52 - Blanket bogs

Classification des habitats du Paléarctique (2001)

Description

Communities similar to raised bogs, on flat or gently sloping ground with poor surface drainage, in oceanic climates with heavy rainfall. In the strictest sense, blanket bogs are a habitat endemic to northwestern Europe, characteristic of the western and northern British Isles, the Faeroe Islands and the western seaboard of Scandinavia. Extensive bogs developed in similar conditions of mild oceanic climate and high precipitations in Pacific Eurasia share several characteristics with the northwestern European blanket bogs and may be included in this unit. In spite of some lateral water flow, blanket bogs are mostly ombrotrophic. They often cover extensive areas with local topographic features supporting distinct communities. Sphagna (Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum tenellum, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum fuscum) play an important role in all of them, accompanied by Narthecium ossifragum, Molinia caerulea, Scirpus cespitosus, Schoenus nigricans, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Calluna vulgaris. Geographically segregated types, high and low altitude forms and numerous variants can be distinguished. Intact examples of blanket bogs are relatively uncommon.

Bibliographie

Devillers P., Devillers-Terschuren J. & Vander Linden C., 2001. PHYSIS Palaearctic Habitat Classification Database. Updated to 10 December 2001. Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles, Bruxelles. (Source)

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