Carpinus and Quercus mesic deciduous woodland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG1.Aa |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Near Threatened |
EU | Near Threatened |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
These are deciduous broadleaved woodlands typical of free-draining to somewhat-strongly impeded brown earth soils and gleys of quite low, moderate to high base-status and moderate to high nutrient content across the lowlands and foothills of the temperate zone of western, central and southern Europe, with local extensions into regions of sub-Mediterranean, Pannonian and Boreal climate. Partially this includes alluvial Quercus/ Carpinus-dominated forests in mountain valleys with infrequent indundation. The canopy is typically of mixed composition with oaks figuring prominently, notably Quercus robur and Q. petraea but with regional contributions from other oaks, along with Carpinus betulus, Fraxinus excelsior, F. angustifolia, Acer pseudoplatanus, A. campestre, A. platanoides, Ulmus glabra, Tilia cordata and T. tomentosa. Typically, Fagus sylvatica is at most a minor component here because it does not tolerate the stagnation in gley soils and is disadvantaged competitively, though transitions to more mesophilous and immature stands of free-draining G1.6a Fagus woodland on non-acid soils are quite common.
The tree canopy can have a complex multi-layered structure (often much affected by sylviculture) but it casts a relatively light shade, so there is often a rich and extensive understorey of saplings, small trees, shrubs and lianes. Among the latter, Crataegus monogyna, C. laevigata, Corylus avellana, Euonymus europaeus, Viburnum opulus, Daphne mezereum, Lonicera xylosteum and Hedera helix are frequent throughout with other associates figuring according to regional or local climatic and edaphic conditions.
The field layer too has a core of characteristic widely distributed hemicryptophytes and geophytes throughout the range with other contingents according to major climatic differences and local site conditions. Viola reichenbachiana, Polygonatum multiflorum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Milium effusum, Campanula trachelium, Carex sylvatica, Pulmonaria obscura, P. officinalis, Scrophularia nodosa, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Galium odoratum, Poa nemoralis, Paris quadrifolia, Sanicula europaea, Adoxa moschatellina, Ranunculus auricomus, Arum maculatum are common throughout with Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca gigantea, Stachys sylvatica, Circaea lutetiana, Impatiens noli-tangere and Athyrium filix-femina in moister situations. There, too, especially where the soils are freshly aerated and more nutrient-rich, can be a striking vernal geophyte element with Ranunculus ficaria, Allium ursinum, Anemone nemorosa, Leucojum vernum and, in the Atlantic north-west, Hyacinthoides non-scripta.
Within this broad frame, the geographic and climatic extremes can present rather striking contrasts. To the Atlantic west, through Great Britain, Ireland and the foothills of northern Spain, Fraxinus excelsior can often exceed the oaks in its cover, is often accompanied by Ulmus glabra and, among the smaller trees of the understorey, Ilex aquifolium with Lonicera periclymenum a common liana. Ferns such as Polystichum setiferum, P. aculeatum, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. affinis, Asplenium scolopendrium and A. trichomanes and a lush cover of bryophytes, especially bulky pleurocarpous mosses, reflect the humid atmosphere. In northern Spain, Quercus ilex, Q. pyrenaica, Laurus nobilis and Rhamnus alaternus in the canopy, Smilax aspera and Euphorbia peregrina as lianes and Helleborus viridis, Pulmonaria affinis and P. longifola among the herbs, reflect the warmer oceanic conditions adjacent to the sub-Mediterranean zone.
Towards the east of its range, this habitat grades into the lime-oak woodlands which extend far into the Russian lowlands. In the transitional types, Tilia cordata becomes more important in the canopy, along with occasional T. tomentosa, and Q. polycarpa and Q. dalechampii can figure among the oaks. Further south, extending from the foothills of Austria, through Slovenia, into the Balkans, the flora has a distinct Illyrian aspect with Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Carpinus orientalis, Fraxinus ornus and a large contingent of herbs among which Epimedium alpinum, Erythronium dens-canis, Hellebrous dumetorum ssp. atrorubens, Knautia drymeia, Cyclamen purpurescens, Staphyles pinnata and Helleborus odorus are the most frequent.
Indicators of good quality:
- Typical structure and composition of canopy: High forest stands should have a complex composition with a mixed age structure, well-developed understorey and active regeneration but diverse patterns of exploitation mean that there are numerous other quality states for this habitat and this also affects the kinds of regeneration that can occur.
- Typical flora and fauna composition of the region
- Presence of old trees and a variety of dead wood (lying and standing) and the associated flora, fauna and fungi
- Presence of mosaics of developmental stages including gaps
- Sufficient proportion of historically old (ancient) woodland with high species diversity
- Survival of larger stands of forest without fragmentation and isolation
- Absnce of non-native tree species and absence of invasive aliens in all layers (fauna, flora).
