Submediterranean moist meadow

This habitat type comprises hay meadows that cover riverside terraces and gentle slopes. It represents typical lowland communities, that sometimes appear at higher altitude, up to 1 000 m. The ground is generally flat, only rarely the inclination is more pronounced. The site conditions are humid to rather wet, due to relatively high amounts of rainfall and the fact that groundwater level is close to the surface. Often the sites are inundated during winter and spring. In July and August, the ground conditions may become rather dry. These wet meadows have a pronounced phenology. In early spring, yellow flowering Ranunculus species may prevail, while later on various Trifolium species as well as Alopecurus rendlei (Alopecurus utriculatus) appear. Hay making takes place mainly in May and June. Sometimes, grazing is practiced, that may change the species composition.

The climate is submediterranean and the habitat type can be found in the coastal region of the Adriatic Sea, in the central part of the Italian Peninsula, the southern edge of the Pannonian Basin and in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The climax vegetation of the areas where the habitat occurs belongs to the class Quercetea pubescentis. The soil mainly consists of – rather sandy – clay, locally mixed with river deposits. Quite often the sites are moderately salted, which also effects the species composition. Nevertheless, the alliances that can be assigned to this habitat type do not vary that much that a division in subtypes is needed. The Trifolion resupinati, for instance, has its main occurence in the central Balkans with its centre of distribution in Macedonia, whereas the Trifolion pallidi is found on floodplains that are less dry in summer, having its center of distribution in eastern Croatia and western Serbia. The  Molinio-Hordeion secalini, of which the distribution stretches from Slovenia through Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina,  is also rather humid. The Trifolio-Ranunculion pedati is sub-halophytic and restricted to the Pannonion plain; the Ranunculion velutini is bound to central Italy.

These grasslands are in good condition, when they appear on primary sites and are maintained through traditional management. In case the meadows are drained or watered artificially, the species composition would change dramatically. Since these sites are fertile, the surfaces can be ploughed out and converted to fields. On the other hand their surfaces will overgrow with shrubs and tall grasses in case of abandonment of traditional management. Regular mowing prevents the beginning of secondary succession towards forests. One of the threats is also use of fertilizers and sawing of seeds. One additional threat is the use of fertilizers and the sawing of seeds. Another  treat is intensive grazing, that also changes species composition.

Indicators of good quality are:

• Species richness of the herb layer
• Absence of invasive, tall herb and shrub species
• Regular mowing
• Absence of intensive grazing

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats