Marine Atlantic littoral shingle (pebble) and gravel
_and_gravel.jpg "European Red List of Habitats 2016")
Quick facts
| Red List habitat type | code NEAA2.11 |
|---|---|
| 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
Shingle beaches occur on high energy wave dominated coasts where a sediment supply is available for reworking. The shingle (mobile cobbles and pebbles) or coarse gravel, is typically deposited as a result of onshore wave action and long-shore drift and the beach profile tends to be relatively steep. The particle size tends to increase along the shore in the direction of the long-shore drift. As the sediment is very coarse and often quite mobile, it typically supports little marine life, other than opportunist amphipods and oligochaete worms. Summer growths of ephemeral green algae (Enteromorpha spp.) may develop.
Indicators of Quality:
Both biotic and abiotic indicators have been used to describe marine habitat quality. These include: the presence of characteristic species as well as those which are sensitive to the pressures the habitat may face; water quality parameters; levels of exposure to particular pressure, and more integrated indices which describe habitat structure and function, such as trophic index, or successional stages of development in habitats that have a natural cycle of change over time.
There are no commonly agreed indicators of quality for this habitat, although particular parameters may have been set in certain situations e.g. protected features within Natura 2000 sites, where reference values have been determined and applied on a location-specific basis.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
This habitat has a large EOO and AOO (based on the distribution of vegetated shingle), and therefore qualifies as Least Concern under criterion B. However the habitat is assessed as Data Deficient both at the EU 28 and EU 28+ levels because of the lack of information on 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
Pressures and threats
- Natural System modifications
- Removal of sediments (mud...)
- Modification of hydrographic functioning, general
- Sea defense or coast protection works, tidal barrages
- Other ecosystem modifications
- Reduction or loss of specific habitat features
- Anthropogenic reduction of habitat connectivity
- Reduction, lack or prevention of erosion
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
- Other marine-related measures
- Manage landscape features
- Measures related to special resouce use
- Regulating/Managing exploitation of natural resources on sea
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater North Sea | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast | ||||
| Celtic Seas | ||||
| Kattegat | ||||
| Macaronesia |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
| Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU28 | 3,581,679 | 729 | 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+ | 757 | 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).
