Red List habitat classification > RLE - Grasslands > RLE4.3b Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland

Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code RLE4.3b
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

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.

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

As far as EU28+ countries are concerned, data for some countries of the Balkan peninsula are missing. Nevertheless, the overall analysis of territorial data leads according to criteria A1, B1, B2 and C/D1 to the category Least Concern both for EU28 and EU28+. The geographic distribution is not restricted (EOO ≥ 50000 km², AOO ≥ 50).

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Confidence in the assessment

medium

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

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

Alpine siliceous grasslands represent climax communities, that prefer the highest summits and ridges. Once destroyed or severely damaged (e. g. due to construction of skiing complexes), the recovery of the habitat type by natural succession processes will take a very long time. Semi-natural habitats of the subalpine zone with modified species composition due to abandonment of traditional land-use practices need human intervention for restoration. This can be achieved by re-introducing of traditional pastoral systems.

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

The maintenance of these grasslands by resumption of traditional pastoral systems in the subalpine zone is one of the key factors for conserving this habitat type. Furthermore, provident management strategies are necessary to delimit local overgrazing. To avoid an ongoing loss of habitats due to construction of skiing comlexes further protected areas have to be established in ecologically sensitive areas.

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

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)
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

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.

Flowering Plants 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

Fungi Cetraria cucullata

Fungi Cetraria islandica

Fungi Cladonia arbuscula

Fungi Cladonia uncialis

Fungi Thamnolia vermicularis

Mosses & Liverworts Polytrichum alpinum

Mosses & Liverworts Racomitrium lanuginosum

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

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	Siliceous Pyrenean Festuca eskia grasslands	6140	Wider	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
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	Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands	6150	Overlap
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	Oro-Moesian acidophilous grasslands	62D0	Wider
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)	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	E4.3	Narrower	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

Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland

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