Thermophilous woodland fringe of acidic soils
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLE5.2b |
---|---|
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 woodland fringes are especially characteristic of semi-shaded habitats along forest margins, overhung road verges and similar places with acidic and nutrient-poor soils. Dominated by bulky grasses and tall herbs, they are not so diverse as the more thermophilous E5.2a woodland fringe occurring on base-rich soils. They reach their optimum development in the cooler Atlantic and Subatlantic parts of Europe and, further east, their species richness gradually diminishes. The typical associated trees in the woodlands are deciduous Quercus spp., Betula spp. and Fagus sylvatica. Fringe communities are semi-natural habitats, strongly influenced by human activities and where newly established, for example in forest clearings, around plantations and along hedgebanks, some years are needed to develop their characteristic features, above all depending on neighbouring habitats. This kind of fringe can be found in association with mat-grass swards on nutrient-poor soils and heathlands on acidic and humus-rich soils. Towards the Mediterranean region, fringes on acidic and neutral and bedrock can be similar to fringes on basic soils (e.g. in the Lathyro laxiflori-Trifolion velenovskyi).
To prevent colonisation by shrubs and trees, the vegetation needs to be occasionally mown (for example, every second year) or extensively grazed.
The following characteristics may be considered as indicators of good quality:
- Absence of complete shade of shrubs and trees
- Relative richness in apomictic species of Hieracium
- Irregularly grazed and/or mown
- Absence of invasive species
- Low input of nutrients
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
- Intensive grazing
- Fertilisation
- Removal of hedges and copses or scrub
- Removal of stone walls and embankments
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Continuous urbanisation
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Increasing ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
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 spatial planning
- 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 | 2 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Belgium | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Bulgaria | Present | unknown | Stable | Increasing |
Czech Republic | Present | 7 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
France mainland | Present | unknown | Unknown | Increasing |
Germany | Present | unknown | Decreasing | Increasing |
Hungary | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Ireland | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Italy mainland | Present | 29 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Latvia | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Lithuania | Present | 4 | Unknown | Stable |
Luxembourg | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Netherlands | Present | 1 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Poland | Present | 8 | Unknown | Unknown |
Romania | Present | 10 | Unknown | Increasing |
Slovakia | Present | 0.2 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Spain mainland | Present | unknown | Unknown | Stable |
Sweden | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
United Kingdom | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Portugal mainland | Present | 74 | Unknown | Increasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 20 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Kaliningrad | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Norway Mainland | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Switzerland | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | >50000 | >50 | So few quantitative data are suppplied that it is misleading to provide a figure | |
EU28+ | >50 | So few quantitative data are supplied that it is misleading to provide a figure |
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 capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
Avenella flexuosa | Flowering Plants | |
Betonica officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
Campanula rapunculus | Flowering Plants | |
Centaurea nigra | Flowering Plants | |
Clinopodium vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
Conopodium majus | Flowering Plants | |
Digitalis purpurea | Flowering Plants | |
Fagus sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium lachenalii | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium murorum | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium sabaudum | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium umbellatum | Flowering Plants | |
Holcus mollis | Flowering Plants | |
Hypericum perforatum | Flowering Plants | |
Hypericum pulchrum | Flowering Plants | |
Jasione montana | Flowering Plants | |
Linaria repens | Flowering Plants | |
Melampyrum pratense | Flowering Plants | |
Poa nemoralis | Flowering Plants | |
Potentilla sterilis | Flowering Plants | |
Pulmonaria longifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Rumex acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
Serratula tinctoria | Flowering Plants | |
Solidago virgaurea | Flowering Plants | |
Stellaria holostea | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium scorodonia | Flowering Plants | |
Veronica chamaedrys | Flowering Plants | |
Veronica officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
Viola riviniana | Flowering Plants |
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 | E5.2 | Thermophile woodland fringes | narrower |