Marsh Cress
EN

Marsh Cress

Rorippa islandica

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

Yellow-watercress faces severe habitat degradation from wetland drainage and agricultural conversion across its limited range in Iceland and northern Europe. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that affect the delicate hydrology of its specialized wetland habitats. Invasive plant species competition and grazing pressure from livestock further compromise remaining populations in accessible areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

Yellow-watercress inhabits shallow freshwater wetlands, stream margins, and seasonally flooded areas with mineral-rich soils. It requires specific hydrological conditions with consistent moisture levels and is typically found in alkaline or neutral pH environments at elevations up to 500 meters.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Marsh Cress classified as Endangered?
Marsh Cress 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. Yellow-watercress faces severe habitat degradation from wetland drainage and agricultural conversion across its limited range in Iceland and northern Europe. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that affect the delicate hydrology of its specialized wetland habitats. Invasive plant species competition and grazing pressure from livestock further compromise remaining populations in accessible areas.
Where does Marsh Cress live?
Marsh Cress 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 Marsh Cress?
The main threats to Marsh Cress 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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