Mediterranean and Black Sea rocky sea cliff and shore
Description (English)
Cliffs, together with vegetated crevices, ledges and cliff-tops along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in southern Portugal, and more locally, the Black Sea. Exposed bedrock dominates the habitat, and its variable composition and structure determine the character of available surfaces, the height and slope of the cliffs influencing the input of salt spray which, on exposed coasts, can be very high close to the sea. This combination of local climatic and topographic conditions determines the often strong zonation of crevice vegetation and grasslands found on the cliffs, with regional climate also affecting the flora, with many Mediterranean endemics.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code N32 |
|---|---|
| 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
Lotus cytisoides
Flowering Plants
Silene sedoides
Flowering Plants
Crithmum maritimum
Flowering Plants
Helichrysum litoreum
Flowering Plants
Limonium minutum
Flowering Plants
Reichardia picroides
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lotus cytisoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene sedoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Crithmum maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Helichrysum litoreum | Flowering Plants | |
| Limonium minutum | Flowering Plants | |
| Reichardia picroides | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Crithmum maritimum
Flowering Plants
Lotus cytisoides
Flowering Plants
Reichardia picroides
Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants
Daucus carota
Flowering Plants
Silene sedoides
Flowering Plants
Plantago coronopus
Flowering Plants
Parapholis incurva
Flowering Plants
Catapodium marinum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Crithmum maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
| Lotus cytisoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Reichardia picroides | Flowering Plants | |
| Dactylis glomerata | Flowering Plants | |
| Daucus carota | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene sedoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Plantago coronopus | Flowering Plants | |
| Parapholis incurva | Flowering Plants | |
| Catapodium marinum | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Crithmum maritimum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Crithmum maritimum | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | B3.3 | Rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with angiosperms | overlap |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | B3.2 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges, shores and islets | overlap |
| European Red List of Habitats | B3.1b | Mediterranean and Black Sea rocky sea cliff and shore | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B3.2 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges, shores and islets | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | B3.3 | Rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with angiosperms | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B3.2 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges, shores and islets | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | B3.3 | Rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with angiosperms | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | B3.3 | Rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with halophytic angiosperms | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | B3.2 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges, shores and islets | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | B3.3 | Rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with halophytic angiosperms | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | B3.2 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges, shores and islets | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | B3.2 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges, shores and islets | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | B3.3 | Oceanic rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with halophytic angiosperms | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B7.2 | Oceanic rock cliffs, ledges and shores, with halophytic angiosperms | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B7.1 | Unvegetated rock cliffs, ledges and shores | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 18.1 | Sea-cliff faces, seaside rocks | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 18.2 | Sea-cliff and rocky shore aerohaline communities | wider | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 18.2 | Sea-cliff and rocky shore aerohaline communities | wider | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 18.1 | Sea-cliff faces, seaside rocks | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 18.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 18.2 | wider | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 18.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 18.2 | wider | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 18.2 | wider | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 18.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 18.2 | wider | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 18.1 | same |
