Features of National Nature Reserves
Biodiversity features on NNRs
Habitat features
Most habitat features
comprise readily identifiable and distinctive units defined on the
basis of their characteristic plant or animal communities as well
as other criteria such as soil type or altitude.
There are 78 different terrestrial, freshwater and intertidal
habitats including cliff ledge vegetation, neutral woodland, raised
bog, open water and embryonic shifting dunes.
The vast majority of NNRs in Wales have one or more habitat
features, making a total of 231 features.
| Broad habitat
groups |
No of
component habitat features in group |
Total no of
habitat features on NNRs |
| Broadleaved, mixed & yew woodland |
9 |
51 |
| Neutral grassland |
2 |
5 |
| Calcareous grassland |
2 |
5 |
| Acid grassland |
2 |
5 |
| Dwarf shrub heath |
9 |
25 |
| Fen, marsh and swamp |
14 |
49 |
| Bogs |
4 |
15 |
| Standing open water & canals |
10 |
14 |
| Rivers and streams |
0 |
0 |
| Inland rock |
4 |
13 |
| Supralittoral rock (including coastal grassland &
cliffs) |
6 |
13 |
| Supralittoral sediment (sand dunes & shingle/boulders above
highwater) |
9 |
25 |
| Littoral sediment & littoral rock |
7 |
12 |
| Total |
78 |
231 |
View Press Release - Ynyslas NNR
Species features
There are 159 different independently qualifying species
features, ranging from the unobtrusive golden hair lichen and
lagoon snail, to local specialities such as the Snowdon lily, and
iconic birds like the red kite.
All the NNRs in Wales support a total of 216 species features
that are independently qualifying.
| Broad species
groups |
No of
component
species features
in group |
Total no
of
species features
on NNRs |
| Non-flowering plants & fungi |
38 |
46 |
| Flowering plants and ferns |
55 |
76 |
| Invertebrates |
32 |
50 |
| Birds |
26 |
27 |
| Mammals |
6 |
14 |
| Fish & lampreys |
0 |
0 |
| Amphibians & reptiles |
2 |
3 |
| Total |
159 |
216 |
Assemblage features
An assemblage is a group of plants or animals
that occur together at a site. Although individually they do not
qualify for designation, together they form a feature of special
interest. Examples include seabird assemblage, reptile assemblage
and fungi assemblage.
| Broad species
groups |
No of
component
assemblage features
in group |
Total no
of
assemblage features
on NNRs |
| Non-flowering plants & fungi |
4 |
49 |
| Flowering plants and ferns |
1 |
16 |
| Invertebrates |
2 |
21 |
| Birds |
4 |
11 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
| Fish & lampreys |
0 |
0 |
| Amphibians & reptiles |
1 |
1 |
| Total |
12 |
98 |