophorum alpinum

Flowering Plants Trichophorum cespitosum

Flowering Plants Vaccinium microcarpum

Flowering Plants Vaccinium myrtillus

Flowering Plants Vaccinium oxycoccos

Flowering Plants Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Mosses & Liverworts Aulacomnium turgidum

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranella cerviculata

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum elongatum

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum fuscescens

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum majus

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum scoparium

Mosses & Liverworts Pleurozium schreberi

Mosses & Liverworts Pohlia nutans

Mosses & Liverworts Polytrichum strictum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum angustifolium

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum balticum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum fallax

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum flexuosum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum fuscum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum jensenii

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum lindbergii

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum magellanicum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum pulchrum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum riparium

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum subsecundum

Mosses & Liverworts Straminergon stramineum

Mosses & Liverworts Warnstorfia exannulata

Mosses & Liverworts Warnstorfia fluitans

Mosses & Liverworts Warnstorfia procera

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Anthus pratensis	Meadow Pipit	Birds
Calcarius lapponicus	Lapland Bunting	Birds
Calidris alpina	Dunlin	Birds
Carduelis flammea	Redpoll	Birds
Gallinago gallinago	Snipe	Birds
Lagopus lagopus	Willow Grouse	Birds
Limicola falcinellus	Broad-billed Sandpiper	Birds
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	Birds
Luscinia svecica	Bluethroat	Birds
Motacilla flava	Yellow Wagtail	Birds
Phalaropus lobatus	Red-necked Phalarope	Birds
Philomachus pugnax	Ruff	Birds
Pluvialis apricaria	Golden Plover	Birds
Tringa glareola	Wood Sandpiper	Birds
Equisetum fluviatile		Ferns
Huperzia selago		Ferns
Andromeda polifolia		Flowering Plants
Betula nana		Flowering Plants
Carex diandra		Flowering Plants
Carex lapponica		Flowering Plants
Carex lasiocarpa		Flowering Plants
Carex limosa		Flowering Plants
Carex livida		Flowering Plants
Carex rariflora		Flowering Plants
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Carex rotundata		Flowering Plants
Carex vesicaria		Flowering Plants
Chamaedaphne calyculata		Flowering Plants
Dactylorhiza maculata		Flowering Plants
Drosera longifolia		Flowering Plants
Drosera rotundifolia		Flowering Plants
Empetrum nigrum		Flowering Plants
Epilobium palustre		Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium		Flowering Plants
Eriophorum russeolum		Flowering Plants
Eriophorum scheuchzeri		Flowering Plants
Eriophorum vaginatum		Flowering Plants
Juncus stygius		Flowering Plants
Ledum palustre		Flowering Plants
Menyanthes trifoliata		Flowering Plants
Pinguicula villosa		Flowering Plants
Potentilla palustris		Flowering Plants
Rubus chamaemorus		Flowering Plants
Salix lapponum		Flowering Plants
Tofieldia pusilla		Flowering Plants
Trichophorum alpinum		Flowering Plants
Trichophorum cespitosum		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium microcarpum		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium myrtillus		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium oxycoccos		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium vitis-idaea		Flowering Plants
Aulacomnium turgidum		Mosses & Liverworts
Dicranella cerviculata		Mosses & Liverworts
Dicranum elongatum		Mosses & Liverworts
Dicranum fuscescens		Mosses & Liverworts
Dicranum majus		Mosses & Liverworts
Dicranum scoparium		Mosses & Liverworts
Pleurozium schreberi		Mosses & Liverworts
Pohlia nutans		Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichum strictum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum angustifolium		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum balticum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum fallax		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum flexuosum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum fuscum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum jensenii		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum lindbergii		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum magellanicum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum papillosum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum pulchrum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum riparium		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum subsecundum		Mosses & Liverworts
Straminergon stramineum		Mosses & Liverworts
Warnstorfia exannulata		Mosses & Liverworts
Warnstorfia fluitans		Mosses & Liverworts
Warnstorfia procera		Mosses & Liverworts

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	Palsa mires	7320	Same	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
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)	Palsa mires	D3.1	Same	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

Other classifications

This habitat may be equivalent to, or broather than, or narrower than the habitats or ecosystems in the following typologies.

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711	D3.1	Palsa mires	same

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Palsa mire

Quick facts

Summary

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

European Red List of Habitats categories

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Pressures and threats

Habitat restoration potential

Trends in extent

Average current trend in quantity

Trends in quality

Average current trend in quality

Conservation and management needs

List of conservation and management needs

Distribution

Geographic occurrence and trends

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

Characteristic species

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Other classifications