EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA2 - Littoral biogenic habitat > MA22 - Atlantic littoral biogenic habitat > MA223 - Atlantic upper-mid saltmarshes and saline and brackish reed, rush and sedge beds

Atlantic upper-mid saltmarshes and saline and brackish reed, rush and sedge beds

Description (English)

Middle zone of Atlantic salt marshes with closed swards of graminoids, herbs and low shrubs on sandy or clayey flats. The communities are regularly but not daily flooded by seawater. Helophytes may dominate in areas with freshwater influence. The communities are grazed or occur in unmanaged situations.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code MA223
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants Glaux maritima
Flowering Plants Plantago maritima
Flowering Plants Cochlearia officinalis
Flowering Plants Armeria maritima
Flowering Plants Tripolium pannonicum
Flowering Plants Juncus gerardi
Flowering Plants Artemisia maritima
Flowering Plants Triglochin maritima
Flowering Plants Spergularia media
Flowering Plants Elytrigia atherica

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
Glaux maritima Flowering Plants
Plantago maritima Flowering Plants
Cochlearia officinalis Flowering Plants
Armeria maritima Flowering Plants
Tripolium pannonicum Flowering Plants
Juncus gerardi Flowering Plants
Artemisia maritima Flowering Plants
Triglochin maritima Flowering Plants
Spergularia media Flowering Plants
Elytrigia atherica Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Plantago maritima
Flowering Plants Glaux maritima
Flowering Plants Agrostis stolonifera
Flowering Plants Tripolium pannonicum
Flowering Plants Armeria maritima
Flowering Plants Juncus gerardi
Flowering Plants Triglochin maritima
Flowering Plants Atriplex prostrata
Flowering Plants Elytrigia atherica
Flowering Plants Cochlearia officinalis
Flowering Plants Spergularia media
Flowering Plants Puccinellia maritima
Flowering Plants Juncus maritimus
Flowering Plants Bolboschoenus maritimus
Flowering Plants Artemisia maritima
Flowering Plants Carex extensa

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
Plantago maritima Flowering Plants
Glaux maritima Flowering Plants
Agrostis stolonifera Flowering Plants
Tripolium pannonicum Flowering Plants
Armeria maritima Flowering Plants
Juncus gerardi Flowering Plants
Triglochin maritima Flowering Plants
Atriplex prostrata Flowering Plants
Elytrigia atherica Flowering Plants
Cochlearia officinalis Flowering Plants
Spergularia media Flowering Plants
Puccinellia maritima Flowering Plants
Juncus maritimus Flowering Plants
Bolboschoenus maritimus Flowering Plants
Artemisia maritima Flowering Plants
Carex extensa Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Juncus gerardi
Flowering Plants Agrostis stolonifera
Flowering Plants Plantago maritima
Flowering Plants Juncus maritimus
Flowering Plants Elytrigia atherica
Flowering Plants Glaux maritima

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
Juncus gerardi Flowering Plants
Agrostis stolonifera Flowering Plants
Plantago maritima Flowering Plants
Juncus maritimus Flowering Plants
Elytrigia atherica Flowering Plants
Glaux maritima Flowering Plants

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

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A2.531 Atlantic upper shore communities same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A2.53 Mid-upper saltmarshes and saline and brackish reed, rush and sedge beds same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A2.63 Mid-upper saltmarshes and saline reedbeds same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A2.631 Atlantic upper shore communities same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A2.63 Mid-upper saltmarshes and saline reedbeds same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A2.631 Atlantic upper shore communities same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A2.631 Atlantic upper shore communities same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A2.63 Mid-upper saltmarshes and saline reedbeds same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 A2.63 Mid-upper saltmarshes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 A2.631 Atlantic upper schorre communities same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 B3.33 Atlantic upper schorre communities same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 15.33 Atlantic upper schorre communities same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 15.33 Atlantic upper schorre communities same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 15.33   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 15.33   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 15.33   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 15.133   same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) LMU.Smm-u Saltmarsh (mid-upper) same
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