Fjell field

This habitat occurs on mountain summits, ridges and slopes of the mountains in the boreal zone. Herb layer is sparse and short, including graminoids such as Carex bigelowii, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina agg. and Juncus trifidus, dicot herbs Hieracium alpinum agg. and Lychnis alpina, and dwarf shrubs such as Arctostaphylos alpina, A. uva-ursi, Empetrum nigrum agg. and Loiseleuria procumbens. The vegetation is dominated by fruticose lichens, especially those of the genera Cladonia (Cladina) and Cetraria (incl. Flavocetraria), and bryophytes.

This vegetation is distributed in the alpine belt of the Scandinavian mountains and also at lower altitudes in northern Scandinavia and Scotland. It is confined to convex landforms affected by strong winds, which blow off snow and fine soil particles. Therefore the vegetation is exposed to winter climatic extremes, which are tolerated only by arctic-alpine cryptograms and a few adapted species of vascular plants. Soils are shallow, stony and often affected by cryoturbation. They are drier than soils in other landforms of arctic and alpine landscapes, poor in nutrients, with low microbial activity, and usually – but not always – acidic.

Compared to the polar deserts (type H5.1b) the summer temperatures on fjell fields are higher. The volcanic sparsely vegetated ash fields of Iceland are included as a separate, somewhat similar type as well (habitat H5.1c). Besides, similarities exist with tundra vegetation dominated by Racomitrium species in the arctic region. In the temperate mountains of Europe this kind of sparsely-vegetated summits in most cases are part of the mountain grassland communities on siliceous substrates (habitat E4.3b) or calcareous substrates (habitat E4.4a, E4.4b), or may be considered under limestone pavements (habitat H3.5a).

Indicators of good quality:

This is natural vegetation occurring mostly in remote areas which are under limited human influence. It is generally rather stable. Locally these habitats can be overgrazed by reindeer. The following characteristics can be considered as indicators of good quality:

• No signs of overgrazing
• No disturbance by man
• Presence of thick lichen carpets

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats