EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > X - Habitat complexes > X03 - Brackish coastal lagoons

Brackish coastal lagoons

English name: Brackish coastal lagoons

Description (English)

Lagoons are expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity and water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle, or, less frequently, by rocks. Fully saline coastal lagoons are classified as X02.
Flads and gloes, considered a Baltic variety of lagoons, are small, usually shallow, more or less delimited water bodies still connected to the sea or cut off from the sea very recently by land upheaval. Characterised by well-developed reedbeds and luxuriant submerged vegetation and having several morphological and botanical development stages in the process whereby sea becomes land.
Mediterranean lagoons may host the Ruppietum community with halophytic vegetation, while at sites with a fresh water supply, plant communities of Juncetum and Phragmitetum can develop. Sarcocornia perennis and Arthrocnemum macrostachyum may occur here.

Source:
EUNIS habitat classification
Interpretation Manual of the habitats targeted by Resolution No. 4

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code X03
Bern Convention	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Legal status

Mentioned in the following international legal instruments and agreements

Legal text	Annex	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern Convention)	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2014)	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Coastal lagoons	1150	Narrower	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Flowering Plants Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Flowering Plants Sarcocornia perennis

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum		Flowering Plants
Sarcocornia perennis		Flowering Plants

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
CORINE Land Cover	5.1.2.	Water bodies	n/a
CORINE Land Cover	5.2.1.	Coastal lagoons	n/a
HELCOM Baltic Sea Marine and Coastal Biotopes 1998	04.01.03	Coastal lakes: glo-lakes	narrower
Ramsar Wetland Types	J	Coastal brackish/saline lagoons	wider
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993	G1	Standing water	not defined
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993	G16	Standing water: brackish	narrower

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	X03	Brackish coastal lagoons	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	X26	Baltic glo-lakes	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	X03	Brackish coastal lagoons	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	X03	Brackish coastal lagoons	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	X26	Baltic glo-lakes	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	X03	Brackish coastal lagoons	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	X26	Baltic glo-lakes	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	X03	Brackish coastal lagoons	same

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