N316 Atlantic sea-cliff communities
Description
Assemblages from a pretty rich pool of specialised salt-tolerant species growing on hard substrates. The height above the sea, combined with the exposure of the cliff to wind and surf, generates a certain variability which might warrant further subdivision. The lowest, most exposed belt is occupied by a patchier vegetation composed by aerodynamic cushion plants retaining soil particles, whereas denser, grassier communities develop at upper levels.
Protection
Protected under the code 1230 ("Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic Coasts") by the EU Habitat Directive.Floristic Composition
Frequent species
Festuca rubra
90%,
Armeria maritima
57%,
Daucus carota
57%,
Crithmum maritimum
55%,
Plantago maritima
54%,
Anthyllis vulneraria
40%,
Silene uniflora
29%,
Lotus corniculatus
27%,
Rumex acetosa
25%,
Plantago coronopus
24%,
Dactylis glomerata
22%,
Leucanthemum ircutianum
19%,
Koeleria pyramidata
17%,
Limbarda crithmoides
16%,
Trifolium repens aggr.
15%,
Limonium binervosum
15%,
Plantago lanceolata
14%,
Spergularia rupicola
14%,
Hypochaeris radicata
11%,
Armeria pubigera
11%,
Agrostis stolonifera
11%,
Juncus maritimus
10%,
Brachypodium pinnatum
10%,
Trifolium pratense
10%,
Thrincia saxatilis aggr.
10%,
Tripleurospermum maritimum
9%,
Frankenia laevis
8%,
Sonchus oleraceus
8%,
Holcus lanatus
8%,
Euphorbia portlandica
7%,
Angelica pachycarpa
7%,
Stenotaphrum secundatum
7%,
Brassica oleracea
7%,
Schoenus nigricans
6%,
Carex extensa
6%,
Picris hieracioides
6%,
Asparagus prostratus
6%,
Elytrigia atherica
6%,
Plantago media
6%,
Parietaria judaica
6%,
Cochlearia danica
6%,
Allium ericetorum
5%,
Atriplex prostrata
5%
view more...
Indicator species
Festuca rubra 0.9,
Armeria maritima 0.57,
Daucus carota 0.56,
Plantago maritima 0.54,
Crithmum maritimum 0.52,
Anthyllis vulneraria 0.38,
Silene uniflora 0.29,
Lotus corniculatus 0.26,
Rumex acetosa 0.25,
Plantago coronopus 0.23,
Dactylis glomerata 0.22,
Leucanthemum ircutianum 0.18,
Limbarda crithmoides 0.16,
Trifolium repens aggr. 0.15,
Limonium binervosum 0.15,
Spergularia rupicola 0.14,
Agrostis stolonifera 0.11,
Armeria pubigera 0.11,
Juncus maritimus 0.1,
Brachypodium pinnatum 0.1,
Trifolium pratense 0.1,
Hypochaeris radicata 0.1,
Tripleurospermum maritimum 0.09,
Plantago lanceolata 0.09,
Frankenia laevis 0.08,
Holcus lanatus 0.08,
Angelica pachycarpa 0.07,
Brassica oleracea 0.07,
Stenotaphrum secundatum 0.06,
Schoenus nigricans 0.06,
Euphorbia portlandica 0.06,
Sonchus oleraceus 0.06,
Carex extensa 0.06,
Asparagus prostratus 0.06,
Picris hieracioides 0.06,
Plantago media 0.06,
Cochlearia danica 0.06,
Elytrigia atherica 0.06,
Parietaria judaica 0.05,
Allium ericetorum 0.05,
Asplenium marinum 0.05,
Scilla verna 0.05,
Paspalum vaginatum 0.04,
Samolus valerandi 0.04,
Sedum anglicum 0.04,
Carex distans 0.04,
Atriplex prostrata 0.04,
Malva arborea 0.03,
Erica vagans 0.03,
Cochlearia aestuaria 0.03,
Centaurea nigra 0.03
view more...
Phytosociology
- Armerio depilatae-Limonietum ovalifolii
- Asplenietum marini
- Calendulo algarbiensis-Parietarietum diffusae
- Cochleario danicae-Matricarietum maritimae
- Crithmo maritimi-Armerietum pubigerae
- Crithmo maritimi-Brassicetum oleraceae
- Crithmo maritimi-Limonietum binervosi
- Crithmo maritimi-Plantaginetum maritimae
- Dauco gummiferi-Festucetum pruinosae
- Festuco pruinosae-Brachypodietum rupestris
- Festuco pruinosae-Juncetum maritimi
- Leucanthemo crassifolii-Festucetum pruinosae
- Leucanthemo crassifolii-Helichrysetum stoechadis
- Limonio binervosi-Caricetum extensae
- Plantagini maritimae-Schoenetum nigricantis
- Spergulario rupicolae-Armerietum depilatae
Relations with other habitat types
Seabird breeding colonies determine the local establishment of taller stands of halonitrophilous species evoking V38W, typically dominated by Malva arborea..jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Regional distribution
Known occurrences and potential area of occupancy of the habitat type in the study region.
