EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > U - Inland habitats with no or little soil and mostly with sparse vegetation > U2 - Screes > U29 - Eastern Mediterranean base-rich scree

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	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	* Serpentinophilous grassland of Cyprus	62B0	Wider	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Eastern Mediterranean screes	8140	Wider
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures	H2.6	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Flowering Plants 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

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

Flowering Plants Scutellaria hirta

Flowering Plants Rhamnus saxatilis

Flowering Plants Cicer incisum

Flowering Plants Aethionema saxatile

Flowering Plants Silene variegata

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

Please note that a maximum of 20 species of each indicator category is shown.

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

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
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	61.5		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	61.3		narrower

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