Western Mediterranean mountain hedgehog-heath

This habitat consists of scrub or shrubby vegetation dominated by prostrate ligneous plants of pulviniform habit, i.e. simulating a hedgehog. They live in high mountainous areas, mostly in upper supra- and oro-mediterranean levels, usually between 1,600 and 2,300 m Aslin mountains of the central and southern Iberian Peninsula. This habitat type is presentin the siliceous mountains (Cytision oromediterranei, Genisto versicoloris-Juniperion hemisphaericae) and in the calcareous ones (Pruno prostratae-Juniperion sabinae, Xeroacantho-Erinaceion anthyllidis); while in the dolomitic substrata of the Baetic ranges, the endemic-rich alliance Andryalion aghardii is represented. Junipers and hedgehog legumes, often spiny, are the dominant and representative elements of this habitat, which is adapted to conditions of cold and drought typical of the Mediterranean mountains. The flora is rich in narrow endemics due to speciation, which is enhanced by isolation between mountain summits. Endemics are much more numerous on limestone or dolomite than in siliceous substrata. This habitat type constitutes, in most of the stands, the potential natural vegetation of the oro-mediterranean belt but there are also secondary, anthropo-zoogenic downslope extensions of the high-altitude formations which can be considered seral scrubs; at these lower altitudes, the primary stands of this habitat are in the crests and steep slopes. Due to human influence (grazing, burning), those extensions have historically increased and currently occupy somewhat larger areas than they would under strictly natural conditions. This habitat type has been traditionally used by an extensive husbandry with local transhumance of sheep and goat herds moving along the different altitudinal levels, and thus leading to a moderate grazing pressure.

Indicators of good quality:

In optimal conditions, this type shows a structure of dense scrub or shrubland of high to medium cover with prominent cushion shaped (hedgehog) ligneous plants in mosaic with a grassland of hard grasses in the open spaces. The following characteristics may be considered as indicators of good quality:

• Abundance of endemics, including threatened species.
• High to medium cover of vascular plant vegetation, particularly prostrate shrubs and chamaephytes.
• Absence of signals of disturbance by trampling, skiing or burning.
• Absence of ruderal, nutrient-demanding species.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats