**4. Phytosociological associations related to habitat 5220\***

The plant communities that constitute the habitat 5220\* correspond to different phytosociological associations integrated in the syntaxnomic scheme of the *Quercetea ilicis* Br.-Bl. ex A. & O. Bolòs 1950 class [17–19]. Considering the geographical distribution, the general characteristics of the associations included in the habitat arborescent matorral with *Ziziphus* are listed and detailed below (**Table 2**).

In Italy, the *Z. lotus* communities are included within the alliance *Oleo sylvestris-Ceratonion siliquae*. Particularly, the association *Asparago acutifolii-Ziziphetum loti* defines the vegetation with *Z. lotus* that conserves some specimens of thorny scrubs, settled on white organogenic calcarenites, at altitudes between 5 and 75 m above sea level, in a short band of the northwest coast of Sicily. Communities nowadays relegated to disturbed or even semirural environments, near the towns and the edges of the road, are often in contact with some herbaceous or halophytic formations arranged toward localities of marine influence [20].

Otherwise, the communities of the alliance *Periplocion angustifoliae* are endemic associations with a particular phytosociological and phytogeographic interest. These communities are distributed in bioclimatic areas between the upper inframediterranean semiarid and the lower thermomediterranean dry thermotypes. *Calicotomo infestae-Rhoetum tripartitae* is an association from Sicily, composed of a xerophilous scrub dominated by *Calicotome infesta* (C.Presl) Guss. and linked to particularly arid habitats on calcareous substrates. Interesting elements of North African origin are found, such as *Rhus tripartita* (Ucria) Grande and *R. pentaphylla* (Jacq.) Desf., quite rarely in Sicily. This peculiar vegetation, now reduced to a few patches almost destroyed and fragmented, is found along the coastal strip of the

*Habitats of the World - Biodiversity and Threats*

**Site code Country Natura 2000 site Cover [ha]** ES0000264 Spain La Muela-Cabo Tiñoso 329.22 ES0000461 Spain Serres del Sud d'Alacant 86.36 ES5213023 Spain Sierra de Callosa de Segura 6.64 ES5213026 Spain Sierra de Orihuela 33.55 ES6110002 Spain Karst en Yesos de Sorbas 49.00 ES6110005 Spain Sierra de Cabrera-Bédar 49.00

Alhamilla

Tesorillo-Salobreña

Águila

2547.00

7.22

69.33

ES6110006 Spain Ramblas de Gérgal, Tabernas y Sur de Sierra

ES6140013 Spain Acantilados y Fondos Marinos

ES6200001 Spain Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del

ES6110007 Spain La Serrata de Cabo de Gata 57.53 ES6110008 Spain Sierras de Gádor y Enix 616.01 ES6110011 Spain Sierra del Alto de Almagro 1142.50 ES6110012 Spain Sierras Almagrera, de Los Pinos y El Aguilón 1315.31 ES6110014 Spain Artos de El Ejido 25.01 ES6110016 Spain Rambla de Arejos 0.82 ES6110017 Spain Río Antas 0.06 ES6140011 Spain Sierra de Castell de Ferro 190.29

ES6170002 Spain Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo 57.38

ES6200006 Spain Espacios Abiertos e Islas del Mar Menor 16.09 ES6200007 Spain Islas e Islotes del Litoral Mediterráneo 2.69 ES6200010 Spain Cuatro Calas 1.86 ES6200011 Spain Sierra de las Moreras 133.42 ES6200012 Spain Calnegre 184.97 ES6200013 Spain Cabezo Gordo 18.69 ES6200015 Spain La Muela y Cabo Tiñoso 271.82 ES6200024 Spain Cabezo de Roldán 61.46 ES6200025 Spain Sierra de la Fausilla 45.08 ES6200031 Spain Cabo Cope 13.82 ES6200035 Spain Sierra de Almenara 427.67 ES6200040 Spain Cabezos del Pericón 3.29 ES6200044 Spain Sierra de los Victorias 20.54 ES6200046 Spain Sierra de En Medio 3.91 ITA010014 Italy Sciare di Marsala 0.10 ITA020014 Italy Monte Pellegrino 1.44 ITA090013 Italy Saline di Priolo 0.02 Total habitat 5220\* cover 13059.56

**14**

**Table 1.**

*Natura 2000 sites where the habitat type 5220\* is registered.*

#### **Table 2.**

*Syntaxonomic scheme of the phytosociological associations that characterize the habitat 5220\*.*

southeast, in particular, in the area of Sampieri (Ragusa) in contact with formations of the *Crithmo-Limonietea* Molinier 1934 class. The vegetal community *Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis* (Sicily and surrounding islands: Pantelleria, Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo, and Lampedusa [21–24]) characterizes a thermoxerophilous scrub with *P. laevigata* subsp. *angustifolia* and *Euphorbia dendroides* L., of climatic sort, settled in insular coastal environments on volcanic, calcarenite, calcareous, dolomitic substrates, etc. Sometimes, the same formation can also acquire connotations of extra xericity, linked to the stoniness of the substrate in rocky or subrupicolous environments.

