Small-sedge base-rich fen and calcareous spring mire
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLD4.1a |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Endangered |
EU | Endangered |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This habitat includes calcareous fen vegetation of the lowlands and mountains of the European nemoral zone, and it also occurs more rarely in the boreal zone where calcareous substrates and the influence of base-rich water are scarce. Calcareous fens occur at sites with a permanently high water table, often near springs, and they are particularly common in areas with calcareous bedrock, especially in the mountain systems of central Europe. Water is rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonates and precipitation of calcium-carbonate and tufa formation is common, and also accumulation of organic matter due to permanently wet conditions which reduce decomposition processes. The soil has a high proportion of organic matter and is base-rich, but with limited availability of nutrients.
The vegetation of base-rich fens is dominated by small sedges such as Carex davalliana, C. flava, C. hostiana, C. lepidocarpa and other short or medium-tall Cyperaceae such as Blysmus compressus, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Eriophorum angustifolium and E. latifolium. In some places these species typical of fens grow together with species characteristic of wet meadows on mineral soil such as Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, C. rivulare, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra agg., Holcus lanatus, Lychnis flos-cuculi, Plantago lanceolata and Ranunculus acris. Bryophytes are common, in some stands reaching a cover close to 100% and, in the moss layer, species of fens (e.g. Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Campylium stellatum, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Palustriella commutata and Scorpidium cossonii) can grow together with species typical of mineral soils (e.g. Cirriphyllum piliferum, Climacium dendroides, Plagiomnium affine agg., Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus), although the latter may be absent at some sites, especially in primary fens.
Small-sedge calcareous fens can be primary habitats developed around springs and seepages of calcium-rich water. Some of them can be several thousand years old and the long-term habitat continuity can be indicated by the occurrence of species such as Primula farinosa, Salix rosmarinifolia or Triglochin maritimum. At some sites, however, fens can be natural but only a few centuries old, and in other sites they can be secondary, developed on formerly forested land and be dependent on regular mowing. Many of them have been mown once a year without input of fertilizers for several centuries. Export of nutrients with hay has led to partial elimination of nutrient-demanding tall-growing species of wet meadows. Many of these species are still growing in these grasslands but their competitive ability is too weak to outcompete short-growing fen species. Small-sedge fens are most common and most diverse in the limestone massifs of the central European mountain systems, especially the Alps and the Carpathians.
In many places calcareous fen meadows have been damaged or destroyed by artificial drainage, which has caused mineralization of nutrients in the fen sediment and the spread of nutrient-demanding species of wet meadows or species of strongly-drained mesic meadows. To some extent they can be negatively influenced by livestock grazing as well.
Indicators of good quality:
In general, primary fens without species of wet meadows are more valuable than secondary fens. However, in some areas, especially in the lowlands, primary fens may not occur and in that case the secondary fens with meadow species have the highest conservation value.
· Stable hydrological regime
· Continued traditional management at secondary habitats
· Absence of overgrazing
· No encroachment of trees or shrubs
· No spread of tall-growing nutrient-demanding herbs
· Absence or low incidence of neophytes
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Endangered | A1, A3 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Endangered | A3 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Agriculture
- Cultivation
- Modification of cultivation practices
- Agricultural intensification
- Mowing / Cutting of grassland
- Abandonment / Lack of  mowing
- Grazing
- Abandonment of pastoral systems, lack of grazing
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forestry activities not referred to above
- Human intrusions and disturbances
- Outdoor sports and leisure activities, recreational activities
- Sport and leisure structures
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Pollution to groundwater (point sources and diffuse sources)
- Diffuse groundwater pollution due to agricultural and forestry activities
- Other forms of pollution
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Modification of hydrographic functioning, general
- Water abstractions from groundwater
- Other human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Anthropogenic reduction of habitat connectivity
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Biocenotic evolution, succession
- Species composition change (succession)
Habitat restoration potential
Through intervention restoration is extremely difficult as demonstrated by several studies, especially because of problems with nutrient oversupply, iron toxicity and cessation of carbonate precipitation during water level manipulations
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
No intervention - in boreal or high mountain fens, with stable high water level, no extra supply of nutrients and no invasive species.
