Mediterranean, Macaronesian and Black Sea shifting coastal dune
Description (English)
Primary, shifting ('white') dunes of dynamic coastal sands around the Black and Mediterranean Seas, and into the Atlantic around SW Iberia and Macaronesia. Early pioneers upshore from the strandline catch sand blown from the beach and initiate embryo dune development. These may come and go with subsequent storms, or continue to build higher mobile white dunes that move inland. Except in Macaronesia, the dominant plant in the middle to later stages is Ammophila arenaria (subsp. arundinacea in the Mediterranean), and the associated flora on the permeable, impoverished sands is limited and sparse.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code N14 |
|---|---|
| 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
Flowering Plants
Echinophora spinosa
Flowering Plants
Medicago marina
Flowering Plants
Eryngium maritimum
Flowering Plants
Elytrigia juncea
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia paralias
Flowering Plants
Cyperus capitatus
Flowering Plants
Cutandia maritima
Flowering Plants
Sporobolus pungens
Flowering Plants
Calystegia soldanella
Flowering Plants
Pancratium maritimum
Flowering Plants
Ammophila arenaria
Flowering Plants
Cakile maritima
Flowering Plants
Anthemis maritima
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Echinophora spinosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Medicago marina | Flowering Plants | |
| Eryngium maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Elytrigia juncea | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphorbia paralias | Flowering Plants | |
| Cyperus capitatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Cutandia maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Sporobolus pungens | Flowering Plants | |
| Calystegia soldanella | Flowering Plants | |
| Pancratium maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Ammophila arenaria | Flowering Plants | |
| Cakile maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Anthemis maritima | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Elytrigia juncea
Flowering Plants
Eryngium maritimum
Flowering Plants
Medicago marina
Flowering Plants
Ammophila arenaria
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia paralias
Flowering Plants
Cakile maritima
Flowering Plants
Pancratium maritimum
Flowering Plants
Echinophora spinosa
Flowering Plants
Cyperus capitatus
Flowering Plants
Sporobolus pungens
Flowering Plants
Calystegia soldanella
Flowering Plants
Cutandia maritima
Flowering Plants
Polygonum maritimum
Flowering Plants
Salsola kali
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia peplis
Flowering Plants
Anthemis maritima
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elytrigia juncea | Flowering Plants | |
| Eryngium maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Medicago marina | Flowering Plants | |
| Ammophila arenaria | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphorbia paralias | Flowering Plants | |
| Cakile maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Pancratium maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Echinophora spinosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Cyperus capitatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Sporobolus pungens | Flowering Plants | |
| Calystegia soldanella | Flowering Plants | |
| Cutandia maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Polygonum maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Salsola kali | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphorbia peplis | Flowering Plants | |
| Anthemis maritima | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Ammophila arenaria
Flowering Plants
Elytrigia juncea
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ammophila arenaria | Flowering Plants | |
| Elytrigia juncea | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | B1.3b | Mediterranean and Black Sea shifting coastal dune | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B5.31 | Shifting coastal dunes | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 16.21 | Shifting dunes | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 16.21 | Shifting dunes | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 16.21 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 16.21 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 16.21 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 16.21 | same |
