Low shrubland

Plant formation characterized by the presence of relatively small shrubs and bushes, including grasses and geophytes. Usually dominated by a specific plant species, but with a wide variety of possible plant formations. Thymes, rock roses, low bushes of rosemary, sagebrush, heather and others, are typical in this category.

Low shrubland is a rich butterfly habitat, well represented in the CBMS network. It includes many important butterfly host plants, as well as abundant nectar sources. There are several species that are true specialists in this habitat including Pseudopilotes sp., Glaucopsyche melanops and Callophrys rubi.

Species that have been found in the habitat within the CBMS network are shown in descending order of preference. The Highlights tab indicates those species with ≥ 5% of their total abundance (standardized to 100 m) concentrated in that habitat. The Species List tab displays a table with the percent density of each species in the habitat (compared to the rest of the CBMS habitat types). Transects shows in descending order the percentage cover of this habitat type for each itinerary in the CBMS network, with the number of botanical characterizations available in the Years column. The Communities tab lists the CORINE codes and names of the plant communities that have been included in this habitat type. This table also gives the area (in m²) occupied by each plant community in the network as a whole.

• Highlights (92)
• Species (140)
• Transects (161)
• CORINE communities (39)

Illustrations by Richard Lewington from Tolman & Lewington (1997) Butterflies of Britain and Europe, translated and published in Spanish by Lynx Edicions.

References

• Bueno, D., Ballesteros, E., Masalles, R.M., Martí, E., 2013. Atles dels Ecosistemes dels Països Catalans. Història Natural dels Països Catalans v.13. Enciclopèdia Catalana