Mowing - in fens enriched in nutrients or with declining water level, typically in young habitats with shallow peat level that has developed since Middle Ages. Also in fens invaded by Molinia, Phragmites, Calamagrostis, Filipendula or tall willows. Additional spring mowing can supress invasive grasses such as Molinia or Phragmites, should not be applied permanently
Grazing - with caution only, may bring extra nutrients.
Artificial disturbances - if acidicole, late-successional Sphagnum species invade, disturbances without nutrient input (e.g., removal of expanding peat mosses) may be applied to support original brown-moss vegetation.
Extensive restoration measures (blocking drainage channels, sod removal) - in heavily damaged fens.
List of conservation and management needs
- No measures
- No measures needed for the conservation of the habitat/species
- Measures needed, but not implemented
- Measures related to agriculture and open habitats
- Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats
- 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
- Legal protection of habitats and species
- Measures related to hunting, taking and fishing and species management
- Specific single species or species group management measures
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 | 85 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Belgium | Present | 0.2 | - | - |
Bulgaria | Present | 5 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | Unknown | - | - |
Czech Republic | Present | 0.5 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Denmark | Present | 90 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Estonia | Present | 130 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Finland mainland | Present | 370 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
France mainland | Present | 93 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Germany | Present | 50 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 1.5 | Stable | - |
Hungary | Present | 3.5 | - | Decreasing |
Ireland | Present | 130 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Italy mainland | Present | 62 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Latvia | Present | 9 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Lithuania | Present | 10 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Netherlands | Present | 0.1 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Poland | Present | 90 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Romania | Present | 15 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovakia | Present | 0.4 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 1.3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 27 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
United Kingdom | Present | 30 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Sweden | Present | 1000 | 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | Unknown | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Switzerland | Present | 100 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 20 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Norway Mainland | Present | 1250 | - | 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 | 7447400 | 7446 | 2203 | |
EU28+ | 7621 | 2323 |
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 |
---|---|---|
Selaginella selaginoides | Ferns | |
Anthoxanthum odoratum | Flowering Plants | |
Aster bellidiastrum | Flowering Plants | |
Bartsia alpina | Flowering Plants | |
Blysmus compressus | Flowering Plants | |
Briza media | Flowering Plants | |
Caltha palustris | Flowering Plants | |
Carex davalliana | Flowering Plants | |
Carex flava | Flowering Plants | |
Carex hostiana | Flowering Plants | |
Carex lepidocarpa | Flowering Plants | |
Cirsium palustre | Flowering Plants | |
Cirsium rivulare | Flowering Plants | |
Crepis paludosa | Flowering Plants | |
Cruciata glabra | Flowering Plants | |
Cynosurus cristatus | Flowering Plants | |
Dactylorhiza incarnata | Flowering Plants | |
Dactylorhiza majalis | Flowering Plants | |
Eleocharis quinqueflora | Flowering Plants | |
Epipactis palustris | Flowering Plants | |
Eriophorum angustifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Eriophorum latifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca rubra | Flowering Plants | |
Galium uliginosum | Flowering Plants | |
Holcus lanatus | Flowering Plants | |
Juncus alpinoarticulatus | Flowering Plants | |
Juncus effusus | Flowering Plants | |
Lathyrus pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
Lychnis flos-cuculi | Flowering Plants | |
Menyanthes trifoliata | Flowering Plants | |
Parnassia palustris | Flowering Plants | |
Pinguicula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
Primula elatior | Flowering Plants | |
Primula farinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Prunella vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
Ranunculus acris | Flowering Plants | |
Salix rosmarinifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Scirpus sylvaticus | Flowering Plants | |
Tofieldia calyculata | Flowering Plants | |
Trichophorum cespitosum | Flowering Plants | |
Triglochin palustris | Flowering Plants | |
Valeriana dioica | Flowering Plants | |
Valeriana simplicifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Bryum pseudotriquetrum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Calliergonella cuspidata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Cirriphyllum piliferum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Climacium dendroides | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Cratoneuron filicinum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Hamatocaulis vernicosus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Palustriella commutata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Palustriella falcata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Plagiomnium affine | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Scorpidium cossoni | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Scorpidium cossonii | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Thuidium philibertii | Mosses & Liverworts |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableOther classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | narrower |