flooded ground and periodically dry pioneer-vegetation on river-banks, streamsides,
river banks, lake margins belong to this group of ecosystems.
Artificial or constructed inland waters such as canals which support a seminatural or natural community with typical species are included. Seasonal dry parts
of rivers and lakes are transition zones to other ecosystems. The classification in this
case depends on the length of the dry season and similarity of assemblages.
During wet seasons when the ground is inundated the habitats and species
compositions in many cases belong to this type of ecosystems. During dry periods
they may be covered with pioneer vegetation as a transition to reeds, ruderal habitats
or other ecosystem types.
Another transition zone is the mouth of a river in connection with the marine
environment. The border may be defined by the species composition or concentration of salt.
2.1.5 Mires, Bogs, Fens and Swamps
Swamp-springs, mossy springs, moors, damp marshy ground, bogs, swamps, reeds,
peaty soils with typical vegetation—other than e.g. plantations—belong to this
group of ecosystems. Many but not all types have organic material at the bottom
of the ground. The ground is wet for half of the year or more. Waterlogged
ecosystems with frozen groundwater are included. Inland saltmarshes and the
water body and rock structure of springs and waterlogged ecosystems dominated
by trees or large shrubs are excluded. Also wet forests with organic layers at the top
soil are excluded and included in forest or woodland.
2.1.6 Grassland
Landscapes dominated by grasses and herbs (Fig. 4), sometimes by lichens or
bryophytes, including e.g. pastures and meadows, grassland-connected fringe communities, herb vegetation of the alpine zones, subalpine megaphorb communities,
and inland dunes e.g. with Corynephorus canescens—grey dunes—are typical for
this type of ecosystems. Also steppe and dry or moist savannas which have a tree
cover of less than 10% such as Campo Limpo and Campo Sujo (Cerrado, Brazil) are
included. The vegetation cover normally exceeds 30%.
Reeds, fens, coastal dunes covered with grasses such as e.g. Ammophia arenaria
or heathland with Calluna vulgaris or Empetrum nigrum (white and brown dunes),
cropland and inland saltmarshes even if these are dominated by Poaceae or
Cyperaceae are excluded.
Distribution and Habitat Affinity of Endemic and Threatened Species: Global and. . .
243
river banks, lake margins belong to this group of ecosystems.
Artificial or constructed inland waters such as canals which support a seminatural or natural community with typical species are included. Seasonal dry parts
of rivers and lakes are transition zones to other ecosystems. The classification in this
case depends on the length of the dry season and similarity of assemblages.
During wet seasons when the ground is inundated the habitats and species
compositions in many cases belong to this type of ecosystems. During dry periods
they may be covered with pioneer vegetation as a transition to reeds, ruderal habitats
or other ecosystem types.
Another transition zone is the mouth of a river in connection with the marine
environment. The border may be defined by the species composition or concentration of salt.
2.1.5 Mires, Bogs, Fens and Swamps
Swamp-springs, mossy springs, moors, damp marshy ground, bogs, swamps, reeds,
peaty soils with typical vegetation—other than e.g. plantations—belong to this
group of ecosystems. Many but not all types have organic material at the bottom
of the ground. The ground is wet for half of the year or more. Waterlogged
ecosystems with frozen groundwater are included. Inland saltmarshes and the
water body and rock structure of springs and waterlogged ecosystems dominated
by trees or large shrubs are excluded. Also wet forests with organic layers at the top
soil are excluded and included in forest or woodland.
2.1.6 Grassland
Landscapes dominated by grasses and herbs (Fig. 4), sometimes by lichens or
bryophytes, including e.g. pastures and meadows, grassland-connected fringe communities, herb vegetation of the alpine zones, subalpine megaphorb communities,
and inland dunes e.g. with Corynephorus canescens—grey dunes—are typical for
this type of ecosystems. Also steppe and dry or moist savannas which have a tree
cover of less than 10% such as Campo Limpo and Campo Sujo (Cerrado, Brazil) are
included. The vegetation cover normally exceeds 30%.
Reeds, fens, coastal dunes covered with grasses such as e.g. Ammophia arenaria
or heathland with Calluna vulgaris or Empetrum nigrum (white and brown dunes),
cropland and inland saltmarshes even if these are dominated by Poaceae or
Cyperaceae are excluded.
Distribution and Habitat Affinity of Endemic and Threatened Species: Global and. . .
243