Red List habitat classification > RLE - Grasslands > RLE3.3 Submediterranean moist meadow

Submediterranean moist meadow

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code RLE3.3
Threat status
Europe	Least Concern
EU	Least Concern
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) Resolution 4 habitat type (Bern Convention)
Source	European Red List habitat factsheet
	European Red List of habitats reports
	European Red List of habitats (Excel table)

Summary

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

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

This habitat type is not threatened in both EU28 and EU28+. Recent declines in quantity and in quality are relatively small. However, for the future it has to be monitored whether the traditional land use of hay making can be maintained in enough sites on the Balkan to prevent the habitat from becoming threatened.

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Confidence in the assessment

low

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

Agriculture

Agricultural intensification
Abandonment / Lack of Â mowing
Fertilisation

Urbanisation, residential and commercial development

Urbanised areas, human habitation

Natural System modifications

Landfill, land reclamation and drying out, general
Modification of hydrographic functioning, general

Habitat restoration potential

The habitat type is depending on human intervention for restoration, by re-introducing mowing regimes and improving hydrological conditions.

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

Although these grasslands are still available over large areas and under rather well conditions (mainly outside EU28+), there are certain risks for degradation. The main factors are continuation of the hay making systems and safeguarding the appropriate hydrological conditions.

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to agriculture and open habitats

Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats

Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats

Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime

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)
Bulgaria	Present	unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Croatia	Present	30	Decreasing	Decreasing
Italy mainland	Present	49	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)
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Present	315	Decreasing	Decreasing
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)	Present	315	Decreasing	Decreasing
Albania	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	913850	60	>750
EU28+	132		>750

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.

Ferns Ophioglossum vulgatum

Flowering Plants Achillea millefolium

Flowering Plants Agrostis stolonifera

Flowering Plants Alopecurus pratensis

Flowering Plants Alopecurus rendlei

Flowering Plants Alopecurus utriculatus

Flowering Plants Anthoxanthum odoratum

Flowering Plants Bromus racemosus

Flowering Plants Carex distans

Flowering Plants Carex hirta

Flowering Plants Carex otrubae

Flowering Plants Carex tomentosa

Flowering Plants Carex vulpina

Flowering Plants Centaurea jacea

Flowering Plants Centaurea pannonica

Flowering Plants Cichorium intybus

Flowering Plants Cirsium canum

Flowering Plants Clematis integrifolia

Flowering Plants Convolvulus arvensis

Flowering Plants Crepis setosa

Flowering Plants Cynosurus cristatus

Flowering Plants Daucus carota

Flowering Plants Deschampsia cespitosa

Flowering Plants Deschampsia media

Flowering Plants Edraianthus dalmaticus

Flowering Plants Elymus repens

Flowering Plants Festuca pratensis

Flowering Plants Galium debile

Flowering Plants Galium verum

Flowering Plants Gaudinia fragilis

Flowering Plants Gratiola officinalis

Flowering Plants Holcus lanatus

Flowering Plants Hordeum murinum

Flowering Plants Hordeum secalinum

Flowering Plants Lathyrus nissolia

Flowering Plants Lathyrus pannonicus

Flowering Plants Lathyrus pratensis

Flowering Plants Leucanthemum vulgare

Flowering Plants Leucojum aestivum

Flowering Plants Lolium perenne

Flowering Plants Lotus corniculatus

Flowering Plants Lychnis flos-cuculi

Flowering Plants Lysimachia nummularia

Flowering Plants Lythrum salicaria

Flowering Plants Medicago arabica

Flowering Plants Medicago hispida

Flowering Plants Moenchia mantica

Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea

Flowering Plants Narcissus poeticus

Flowering Plants Oenanthe silaifolia

Flowering Plants Oenanthe stenoloba

Flowering Plants Orchis laxiflora

Flowering Plants Peucedanum coriaceum

Flowering Plants Plantago lanceolata

Flowering Plants Poa pratensis

Flowering Plants Poa trivialis

Flowering Plants Podospermum canum

Flowering Plants Potentilla reptans

Flowering Plants Prunella vulgaris

Flowering Plants Ranunculus acris

Flowering Plants Ranunculus marginatus

Flowering Plants Ranunculus polyanthemos

Flowering Plants Ranunculus repens

Flowering Plants Ranunculus sardous

Flowering Plants Ranunculus velutinus

Flowering Plants Rhinanthus minor

Flowering Plants Rorippa sylvestris

Flowering Plants Rumex acetosa

Flowering Plants Rumex crispus

Flowering Plants Scilla litardierei

Flowering Plants Scutellaria hastifolia

Flowering Plants Serratula tinctoria

Flowering Plants Symphytum officinale

Flowering Plants Tragopogon orientalis

Flowering Plants Tragopogon pratensis

Flowering Plants Trifolium balansae

Flowering Plants Trifolium cinctum

Flowering Plants Trifolium dubium

Flowering Plants Trifolium fragiferum

Flowering Plants Trifolium pallidum

Flowering Plants Trifolium patens

Flowering Plants Trifolium pratense

Flowering Plants Trifolium repens

Flowering Plants Trifolium resupinatum

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Ophioglossum vulgatum		Ferns
Achillea millefolium		Flowering Plants
Agrostis stolonifera		Flowering Plants
Alopecurus pratensis		Flowering Plants
Alopecurus rendlei		Flowering Plants
Alopecurus utriculatus		Flowering Plants
Anthoxanthum odoratum		Flowering Plants
Bromus racemosus		Flowering Plants
Carex distans		Flowering Plants
Carex hirta		Flowering Plants
Carex otrubae		Flowering Plants
Carex tomentosa		Flowering Plants
Carex vulpina		Flowering Plants
Centaurea jacea		Flowering Plants
Centaurea pannonica		Flowering Plants
Cichorium intybus		Flowering Plants
Cirsium canum		Flowering Plants
Clematis integrifolia		Flowering Plants
Convolvulus arvensis		Flowering Plants
Crepis setosa		Flowering Plants
Cynosurus cristatus		Flowering Plants
Daucus carota		Flowering Plants
Deschampsia cespitosa		Flowering Plants
Deschampsia media		Flowering Plants
Edraianthus dalmaticus		Flowering Plants
Elymus repens		Flowering Plants
Festuca pratensis		Flowering Plants
Galium debile		Flowering Plants
Galium verum		Flowering Plants
Gaudinia fragilis		Flowering Plants
Gratiola officinalis		Flowering Plants
Holcus lanatus		Flowering Plants
Hordeum murinum		Flowering Plants
Hordeum secalinum		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus nissolia		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus pannonicus		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus pratensis		Flowering Plants
Leucanthemum vulgare		Flowering Plants
Leucojum aestivum		Flowering Plants
Lolium perenne		Flowering Plants
Lotus corniculatus		Flowering Plants
Lychnis flos-cuculi		Flowering Plants
Lysimachia nummularia		Flowering Plants
Lythrum salicaria		Flowering Plants
Medicago arabica		Flowering Plants
Medicago hispida		Flowering Plants
Moenchia mantica		Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea		Flowering Plants
Narcissus poeticus		Flowering Plants
Oenanthe silaifolia		Flowering Plants
Oenanthe stenoloba		Flowering Plants
Orchis laxiflora		Flowering Plants
Peucedanum coriaceum		Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata		Flowering Plants
Poa pratensis		Flowering Plants
Poa trivialis		Flowering Plants
Podospermum canum		Flowering Plants
Potentilla reptans		Flowering Plants
Prunella vulgaris		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus marginatus		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus polyanthemos		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus repens		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus sardous		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus velutinus		Flowering Plants
Rhinanthus minor		Flowering Plants
Rorippa sylvestris		Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa		Flowering Plants
Rumex crispus		Flowering Plants
Scilla litardierei		Flowering Plants
Scutellaria hastifolia		Flowering Plants
Serratula tinctoria		Flowering Plants
Symphytum officinale		Flowering Plants
Tragopogon orientalis		Flowering Plants
Tragopogon pratensis		Flowering Plants
Trifolium balansae		Flowering Plants
Trifolium cinctum		Flowering Plants
Trifolium dubium		Flowering Plants
Trifolium fragiferum		Flowering Plants
Trifolium pallidum		Flowering Plants
Trifolium patens		Flowering Plants
Trifolium pratense		Flowering Plants
Trifolium repens		Flowering Plants
Trifolium resupinatum		Flowering Plants

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	Sub-Mediterranean grasslands of the Molinio-Hordeion secalini	6540	Wider	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)	Sub-mediterranean humid meadows	E3.3	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]

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Sections

Submediterranean moist meadow

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