EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > N - Coastal habitats > N1 - Coastal dunes and sandy shores > N18 - Atlantic and Baltic coastal Empetrum heath

Atlantic and Baltic coastal Empetrum heath

Description (English)

Heath on stable, decalcified dune sands along the cooler north Atlantic and Baltic coasts of Europe, dominated by Empetrum nigrum, with or without Calluna vulgaris, or occurring in dune slacks where Erica tetralix may also be abundant or even replace Empetrum with the same suite of associates. Persistent where wind-exposure or light grazing prevent succession to scrub or woodland. Dry Empetrum heaths are probably threatened by increased temperature and less precipitation during spring and summer.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code N18
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

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
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	* Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum	2140	Same	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]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Coastal dune heaths	B1.5	Narrower	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]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Flowering Plants Hieracium umbellatum

Flowering Plants Carex arenaria

Flowering Plants Empetrum nigrum

Flowering Plants Salix repens

Mosses & Liverworts Hypnum cupressiforme

Flowering Plants Ammophila arenaria

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum scoparium

Fungi Cladonia fimbriata

Fungi Cladonia portentosa

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
Hieracium umbellatum		Flowering Plants
Carex arenaria		Flowering Plants
Empetrum nigrum		Flowering Plants
Salix repens		Flowering Plants
Hypnum cupressiforme		Mosses & Liverworts
Ammophila arenaria		Flowering Plants
Dicranum scoparium		Mosses & Liverworts
Cladonia fimbriata		Fungi
Cladonia portentosa		Fungi

Flowering Plants Empetrum nigrum

Flowering Plants Carex arenaria

Mosses & Liverworts Hypnum cupressiforme

Flowering Plants Hieracium umbellatum

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum scoparium

Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris

Flowering Plants Salix repens

Flowering Plants Ammophila arenaria

Mosses & Liverworts Pleurozium schreberi

Flowering Plants Calamagrostis epigejos

Ferns Polypodium vulgare

Fungi Cladonia portentosa

Fungi Cladonia arbuscula

Flowering Plants Lotus corniculatus

Flowering Plants Festuca rubra

Flowering Plants Luzula campestris

Mosses & Liverworts Pseudoscleropodium purum

Flowering Plants Avenella flexuosa

Flowering Plants Viola canina

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
Empetrum nigrum		Flowering Plants
Carex arenaria		Flowering Plants
Hypnum cupressiforme		Mosses & Liverworts
Hieracium umbellatum		Flowering Plants
Dicranum scoparium		Mosses & Liverworts
Calluna vulgaris		Flowering Plants
Salix repens		Flowering Plants
Ammophila arenaria		Flowering Plants
Pleurozium schreberi		Mosses & Liverworts
Calamagrostis epigejos		Flowering Plants
Polypodium vulgare		Ferns
Cladonia portentosa		Fungi
Cladonia arbuscula		Fungi
Lotus corniculatus		Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra		Flowering Plants
Luzula campestris		Flowering Plants
Pseudoscleropodium purum		Mosses & Liverworts
Avenella flexuosa		Flowering Plants
Viola canina		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Empetrum nigrum

Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris

Mosses & Liverworts Hypnum cupressiforme

Mosses & Liverworts Pleurozium schreberi

Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum scoparium

Fungi Cladonia arbuscula

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
Empetrum nigrum		Flowering Plants
Calluna vulgaris		Flowering Plants
Hypnum cupressiforme		Mosses & Liverworts
Pleurozium schreberi		Mosses & Liverworts
Dicranum scoparium		Mosses & Liverworts
Cladonia arbuscula		Fungi

Please note that a maximum of 20 species of each indicator category is shown.

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	B1.5	Coastal dune heaths	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	B1.51	Empetrum brown dunes	same
European Red List of Habitats	B1.5a	Atlantic and Baltic coastal Empetrum heath	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	B1.51	Empetrum brown dunes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	B1.5	Coastal dune heaths	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	B1.51	Empetrum brown dunes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	B1.5	Coastal dune heaths	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	B1.51	Empetrum brown dunes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	B1.5	Coastal dune heaths	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	B1.5	Coastal dune heaths	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	B1.51	Empetrum nigra brown dunes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B1.5	Coastal dune heaths	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B1.51	Empetrum nigra brown dunes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B5.33	Crowberry brown dunes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	16.23	Crowberry brown dunes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	16.24	Heather brown dunes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	16.23	Crowberry brown dunes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	16.23	Crowberry brown dunes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	16.24	Heather brown dunes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	16.23	Crowberry brown dunes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	16.24		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	16.23		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	16.23		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	16.23		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	16.24		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	16.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	16.23		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	16.24		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	16.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	16.24		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	16.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	16.23		same

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Atlantic and Baltic coastal Empetrum heath

Description (English)

Quick facts

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Indicator species

Other classifications

History