Temperate high-mountain base-rich inland cliff

This habitat comprises calcareous or base-rich rock faces and crevices in at high altitudes of European mountain ranges in the temperate bioclimatic region. The chasmophytes, dwarf- and cushion-formed chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes, and numerous fern species and mosses, are very well adapted to the extreme habitat conditions, like strong solar radiation, a low water content, high day/night and seasonal temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and the absence of snow cover protection. The soil is in general very poorly developed, but in the crevices a small amount of fine soil may accumulate. Due to geographical isolation and variety in site conditions numerous relict, endemic, rare and protected species can be found on these cliffs.

Also the variation in species composition is high, resulting in a large number of alliances. In this habitat type we can find alliances from three orders. The Potentilletalia caulescentis comprises alliances of sunny rock faces and crevices. In the Central and Eastern Alps and in the Western Carpathians we find the alliance Potentillion caulescentis, in the Southern Alps the Phyteumato-Saxifragion petraeae, in the Maritime Alps the Saxifragion lingulatae, and in the Southern and Eastern Carpathians the Gypsophilion petraeae. On the Iberian Peninsula occur the alliances Saxifragion mediae, Sedo albi-Seslerion hispanicae, Asplenio celtiberici-Saxifragion cuneatae, Jasionion foliosae and Saxifragion camposii, in the Apennines the Saxifragion australis and on the Balkan Peninsula the alliances Micromerion croaticae and Edraiantho graminifolii-Erysimion comati. The order Violo biflorae-Cystopteridetalia alpinae comprises chasmophytic communities on shaded calcareous rock faces and crevices. Here the variation is much less, and only the alliance Amphoricarpion neumayeri is included, occurring in the central and south-eastern Dinarides. Other alliances of this order are found in lower altitudes (habitat H3.2c). In the alpine belt of the south-central Balkan mountain ranges we can find chasmophytic vegetation of the alliance Ramondion nathaliae from order Potentilletalia speciosae.

Many endemic and legally protected species occur in this habitat. The main threats are air pollution, exploitation of limestone, intensive tourism (climbing), grazing, collecting of flowers, erosion, and natural destruction of the rocks.

Indicators of good quality:
•    natural erosion processes,
•    species richness of the cliffs and presence of the characteristic species,
•    presence of habitat rare species, relict species and endemics.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats