Open Iberian supramediterranean dry acid and neutral grassland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLE1.8 |
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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
Perennial grasslands formed by hard grasses (Festuca) and small hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes covering shallow soils on siliceous substrata in western Iberian Peninsula, at medium to high elevations (supra-oro levels). The vegetation is closed, covering between 60 to 90 % of the surface, and the dominant species are of low height, with a dense layer of 5 to 10 cm height in which some plants loom above until 20 to 30 cm. Most of the plants present the typical set of morpho-ecological traits of the Mediterranean grasslands, with adaptations to the summer drought, which in this case combine with the nutrient poverty stress. Substrata are varied, from mafic and ultramafic in NE Portugal (Tras os Montes), where the endemic alliance Armerion eriophyllae occurs, to schist in south Spain (Sierra Nevada and Filabres), where the endemic alliance Thymion serpylloidis is found. The main alliance, Hieracio castellani-Plantaginion radicatae is widespread in western Iberia and develops on sandy soils derived from granite, gneiss and sandstone. Soils are dry, lacking any hydromorphic properties, and have a limited development of the edaphic layers. As they cover rocky outcrops or eroded substrata, soils can be qualified as rocky lithosols, having primary stations in outcrops and secondary ones in eroded places. Usually this habitat type is distributed forming a mosaic pattern with others, such as Nardus grasslands (E1.7a) or vallicares (E2.4), forming part of the seral communities complex replacing pine or oak forests. These grasslands have been traditionally grazed, mostly by sheep, in a system of a comprehensive utilization of the available resources valid in the traditional husbandry system existed so far. A large number of Iberian endemic species constitute the core of this type, with a high representation of Plumbaginaceae (Armeria), Caryophyllaceae and Festuca sp. pl.
Indicators of good quality:
These grasslands are in a good condition if they show a low height and a high cover, not necessarily of 100%, without woody plants of the more developed stages in succession such as shrubs or trees. Signals of moderate grazing are also acceptable. Artificial conifer plantations should be absent.
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
- Grazing
- Abandonment of pastoral systems, lack of grazing
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest planting on open ground
- Artificial planting on open ground (non-native trees)
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
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 spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Legal protection of habitats and species
- Manage landscape features
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) |
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Portugal mainland | Present | 300 | Unknown | Increasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 928 | 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 | 357000 | 597 | 1228 | |
EU28+ | 597 | 1228 |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).