EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA2 - Littoral biogenic habitat > MA25 - Mediterranean littoral biogenic habitat > MA253 - Mediterranean mid-low saltmarshes

Mediterranean mid-low saltmarshes

Description (English)

Open to closed halophytic communities of the lower tidal zone of Mediterranean salt marshes. Perennial chenopodioids dominate the species-poor vegetation. Different species of sea lavender form a characteristic element, some of which have a small distribution range. In the lowest parts, annual glassworts (Salicornia) and grasses (Spartina) are frequent.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA253
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	Overlap	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	Overlap	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)	Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi)	1410	Overlap	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)	Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi)	1420	Overlap	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 Sarcocornia fruticosa

Flowering Plants Halimione portulacoides

Flowering Plants Puccinellia festuciformis

Flowering Plants Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Flowering Plants Sarcocornia perennis

Flowering Plants Limonium narbonense

Flowering Plants Artemisia caerulescens

Flowering Plants Spartina versicolor

Flowering Plants Limoniastrum monopetalum

Flowering Plants Aeluropus littoralis

Flowering Plants Limonium girardianum

Flowering Plants Limonium vulgare

Flowering Plants Juncus maritimus

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
Sarcocornia fruticosa		Flowering Plants
Halimione portulacoides		Flowering Plants
Puccinellia festuciformis		Flowering Plants
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum		Flowering Plants
Sarcocornia perennis		Flowering Plants
Limonium narbonense		Flowering Plants
Artemisia caerulescens		Flowering Plants
Spartina versicolor		Flowering Plants
Limoniastrum monopetalum		Flowering Plants
Aeluropus littoralis		Flowering Plants
Limonium girardianum		Flowering Plants
Limonium vulgare		Flowering Plants
Juncus maritimus		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Halimione portulacoides

Flowering Plants Sarcocornia fruticosa

Flowering Plants Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Flowering Plants Puccinellia festuciformis

Flowering Plants Juncus maritimus

Flowering Plants Limonium narbonense

Flowering Plants Sarcocornia perennis

Flowering Plants Artemisia caerulescens

Flowering Plants Limonium vulgare

Flowering Plants Aeluropus littoralis

Flowering Plants Spartina versicolor

Flowering Plants Tripolium pannonicum

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
Halimione portulacoides		Flowering Plants
Sarcocornia fruticosa		Flowering Plants
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum		Flowering Plants
Puccinellia festuciformis		Flowering Plants
Juncus maritimus		Flowering Plants
Limonium narbonense		Flowering Plants
Sarcocornia perennis		Flowering Plants
Artemisia caerulescens		Flowering Plants
Limonium vulgare		Flowering Plants
Aeluropus littoralis		Flowering Plants
Spartina versicolor		Flowering Plants
Tripolium pannonicum		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Sarcocornia fruticosa

Flowering Plants Spartina versicolor

Flowering Plants Halimione portulacoides

Flowering Plants Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Flowering Plants Sarcocornia perennis

Flowering Plants Limoniastrum monopetalum

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
Sarcocornia fruticosa		Flowering Plants
Spartina versicolor		Flowering Plants
Halimione portulacoides		Flowering Plants
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum		Flowering Plants
Sarcocornia perennis		Flowering Plants
Limoniastrum monopetalum		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)	A2.54	Low-mid saltmarshes	n/a
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.55	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
European Red List of Habitats	RLA2.5d	Mediterranean and Black Sea 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	A2.55	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.54	Low-mid saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.65	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.64	Low-mid saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.64	Low-mid saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.65	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.64	Low-mid saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.65	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.61	Pioneer saltmarshes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.62	Low-mid saltmarshes	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15.2	Perennial salt pioneer swards	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15.1	Annual salt pioneer swards	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	15.1	Annual salt pioneer swards	narrower
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 1993	15.1		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	15.2		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15.2		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15.1		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	15.12		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	15.11		narrower
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	LMU.Sml-m	Saltmarsh (low-mid)	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	LMU.Smpio	Saltmarsh (pioneer)	same

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Mediterranean mid-low 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