Submediterranean moist meadow
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLE3.3 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Least Concern |
Relation to |
|
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
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
- Agricultural intensification
- Abandonment / Lack of  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
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 wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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 |
---|---|---|
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 |