Aralo-Caspian semi-desert
Description (English)
Zonal scrub on loamy and sandy-loamy, often subsaline soils of the semi-deserts of the Caucasus foothills, South-Eastern European Russia and Kazakhstan. The open vegetation is dominated by species of Artemisia and other sub-halophytic shrubs (e.g. Petrosimonia spp. and Salsola spp.). In the Caspian lowland, this habitat reaches its north-western distribution limit, having its main distribution in the desert regions surrounding the Caspian Sea, in the basin that used to support Aral Lake, and further into central Asia.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code S67 |
|---|---|
| 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
Ceratocarpus arenarius
Flowering Plants
Eremopyrum orientale
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Alyssum turkestanicum
Flowering Plants
Agropyron fragile
Flowering Plants
Medicago medicaginoides
Fungi
Xanthoparmelia ryssolea
Flowering Plants
Eremopyrum triticeum
Flowering Plants
Ceratocephala falcata
Flowering Plants
Neotorularia contortuplicata
Flowering Plants
Meniocus linifolius
Flowering Plants
Petrosimonia brachiata
Flowering Plants
Bassia prostrata
Flowering Plants
Holosteum umbellatum
Flowering Plants
Salsola dendroides
Flowering Plants
Anabasis aphylla
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ceratocarpus arenarius | Flowering Plants | |
| Eremopyrum orientale | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Alyssum turkestanicum | Flowering Plants | |
| Agropyron fragile | Flowering Plants | |
| Medicago medicaginoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Xanthoparmelia ryssolea | Fungi | |
| Eremopyrum triticeum | Flowering Plants | |
| Ceratocephala falcata | Flowering Plants | |
| Neotorularia contortuplicata | Flowering Plants | |
| Meniocus linifolius | Flowering Plants | |
| Petrosimonia brachiata | Flowering Plants | |
| Bassia prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Holosteum umbellatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Salsola dendroides | Flowering Plants | |
| Anabasis aphylla | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Alyssum turkestanicum
Flowering Plants
Ceratocarpus arenarius
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Eremopyrum orientale
Flowering Plants
Poa bulbosa
Flowering Plants
Eremopyrum triticeum
Flowering Plants
Bromus squarrosus
Flowering Plants
Salsola kali
Flowering Plants
Ceratocephala falcata
Flowering Plants
Bassia prostrata
Flowering Plants
Meniocus linifolius
Flowering Plants
Holosteum umbellatum
Flowering Plants
Descurainia sophia
Flowering Plants
Agropyron fragile
Flowering Plants
Anisantha tectorum
Flowering Plants
Camphorosma monspeliaca
Flowering Plants
Petrosimonia oppositifolia
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alyssum turkestanicum | Flowering Plants | |
| Ceratocarpus arenarius | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Eremopyrum orientale | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa bulbosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Eremopyrum triticeum | Flowering Plants | |
| Bromus squarrosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Salsola kali | Flowering Plants | |
| Ceratocephala falcata | Flowering Plants | |
| Bassia prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Meniocus linifolius | Flowering Plants | |
| Holosteum umbellatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Descurainia sophia | Flowering Plants | |
| Agropyron fragile | Flowering Plants | |
| Anisantha tectorum | Flowering Plants | |
| Camphorosma monspeliaca | Flowering Plants | |
| Petrosimonia oppositifolia | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Ceratocarpus arenarius
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Ceratocarpus arenarius | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | F6.8 | Xero-halophile scrubs | narrower |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | F6.8 | Xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | F6.8 | Xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | F6.8 | Xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | F6.8 | Xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | F5.4 | Mediterraneo-Canarian xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | B4.4 | Mediterraneo-Canarian xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 15.7 | Mediterraneo-Canarian xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 15.7 | Mediterraneo-Canarian xero-halophile scrubs | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 15.7 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 15.7 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 15.7 | same |
