1410, PAL.CLASS: 15.6 or 15.51). The tall rush salt marshes occur in a water
regime similar to freshwater marshes dominated by freshwater Juncus species. The
inflow of fresh saltwater is essential to maintain a certain level of nutrients in these
marshes. Small patches of “Spartina swards (Spartinionmaritimae)” (N2000 code
1320, PAL.CLASS.: 15.2) occur at the edge of the Sec ˇovlje Salina area, where this
type colonise the stable muddy islets at the mouth of the Dragonja river, disturbed at
high tide and by sea turbulence. It was found also in similar conditions along the
lower part of the S. Giorgio channel close to its mouth. It supports also brackish
water, which should be rich in nutrients.
The most widespread and also the most ecologically extreme coastal wetland
habitat type vegetated with vascular plants, is “Salicornia and other annuals
colonizing mud and sand” (N2000 code 1310, PAL.CLASS: 15.1). It is formed
mostly of halophyte annuals, where annual glassworts (Salicornia spp.) are dominant. This habitat occurs on periodically inundated mudflats or sand. It is
characterised by poor – soil nutrient status, low oxygen conditions and exposure
to the regular tidal regime. Although this glasswort-dominated vegetation is considered as one habitat type, it consists of two types, each dominated by one
glasswort species: Salicornia patula, a diploid, and Salicornia emerici, a tetraploid.
The second habitat type, developed on higher micro-elevation, is “Mediterranean
and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi)” (N2000 code
1420, PAL.CLASS.: 15.6). It is composed of perennial halophytes. The dominant
plants are Halimione portulacoides, Inula critmoides, Limonium angustifolium,
Atriplex hastata, Artemisia coerulescens and shrubby Sarcocornia (Arthrocnemum)
species (S. fruticosa and A. glaucum). It occurs mainly at the edges of the abandoned salt pans of the Sec ˇovlje salina, on elevated sites, banks and enclosed muddy
surfaces with only temporary inundation.
15.4 Methods
Different methods were used address the scientific questions set within this study –
from field vegetation mapping, field geodetic measurements, LIDAR scanning to
spatial statistics.
• Habitat mapping (PHYSIS typology, 1 m resolution)
The PHYSIS typology, based on Palaearctic classification (Devilliers and
Devilliers-Terschuren 1996), was chosen as one of the most accurate for habitat
mapping. The hierarchically based PHYSIS enables us to refine the habitat type
with additional information about the vegetation level. This classification was
adopted and modified for Slovenian conditions (Jogan et al. 2004). The ‘hybrids’
(transitional forms, mixtures or mosaics) between two habitat types were also
used in field mapping. The PHYSIS typology is also the ground for FFH codes
(Natura 2000 codes).
• Determination of micro-elevations (two methods: geodetic; LIDAR)
15 Habitat Changes Caused by Sea Level Rise, Driven by Climate Change in the. . .
237
regime similar to freshwater marshes dominated by freshwater Juncus species. The
inflow of fresh saltwater is essential to maintain a certain level of nutrients in these
marshes. Small patches of “Spartina swards (Spartinionmaritimae)” (N2000 code
1320, PAL.CLASS.: 15.2) occur at the edge of the Sec ˇovlje Salina area, where this
type colonise the stable muddy islets at the mouth of the Dragonja river, disturbed at
high tide and by sea turbulence. It was found also in similar conditions along the
lower part of the S. Giorgio channel close to its mouth. It supports also brackish
water, which should be rich in nutrients.
The most widespread and also the most ecologically extreme coastal wetland
habitat type vegetated with vascular plants, is “Salicornia and other annuals
colonizing mud and sand” (N2000 code 1310, PAL.CLASS: 15.1). It is formed
mostly of halophyte annuals, where annual glassworts (Salicornia spp.) are dominant. This habitat occurs on periodically inundated mudflats or sand. It is
characterised by poor – soil nutrient status, low oxygen conditions and exposure
to the regular tidal regime. Although this glasswort-dominated vegetation is considered as one habitat type, it consists of two types, each dominated by one
glasswort species: Salicornia patula, a diploid, and Salicornia emerici, a tetraploid.
The second habitat type, developed on higher micro-elevation, is “Mediterranean
and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi)” (N2000 code
1420, PAL.CLASS.: 15.6). It is composed of perennial halophytes. The dominant
plants are Halimione portulacoides, Inula critmoides, Limonium angustifolium,
Atriplex hastata, Artemisia coerulescens and shrubby Sarcocornia (Arthrocnemum)
species (S. fruticosa and A. glaucum). It occurs mainly at the edges of the abandoned salt pans of the Sec ˇovlje salina, on elevated sites, banks and enclosed muddy
surfaces with only temporary inundation.
15.4 Methods
Different methods were used address the scientific questions set within this study –
from field vegetation mapping, field geodetic measurements, LIDAR scanning to
spatial statistics.
• Habitat mapping (PHYSIS typology, 1 m resolution)
The PHYSIS typology, based on Palaearctic classification (Devilliers and
Devilliers-Terschuren 1996), was chosen as one of the most accurate for habitat
mapping. The hierarchically based PHYSIS enables us to refine the habitat type
with additional information about the vegetation level. This classification was
adopted and modified for Slovenian conditions (Jogan et al. 2004). The ‘hybrids’
(transitional forms, mixtures or mosaics) between two habitat types were also
used in field mapping. The PHYSIS typology is also the ground for FFH codes
(Natura 2000 codes).
• Determination of micro-elevations (two methods: geodetic; LIDAR)
15 Habitat Changes Caused by Sea Level Rise, Driven by Climate Change in the. . .
237