Proposal of new syntaxa and series of Grey Willow forests of humid dunes slacks of the North-Atlantic coasts of Europe

Abstract

This article aims to point out the recent emergence of willows within the dune slacks of the Atlantic coasts following land abandonment. Firstly, a new association present in Brittany is examined: the Epipactido palustris – Salicetum atrocinereae ass. nova hoc loco with a detailed description about its physiognomic, floral, and ecological characteristics. Related dynamico-catenal trajectories that follow the expression of those forests are also described. This survey highlights an original littoral forest formation that could constitute the head of a vegetation series. Elements of reflection are proposed as for the conservation of the dune slacks woodlands and should allow the managers to refine their strategies. Secondly, the existence of a similar association along the coasts of the Channel and the North Sea is reported (Hydrocotylo vulgaris – Salicetum cinereae ass. nova). A new alliance (Carici flaccae – Salicion cinereae all. nova) is proposed in order to regroup these Northwest-European willow forests of the dune slacks and to clarify their synsystematic status.

Keywords:

• Armorican Massif
• Atlantic domain
• Dune slacks communities
• dwarf forests
• new syntaxa
• Salix cinerea and S. atrocinerea
• serial dynamics
• willow woodland

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Franco Pedrotti (Università di Camerino, Italy) and Vasile Cristea (Babes-Bolyai Universtity, Cluj-Napoca, Romania) for their advices and encouragements; Jean-Marie Royer of the SFP (French Society of Phytosociology) for confirming the determination of brambles; Olivier Le Bihan (Conseil Départemental des Côtes d’Armor, France) for his informations on the willow woodlands of the Cape of Erquy; Jorge Capelo for his info about Portugal (Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Lisbon, Portugal).

Additional information

Funding

The authors self financed for this research.

Notes on contributors

Gwenhael Perrin

Gwenhael Perrin: Study engineer and associated researcher at the University of Western Brittany (France). His research themes are related to the flora and the vegetation of western France in the field of plant ecology and geobotany. As a consultant or in association with the University, he mainly worked on the support of natural sites managers and on the assessment of conservation measures. In the paper he made field surveys; analyzed the bibliography; performed and interpreted the statistic elaboration of the data; wrote and translates the draft; edited the tables and figures.

Kevin Cianfaglione

Kevin Cianfaglione: PhD student and researcher. His researches concern plant science, biogeography, ecology, landscape, and natural resources management; producing publications in international journals and books. He had collaboration on research and teaching with various Universities and Societies. Actually he is PhD student between the University of Western Brittany (France) and University of Camerino (Italy). In the paper he made field surveys; analyzed the bibliography interpreted the statistic elaboration of the data; co-wrote the draft; performed the bibliography and co-edited the English version.

Frédéric Bioret

Frédéric Bioret: Professor at the University of Western Brittany, director of the E.A. 2219 research unit. He performed a critical review of the text.