Field Earthstar
VU

Field Earthstar

Geastrum campestre

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geastrum_campestre

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Field Earthstar faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. Nitrogen deposition from agricultural runoff and air pollution alters soil chemistry, making conditions unsuitable for this mycorrhizal fungus. Climate change compounds these pressures through altered precipitation patterns that disrupt the species' moisture-dependent reproductive cycle.

Threat summary

Habitat

Field Earthstar inhabits nutrient-poor grasslands, sandy heaths, and calcareous soils across Europe, particularly favoring open areas with sparse vegetation. The species forms mycorrhizal associations with grasses and requires specific soil pH and moisture conditions for successful fruiting.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Geastraceae

Geastrum melanocephalumEN

Geastrum melanocephalum

Unknown
Tiny EarthstarVU

Tiny Earthstar

Geastrum minimum

Unknown
Sessile EarthstarVU

Sessile Earthstar

Geastrum fimbriatum

Unknown
VU

Striated Earthstar

Geastrum striatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Field Earthstar classified as Vulnerable?
Field Earthstar is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Field Earthstar faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. Nitrogen deposition from agricultural runoff and air pollution alters soil chemistry, making conditions unsuitable for this mycorrhizal fungus. Climate change compounds these pressures through altered precipitation patterns that disrupt the species' moisture-dependent reproductive cycle.
Where does Field Earthstar live?
Field Earthstar occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Field Earthstar?
The main threats to Field Earthstar are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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