Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal dune scrub
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLB1.6b |
---|---|
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
Scrub and thicket on stabilized or semi-stabilized dune systems of the Mediterranean, thermo-Atlantic (southern Portugal) and Black Sea coasts. The dominant shrubs and herbaceous species are diverse and may vary from site to site. These scrub and thickets often constitute the transition between grey dunes and coastal woodlands. In the Mediterranean region the most widespread coastal scrub and thickets are dominated by Juniper species: Juniperus phoenicea and Juniperus oxycedrus (subsp. macrocarpa, subsp. transtagana). In the warmest areas of the thermo-Mediterranean climate, various sclerophyllous, lauriphyllous or drought-deciduous scrub and thickets are found, from the classes Ononido-Rosmarinetea, Quercetea ilicis, Cisto-Lavanduletea, Retametea raetami, Cisto-Micromerietea. These communities dominated by shrubs and thickets and vegetation cover could be very close but in some cases it could be also relatively open. On open spots, many herbaceous species from the surrounding dune grasslands are common between the shrubs. Along the Black Sea coast several deciduous shrubs may dominate, such as Paliurus spina-christii, Osyris alba and Carpinus orientalis, but also some small evergreen species, such as Ruscus aculeatus and Jasminum fruticans may participate in the scrub or form very large stands on the dunes. Dunes with communities of Hippophae rhamnoides, which are typical for north-western Europe, are restricted to northern Italy in the Mediterranean and to the Danube Delta in the Black Sea region. Some anciently cultivated plants, like Ziziphus jujuba, represent semi-natural shrub plantations in the dunes of the Southern Black Sea coast. Invasive species, like Eucalyptus sp., Amorpha fruticosa, Eleagnos angustifolia may expand with important impacts on native vegetation.
Indicators of good quality:
In good conditions these scrubs and thickets are dominated by native species. They could be subjected to the natural succession (expanding of forest vegetation), often related to stabilization of the dune systems.
The following characteristics may be considered as indicators of good quality:
- High species richness and prevalence of native shrubs and herbaceous species
- Absence of communities dominated by invasive species
- Absence of forest plantations and forest expansion
- Long-term stability of the relative proportions of scrub and grasslands in the mosaics of the dune landscape
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | A3 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | A3 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Agriculture
- Cultivation
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Invasive, other problematic species and genes
- Invasive non-native species
- Natural System modifications
- Burning down
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 forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- 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 hunting, taking and fishing and species management
- Specific single species or species group management measures
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 | Unknown | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Cyprus | Present | 0.3 | Stable | Unknown |
France mainland | Present | 42 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 42 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 23 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Crete | Present | 23 | Decreasing | Increasing |
East Aegean | Present | 23 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Italy mainland | Present | 205 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sardinia | Present | 205 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sicily | Present | 205 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal mainland | Present | 14 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal Azores | Uncertain | 14 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Madeira | Uncertain | 14 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Savage Islands | Uncertain | 14 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Romania | Present | 2 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 33 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Balearic Islands | Present | 33 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Canary Islands | Present | 33 | Unknown | 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 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Uncertain | 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 | 3365550 | 963 | 320 | |
EU28+ | 967 | 320 |
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 |
---|---|---|
Ephedra campylopoda | Conifers | |
Ephedra distachya | Conifers | |
Ephedra fragilis | Conifers | |
Juniperus navicularis | Conifers | |
Juniperus oxycedrus | Conifers | |
Juniperus phoenicea | Conifers | |
Amorpha fruticosa | Flowering Plants | |
Artemisia campestris | Flowering Plants | |
Asparagus acutifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Asparagus aphyllus | Flowering Plants | |
Bupleurum semicompositum | Flowering Plants | |
Calamagrostis epigejos | Flowering Plants | |
Carpinus orientalis | Flowering Plants | |
Catapodium rigidum | Flowering Plants | |
Centaurea pumilio | Flowering Plants | |
Cistus creticus | Flowering Plants | |
Cistus laurifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Clematis flammula | Flowering Plants | |
Corema album | Flowering Plants | |
Coridothymus capitatus | Flowering Plants | |
Dactylis glomerata | Flowering Plants | |
Daphne sericea | Flowering Plants | |
Erica manipuliflora | Flowering Plants | |
Erica multiflora | Flowering Plants | |
Erodium laciniatum | Flowering Plants | |
Halimium halimifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Helichrysum italicum | Flowering Plants | |
Helichrysum stoechas | Flowering Plants | |
Hippophae rhamnoides | Flowering Plants | |
Jasminum fruticans | Flowering Plants | |
Lagurus ovatus | Flowering Plants | |
Limonium echioides | Flowering Plants | |
Limonium graecum | Flowering Plants | |
Limonium hyssopifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Limonium ocymifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Lonicera implexa | Flowering Plants | |
Lycium schweinfurthii | Flowering Plants | |
Melica minuta | Flowering Plants | |
Myrtus communis | Flowering Plants | |
Osyris alba | Flowering Plants | |
Paliurus spina-christi | Flowering Plants | |
Periploca graeca | Flowering Plants | |
Phagnalon graecum | Flowering Plants | |
Phillyrea angustifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Pistacia lentiscus | Flowering Plants | |
Prasium majus | Flowering Plants | |
Pseudorlaya pumila | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus coccifera | Flowering Plants | |
Reichardia picroides | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus alaternus | Flowering Plants | |
Rubia peregrina | Flowering Plants | |
Rubia tenuifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Ruscus aculeatus | Flowering Plants | |
Silene colorata | Flowering Plants | |
Smilax aspera | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium capitatum | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium fruticans | Flowering Plants | |
Trachynia distachya | Flowering Plants | |
Tuberaria guttata | Flowering Plants | |
Valantia hispida | Flowering Plants | |
Vulpia fasciculata | Flowering Plants | |
Ziziphus jujuba | 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 | B1.6 | Coastal dune scrub | narrower |