Eastern Mediterranean base-rich scree
Description (English)
Calcareous and ultrabasic screes, with talus, boulder fields, glacier forefields, rock debris and riverine gravel banks, from the lowlands upwards to subnival levels in the eastern Mediterranean. Apart from epilithic bryophytes and lichens on rock outcrops and stable boulders, the vegetation consists mainly of specialist vascular plants adapted to the mobility of scree materials, the scarcity of fine-grained soil, mechanical disturbance, shortage of water and other physiological stresses. Towards the foothills and lowlands, the habitat becomes rarer and more scattered but more prone to be affected by human disturbances, especially in terms of species composition. However, high mountain screes are usually well preserved, most within protected areas, and therefore in a very natural state.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code U29 |
---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|
Cicer incisum | Flowering Plants | |
Silene variegata | Flowering Plants | |
Scutellaria hirta | Flowering Plants | |
Alyssum sphacioticum | Flowering Plants | |
Ricotia cretica | Flowering Plants | |
Viola fragrans | Flowering Plants | |
Dianthus sphacioticus | Flowering Plants | |
Cynoglossum sphacioticum | Flowering Plants | |
Cardamine carnosa | 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 |
---|---|---|
Scutellaria hirta | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus saxatilis | Flowering Plants | |
Cicer incisum | Flowering Plants | |
Aethionema saxatile | Flowering Plants | |
Silene variegata | 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 |
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Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | H2.6 | Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures | narrower |
European Red List of Habitats | H2.6c | Eastern Mediterranean base-rich scree | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | H2.6 | Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | H2.6 | Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | H2.6 | Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | H2.6 | Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | H2.6 | Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | H2.6 | Calcareous screes of warm exposures | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 61.4 | Eastern Mediterranean screes | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 61.3 | Part of Western Mediterranean and thermophilous screes | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 61.5 | Illyrian screes | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 61.5 | Illyrian calcareous screes | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 61.3 | Part of Western Mediterranean and thermophilous screes | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 61.5 | narrower | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 61.3 | narrower | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 61.3 | narrower | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 61.5 | narrower |