Mediterranean ultramafic inland cliff
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLH3.2g |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Data Deficient |
EU | Data Deficient |
Relation to |
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Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
Ultramafic (igneous and mostly igneous-metamorphic rock with high magnesium and iron content) rocks and cliffs in the Mediterranean with few vascular plant species and cryptogams growing in rock fissures and crevices. The cliffs may be textured as ophiolite or like a breccia. Many ophiolites are built of ultramafic rocks such as peridotite and, after transformation, serpentinite. The high magnesium and iron content, and the frequently elevated amounts of chromium and nickel are toxic to most plants. Due to this unmitigated toxic effect only few adapted plants are able to grow on ultramafic cliffs.
The vegetation is mainly composed of small ferns of the genera Allosorus and Asplenium, together with Paragymnopteris marantae and others. The plant composition is unique. It consists of highly specialised species and rare ecotypes of more common and widespread species. Plant cover is low.
Mediterranean ultramafic cliffs, though widely distributed, are local phenomena and occur in restricted hilly and mountainous areas of the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Italian Peninsula, western and southern Balkans, Aegean, Cyprus, Mediterranean Turkey (Anatolia) and northern Africa (Cyrenaica, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco).
Indicators of quality:
The vegetation of Mediterranean ultramafic cliffs consists chiefly of highly specialised ferns and other plants (serpentinophytes). Any of these, and sometimes their hybrids, indicate favourable habitat quality. Although cliff habitats generally enjoy protection through inaccessibility, quarrying destroys the habitat and its populations of specialised plants. While most serpentinophytes are restricted largely to primary cliff habitats, some, such as Paragymnopteris marantae and a few bryophytes, occur occasionally on abandoned gravel heaps. The following characteristics may be used as indicators of favourable quality:
- Occurrence of rare species, in particular serpentinophytes,
- Presence of different aspects of rock walls, different exposure, moisture and rock structures such as rock shelters and ledges
- Contact with natural habitats such as serpentine screes and dry metal-rich grasslands
- Absence of mining and quarrying
- Absence of rock control structures and garbage dumping
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Mining, extraction of materials and energy production
- Mining and quarrying
- Transportation and service corridors
- Roads, motorways
- Railway lines, TGV
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Legal protection of habitats and species
- 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cyprus | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 4 | Unknown | Unknown |
Italy mainland | Present | unknown | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal mainland | Present | 24 | Unknown | Increasing |
Portugal Azores | Uncertain | 24 | Unknown | Increasing |
Madeira | Uncertain | 24 | Unknown | Increasing |
Savage Islands | Uncertain | 24 | Unknown | Increasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 7 | Decreasing | Stable |
Balearic Islands | Uncertain | 7 | Decreasing | Stable |
Canary Islands | Uncertain | 7 | Decreasing | Stable |
East Aegean | Uncertain | 4 | 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 1490250 | 96 | 34 | Data have many gaps and inconsistencies among countries |
EU28+ | 96 | 34 | Data have many gaps and inconsistencies among countries |
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 balearicum | Ferns | |
Asplenium foreziense | Ferns | |
Asplenium obovatum | Ferns | |
Cosentinia vellea | Ferns | |
Pellaea calomelanos | Ferns | |
Coscinodon cribrosus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Mielichhoferia mielichhoferiana | Mosses & Liverworts |
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 |