Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland

These grasslands and dwarf chamaephyte communities comprise the climax vegetation on predominantly siliceous bedrocks in the alpine belt throughout the temperate mountains of Europe.  Typical of the highest summits and ridges, often very exposed to strong winds and largely blown clear of snow in the winter, they are characteristic of skeletal rankers and mostly shallow free-draining cambisols that can sometimes also be found on de-calcified soils over basic bedrocks.  Nardus stricta-dominated grasslands included here may be influenced by grazing and where stock or wild herbivores reduce the cover of scrub or heath at lower altitudes, the habitat may extend down into the sub-alpine belt.

The vegetation is mostly species-poor, reflecting the harsh environmental conditions, and comprises xero- to mesophilous, heliophilous and calcifuge grasses, sedges and rushes with a significant contingent of foliose and fruticose lichens. However, very commonly the vegetation is found as part of large-scale mosaics with heaths, snow-bed communities and tall herb vegetation, with which there can be some overlap in species composition (for which reason the vegetation has traditionally been grouped in a broadly defined phytosociological class Juncetea trifidi, = Caricetea curvulae).  Regional subtypes sometime show species vicariance such as Festuca eskia being confined to the Pyrenean Peninsula, Festuca varia and Carex curvula missing from the Western Carpathians, Sesleria comosa typical for Balkan mountains. 

Indicators of good quality:

·       Presence of lichens such as Alectoria ochroleuca, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia spp. div.

·       Stability of populations of rare species

·       No signs of erosion due to grazing, indicated by open soil or patches of unpalatable herbs

·       No visible disturbance by trampling, skiing, or burning

·       Absence of nutrient-demanding weeds

·       Continuance of grazing for Nardus stricta-dominated grasslands.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats