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Target Habitat

Santo André

Aljezur

Vila Real de Santo António

The project's target habitat is the

dune juniper scrubland, , described in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) under the code 2250* - Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp., a true relic of the dry periods of the Recent Dryas and the Pre-Boreal and Boreal Holocene, which includes numerous endemics and taxa of high importance. In Portugal, habitat 2250* is characterised by two distinct xerophytic shrub formations, which also define two subtypes: the Juniperus turbinata subsp. turbinata formations - habitat 2250pt1 and the rare Portuguese prickly juniper formations (Juniperus navicularis) - habitat 2250pt2. These two distinct plant formations are found on sandy coastal or sub-littoral substrates, such as deep palaeodunes, Holocene coastal dune sands and poor sands (ALFA, 2004), and can occur simultaneously in the same area.

In other words, it's the mature woody vegetation of the Tertiary dunes and palaeodunes that form juniper shrublands (the name popularly given to Juniperus species), usually small but sometimes tall, typically very dense, where species such as white crowberry (Corema album), lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus), flax-leaved daphne (Daphne gnidium), narrow-leaved mock privet (Phillyrea angustifolia), lesser asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius), poet’s cassia (Osyris alba), common heather (Calluna vulgaris), among others, are common (Neto, 2002). When they are in a good state of conservation, these juniper formations are rich in sandy lichens, especially of the Cladonia genus, extremely vulnerable to trampling (Neto, 2002).

This habitat is found in various coastal and dune areas on the Portuguese Atlantic coast, such as south of Figueira da Foz, in Peniche, Sintra, Comporta and Costa Vicentina, forming shrub communities that are increasingly rare and threatened.

Biology and Ecology of the dominant species from the target habitat

Juniperus turbinata subsp. turbinata: Shrub, sometimes prostrate on windier places like coastal cliffs, or small trees (up to 8m) in palaeodunes. The crown is fastigiate conical and there are 2 types of leaves: the juveniles are acicular with two white bands of stomata on both pages, triverticillate; the adults are scaly and ovate. It can have monoecious or dioecious plants, with the male cones at the apexes of the branches; axillary inflorescences. The fruit is a globose galbule, dark red when ripe, with between 3 and 9 seeds.

In the particular case of the juniper formations dominated by the J. turbinata, they appear in stabilised dune scrub and coastal cliffs, but also inland, on thermophilic rocky slopes, limestone outcrops and in river valleys, so it is possible to observe them in dry and sunny places, on different types of substrate, sandy, limestone or shale

This species is in the category of extinction risk in mainland Portugal as NEAR THREATENED, according to the IUCN Red List.
Portuguese prickly juniper Juniperus navicularis: It is a small shrub (up to 2m). The leaves are triverticillate, simple, similar to each other, acicular, rigid, with two stomatal bands on the upper page separated by a green vein, less than 12 mm long. It is a dioecious shrub (with male and female individuals), and the inflorescences are unisexual flowers: the male ones are formed by 3 or more pollen sacs on the underside of a small scale, and the female ones result in a baciform galbule, red when ripe, 7 to 10 mm in diameter. They flower from March to April and the fruit can take 2 to 3 years to ripen.

In the case of the dune formations dominated by the portuguese prickly juniper (Juniperus navicularis), it appears in psammophilous scrub on acid sandy substrates, usually palaeodunes, and in pine forests on stabilised, deep maritime sands with no groundwater near the surface. It is an endemic of the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula, almost exclusively from Portugal. In mainland Portugal, it occurs mostly in the area of the Sado estuary and the Setúbal peninsula, with some records along the south-west of Alentejo and the Costa Vicentina, and with some isolated nuclei in south-western and southern Spain. This species is in the category of extinction risk in mainland Portugal as NEAR THREATENED, according to the IUCN criteria and according to the Lista Vermelha da Flora Vascular de Portugal Continental.
White crowberry Corema album: It appears in coastal sands and dunes, sometimes in the understory of pine forests or along the edge of juniper stands. Particularly common in secondary dunes and dune valleys, where it often forms extreme communities. It is frequent in the dunes of the Atlantic coast at the south of Douro River, but very scarce on the Algarve's southern coast.
Lentisk Pistacia lentiscus: It is a key structural component in various types of sclerophyllous scrubland, especially kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) formations. Accompanying species in evergreen woodlands, sometimes also of arboreal size. With a certain preference for calcareous soils.
Flax-leaved daphne Daphne gnidium: It appears in holm oak and cork oak woodlands and in the edge of scrubland that replaces these woodlands. Sometimes in coastal scrub, both on cliffs and in inland dunes, in juniper formations and understorey of pine forests. Edaphic indifferent, being more frequent in acidic and dry soils.
Narrow-leaved mock privet Phillyrea angustifólia: Occurs in xerophilous scrubland. In dry, exposed places, on various types of substrate (sandy, calcareous, schistose), often on poor, stony soils. Edaphic indifferent.
Lesser asparagus Asparagus acutifolius: Appears in xerophilous scrubland and hedgerows. Also, in the understory of pine forests, woodlands and montado. Edaphic indifferent.
Poet’s cassia Osyris alba: Present in xerophilous scrubland, hedgerows, edges or understorey of evergreen woodlands and traditional olive groves. Also, in floodplains and on the edge of riparian formations on the banks of watercourses. Less frequently on coastal dunes and cliffs. With a preference for somewhat moist or shady sites, sometimes rocky.
Common heather Calluna vulgaris: It appears in heathland and other low scrub, in open areas or the understory of cork oaks, pine forests and other forest stands, from coastal dunes to high mountains. On acidic and somewhat humid soils.

Target Habitat

The project's target habitat is the

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