Alnus cordata woodland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG1.Ba |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Data Deficient |
EU | Data Deficient |
Relation to |
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Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
Broadleaved deciduous, non-riparian forests dominated by Alnus cordata, subendemic to Corsica (North-Eastern sectors of the island) and S-Italy (Campania, Basilicata and Calabria Regions). The dominant species is a relict from the Tertiary period and is also present in other areas, where it is considered not native. Biogeographically distributed on the Central-Mediterranean mountains, from the climatic point of view these forests develop preferentially between the hilly and the montane belts, occupying a transitional area between the deciduous oaks and the beech forests. From a geo-pedological point of view, they show a preference for siliceous substrata but can also be found on limestone. Alnus cordata tends to form forests, either pure or mixed with other deciduous species, such as Quercus cerris, Castanea sativa or, at higher altitudes, Fagus sylvatica. They tend to colonize steep slopes and sides of deep valleys. The Italian alder is a strong pioneer species with great affinity for mineral soils, and could largely expand after the drastic economic changes following the Second World War, when large agricultural areas were abandoned and left to natural evolution, especially at higher altitudes. These formations are characterized by very strong pace of growth in the juvenile stage, and quickly reach maturity (Bezzi et al. 1991). Unlike the other species of the genus Alnus, the Italian alder shuns soils where water stagnates for a long time, although it still shows a certain hygrophilous ecology. Regeneration occurs quickly and seedlings can grow fast after cutting or in clearings. Furthermore, Alnus cordata can play a prominent role in improving the soil, due to the presence of radical tubercles hosting microorganisms (Frankia alni) fixing the atmospheric nitrogen (Pirazzi 1984; Ducci & Tani, 2009).
These forest types often show a high environmental quality and host rare or endangered species.
Indicators of good quality:
â— Dominance of Alnus cordata
â— Presence of the distinctive woody associates and field layer
â— Presence of the field layer flora typical of the region
â— Uneven-aged canopy with signs of regeneration of woody dominants
â— Presence of a well-developed structure of the tree layer
â— Woodland permanent, not a successional stage; blocked dynamism due e.g. to the steep slope, where this forests represent the potential natural vegetation
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Grazing in forests/ woodland
- Climate change
- Changes in abiotic conditions
- Changes in biotic conditions
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Corsica | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Italy mainland | Present | 80 | Unknown | 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) |
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Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 109000 | 67 | >80 | no data available for Corse (FR) |
EU28+ | 67 | >80 | no occurrences outside EU28 |
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 |
---|---|---|
Polystichum setiferum | Ferns | |
Pteridium aquilinum | Ferns | |
Acer campestre | Flowering Plants | |
Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum | Flowering Plants | |
Alnus cordata | Flowering Plants | |
Anemone apennina | Flowering Plants | |
Aquilegia vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
Arisarum proboscideum | Flowering Plants | |
Asperula taurina | Flowering Plants | |
Brachypodium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
Carex sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Castanea sativa | Flowering Plants | |
Chaerophyllum temulum | Flowering Plants | |
Circaea lutetiana | Flowering Plants | |
Clematis vitalba | Flowering Plants | |
Crataegus monogyna | Flowering Plants | |
Crepis leontodontoides | Flowering Plants | |
Cytisus villosus | Flowering Plants | |
Fagus sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca exaltata | Flowering Plants | |
Fragaria vesca | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium nodosum | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium robertianum | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium versicolor | Flowering Plants | |
Geum urbanum | Flowering Plants | |
Hedera helix | Flowering Plants | |
Lamium flexuosum | Flowering Plants | |
Malus sylvestris | Flowering Plants | |
Melittis albida | Flowering Plants | |
Mycelis muralis | Flowering Plants | |
Poa sylvicola | Flowering Plants | |
Potentilla micrantha | Flowering Plants | |
Primula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
Prunus spinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Pyrus pyraster | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus cerris | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus hirtus | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus ulmifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Rumex sanguineus | Flowering Plants | |
Salvia glutinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Stachys sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Symphytum tuberosum | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium siculum | Flowering Plants |