Vegetación costera
In the Canary Islands, halophilic
communities form a narrow coastal belt very close to sea level and are
influenced by the high salinity in the environment, resulting from the
sea breeze. Climatically, this strip is characterised by low rainfall
(100–300 mm per year), very high average temperatures and high levels of
sunshine throughout the year.
Under these conditions, many plants have had to develop various mechanisms to adapt to the environment and ensure their survival. The most notable of these are succulence (thickening of the stems), hairiness (a hairy covering on leaves and stems), the absence of leaves or their rapid shedding, and the presence of salt glands to expel excess salt.
These formations vary in appearance and composition depending on the type of substrate on which they are found: cliff, stony or sandy.
Cliffs. Much of the Canary Islands’ coastline is characterised by cliffs of varying heights and degrees of steepness. These areas are generally unsuitable for the growth of halophilic vegetation, which tends to be confined to the less steep, geologically more stable areas closest to the sea. Among the most common species found in these areas are the sea grape (Tetraena fontanesii), sea lavender (Limonium imbricatum, Limonium pectinatum…), sea lettuce (Astydamia latifolia), sea heather (Frankeia ericifolia), tabaibilla (Euphorbia aphylla), sea parsley (Crithmum maritimum), sea hawthorn (Lycium intricatum), sea saltwort (Schizogyne sericea), coastal magarza (Argyranthemum frutescens ssp. succulentum), sea lettuce (Reichardia crystallina), etc. Occasionally, a few specimens of the sea fern (Asplenium marinum) are found, although this species is not exclusive to this habitat.
Rocky coasts. The rocky coasts, with a surface layer of sand carried in from the sea by constant currents and winds, are very important as they are home to species and communities related to those found on the coasts of the nearby African continent. This type of coastline is best represented in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and on the eastern side of Gran Canaria. Among the most common and characteristic species found here are the balancón (Traganum moquinii), the bird’s tongue (Polycarpaea nivea), the corazoncillos (Lotus lancerottensis, Lotus kunkelii), the tabaibilla (Euphorbia aphylla), the pink sea lavender (Limonium tuberculatum), the brusca (Salsola kali), the gorse (Launaea arborescens), the barrillas (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum), the pata perro (Aizoon canariense), and some rare and scarce endemic species such as the chaparro (Convolvulus caput-medusae) and the piña de mar (Atractylis preauxiana). Most of the endemic species found in these communities are seriously threatened by aggregate extraction and excessive urban development affecting these areas.
Sandbanks. The volcanic nature of the Canary Islands has not favoured the formation of large beaches and salt marshes, which are only common on the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Almost all these sandy areas (commonly known as ‘jables’) are of organic origin, which accounts for their whitish-golden colour. These extensive sandy areas may be wind-blown dune fields, or surfaces fixed to the substrate because they have become enclosed between mountains or in depressions. These jables are home to so-called sand-dwelling plant communities (adapted to living in loose sand) which, given their proximity to the sea, tend to be distinctly halophilic. The most characteristic species of this habitat are the balancón (Traganum moquinii), the lechetrezna (Euphorbia paralias), the centidonia (Polygonum maritimum), the camellera (Heliotropium ramosissimum), the sea grape (Tetraena fontanesii), the sea purses (Suaeda vera, Suaeda mollis), the saltwort (Schizogyne sericea), the pink sea lavender (Limonium papillatum), the sea lily (Androcymbium psammophilum), the camel’s foot (Neurada procumbens), etc.
The most typical examples of this type of halophilic and psammophilic vegetation can be found in areas such as the dunes of Maspalomas, Tufia and Arinaga on Gran Canaria; the dunes of Corralejo; the beaches of Sotavento and Morro Jable on Fuerteventura; the beaches of El Médano on Tenerife; the south-eastern coast of Lanzarote; and the islet of La Graciosa.
Fauna
Among the wildlife that calls this area – so close to the sea – home, some large birds stand out, such as the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), whose population is declining year on year due to the destruction of its habitat, the Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) and the osprey (Pandion haliaetus), of which there are now only a few pairs left across the entire archipelago. It is also common to see the grey heron (Ardea cinerea), the little egret (Egretta garzetta), the dunlin (Calidris alba) and the black-winged plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in this habitat; the latter is the only wading bird species that nests in the Canary Islands.
