Mediterranean and Black Sea shifting coastal dune
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLB1.3b |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Vulnerable |
EU | Vulnerable |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
Embryonic shifting dunes and "white" shifting dunes along the shoreline of the Macaronesian islands, Black Sea, Mediterranean and Thermo-Atlantic region (northwards up to central Portugal) represent the first stages of dune construction. The habitat consists of mobile coastal sand ridges which are occupied by open grasslands; they sometimes form tall dune ridges but in many cases rather low (less than 10 m high). A zonation is distinguished form primary, embryonic dunes towards higher, and more stable white dunes, but these different sectors are not always well separated. Embryonic dunes are characterised by Elymus farctus (= Elytrigia juncea = Agropyron junceum) that produces horizontal rhizomes which crawl along the sand or penetrate it. Its stalks constitute obstacles where sand accumulates to a few decimetres forming embryonic dunes. These dunes are at the start of the psammosere; they grow by sand accretion and are sporadically inundated by the sea during storms. More inland, white shifting dunes are found, characterised by the dominance of Ammophila arenaria (subsp. arundinacea in the Mediterranean) that has a growth form in which the older parts (strong erect culms up to 1.5 m high) protect the plant and enable it to regenerate from its center. Ammophila arenaria is a very important rhizomatous dune species as it constitutes a barrier for windblown sand, contributing to the increase of the dune height. These dunes occur on yellow, very permeable and humus poor soils. Among the characteristic species accompanying the dominant grasses on embryonic and white dunes Sporobolus pungens, Chamaesyce peplis ( = Euphorbia peplis), Otanthus maritimus, Medicago marina, Anthemis maritima, Eryngium maritimum, Pancratium maritimum, Euphorbia paralias, Calystegia soldanella, Echinophora spinosa, Cutandia maritima and Polygonum maritimum could be mentioned. On the Macaronesian islands both Ammophila arenaria and Elymus farctus are absent, but in some places white dunes exist, characterized by Chamaesyce peplis ( = Euphorbia peplis), Euphorbia paralias, Cyperus capitatus, Polygonum maritimum (with some island endemics such as Plantago madarensis on Madeira) and succulent shrubs of the alliance Traganion moquinii (see habitat B1.6c). Large parts of the Mediterranean dunes are disturbed or completely destroyed by human pressure such as tourism activities, coastal urbanisation and industry.
Indicators for good quality:
- Undisturbed, discrete coastal dune zonation (spatial succession pattern)
- Sparse vegetation cover ≥ 20%
- No presence of alien or ruderal species
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | C/D1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | C/D1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Human intrusions and disturbances
- Walking, horseriding and non-motorised vehicles
- Trampling, overuse
- Intensive maintenance of public parcs / Cleaning of beaches
- Invasive, other problematic species and genes
- Invasive non-native species
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Erosion
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring coastal areas
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Legal protection of habitats and species
- Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport
- Urban and industrial waste management
Distribution
Geographic occurrence and trends
EU28 | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bulgaria | Present | 1.6 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | 0.01 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Cyprus | Present | 1 | Unknown | Unknown |
France mainland | Present | 70 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 70 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 66 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Crete | Present | 66 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
East Aegean | Present | 66 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Italy mainland | Present | 139 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sardinia | Present | 139 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sicily | Present | 139 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Malta | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Portugal mainland | Present | 24 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal Azores | Present | 24 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Madeira | Present | 24 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Savage Islands | Present | 24 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Romania | Present | 8 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 6 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Balearic Islands | Present | 6 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Canary Islands | Present | 6 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Present | 1 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Montenegro | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 3453050 | 1343 | 316 | |
EU28+ | 1345 | 317 |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
Characteristic species
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Agropyron junceum | Flowering Plants | |
Ammophila arenaria | Flowering Plants | |
Androcymbium psammophilum | Flowering Plants | |
Anthemis maritima | Flowering Plants | |
Anthemis tomentosa | Flowering Plants | |
Calystegia soldanella | Flowering Plants | |
Convolvulus caput-medusae | Flowering Plants | |
Cutandia maritima | Flowering Plants | |
Cyperus capitatus | Flowering Plants | |
Echinophora spinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Elymus farctus | Flowering Plants | |
Elytrigia juncea | Flowering Plants | |
Eryngium maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
Euphorbia paralias | Flowering Plants | |
Euphorbia peplis | Flowering Plants | |
Honkenya peploides | Flowering Plants | |
Leymus arenarius | Flowering Plants | |
Medicago marina | Flowering Plants | |
Ononis natrix | Flowering Plants | |
Otanthus maritimus | Flowering Plants | |
Pancratium maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
Polygonum maritimum | Flowering Plants | |
Sporobolus pungens | Flowering Plants |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableOther classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711 | B1.3 | Shifting coastal dunes | narrower |