Mediterranean maquis and arborescent matorral
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLF5.1 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Least Concern |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This habitat includes the evergreen sclerophyllous or lauriphyllous shrub vegetation with a more or less closed canopy structure (maquis), the low, sparse, garrigue-like silicicolous maquis of western Mediterranean, as well as the communities of low arborescent cover and with a usually thick, high evergreen shrub stratum, occurring in the Mediterranean biogeographical zone. Maquis and arborescent matorral may represent pre-forest communities, replacement stages of the climax forests, or permanent communities on xeric sites. High maquis includes scrub of Arbutus spp., Erica spp., Juniperus spp., Phillyrea spp. and low maquis includes communities of Cistus spp., Erica spp., Genista spp., Lavandula spp. Primary matorral occurs on ecologically marginal sites, but more often this habitat is derived from degraded broad-leaved evergreen, thermophillous deciduous or conifer forests. Juniperus spp., Ziziphus spp., Laurus nobilis and Quercus coccifera may codominate. The habitat includes a broad variety of plant communities and so, it does not exhibit any specific ecological preference. It mostly occurs in the thermo- to meso-Mediterranean belts but it extends from the intermediate between tropical and Mediterranean zones (scrub steppes of the arid Iberian, North Africa, Anatolia and central Cyprus) to the supra-Mediterranean zone (Cistus ladanifer shrublands of the Iberian peninsula and southern France). The habitat does not show any relationship with one specific substrate and it is found on acid (e.g. Ericion arboreae; Arbuto unedonis-Laurion nobilis), decalcified (e.g. Cistus laurifolius maquis) and alkaline soils. Grazing and fire are two of the most influential factors shaping the habitat’s physiognomy, acting at varying and usually contradictive ways. Cistus monspeliensis maquis can be favoured from fire events and may dominate the landscape after fires. On the other hand, fire in Juniperus ssp. arborescent matorrals can be a big threat to the habitat due to the low resistance to and poor recovery from fire of Juniperus species. With increasing summer aridity and human pressure, maquis resembles to garrigues as they become low and sparse. Moreover low, garrigues-like maquis are rather frequent in fire-prone regions. This habitat, besides the primary, edaphic- or climatic-controlled stands at marginal sites, has a strong plagioclimax character and so, its occurrence and quality mainly depends on the occurrence of low to intermediate disturbances at an acceptable periodicity.
Indicators of quality:
- Dense horizontal and vertical vegetation structure
- No indication of overgrazing
- Absence of active secondary succession towards forest ecosystems (absence of trees)
- Absence of grass encroachment
- Species richness of the stands
- Absence of invasive species
- Absence or low cover of ruderal species
Low levels of soil compactness, well developed Ah soil horizon and are good indicators of absence of over grazing that can result to degradation towards garrigues. On the other hand, the level of tree and grass encroachment and, generally, presence and abundance of a given set of typical species or functional traits (i.e. morphological, physiological and life history characteristics) can be used as proxy indicators of biodiversity levels and succession stage. Absence of invasive and/or ruderal taxa should be also considered as indication of good habitat quality.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Forestry clearance
- Removal of forest undergrowth
- Grazing in forests/ woodland
- Transportation and service corridors
- Roads, paths and railroads
- Natural System modifications
- Fire and fire suppression
- Burning down
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Biocenotic evolution, succession
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Stable ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- Adapt forest management
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Manage landscape features
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 | 184 | Stable | Increasing |
Croatia | Present | 1208 | Stable | Increasing |
Cyprus | Present | 56 | Increasing | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 218 | Stable | Stable |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 643 | Increasing | Stable |
Crete | Present | 643 | Increasing | Stable |
East Aegean | Present | 643 | Increasing | Stable |
Italy mainland | Present | 2205 | Unknown | Stable |
Sardinia | Present | 2205 | Unknown | Stable |
Sicily | Present | 2205 | Unknown | Stable |
Portugal mainland | Present | 19 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 218 | Stable | Stable |
Malta | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Spain mainland | Present | 4990 | Stable | Stable |
Balearic Islands | Present | 4990 | Stable | Stable |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 20 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Albania | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Serbia | 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 | 3934300 | 3553 | 9523 | Based on the existing data provided from EU Member States. This number is partially representing the current actual total area. |
EU28+ | 3575 | >9523 | No quantitative data exist for the EU 28+ countries. We have only the current estimated area in Bosnia & Herzegovina |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).