Woolly Fringe-moss
CR

Woolly Fringe-moss

Racomitrium lanuginosum

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

Woolly Fringe-moss faces severe threats from climate change, particularly warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns that disrupt the cool, moist conditions essential for its survival. Air pollution, including nitrogen deposition and acid rain, significantly degrades the oligotrophic environments this species requires, while habitat fragmentation from human development isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

Rocky outcrops, exposed mountain slopes, and acidic substrates in cool, humid environments, particularly in boreal and subarctic regions. The species typically colonizes nutrient-poor, well-drained surfaces including lava fields, scree slopes, and weathered rock faces at various elevations.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Grimmia Dry Rock MossCR

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Robust GrimmiaCR

Robust Grimmia

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Sieve-tooth MossCR

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Woolly Fringe-moss classified as Critically Endangered?
Woolly Fringe-moss is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Woolly Fringe-moss faces severe threats from climate change, particularly warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns that disrupt the cool, moist conditions essential for its survival. Air pollution, including nitrogen deposition and acid rain, significantly degrades the oligotrophic environments this species requires, while habitat fragmentation from human development isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity.
Where does Woolly Fringe-moss live?
Woolly Fringe-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 Woolly Fringe-moss?
The main threats to Woolly Fringe-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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