Q12x Iberoatlantic blanket bogs
Description
Hyperoceanic bogs dominated by Sphagnum and hygrophilous Erica species, with water input mostly derived from atmospheric moisture, in areas whose climate, rainy and cloudy throughout the year, enables bogs to develop even on gentle slopes.
Protection
Protected (with priority where peat formation is active) by the EU Habitat Directive under the code 7130 ("Blanket bogs").Floristic Composition
Frequent species
Molinia caerulea
97%,
Erica mackayana
95%,
Eriophorum angustifolium
82%,
Carex durieui
82%,
Avenella flexuosa
51%,
Calluna vulgaris
48%,
Narthecium ossifragum
38%,
Potentilla erecta
37%,
Sphagnum capillifolium
29%,
Sphagnum papillosum
28%,
Sphagnum subnitens
26%,
Drosera rotundifolia
25%,
Odontoschisma sphagni
20%,
Agrostis curtisii
20%,
Leucobryum juniperoideum
18%,
Gentiana pneumonanthe
17%,
Erica ciliaris
17%,
Sphagnum tenellum
17%,
Scilla verna
17%,
Serratula tinctoria
17%,
Sphagnum auriculatum
14%,
Arnica montana
14%,
Sphagnum cuspidatum
14%,
Narcissus bulbocodium
12%,
Eleocharis multicaulis
12%,
Juncus squarrosus
11%,
Carex binervis
11%,
Aulacomnium palustre
11%,
Polygala serpyllifolia
9%,
Rhynchospora alba
9%,
Juncus bulbosus
9%,
Kurzia trichoclados
9%,
Sphagnum compactum
9%,
Calypogeia sphagnicola
9%,
Hypnum jutlandicum
9%,
Campylopus introflexus
9%,
Agrostis stolonifera
8%,
Carex panicea
8%,
Drosera intermedia
8%,
Trichophorum cespitosum
8%,
Agrostis canina
6%,
Carex demissa
6%,
Hypnum uncinulatum
6%,
Luzula multiflora
6%
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Indicator species
Erica mackayana 0.95,
Molinia caerulea 0.93,
Carex durieui 0.81,
Eriophorum angustifolium 0.78,
Avenella flexuosa 0.51,
Calluna vulgaris 0.4,
Potentilla erecta 0.28,
Sphagnum capillifolium 0.23,
Sphagnum subnitens 0.23,
Sphagnum papillosum 0.22,
Narthecium ossifragum 0.21,
Odontoschisma sphagni 0.2,
Agrostis curtisii 0.2,
Leucobryum juniperoideum 0.18,
Scilla verna 0.17,
Gentiana pneumonanthe 0.16,
Erica ciliaris 0.16,
Serratula tinctoria 0.16,
Drosera rotundifolia 0.15,
Sphagnum tenellum 0.14,
Narcissus bulbocodium 0.12,
Arnica montana 0.1,
Kurzia trichoclados 0.09,
Calypogeia sphagnicola 0.09,
Carex binervis 0.09,
Sphagnum compactum 0.09,
Hypnum jutlandicum 0.09,
Eleocharis multicaulis 0.08,
Campylopus introflexus 0.08,
Polygala serpyllifolia 0.07,
Hypnum uncinulatum 0.06,
Rhynchospora alba 0.06,
Drosera intermedia 0.06,
Luzula multiflora 0.06,
Leucobryum glaucum 0.05,
Sphagum compactum 0.05,
Aulacomnium palustre 0.05,
Racomitrium lanuginosum 0.05,
Agrostis canina 0.04,
Sphagnum cuspidatum 0.04,
Juncus squarrosus 0.04,
Diplophyllum albicans 0.03,
Campylopus pilifer 0.03,
Rhytidiadelphus loreus 0.03,
Campylopus flexuosus 0.03,
Thuidium tamariscinum 0.03,
Sphagnum russowii 0.03,
Ranunculus bulbosus 0.02,
Sphagnum recurvum 0.02,
Scorzonera humilis 0.02
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Phytosociology
- Carici durieui-Eriophoretum angustifolii
- Carici durieui-Molinietum caeruleae
- Carici durieui-Scirpetum cespitosi
- Erico mackaianae-Sphagnetum papillosi
Relations with other habitat types
A regional level IV unit is created, for none of the geographically or geomorphologically defined EUNIS units suits our blanket bogs. On purely floristic grounds, its distinction from Q11x (with which this habitat may also be in close proximity) can be tricky.
Regional distribution
In the study area this habitat is rare and relict, restricted to north-facing coastal hills and often including the endemic Carex durieui. The current localities are remnants from large bog areas that probably occupied NW Iberia during the glacial eras, as they occur now in the boreal Atlantic regions.
Known occurrences and potential area of occupancy of the habitat type in the study region.
