Crome Sphagnum
VU

Crome Sphagnum

Sphagnum squarrosum

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

Spiky Bog-moss faces severe decline due to widespread drainage and destruction of peatland habitats for agriculture and forestry development. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering the hydrological conditions essential for bog ecosystems, while atmospheric nitrogen deposition from industrial sources disrupts the nutrient-poor conditions this species requires. The species' slow growth rate and specialized habitat requirements make recovery particularly challenging once populations are lost.

Threat summary

Habitat

Spiky Bog-moss inhabits acidic, nutrient-poor peatlands including raised bogs, blanket bogs, and wet heathlands across northern and western Europe. The species requires consistently waterlogged conditions with low pH levels and forms distinctive carpets in bog pools and wet hollows.

Other threatened species in Sphagnaceae

Red Peat MossVU

Red Peat Moss

Sphagnum rubellum

Unknown
VU

Sphagnum rotundatum

Unknown
VU

Sphagnum falcatulum

Unknown
VU

Sphagnum curvatulum

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
EN

Dolichopus notatus

Unknown
Haplodrassus cognatusCR

Haplodrassus cognatus

Unknown
Yellow-breasted BuntingCR

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Crome Sphagnum classified as Vulnerable?
Crome Sphagnum 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. Spiky Bog-moss faces severe decline due to widespread drainage and destruction of peatland habitats for agriculture and forestry development. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering the hydrological conditions essential for bog ecosystems, while atmospheric nitrogen deposition from industrial sources disrupts the nutrient-poor conditions this species requires. The species' slow growth rate and specialized habitat requirements make recovery particularly challenging once populations are lost.
Where does Crome Sphagnum live?
Crome Sphagnum occurs in Åland Islands, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belarus, and Belgium (plus 52 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 Crome Sphagnum?
The main threats to Crome Sphagnum 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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