EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA2 - Littoral biogenic habitat > MA22 - Atlantic littoral biogenic habitat > MA225 - Atlantic pioneer saltmarshes

Atlantic pioneer saltmarshes

Description (English)

Pioneer zone of Atlantic salt marshes with open vegetation dominated by annual chenopodioids and grasses (Spartina). Stands are daily (twice) flooded by seawater and relatively species-poor. Dominating species are obligate halophytes and may occupy both sandy and clayey sites.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA225
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
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)	Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand	1310	Wider	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]
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)	Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae)	1320	Wider	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]
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)	Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)	1330	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 Spartina anglica

Flowering Plants Salicornia stricta

Flowering Plants Spartina maritima

Flowering Plants Puccinellia maritima

Flowering Plants Spartina alterniflora

Flowering Plants Tripolium pannonicum

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
Spartina anglica		Flowering Plants
Salicornia stricta		Flowering Plants
Spartina maritima		Flowering Plants
Puccinellia maritima		Flowering Plants
Spartina alterniflora		Flowering Plants
Tripolium pannonicum		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Spartina anglica

Flowering Plants Tripolium pannonicum

Flowering Plants Puccinellia maritima

Flowering Plants Salicornia stricta

Flowering Plants Halimione portulacoides

Flowering Plants Spartina maritima

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
Spartina anglica		Flowering Plants
Tripolium pannonicum		Flowering Plants
Puccinellia maritima		Flowering Plants
Salicornia stricta		Flowering Plants
Halimione portulacoides		Flowering Plants
Spartina maritima		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Spartina anglica

Flowering Plants Spartina maritima

Flowering Plants Salicornia stricta

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
Spartina anglica		Flowering Plants
Spartina maritima		Flowering Plants
Salicornia stricta		Flowering Plants

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)	A2.554	Flat-leaved Spartina swards	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.55	Pioneer saltmarshes	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.551	Salicornia, Suaeda and Salsola pioneer saltmarshes	wider
European Red List of Habitats	RLA2.5c	Atlantic coastal salt marsh	narrower

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.554	Flat-leaved Spartina swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.55	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.551	Salicornia, Suaeda and Salsola pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.654	Flat-leaved Spartina swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.65	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.651	Salicornia, Suaeda and Salsola pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.654	Flat-leaved Spartina swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.65	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.651	Salicornia, Suaeda and Salsola pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.654	Flat-leaved Spartina swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.65	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.651	Salicornia, Suaeda and Salsola pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.614	Flat-leaved Spartina swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.61	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.611	Salicornia, Suaeda and Salsola swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B3.21	Flat-leaved cordgrass swards	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B3.11	Glasswort swards	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15.1	Annual salt pioneer swards	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15.21	Flat-leaved cordgrass swards	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15.11	Glasswort swards	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15.2	Perennial salt pioneer swards	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	15.1	Annual salt pioneer swards	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	15.21	Flat-leaved cordgrass swards	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	15.11	Glasswort swards	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	15.2	Perennial salt pioneer swards	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	15.1		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	15.2		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	15.11		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	15.21		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	15.1		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	15.2		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	15.11		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	15.21		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15.1		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15.2		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15.11		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15.21		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	15.11		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	15.12		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	15.111		same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	LMU.Smpio	Saltmarsh (pioneer)	same

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Atlantic pioneer saltmarshes

Description (English)

Quick facts

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Indicator species

Other classifications

History