Temperate, lowland to montane base-rich inland cliff
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLH3.2c |
---|---|
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 type includes calcareous or base-rich rock faces and crevices in lowland to montane belts of European mountains in the temperate bioclimatic region. Plant species growing on these rocks are adapted to extreme habitat conditions, such as strong solar radiation, a low water content, strong fluctuations in day/night and seasonal temperature, strong winds, absence of snow cover, and poorly developed soil. However, the conditions in lower altitudes are not as severe as in high altitudes (habitat H3.2b): radiation is lower, many species grow in more shady places, the fluctuation of temperature is not so extreme, and winds are less strong. Despite this, many endemic and rare species occur in these habitats.
On more sunny rocks we can find communities of the order Potentilletalia caulescentis, namely in the Central and Easter Alps and Western Carpathians from the alliance Potentillion caulescentis and in the Southern Carpathians from the Micromerion pulegii. On more shady rocks communities from the order Violo biflorae-Cystopteridetalia alpinae appear, in the Southern Dinarides the alliance Edraianthion and in the rest of Europe the alliance Violo biflorae-Cystopteridion alpinae.
Indicators of quality:
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, natural destruction of the rocks.
The following characteristics may be considered as indicators of good quality:
• occurrence of natural erosion processes,
• species richness of the cliffs and presence of the characteristic species,
• presence of rare species at their typical frequency.
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
- Invasive, other problematic species and genes
- Invasive non-native species
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Biocenotic evolution, succession
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
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 | 91 | Stable | Unknown |
Bulgaria | Present | 190 | Stable | Stable |
Czech Republic | Present | 2 | Stable | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 225 | Stable | Stable |
Germany | Present | 30 | Decreasing | Stable |
Hungary | Present | 1 | Stable | Stable |
Ireland | Present | 2.7 | Stable | Stable |
Italy mainland | Present | 50 | Stable | Stable |
Slovakia | Present | 7 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 13 | Stable | Stable |
Lithuania | Present | 0.01 | Stable | Unknown |
Croatia | Present | 15 | Stable | Stable |
Romania | Present | 2 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 46 | Stable | Stable |
United Kingdom | Present | 6 | Decreasing | Stable |
Poland | Present | 2.8 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Switzerland | Present | 250 | Stable | Decreasing |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 107 | Decreasing | 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 | 6462400 | 2817 | 685 | |
EU28+ | 3091 | 1042 |
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 fontanum | Ferns | |
Ceterach officinarum | Ferns | |
Cystopteris fragilis | Ferns | |
Polypodium interjectum | Ferns | |
Androsace lactea | Flowering Plants | |
Campanula cochlearifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Cardaminopsis arenosa subsp. borbasii | Flowering Plants | |
Carex brachystachys | Flowering Plants | |
Draba aizoides | Flowering Plants | |
Erinus alpinus | Flowering Plants | |
Globularia cordifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium amplexicaule | Flowering Plants | |
Kernera saxatilis | Flowering Plants | |
Moehringia muscosa | Flowering Plants | |
Potentilla caulescens | Flowering Plants | |
Valeriana montana | 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 |