Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLE4.3b |
---|---|
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
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.
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
- Human intrusions and disturbances
- Outdoor sports and leisure activities, recreational activities
- Sport and leisure structures
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Biocenotic evolution, succession
- Climate change
- Changes in abiotic conditions
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Present | 3840 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Bulgaria | Present | 656 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovakia | Present | 40 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
France mainland | Present | 2700 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 725 | Unknown | Stable |
Czech Republic | Present | 7.6 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 113 | Stable | Stable |
Germany | Present | 50 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Romania | Present | 136 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 2700 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 4.2 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Italy mainland | Present | 2415 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Poland | Present | 28 | Stable | Decreasing |
Ireland | Present | 5 | Unknown | Unknown |
Belgium | Uncertain | - | - | |
United Kingdom | Present | 380 | 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Switzerland | Present | 1700 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Albania | Uncertain | - | - | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 5 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Kosovo | Present | Unknown | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | 550 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Montenegro | Uncertain | - | - | |
Serbia | Uncertain | - | - |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 1720050 | 1167 | 11100 | |
EU28+ | 1180 | 13355 | no data from Albania, Montenegro and Serbia |
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 |
---|---|---|
Agrostis nevadensis | Flowering Plants | |
Agrostis rupestris | Flowering Plants | |
Avenula versicolor | Flowering Plants | |
Bellardiochloa violacea | Flowering Plants | |
Campanula alpina | Flowering Plants | |
Campanula herminii | Flowering Plants | |
Campanula scheuchzeri | Flowering Plants | |
Carex bigelowii | Flowering Plants | |
Carex curvula | Flowering Plants | |
Carex sempervirens | Flowering Plants | |
Cruciata glabra | Flowering Plants | |
Cynosurus cristatus | Flowering Plants | |
Danthonia decumbens | Flowering Plants | |
Deschampsia flexuosa | Flowering Plants | |
Euphrasia minima | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca airoides | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca eskia | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca iberica | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca varia | Flowering Plants | |
Gentiana alpina | Flowering Plants | |
Geum montanum | Flowering Plants | |
Globularia meridionalis | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium lactucella | Flowering Plants | |
Holcus lanatus | Flowering Plants | |
Homogyne alpina | Flowering Plants | |
Iris latifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Juncus squarrosus | Flowering Plants | |
Juncus trifidus | Flowering Plants | |
Koeleria lobata | Flowering Plants | |
Leontodon microcephalus | Flowering Plants | |
Leontodon pyrenaicus | Flowering Plants | |
Leucanthemopsis alpina | Flowering Plants | |
Ligusticum corsicum | Flowering Plants | |
Ligusticum mutellina | Flowering Plants | |
Luzula nutans | Flowering Plants | |
Luzula spicata | Flowering Plants | |
Minuartia recurva | Flowering Plants | |
Nardus stricta | Flowering Plants | |
Oreochloa disticha | Flowering Plants | |
Phyteuma hemisphaericum | Flowering Plants | |
Plantago holosteum | Flowering Plants | |
Potentilla aurea | Flowering Plants | |
Potentilla erecta | Flowering Plants | |
Primula minima | Flowering Plants | |
Ranunculus pyrenaeus | Flowering Plants | |
Sagina pilifera | Flowering Plants | |
Senecio abrotanifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Sesleria comosa | Flowering Plants | |
Thymus nervosus | Flowering Plants | |
Trifolium alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
Trifolium repens | Flowering Plants | |
Cetraria cucullata | Fungi | |
Cetraria islandica | Fungi | |
Cladonia arbuscula | Fungi | |
Cladonia uncialis | Fungi | |
Thamnolia vermicularis | Fungi | |
Polytrichum alpinum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Racomitrium lanuginosum | Mosses & Liverworts |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableOther classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711 | E4.3 | Acid alpine and subalpine grassland | narrower |