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
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Agropyron fragile
Flowering Plants
Petrosimonia brachiata
Flowering Plants
Bassia prostrata
Flowering Plants
Holosteum umbellatum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Agropyron fragile | Flowering Plants | |
| Petrosimonia brachiata | Flowering Plants | |
| Bassia prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Holosteum umbellatum | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Poa bulbosa
Flowering Plants
Bromus squarrosus
Fishes
Salsola kali
Flowering Plants
Bassia prostrata
Flowering Plants
Holosteum umbellatum
Flowering Plants
Descurainia sophia
Flowering Plants
Agropyron fragile
Flowering Plants
Camphorosma monspeliaca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa bulbosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Bromus squarrosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Salsola kali | Fishes | |
| Bassia prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Holosteum umbellatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Descurainia sophia | Flowering Plants | |
| Agropyron fragile | Flowering Plants | |
| Camphorosma monspeliaca | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
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 |
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 |
