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
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
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 |
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 |
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 |
Other classifications
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B2.2 | Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B2.1 | Shingle beach driftlines | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B2.3 | Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B2.4 | Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B2.1 | Shingle beach driftline habitats | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B2.3 | Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B2.4 | Fixed shingle beaches, with herbaceous vegetation | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B2.2 | Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | B2.2 | Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | B2.1 | Shingle beach driftline habitats | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | 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 199910 | B2.1 | Shingle beach driftline habitats | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | 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 | B2.2 | Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | B2.1 | Shingle beach driftline habitats | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | 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 | B2.2 | Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B6.2 | Unvegetated mobile shingle beaches above the driftline | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B6.1 | Shingle beach driftline habitats | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B6.3 | Upper shingle beaches with open vegetation | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B6.4 | Fixed shingle beaches, with grassy or heathy vegetation | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 17.2 | Shingle beach drift lines | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 17.3 | Sea kale communities | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 17.1 | Unvegetated shingle beaches | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 17.4 | Gravel bank heaths and grasslands | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 17.4 | Gravel bank heaths and grasslands | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 17.2 | Shingle beach drift lines | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 17.3 | Sea kale communities | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 17.1 | Unvegetated shingle beaches | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 17.2 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 17.4 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 17.1 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 17.3 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 17.2 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 17.4 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 17.1 | same | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 17.3 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 17.1 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 17.3 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 17.2 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 17.4 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 17.2 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 17.1 | same | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 17.3 | same |