Western Mediterranean spiny heath
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLF7.1 |
---|---|
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
Rare, extremely local and isolated, cushion-forming scrubs, often with spiny species, located in the clifftops of rocky coastal stretches, dispersed along the coasts of south Portugal, Northeast Spain and southern France, the Balearic and Thyrrenian Islands (Corsica, Sardinia, Malta and Pantellaria) up to the southern Italian Peninsula (Gulf of Taranto). It is submitted to the constant wind actions and to the salinity transported by the spray reaching particularly during the strong wind episodes. The rocky shallow soils and the steep slopes prevent from further development of vegetation, being considered this habitat as a permanent community of coastal clifftops in the Mediterranean area. These clifftop scrubs are characterized by irregular cover at their optimal phases, depending on the slope and the soil depth. Most of the stands of this habitat are quite inaccessible and the threats seem so be low.
Indicators of quality:
• no signals of human activity: trampling, building, trash, etc.
• presence and abundance of narrow-endemic species
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
- Transportation and service corridors
- Paths, tracks, cycling tracks
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Dispersed habitation
- Human intrusions and disturbances
- Mountaineering & rock climbing
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 spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spain mainland | Present | 6.4 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 19 | Stable | Stable |
Sardinia | Present | 146 | Stable | Stable |
Balearic Islands | Present | 6.4 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal mainland | Present | 4.3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
France mainland | Present | 19 | Stable | Stable |
Sicily | Present | 146 | Stable | Stable |
Malta | Present | 71 | 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) |
---|
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | >50000 | >50 | 241 | |
EU28+ | >50 | 241 |
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 |
---|---|---|
Anthyllis fulgurans | Flowering Plants | |
Anthyllis hermanniae | Flowering Plants | |
Armeria ruscinonensis | Flowering Plants | |
Astragalus balearicus | Flowering Plants | |
Astragalus massiliensis | Flowering Plants | |
Centaurea balearica | Flowering Plants | |
Centaurea horrida | Flowering Plants | |
Euphorbia pithyusa | Flowering Plants | |
Genista corsica | Flowering Plants | |
Genista morisii | Flowering Plants | |
Helichrysum italicum | Flowering Plants | |
Launaea cervicornis | Flowering Plants | |
Sarcopoterium spinosum | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium subspinosum | Flowering Plants | |
Thymelaea hirsuta | Flowering Plants |