Red List habitat classification > RL - Marine habitats > RLBLS - Black Sea > BLSA1.15 Pontic supralittoral rock

Pontic supralittoral rock

Quick facts

Red List habitat type code BLSA1.15
Threat status
Europe Data Deficient
EU Data Deficient
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 rocky supralittoral zone (depth 0-5 m). It exists where the upper supralittoral rock is colonised by yellow lichens and cyanobacteria such as Lyngbia sp. and the lower supralittoral rock is colonised by encrusting black lichens, littorinids, isopods and barnacles. In locations of freshwater runoff and where nitrate levels are elevated the rock surfaces may be coated with green algae and a film of cyanobacteria.

Indicators of quality:

Species composition – presence of littorinid gastropod Melaraphe neritoides, isopod Ligia italica, barnacle Chthamalus stellatus as well as a high density of these species are indicative of a good quality habitat.

Characteristic species
For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

There is anecdotal evidence of declines in extent and quality however with no studies dedicated to this habitat in the Black Sea it is not possible to assign any quantitative information to these trends.
In the EU 28, this habitat has a restricted distribution however it is asssessed as Data Deficient because of the lack of information on trends in quantity and quality, and the fact that its overall distribution is unknown.
In the EU 28+ this habitat has a large EOO and AOO, and therefore qualifies as Least Concern under criterion B. However the habitat is assessed as Data Deficient because of the lack of information on its trends in quantity and quality.
EU
Red List Category Red List Criteria
Data Deficient -
Europe
Red List Category Red List Criteria
Data Deficient -

Confidence in the assessment

low
Red List of habitat categories and criteria descriptions

Pressures and threats

  • Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
    • Other urbanisation, industrial and similar activities
  • Pollution
    • Input of contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events
    • Oil spills in the sea

Habitat restoration potential

There is a lack of information about the recoverability of this habitat although, because many of the associated species are pioneers, recovery may be possible over relatively short time scales. Recovery when non-rocky substrates replace rocky substrates will not be possible.

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

The most beneficial measure for this habitat would be protection from development. This may be within a protected area or part of a wider spatial planning framework. Pollution control and avoidance of waste water discharges across the habitat would also be beneficial.

List of conservation and management needs

  • Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
    • Restoring/Improving water quality
  • Measures related to spatial planning
    • Establish protected areas/sites
  • Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport
    • Urban and industrial waste management

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)
Black Sea Present Unknown Unknown Unknown
Sea of Marmara

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) Area of Occupancy (AOO) Current estimated Total Area Comment
EU28 11,620 22 Unknown There is insufficient data to calculate the total area of this habitat
EU28+ >50 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 Feldmannia irregularis
Algae Urospora penicilliformis
Invertebrates Chthamalus stellatus
Invertebrates Ligia italica
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Feldmannia irregularis Algae
Urospora penicilliformis Algae
Chthamalus stellatus Invertebrates
Ligia italica Invertebrates

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Other classifications

Not available
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