Vegetation and ecological characteristics of the northernmost salt marshes of the European continent

Abstract

We surveyed 17 locations of salt marshes along the Barents Sea coast in northern Norway (Finnmark, Nordkinnhalvøya and Varangerhalvøya), where 86 phytosociological relevés were recorded and analyzed. Two main vegetation groups were identified: Caricion glareosae and Puccinellion phryganodis, both alliances belonging to the class Juncetea maritimi, order Puccinellietalia phryganodis. The first, Caricion glareosae (upper marshes) is subject to shorter‐term flooding and is saturated by brackish water in river estuaries on sandy or sandy gravel soils. Four units were distinguished: Festuceto‐Caricetum glareosae, Caricetum mackenzie, Caricetum salinae and the Plantago maritima × borealis community. The second group (lower marshes on fine muddy surface, higher salinity, inundated for a longer period directly by the sea) belongs to the alliance Puccinellion phryganodis which encompasses two units: the associations Caricetum subspathaceae and Puccinellietum phryganodis. The floristic composition and habitat preferences of each vegetation cluster are described and our study revealed that there are no significant differences in the vegetation composition of salt marshes beyond the Arctic line and the southern subarctic sites. The observed variations are related to the geomorphology of the sites rather than to their latitude. The comparison of historical records with our recent data demonstrates the great stability of habitat conditions and species composition. The salt marshes studied meet all criteria of good quality and we found no evidence for any threatening trends like those seen in most other habitats in Europe.

Coastal Salt Marshes

“…In arctic marshes, plant coverage is usually low, and there are large open areas of bare sediment. A good indicator to distinguish arctic from northern Atlantic salt marshes are plant communities of the order Puccinellietalia phryganodis (class Juncetea maritimi) and in particular of the alliances Puccinellion phryganodis and Caricion glareosae, characterized by the high abundance of circumpolar halophytic species (Walker et al 2018;Dítě et al 2019a). Puccinellion phryganodis refers to the vegetation of Boreo-arctic coastal lower marsh saline sectors where inundation by the sea lasts longer.…”

“…Puccinellion phryganodis refers to the vegetation of Boreo-arctic coastal lower marsh saline sectors where inundation by the sea lasts longer. The associations belonging to this vegetation type colonize flat areas covered in fine mud that is constantly moist, even during lowest tides, and are characterized by the species Puccinellia phryganodes and Carex subspathacea (Mucina et al 2016;Dítě et al 2019a). The alliance Caricion glareosae is typically found in Boreoarctic coastal upper marsh saline sectors usually flooded by brackish water, on sandy or gravelly substrates, sometimes also on water-logged soil (Dítě et al 2019a).…”

“…The associations belonging to this vegetation type colonize flat areas covered in fine mud that is constantly moist, even during lowest tides, and are characterized by the species Puccinellia phryganodes and Carex subspathacea (Mucina et al 2016;Dítě et al 2019a). The alliance Caricion glareosae is typically found in Boreoarctic coastal upper marsh saline sectors usually flooded by brackish water, on sandy or gravelly substrates, sometimes also on water-logged soil (Dítě et al 2019a). It forms associations that include the species Agrostis stolonifera, Carex glareosa, C. mackenziei, C. salina, Festuca rubra, Plantago maritima  borealis, and Stellaria humifusa.…”

Structural and Functional Determinants of Physiological Pliability in Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. for Survival in Hyper-Saline Saltmarshes

“…1 3 of many water bodies like saline waterlogged areas, salt marshes and freshwater ponds (Hanif et al, 2010). These water-bodies support only specific floral composition, which has some specific modifications to colonize aquatic wetlands (Dítě et al, 2019).…”