which is of anthropogenic origin. This habitat hosts a great diversity of invertebrates,
including numerous species of insects (Webb and Hopkins 1984; Schirmel et al.
2010).
The Madeiran xerophytic scrub (F8.2) is classified as endangered. Succulent plant
species, many of them endemic, form this habitat. The current estimated total area of
this scrub habitat is only 2 km
2 (Janssen et al. 2016).
The subalpine Pinus mugo scrub F2.4 is an example of a natural transitional shrub
habitat type. This shrub type can be found in the mountains of central and southeastern Europe (Janssen et al. 2016). Above the timberline, Pinus mugo forms dwarf
shrubs (Sibik et al. 2010), which mark the transition zone between the forest and the
alpine vegetation (Zeidler et al. 2012).
Another habitat type, the shrub tundra F1.1, occurs under extreme environmental
conditions, where cold climate conditions do not allow the growth of trees (Bliss
1979). The shrub tundra is a transition zone between the taiga and the grassland
tundra. In Europe, this habitat type can be found in Spitzbergen (Norway), Russia,
Iceland and north continental Scandinavia (Davies et al. 2004). This type of shrub
harbours many mosses and lichens.
The Macaronesian F4.3 heathlands are unique in terms of species composition.
They harbour many threatened and/or endemic plant species (Page 1976).
A variety of ecosystems that belong to heaths and scrub can be found in the
Mediterranean regions. Some of these are natural vegetation units but many of them
are the result of anthropogenic use and activities where fire, grazing and deforestation have transformed woodlands into a more open landscape with shrubs and
grasses. In some regions, these ecosystems are called maquis or macchia. When
anthropogenic impact is more intense, they may develop into garrigue with dwarf
and spiny shrubs, many annuals and vernal geophytes (Davies et al. 2004). The
maquis and garrigue are part of the Mediterranean biome. The Mediterranean
shrublands are species-rich (Walter and Breckle 1991) and they harbour many
endemic plant species (Hobohm 2014).
Heathland and shrubland in Europe harbour more endemic vascular plants than
e.g. woodlands, freshwater habitats or mires (Bruchmann and Hobohm 2010). This
shows the importance of protecting and managing such habitats.
2.2 Africa
Africa can be divided in two large biogeographical regions, North Africa and
sub-Saharan Africa. As in many other parts of the world, shrublands often represent
a transition zone between open landscape units such as desert, semidesert or
grassland and woodland or forest (Happold and Lock 2013).
Mediterranean shrub- and heathlands can be found in North Africa (Cowling et al.
1996). They are part of the natural vegetation e.g. above the tree line in the Atlas
Mountain. Maquis and garrigue are the result of forest degradation at lower elevations between the Atlas mountain chain and the Mediterranean Sea and these habitats
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N. El Balti
including numerous species of insects (Webb and Hopkins 1984; Schirmel et al.
2010).
The Madeiran xerophytic scrub (F8.2) is classified as endangered. Succulent plant
species, many of them endemic, form this habitat. The current estimated total area of
this scrub habitat is only 2 km
2 (Janssen et al. 2016).
The subalpine Pinus mugo scrub F2.4 is an example of a natural transitional shrub
habitat type. This shrub type can be found in the mountains of central and southeastern Europe (Janssen et al. 2016). Above the timberline, Pinus mugo forms dwarf
shrubs (Sibik et al. 2010), which mark the transition zone between the forest and the
alpine vegetation (Zeidler et al. 2012).
Another habitat type, the shrub tundra F1.1, occurs under extreme environmental
conditions, where cold climate conditions do not allow the growth of trees (Bliss
1979). The shrub tundra is a transition zone between the taiga and the grassland
tundra. In Europe, this habitat type can be found in Spitzbergen (Norway), Russia,
Iceland and north continental Scandinavia (Davies et al. 2004). This type of shrub
harbours many mosses and lichens.
The Macaronesian F4.3 heathlands are unique in terms of species composition.
They harbour many threatened and/or endemic plant species (Page 1976).
A variety of ecosystems that belong to heaths and scrub can be found in the
Mediterranean regions. Some of these are natural vegetation units but many of them
are the result of anthropogenic use and activities where fire, grazing and deforestation have transformed woodlands into a more open landscape with shrubs and
grasses. In some regions, these ecosystems are called maquis or macchia. When
anthropogenic impact is more intense, they may develop into garrigue with dwarf
and spiny shrubs, many annuals and vernal geophytes (Davies et al. 2004). The
maquis and garrigue are part of the Mediterranean biome. The Mediterranean
shrublands are species-rich (Walter and Breckle 1991) and they harbour many
endemic plant species (Hobohm 2014).
Heathland and shrubland in Europe harbour more endemic vascular plants than
e.g. woodlands, freshwater habitats or mires (Bruchmann and Hobohm 2010). This
shows the importance of protecting and managing such habitats.
2.2 Africa
Africa can be divided in two large biogeographical regions, North Africa and
sub-Saharan Africa. As in many other parts of the world, shrublands often represent
a transition zone between open landscape units such as desert, semidesert or
grassland and woodland or forest (Happold and Lock 2013).
Mediterranean shrub- and heathlands can be found in North Africa (Cowling et al.
1996). They are part of the natural vegetation e.g. above the tree line in the Atlas
Mountain. Maquis and garrigue are the result of forest degradation at lower elevations between the Atlas mountain chain and the Mediterranean Sea and these habitats
366
N. El Balti