VU

Rufous Beard-moss

Bryoerythrophyllum ferruginascens

UnknownLCEULCEU

Overview

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

Rufous Beard-moss faces severe pressure from habitat degradation caused by agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited European range. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, which directly impacts the moisture-dependent reproductive cycles of this bryophyte. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from agricultural and industrial sources, disrupts the delicate chemical balance of its specialized calcareous substrates.

Threat summary

Habitat

This moss species typically inhabits calcareous rocks, walls, and soil in open, semi-natural grasslands and rocky outcrops across temperate European regions. It requires specific moisture conditions and alkaline substrates, often growing in areas with moderate disturbance that prevent competitive exclusion by larger plants.

Other threatened species in Pottiaceae

Heim's PottiaVU

Heim's Pottia

Hennediella heimii

Unknown
VU

Yellow Crisp-moss

Tortella flavovirens

Unknown
VU

Whorled Tufa-moss

Eucladium verticillatum

Unknown
VU

Lesser Screw-moss

Syntrichia virescens

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Rufous Beard-moss classified as Vulnerable?
Rufous Beard-moss 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. Rufous Beard-moss faces severe pressure from habitat degradation caused by agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited European range. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, which directly impacts the moisture-dependent reproductive cycles of this bryophyte. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from agricultural and industrial sources, disrupts the delicate chemical balance of its specialized calcareous substrates.
Where does Rufous Beard-moss live?
Rufous Beard-moss 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 Rufous Beard-moss?
The main threats to Rufous Beard-moss 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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