Under these conditions, many plants have had to develop various mechanisms to adapt to the environment and ensure their survival. The most notable of these are succulence (thickening of the stems), hairiness (a hairy covering on leaves and stems), the absence of leaves or their rapid shedding, and the presence of salt glands to expel excess salt.
These formations vary in appearance and composition depending on the type of substrate on which they are found: cliff, stony or sandy.
Cliffs. Much of the Canary Islands’ coastline is characterised by cliffs of varying heights and degrees of steepness. These areas are generally unsuitable for the growth of halophilic vegetation, which tends to be confined to the less steep, geologically more stable areas closest to the sea. Among the most common species found in these areas are the sea grape (Tetraena fontanesii), sea lavender (Limonium imbricatum, Limonium pectinatum…), sea lettuce (Astydamia latifolia), sea heather (Frankeia ericifolia), tabaibilla (Euphorbia aphylla), sea parsley (Crithmum maritimum), sea hawthorn (Lycium intricatum), sea saltwort (Schizogyne sericea), coastal magarza (Argyranthemum frutescens ssp. succulentum), sea lettuce (Reichardia crystallina), etc. Occasionally, a few specimens of the sea fern (Asplenium marinum) are found, although this species is not exclusive to this habitat.
Rocky coasts. The rocky coasts, with a surface layer of sand carried in from the sea by constant currents and winds, are very important as they are home to species and communities related to those found on the coasts of the nearby African continent. This type of coastline is best represented in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and on the eastern side of Gran Canaria. Among the most common and characteristic species found here are the balancón (Traganum moquinii), the bird’s tongue (Polycarpaea nivea), the corazoncillos (Lotus lancerottensis, Lotus kunkelii), the tabaibilla (Euphorbia aphylla), the pink sea lavender (Limonium tuberculatum), the brusca (Salsola kali), the gorse (Launaea arborescens), the barrillas (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum), the pata perro (Aizoon canariense), and some rare and scarce endemic species such as the chaparro (Convolvulus caput-medusae) and the piña de mar (Atractylis preauxiana). Most of the endemic species found in these communities are seriously threatened by aggregate extraction and excessive urban development affecting these areas.
Sandbanks. The volcanic nature of the Canary Islands has not favoured the formation of large beaches and salt marshes, which are only common on the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Almost all these sandy areas (commonly known as ‘jables’) are of organic origin, which accounts for their whitish-golden colour. These extensive sandy areas may be wind-blown dune fields, or surfaces fixed to the substrate because they have become enclosed between mountains or in depressions. These jables are home to so-called sand-dwelling plant communities (adapted to living in loose sand) which, given their proximity to the sea, tend to be distinctly halophilic. The most characteristic species of this habitat are the balancón (Traganum moquinii), the lechetrezna (Euphorbia paralias), the centidonia (Polygonum maritimum), the camellera (Heliotropium ramosissimum), the sea grape (Tetraena fontanesii), the sea purses (Suaeda vera, Suaeda mollis), the saltwort (Schizogyne sericea), the pink sea lavender (Limonium papillatum), the sea lily (Androcymbium psammophilum), the camel’s foot (Neurada procumbens), etc.
The most typical examples of this type of halophilic and psammophilic vegetation can be found in areas such as the dunes of Maspalomas, Tufia and Arinaga on Gran Canaria; the dunes of Corralejo; the beaches of Sotavento and Morro Jable on Fuerteventura; the beaches of El Médano on Tenerife; the south-eastern coast of Lanzarote; and the islet of La Graciosa.
Fauna
Among the wildlife that calls this area – so close to the sea – home, some large birds stand out, such as the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), whose population is declining year on year due to the destruction of its habitat, the Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) and the osprey (Pandion haliaetus), of which there are now only a few pairs left across the entire archipelago. It is also common to see the grey heron (Ardea cinerea), the little egret (Egretta garzetta), the dunlin (Calidris alba) and the black-winged plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in this habitat; the latter is the only wading bird species that nests in the Canary Islands.
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