Mediterranean and Black Sea shifting coastal dune

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

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats