Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic sand beach
Description (English)
Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic sandy beach is a linear habitat, occurring on sandy shores of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and the North and Baltic Seas. It is mainly an unvegetated habitat with low species diversity. Annual plants, often halophytes are the typical plant species, appearing temporarily on strandline sediments. On less dynamic beaches, as around the Baltic, perennials including some brackish and freshwater marsh plants are characteristic. Volcanic sediments can provide a distinctive character around Icelandic shores. Distinctive invertebrates characterise beaches and their driftlines, providing food for some wading birds.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code N11 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Fishes
Salsola kali
Flowering Plants
Atriplex littoralis
Flowering Plants
Atriplex prostrata
Flowering Plants
Leymus arenarius
Flowering Plants
Atriplex calotheca
Flowering Plants
Atriplex glabriuscula
Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Salsola kali | Fishes | |
| Atriplex littoralis | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Leymus arenarius | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex calotheca | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex glabriuscula | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Cakile maritima
Fishes
Salsola kali
Flowering Plants
Atriplex prostrata
Flowering Plants
Leymus arenarius
Flowering Plants
Atriplex littoralis
Flowering Plants
Tripleurospermum maritimum
Flowering Plants
Ammophila arenaria
Flowering Plants
Atriplex calotheca
Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Cakile maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Salsola kali | Fishes | |
| Atriplex prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Leymus arenarius | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex littoralis | Flowering Plants | |
| Tripleurospermum maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Ammophila arenaria | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex calotheca | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Cakile maritima
Flowering Plants
Atriplex prostrata
Flowering Plants
Atriplex littoralis
Flowering Plants
Atriplex calotheca
Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Cakile maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex littoralis | Flowering Plants | |
| Atriplex calotheca | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | B1.2 | Sand beaches above the driftline | overlap |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | B1.1 | Sand beach driftlines | overlap |
| European Red List of Habitats | B1.1a | Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic sand beach | same |
