Strandline and sand-dune vegetation of coasts of Greece and of some other Aegean countries

Abstract

The coastal strandline and sand-dune vegetation of Greece has been reviewed. All published releves available were collected and classified using numerical methods (TWINSPAN). The communities studied belong to three classes, one for strandline vegetation (Cakiletea maritimae), and two for sand-dune vegetation (Ammophiletea and Cisto-Micromerietea). A hierarchical syntaxonomic overview is given. The following communities and associations were distinguished: Salsolo-Matthioletum tricuspidatae, Cakilo-Xanthietum strumarii, Atriplici hastatae-Atriplicetum tataricae, Salsolo-Euphorbietum peplis, Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae, Elymo-Zygophylletum albi, Community of Otanthus maritimus, Community of Eryngium maritimum, E ryngio-Sporoboletum virginici, Cypero mucronati-Agropyretum juncei, Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum, Limonio graeci-Triplachnetum nitentis, Euphorbio-Silenetum nicaeensis, E phedero distachyae-Silenetum subconicae, Crucianelletum maritimae, E lymetum sabulosi, Sarcopoterio spinosi-Centaureetum spinosae and community of Artemisia campestris and Leymus racemosus. Twenty-nine subassociations have been distinguished. Species composition is presented in 10 synoptic tables. For each syntaxon the location where the releves have been made is listed. Attention is paid to ecological requirements and geographical distribution. The characteristic and differential species for each syntaxon are also described. Human impact and conservation of coastal communities is discussed.