104 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
of coastal works (harbours etc.), given that fluctuation around the mean
level is usually insignificant.
The best criterion that has been proposed for the ecological demarcation
of the terrestrial Mediterranean space is the geographical spread of the
olive tree (Olea europea). Mediterranean climate constitutes an intermediate type between the sub-tropical and the temperate zone and is characterized by mild temperatures, low rainfall, summer draught and a great
atmospheric clarity. The influence of the climate marks off the boundaries
of mature ecosystems, which, however, are very few in the Mediterranean
coastal space due to man’s long-term influence.
In the border of the terrestrial and marine environment, a mosaic of
ecosystems that present a special ecological and often economic interest
appears. Mediterranean coastal ecosystems are mainly represented by
wetlands, sand dunes, sandy or rocky coasts, sea cliffs, beach forests and
scrubs as well as biocoenoses of an insular character. They host variable
and significant biological communities due to the special micro-climatic,
topographic and ground conditions.
Harsh environmental conditions, such as strong winds, dryness, high
salinity and the absence of soil, usually prevail on rocky coasts. Vegetation
includes herbaceous plants and small bushes, while several species of seabirds nest in the rock holes, as does the Mediterranean seal (Monachus
monachus). Rocky coasts may create notable ecological habitat types.
Isolated precipitous beaches lend themselves to seabirds nesting or they
may host other kinds of bird fauna. Rare species of plants grow also on
coastal rocks. The coasts of small islands have special significance where
ecosystems are of particular interest and the ecological impact of the inland
as well as the human impact are relatively small. In many of the thousands
of small islands or uninhabited rocky islets there are rare endemic plants
and local endemic reptile species and subspecies (e.g. lizards).
Sandy beaches are sediments’ disposal regions and the environmental conditions are characterized by poor soil, high salinity and dryness. Biodiversity
in general is not great but the sandy beaches are an ecological habitat for
some rare species, like sea turtles (Caretta caretta, etc.). Sand dunes are rare
in the Mediterranean and they are often remnants of older climatic changes.
They are usually connected with torrent and river mouths or come between
coastal wetlands and the sea. When they are in a satisfactory natural condition, they are covered by herbaceous halophytic vegetation that may include
endemic or threatened flora species. This vegetation is extremely vulnerable and becomes degraded very easily by human activities. In some cases,
as for example in the Marathon area, sand dunes host coastal forests that
consist of Pinus pinea or a mixture of Pinus pinea and Pinus halepensis.
Such forests were common in the past but today they are rare.
Mediterranean coastal wetlands are river-mouths, estuaries, lagoons,
closed bays, brackish or freshwater marshes and saline fields, humid
of coastal works (harbours etc.), given that fluctuation around the mean
level is usually insignificant.
The best criterion that has been proposed for the ecological demarcation
of the terrestrial Mediterranean space is the geographical spread of the
olive tree (Olea europea). Mediterranean climate constitutes an intermediate type between the sub-tropical and the temperate zone and is characterized by mild temperatures, low rainfall, summer draught and a great
atmospheric clarity. The influence of the climate marks off the boundaries
of mature ecosystems, which, however, are very few in the Mediterranean
coastal space due to man’s long-term influence.
In the border of the terrestrial and marine environment, a mosaic of
ecosystems that present a special ecological and often economic interest
appears. Mediterranean coastal ecosystems are mainly represented by
wetlands, sand dunes, sandy or rocky coasts, sea cliffs, beach forests and
scrubs as well as biocoenoses of an insular character. They host variable
and significant biological communities due to the special micro-climatic,
topographic and ground conditions.
Harsh environmental conditions, such as strong winds, dryness, high
salinity and the absence of soil, usually prevail on rocky coasts. Vegetation
includes herbaceous plants and small bushes, while several species of seabirds nest in the rock holes, as does the Mediterranean seal (Monachus
monachus). Rocky coasts may create notable ecological habitat types.
Isolated precipitous beaches lend themselves to seabirds nesting or they
may host other kinds of bird fauna. Rare species of plants grow also on
coastal rocks. The coasts of small islands have special significance where
ecosystems are of particular interest and the ecological impact of the inland
as well as the human impact are relatively small. In many of the thousands
of small islands or uninhabited rocky islets there are rare endemic plants
and local endemic reptile species and subspecies (e.g. lizards).
Sandy beaches are sediments’ disposal regions and the environmental conditions are characterized by poor soil, high salinity and dryness. Biodiversity
in general is not great but the sandy beaches are an ecological habitat for
some rare species, like sea turtles (Caretta caretta, etc.). Sand dunes are rare
in the Mediterranean and they are often remnants of older climatic changes.
They are usually connected with torrent and river mouths or come between
coastal wetlands and the sea. When they are in a satisfactory natural condition, they are covered by herbaceous halophytic vegetation that may include
endemic or threatened flora species. This vegetation is extremely vulnerable and becomes degraded very easily by human activities. In some cases,
as for example in the Marathon area, sand dunes host coastal forests that
consist of Pinus pinea or a mixture of Pinus pinea and Pinus halepensis.
Such forests were common in the past but today they are rare.
Mediterranean coastal wetlands are river-mouths, estuaries, lagoons,
closed bays, brackish or freshwater marshes and saline fields, humid