In Spain, several communities that are part of the habitat 5220\* also integrate the same alliance (*Periplocion angustifoliae*). The *Ziziphetum loti* association defines a vegetation type composed of intricate spiny shrubs of *Z. lotus* from 1 to 3 m height, among which other species such as *Asparagus albus* and *Ballota hirsuta* (Willd.) Benth. frequently occur, as well as *Ephedra fragilis* Desf. and *Rhamnus lycioides L. subsp*. *oleoides* (L.) Jahand. & Maire more sporadically. The most striking aspect of the community is the mass of thorny branches, in a very apparent zigzag, that interlace with each other forming almost insurmountable barriers. During the winter, *Z. lotus* loses its leaves, while in late spring they turn in a light green shade, so the community has two highly contrasted aspects of physiognomy [9, 10, 16]. The community seems to be well settled in dry riverbeds; however the plains, which are often widely cultivated, are really its optimum. So *Z. lotus* is relegated to very strong slopes and abandoned crops.

A similar conservation concern happens in the association *Gimnosporio europaei-Ziziphetum loti*, which represents prickly scrubs up to 3 m high, dominated by *G. senegalensis* and usually accompanied by *Z. lotus* [3–5]. This is an endemic plant community of enormous uniqueness and ecological valuableness that is not found in any other part of Europe. Geographically it can be found in the southern area of the province of Almeria (Andalucia), in semiarid thermomediterranean territories with coastal influence.

The community *Mayteno europaei-Periplocetum angustifoliae* represents deciduous by drought shrub formations up to 1.5 m high, dominated by the species *P. laevigata* subsp. *angustifolia* and accompanied by sclerophyllous plants such as *Chamaerops humilis* L., *Pistacia lentiscus* L., *Rhamnus lycioides* subsp. *oleoides*, *Rubia peregrina* L., etc. It is the potential vegetation of the arid inframediterranean strip of southeastern Spain [2, 17, 25, 26]. The abundance of these formations varies from limestone soils where is high, to medium sloped silicate areas where a more open structure is usual, especially in sunny exposures. The dynamic that is related

**17**

**Figure 3.**

*Intensive Habitat Loss in South Spain: Arborescent Scrubs with* Ziziphus *(5220\*)*

to related to the moist conditions is also remarkable, showing more typical tropical

Furthermore, habitat 5220\* presents in Spain a variation within the alliance *Asparago albi-Rhamnio oleidis*, where the species *Z. lotus* is not found, being the prickly species that characterizes the community is *G. senegalensis*. Two different associations have been described for this vegetation type. On the one hand, *Calicotomo intermediae-Maytenetum senegalensis* [17, 25, 26], which is a medium coverage community characterized by *G. senegalensis*, *Calicotome intermedia*

C. Presl, and sporadically *Cytisus malacitanus* Boiss., developed in the thermomediterranean bioclimatic belt with a low-dry ombrotype, on calcareous soils, even of strong slopes. On the other hand, the association *Oleo sylvestris-Maytenetum europaei* represents the *G. senegalensis* thermomediterranean communities that grow in a semiarid ombrotype and are located on coastal limestone walls more or less exposed

This is one of the most outstanding ecosystems in Europe, whose extension of presence has been drastically reduced since the mid-twentieth century. Will the European Union be able to preserve this natural heritage? This is a priority habitat since it represents the potential natural vegetation of the territory (the expected state of mature vegetation in the absence of human intervention), that is, as the forests in other rainy territories, the Mediterranean distributions of species such as *G. senegalensis*, *Z. lotus*, and *P. laevigata* subsp. *angustifolia* indicate the maximum

*Distribution of P. laevigata subsp. angustifolia (top) and Z. lotus (bottom) in the Mediterranean Basin [27, 28].*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85286*

adaptations than Mediterranean ones [9, 10].

to the coastal influence or on dry riverbeds inland [3, 4].

**5. Conservation of the priority habitat 5220\***

vegetation that the exiguous rainfall allows (**Figure 3**).

*Intensive Habitat Loss in South Spain: Arborescent Scrubs with* Ziziphus *(5220\*) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85286*

to related to the moist conditions is also remarkable, showing more typical tropical adaptations than Mediterranean ones [9, 10].

Furthermore, habitat 5220\* presents in Spain a variation within the alliance *Asparago albi-Rhamnio oleidis*, where the species *Z. lotus* is not found, being the prickly species that characterizes the community is *G. senegalensis*. Two different associations have been described for this vegetation type. On the one hand, *Calicotomo intermediae-Maytenetum senegalensis* [17, 25, 26], which is a medium coverage community characterized by *G. senegalensis*, *Calicotome intermedia* C. Presl, and sporadically *Cytisus malacitanus* Boiss., developed in the thermomediterranean bioclimatic belt with a low-dry ombrotype, on calcareous soils, even of strong slopes. On the other hand, the association *Oleo sylvestris-Maytenetum europaei* represents the *G. senegalensis* thermomediterranean communities that grow in a semiarid ombrotype and are located on coastal limestone walls more or less exposed to the coastal influence or on dry riverbeds inland [3, 4].
