Red List habitat classification > RL - Marine habitats > RLMED - Mediterranean > MEDA2.33 Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral mud

Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral mud

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code MEDA2.33
Threat status
Europe	Vulnerable
EU	Vulnerable
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 is present in sheltered inlets and embayments which are not part of major estuarine systems. It may also form in areas that were previously rocky or cobble fields, but where pseudofaeces have accumulated from filter-feeding gastropods, leading to the presence of a thick layer of mud. Such a build up of pseudofaeces results in a bed that is very soft to walk on, and sediment which is anoxic to the surface.

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.

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Approximately two-thirds of the Mediterranean coastline is currently urbanized and in the most industrial regions this increases to 75%. This urbanization has especially impacted deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons, therefore it is reasonable to presume that these habitats have suffered declines in quantity and quality. It has not been possible to quantify this decline therefore this assessment is based on expert opinion.
This habitat has been assessed as Vulnerable for both the EU 28 and EU 28+ because of an estimated substantial reduction in quality. This is based on an intermediate decline affecting more than 50% of the habitat.

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Vulnerable	C/D1

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Vulnerable	C/D1

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)
Marine water pollution
Soil pollution and solid waste (excluding discharges)

Natural System modifications

Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions

Habitat restoration potential

The capacity for this habitat to recover once severely damaged is unknown.

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

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

Conservation and management needs

There are various legal provisions and policies which relate to this habitat such as the ICZM Protocol of from Barcelona Convention. Beneficial measures include improving water quality and both direct and indirect effects of coastal development. Direct engagement of stakeholder in the planning of the management process, analysis of social and economic costs and benefits of different management options will be essential to the successful implementation of conservation actions. Other measures include better management of waste from industry and urbanisation, improving water quality and establishing marine protected areas and other spatial planning measures.

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats

Restoring/Improving water quality
Restoring coastal areas

Measures related to marine habitats

Restoring marine habitats

Measures related to spatial planning

Establish protected areas/sites
Legal protection of habitats and species
Manage landscape features

Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport

Urban and industrial waste management
Specific management of traffic and energy transport systems
Managing marine traffic

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	Decreasing	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	914,346	242	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+	>242		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

Not available

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	Estuaries	1130	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	Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide	1140	Overlap
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	Coastal lagoons	1150	Overlap
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

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Sections

Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral mud

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