Temperate high-mountain base-rich inland cliff
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLH3.2b |
---|---|
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 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.
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
- Mining, extraction of materials and energy production
- Mining and quarrying
- Human intrusions and disturbances
- Outdoor sports and leisure activities, recreational activities
- Mountaineering, rock climbing, speleology
- Sport and leisure structures
- Pollution
- Air pollution, air-borne pollutants
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Manage landscape features
- 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Present | 275 | Stable | Stable |
Bulgaria | Present | 47 | Decreasing | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 600 | Stable | Stable |
Corsica | Present | 600 | Stable | Stable |
Italy mainland | Present | 1597 | Unknown | Unknown |
Sardinia | Present | 1597 | Unknown | Unknown |
Sicily | Present | 1597 | Unknown | Unknown |
Slovakia | Present | 20 | Unknown | Stable |
Spain mainland | Present | 388 | Stable | Stable |
Croatia | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Romania | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 140 | Stable | Stable |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 50 | Unknown | Unknown |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Switzerland | Present | 600 | Stable | Stable |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 65 | Stable | Stable |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 1829850 | 1469 | 3117 | Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovinia are not included in the current area due to the late arrival of data. |
EU28+ | 1471 | 3717 |
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 |
---|---|---|
Asplenium celtibericum | Ferns | |
Cystopteris fragilis | Ferns | |
Achillea schurii | Flowering Plants | |
Agrostis schleicheri | Flowering Plants | |
Androsace cylindrica | Flowering Plants | |
Artemisia eriantha | Flowering Plants | |
Asperula hirta | Flowering Plants | |
Avena setacea | Flowering Plants | |
Ballota frutescens | Flowering Plants | |
Bupleurum petraeum | Flowering Plants | |
Draba aizoides | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca stenantha | Flowering Plants | |
Gypsophila petraea | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium humile | Flowering Plants | |
Kernera saxatilis | Flowering Plants | |
Minuartia rupestris | Flowering Plants | |
Phyteuma charmelii | Flowering Plants | |
Potentilla alchimilloides | Flowering Plants | |
Primula allionii | Flowering Plants | |
Ptilotrichum pyrenaicum | Flowering Plants | |
Ramonda myconi | Flowering Plants | |
Saxifraga aretioides | Flowering Plants | |
Silene campanula | Flowering Plants | |
Silene pusilla | Flowering Plants | |
Thymus pulcherrimus | Flowering Plants | |
Trisetum bertolonii | 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 | H3.2 | Basic and ultra-basic inland cliffs | narrower |