EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > N - Coastal habitats > N2 - Coastal shingle > N21 - Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic coastal shingle beach

Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic coastal shingle beach

Description (English)

These deposits of shingle are most typical of highly dynamic beaches along the Atlantic, Arctic and Baltic coasts, with concentrations along the English Channel. Often mobile and largely bare, they provide an inhospitable environment colonised only in more stable situations, with some deposition of finer material and drift detritus, by a distinctive suite of salt-tolerant and nitrophilous perennial plants. They also provide a habitat suitable for some nesting waders and seabirds and a variety of distinctive invertebrates. Locally, in southern England and the Baltic, larger apposition beaches are more extensively colonised by vegetation.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code N21
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)	Annual vegetation of drift lines	1210	Overlap	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)	Perennial vegetation of stony banks	1220	Overlap	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)	Shingle beach driftlines	B2.1	Overlap	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)	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	B2.3	Overlap	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 Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

Flowering Plants Lathyrus japonicus

Flowering Plants Atriplex prostrata

Flowering Plants Tripleurospermum maritimum

Flowering Plants Atriplex littoralis

Flowering Plants Atriplex glabriuscula

Flowering Plants Polygonum raii

Flowering Plants Rumex crispus

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
Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus japonicus		Flowering Plants
Atriplex prostrata		Flowering Plants
Tripleurospermum maritimum		Flowering Plants
Atriplex littoralis		Flowering Plants
Atriplex glabriuscula		Flowering Plants
Polygonum raii		Flowering Plants
Rumex crispus		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Atriplex prostrata

Flowering Plants Tripleurospermum maritimum

Flowering Plants Rumex crispus

Flowering Plants Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

Flowering Plants Festuca rubra

Flowering Plants Sonchus arvensis

Flowering Plants Atriplex littoralis

Flowering Plants Lathyrus japonicus

Flowering Plants Cakile maritima

Flowering Plants Leymus arenarius

Flowering Plants Crambe maritima

Flowering Plants Agrostis stolonifera

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
Atriplex prostrata		Flowering Plants
Tripleurospermum maritimum		Flowering Plants
Rumex crispus		Flowering Plants
Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima		Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra		Flowering Plants
Sonchus arvensis		Flowering Plants
Atriplex littoralis		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus japonicus		Flowering Plants
Cakile maritima		Flowering Plants
Leymus arenarius		Flowering Plants
Crambe maritima		Flowering Plants
Agrostis stolonifera		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Tripleurospermum maritimum

Flowering Plants Atriplex prostrata

Flowering Plants Lathyrus japonicus

Flowering Plants Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

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
Tripleurospermum maritimum		Flowering Plants
Atriplex prostrata		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus japonicus		Flowering Plants
Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima		Flowering Plants

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)	B2.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation	overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	B2.1	Shingle beach driftlines	overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	B2.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	B2.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	overlap
European Red List of Habitats	B2.1a	Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic coastal shingle beach	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	B2.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	B2.1	Shingle beach driftlines	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	B2.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	B2.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	B2.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	B2.1	Shingle beach driftline habitats	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	B2.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	B2.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	B2.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	B2.1	Shingle beach driftline habitats	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	B2.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	B2.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	B2.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	B2.1	Shingle beach driftline habitats	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	B2.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	B2.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B2.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with grassy or heathy vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B2.1	Shingle beach driftline habitats	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B2.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B2.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B6.4	Fixed shingle beaches, with grassy or heathy vegetation	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B6.1	Shingle beach driftline habitats	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B6.2	Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B6.3	Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	17.4	Gravel bank heaths and grasslands	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	17.3	Sea kale communities	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	17.2	Shingle beach drift lines	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	17.1	Unvegetated shingle beaches	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	17.4	Gravel bank heaths and grasslands	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	17.3	Sea kale communities	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	17.2	Shingle beach drift lines	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	17.1	Unvegetated shingle beaches	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	17.1		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	17.2		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	17.3		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	17.4		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	17.1		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	17.2		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	17.3		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	17.4		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	17.1		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	17.2		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	17.3		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	17.4		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	17.1		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	17.2		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	17.3		same

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Sections

Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic coastal shingle beach

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