northern moonwort
VU

northern moonwort

Botrychium boreale

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

Northern moonwort faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited boreal range. The species is particularly vulnerable to soil disturbance and changes in mycorrhizal fungal networks essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures alter the cool, moist conditions this arctic-alpine species requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

Northern moonwort inhabits cool, moist soils in boreal forests, alpine meadows, and tundra environments across northern North America and Eurasia. The species requires undisturbed soils with specific mycorrhizal fungal partnerships and typically grows in areas with short growing seasons and cold winter temperatures.

Other threatened species in Ophioglossaceae

Little MoonwortEN

Little Moonwort

Botrychium simplex

Unknown
Ophioglossum vulgatumVU

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Unknown
Unshoe-the-horseEN

Unshoe-the-horse

Botrychium lunaria

Unknown
Small Adder's-tongueCR

Small Adder's-tongue

Ophioglossum azoricum

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Syndyas nigripes

Unknown
Chrysotus cupreusCR

Chrysotus cupreus

Unknown
VU

narulukkokiiluri

Syntormon filiger

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is northern moonwort classified as Vulnerable?
northern moonwort 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. Northern moonwort faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited boreal range. The species is particularly vulnerable to soil disturbance and changes in mycorrhizal fungal networks essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures alter the cool, moist conditions this arctic-alpine species requires.
Where does northern moonwort live?
northern moonwort occurs in Åland Islands, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland (plus 8 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to northern moonwort?
The main threats to northern moonwort 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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