Danthonia holm-nielsenii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Danthonia holm-nielsenii faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its restricted montane grassland range. Agricultural expansion and livestock grazing have reduced the quality of its native tussock grassland habitat, while invasive plant species compete for resources in the remaining suitable areas. Climate change poses an additional long-term threat by altering the temperature and precipitation patterns essential for this high-altitude grass species.
Habitat
This endemic grass species inhabits high-altitude montane grasslands and páramo ecosystems, typically found in tussock grassland formations at elevations above 3,000 meters. It grows in well-drained soils within open grassland communities that experience cool temperatures and seasonal rainfall patterns characteristic of Andean highland environments.