Tufted Fen-moss
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Tufted Fen-moss

Paludella squarrosa

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

Overview

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

Tufted Fen-moss faces severe decline due to widespread drainage and destruction of its specialized wetland habitats across Europe and North America. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures, which dry out the calcium-rich fens this species requires. Agricultural conversion and peat extraction have eliminated many historical populations, while remaining sites suffer from nutrient pollution and hydrological disruption.

Threat summary

Habitat

Tufted Fen-moss grows exclusively in calcium-rich wetlands including fens, wet meadows, and marshy areas with consistent groundwater flow. It requires specific hydrological conditions with mineral-rich, alkaline water and forms distinctive tufted cushions in these specialized bog and fen ecosystems.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Tufted Fen-moss classified as Endangered?
Tufted Fen-moss is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Tufted Fen-moss faces severe decline due to widespread drainage and destruction of its specialized wetland habitats across Europe and North America. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures, which dry out the calcium-rich fens this species requires. Agricultural conversion and peat extraction have eliminated many historical populations, while remaining sites suffer from nutrient pollution and hydrological disruption.
Where does Tufted Fen-moss live?
Tufted Fen-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 Tufted Fen-moss?
The main threats to Tufted Fen-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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