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 |
|
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.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
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
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
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
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
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. |
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 |
---|---|---|
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 |