- No eutrophication and pronounced invasion of nutrient-demanding herbs due to eutrophication from atmospheric deposition or ground-water enrichment
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Biological resource use other than agriculture & forestry
- Damage caused by game (excess population density)
- Pollution
- Air pollution, air-borne pollutants
- Natural System modifications
- Water abstractions from groundwater
- Anthropogenic reduction of habitat connectivity
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
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
- Other agriculture-related measures
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Adapt forest management
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 | 480 | Stable | Increasing |
Belgium | Present | 1200 | Increasing | Increasing |
Bulgaria | Present | 3200 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | 5430 | Stable | Increasing |
Czech Republic | Present | 1574 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Denmark | Present | 105 | Stable | Unknown |
Estonia | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Finland mainland | Present | 12 | Stable | Stable |
Aland Islands | Present | 12 | Stable | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 24875 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Germany | Present | 1170 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Hungary | Present | 2430 | Stable | Stable |
Ireland | Present | 50 | Stable | Stable |
Italy mainland | Present | 2223 | Stable | Stable |
Latvia | Present | 62 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Lithuania | Present | 1500 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Luxembourg | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Netherlands | Present | 64 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Poland | Present | 738 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal mainland | Present | 8 | Unknown | Increasing |
Romania | Present | 6050 | Stable | Stable |
Slovakia | Present | 2133 | Decreasing | Stable |
Slovenia | Present | 286 | Stable | Stable |
Spain mainland | Present | 485 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sweden | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
United Kingdom | Present | 5000 | Decreasing | Stable |
Northern Island | Present | 5000 | Decreasing | Stable |
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 | 2260 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Kaliningrad | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | 40 | Decreasing | Stable |
Norway Mainland | Present | 177 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Svalbard | Uncertain | 177 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Serbia | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Switzerland | Present | 100 | Decreasing | Stable |
Montenegro | Present | 186 | Unknown | Unknown |
Kosovo | Uncertain | 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 | 6162400 | 16975 | 59075 | No data for Sweden |
EU28+ | 17679 | 61661 | No data for Sweden |
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 |
---|---|---|
Asplenium scolopendrium | Ferns | |
Athyrium filix-femina | Ferns | |
Dryopteris filix-mas | Ferns | |
Polystichum setiferum | Ferns | |
Acer platanoides | Flowering Plants | |
Acer pseudoplatanus | Flowering Plants | |
Adoxa moschatellina | Flowering Plants | |
Aegopodium podagraria | Flowering Plants | |
Ajuga reptans | Flowering Plants | |
Allium ursinum | Flowering Plants | |
Anemone nemorosa | Flowering Plants | |
Arum maculatum | Flowering Plants | |
Asarum europaeum | Flowering Plants | |
Brachypodium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
Campanula trachelium | Flowering Plants | |
Carex montana | Flowering Plants | |
Carex sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Carpinus betulus | Flowering Plants | |
Carpinus orientalis | Flowering Plants | |
Circaea lutetiana | Flowering Plants | |
Cornus sanguinea | Flowering Plants | |
Corylus avellana | Flowering Plants | |
Crataegus laevigata | Flowering Plants | |
Crataegus monogyna | Flowering Plants | |
Daphne mezereum | Flowering Plants | |
Deschampsia cespitosa | Flowering Plants | |
Epimedium alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
Erythronium dens-canis | Flowering Plants | |
Euonymus europaeus | Flowering Plants | |
Fagus sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca gigantea | Flowering Plants | |
Fragaria vesca | Flowering Plants | |
Fraxinus excelsior | Flowering Plants | |
Fraxinus ornus | Flowering Plants | |
Galium odoratum | Flowering Plants | |
Galium schultesii | Flowering Plants | |
Galium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium robertianum | Flowering Plants | |
Geum urbanum | Flowering Plants | |
Hedera helix | Flowering Plants | |
Helleborus odorus | Flowering Plants | |
Helleborus viridis | Flowering Plants | |
Hepatica nobilis | Flowering Plants | |
Hyacinthoides non-scripta | Flowering Plants | |
Ilex aquifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Impatiens noli-tangere | Flowering Plants | |
Knautia drymeia | Flowering Plants | |
Lamiastrum galeobdolon | Flowering Plants | |
Lathyrus vernus | Flowering Plants | |
Laurus nobilis | Flowering Plants | |
Leucojum vernum | Flowering Plants | |
Ligustrum vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
Lonicera periclymenum | Flowering Plants | |
Lonicera xylosteum | Flowering Plants | |
Melica uniflora | Flowering Plants | |
Mercurialis perennis | Flowering Plants | |
Milium effusum | Flowering Plants | |
Mycelis muralis | Flowering Plants | |
Oxalis acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
Paris quadrifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Poa nemoralis | Flowering Plants | |
Polygonatum multiflorum | Flowering Plants | |
Primula veris | Flowering Plants | |
Prunus avium | Flowering Plants | |
Pulmonaria affinis | Flowering Plants | |
Pulmonaria obscura | Flowering Plants | |
Pulmonaria officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus cerris | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus ilex | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus robur | Flowering Plants | |
Ranunculus auricomus | Flowering Plants | |
Ranunculus ficaria | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus alaternus | Flowering Plants | |
Rosa arvensis | Flowering Plants | |
Sambucus nigra | Flowering Plants | |
Sanicula europaea | Flowering Plants | |
Scrophularia nodosa | Flowering Plants | |
Smilax aspera | Flowering Plants | |
Sorbus aucuparia | Flowering Plants | |
Sorbus torminalis | Flowering Plants | |
Stachys sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Stellaria holostea | Flowering Plants | |
Tilia cordata | Flowering Plants | |
Ulmus glabra | Flowering Plants | |
Viburnum opulus | Flowering Plants | |
Vinca minor | Flowering Plants | |
Viola reichenbachiana | Flowering Plants |