Communities of Mediterranean infralittoral (coastal) terrigenous muds
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code MEDA5.39 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Near Threatened |
EU | Near Threatened |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
The sediment that conforms this habitat is always pure mud, more or less clayey, almost always derived from the erosion of rocks on land carried to sea by rivers (of fluvial origin). Such coarse debris is quickly covered with no epifauna developing as a result. In sheltered areas, this habitat is characterized by associations with Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera noltii and Caulerpa prolifera.
Indicators of quality:
Standard biotic and abiotic indicators have been used to describe marine habitat quality, but the presence and abundance of characteristic species can also be used as an indicator of habitat quality.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Agriculture
- Use of biocides, hormones and chemicals
- Fertilisation
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Industrial or commercial areas
- Discharges
- Biological resource use other than agriculture & forestry
- Marine and Freshwater Aquaculture
- Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Marine water pollution
- Soil pollution and solid waste (excluding discharges)
Habitat restoration potential
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
Fisheries legislation for this whole zone exists but precise management measures aimed at this particular habitat are not in place. Direct engagement of stakeholders in the planning of the management process, analysis of social and economic costs and benefits of different management options, will be essential for the successful implementation of conservation actions.
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
- Measures related to hunting, taking and fishing and species management
- Regulation/Management of fishery in marine and brackish systems
- Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport
- Urban and industrial waste management
- Managing marine traffic
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 | 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 | >50,000 | Unknown | Unknown | This habitat is present in all the Mediterranean sub-basins. |
EU28+ | Unknown | Unknown | This habitat is present in all the Mediterranean sub-basins. |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).