Red List habitat classification > RL - Marine habitats > RLMED - Mediterranean > MEDA1.13 Communities of Mediterranean upper mediolittoral rock

Communities of Mediterranean upper mediolittoral rock

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code MEDA1.13
Threat status
Europe	Data Deficient
EU	Least Concern
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)
Source	European Red List habitat factsheet
	European Red List of habitats reports
	European Red List of habitats (Excel table)

Summary

This habitat occurs in the mediolittoral (surf zone) of the Mediterranean coast on areas of bedrock, boulders and stones. The associated species are adapted to long periods of emersion. In the upper mediolittoral the main species present are barnacles, periwinkles and limpets forming a belt which may be more than three meters in highly swashed coasts. In the lower part of this habitat, the moister conditions mean that algae can become established and dominate. The characteristic species include Pyropia elongata, Bangia fuscopurpurea, Polysiphonia sertularioides, Rissoella verruculosa and, on exposed shores of both calcareous and siliceous substrates, brown crusts of Ralfsia verrucosa.

Indicators of quality

Most of the species associated with this habitat are capable of withstanding rather high environmental pressures, even man-induced ones however Rissoella verruculosa, which is characteristic of one of the associated biotopes is sensitive to both pollution and human activities and may therefore be a potential quality indicator.

A "Quality of Rocky Bottoms index" (CFR by its Spanish acronym) used in Spanish Atlantic waters for the assessment of macroalgae communities on rocky shores may have some potentially application in assessment of quality of this habitat.

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

This habitat has a wide geographical range but despite most of the Mediterranean coast being rocky, quantitative data on its extent are limited. Trends have been inferred in light of past development of harbours, dikes and others coastal structures which suggest that less than 20 % of this habitat has been lost over the last 50 years. This habitat has therefore been assessed as Least Concern for the EU 28.
For EU28+, the habitat has a large EOO, and therefore it qualifies as Least Concern under Criterion B. However, the habitat is assessed as Data Deficient at EU 28+ level given the lack of information on its trends in quantity and quality and the fact that its overall distribution is unknown.

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Data Deficient	-

Confidence in the assessment

low

Red List of habitat categories and criteria descriptions

European Red List of Habitats categories

Based on Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Reduction in quantity (area of distribution)	A	A1 Present decline (over last 50 years) A2a Future decline (over the next 50 years) A2b Future/present decline (over a 50-year period inclunding present and future) A3 Historic decline
Restricted geographic distribution	B	B1 Restricted Extent of Occurrence (EOO) B2 Restricted Area of Occupancy (AOO) B3 Present at few locations
Reduction in abiotic quality	C	C/D1 Reduction in quality over the last 50 years C/D2 Reduction in quality in the future or in a period including present and future C/D3 Historic reduction in quality
Reduction in biotic quality	D
Quantitative analysis of probability of collapse	E

From Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

Pressures and threats

Urbanisation, residential and commercial development

Urbanised areas, human habitation
Industrial or commercial areas
Discharges

Pollution

Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)

Invasive, other problematic species and genes

Invasive non-native species

Habitat restoration potential

Unknown although some of the dominant species of this habitat are particularly intolerant to various chemical and increases of nutrients with limited recovery capacity. Others such as those the red algae Bangia fuscopurpurea show greater capacity to some disturbance and recovery.

Trends in extent
Average current trend in quantity
Decreasing	Decreasing
EU28	EU28+

Trends in quality
Average current trend in quality
Unknown	Unknown
EU28	EU28+

Conservation and management needs

This habitat is widespread and common and therefore likely to be present within some protected areas although it may not be subject to specific conservation measures. Beneficial actions include those which improve water quality and the regulation of coastal development in order to avoid both direct and indirect damage. Further work is needed to identify management measures to support the conservation of this habitat.

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats

Restoring/Improving water quality

Measures related to spatial planning

Other marine-related measures
Establish protected areas/sites

Distribution

For each habitat a distribution map was produced from a wide variety of sources indicating known and potential occurrences of the habitat in 10x10 km grids within Europe. Occurrences in grid cells were given in two classes: actual distribution from relatively reliable sources (surveys, expert knowledge), and potential distribution based on models or less reliable indicators. Please download the fact sheet to see the map.

Geographic occurrence and trends

Seas	Present or presence uncertain	Current area of habitat (Km²)	Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years)	Recent trend in quality (last 50 years)
Adriatic Sea	Present	Unknown	Unknown	Decreasing
Aegian-Levantine Sea
Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea
Western Mediterranean Sea

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

	Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km²)	Area of Occupancy (AOO)	Current estimated Total Area	Comment
EU28	2,001,791	459	Unknown	EOO and AOO have been calculated on the available data. Although this data set is known to be incomplete the figures exceed the thresholds for threatened status.
EU28+	>486		Unknown	EOO and AOO have been calculated on the available data. Although this data set is known to be incomplete the figures exceed the thresholds for threatened status.

AOO = the area occupied by a habitat measured in number of 10x10 km grid cells.
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).

Characteristic species

The full list of characteristic species and genus are available above from the Summary. The species available in the EUNIS database are shown here.

Algae Blidingia chadefaudii

Algae Blidingia minima

Algae Hapalospongidion macrocarpum

Algae Hildenbrandia rubra

Algae Polysiphonia sertularioides

Algae Ralfsia verrucosa

Algae Rissoella verruculosa

Algae Scytosiphon lomentaria

Invertebrates Chthamalus montagui

Invertebrates Chthamalus stellatus

Invertebrates Euraphia depressa

Invertebrates Ligia italica

Invertebrates Melarhaphe neritoides

Invertebrates Pachygrapsus marmoratus

Invertebrates Patella rustica

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Blidingia chadefaudii		Algae
Blidingia minima		Algae
Hapalospongidion macrocarpum		Algae
Hildenbrandia rubra		Algae
Polysiphonia sertularioides		Algae
Ralfsia verrucosa		Algae
Rissoella verruculosa		Algae
Scytosiphon lomentaria		Algae
Chthamalus montagui		Invertebrates
Chthamalus stellatus		Invertebrates
Euraphia depressa		Invertebrates
Ligia italica		Invertebrates
Melarhaphe neritoides		Invertebrates
Pachygrapsus marmoratus		Invertebrates
Patella rustica		Invertebrates

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Reefs	1170	Overlap

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Sections

Communities of Mediterranean upper mediolittoral rock

Quick facts

Summary

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

European Red List of Habitats categories

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Pressures and threats

Habitat restoration potential

Trends in extent

Average current trend in quantity

Trends in quality

Average current trend in quality

Conservation and management needs

List of conservation and management needs

Distribution

Geographic occurrence and trends

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

Characteristic species

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Other classifications