ST1B Cakile maritima – Salsola kali strandline community
Vegetation
This a patchy community characterised by clumps of Cakile maritima. Prickly patches of Salsola kali are frequently present as are tufts of Elytrigia juncea, but they offer very sparse cover. Occasionally encountered are Atriplex prostrata, Leymus arenarius and Ammophila arenaria. Mean maximum vegetation height = 25.4 cm, n = 12.
Ecology
This is a loose assemblage of drift lines, occurring in a narrow linear zone along the high tide mark on sandy beaches. Mean altitude = 1.3 m, n = 4; mean extent of bare sand = 88.8%, n = 4.
Sub-communities
No sub-communities are described.
Similar communities
The abundance of Cakile maritima serves to distinguish this community from other strandline types.
Conservation value
Most examples of this low diversity vegetation (species/4 m2 = 3.3, n = 17) correspond to EU HD Annex I habitat 1210 Drift lines
Management
This is unstable and dynamic habitat that does not require active management. It is threatened however by recreational pressure, mechanical beach cleaning and the creation of coastal defences which can interfere with sediment dynamics.