SITES

	Greatham, Teesside, UK
	West Site, Billingham, UK
	Grimsby, Humberside, UK
	Calais, France
	Huelva, Spain
Habitats on the Huelva Site Insects Reptiles and Amphibians Birds Mammals Wildlife of the Surrounding Area Biodiversity Management
	Scarlino, Italy
	Teluk Kalung, Malaysia
	Umbogintwini, South Africa
	Lake Charles, USA
	Burnie, Tasmania

Index by Category

Appendices

References

Huelva, Spain

Habitats on the Huelva Site

A number of wildlife habitats can be identified in the undeveloped area:

• Thorn scrub dominated habitat to the north.
• Predominantly Halimium thickets dominating the south section of the site.
• Eucalyptus plantation. This effectively separates the thorn bush habitat from the Halimium thickets.
• Grassland, partially wet in winter.
• Bare areas of sand and gravelly soils throughout the whole area.

Thorn-scrub Habitat
Ecologically this is the most interesting area of the site and consists of typical shrubs of the Mediterranean region such as small-flowered gorse (Ulex parviflorus), thorny broom (Calycotome infesta), Genista sp. and various Cistus species (see Table 23)
Some stone pines (Pinus pinea) are also found in this area especially along the west boundary wall. In the southern thorn-scrub habitat there has been some natural re-generation of the pines and immature trees are growing in several places.

In the less densely vegetated areas there are aromatic herbs such as French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and wild thyme (Thymus sp.) together with dwarf fan palm (Chamaerops humilis), Europe's only native palm. All of these are typical species of the characteristic Mediterranean plant community known as garrigue.

Halimium Thickets
Although some Halimium halimifolium occurs in the thorn-scrub areas this plant more or less dominates the southern end of the site. The Halimium thickets are interspersed with open areas of bare sandy soil. There are also some stone pines, particularly along the south and west borders, and some thorn scrub towards the northern end near the eucalyptus plantation Cistus spp. are also present.

Halimium thickets can be important wildlife areas and they form an extensive habitat in the internationally renowned Coto Donana National Park about 120 km to the east of the Tioxide site (Valverde 1958).

Eucalyptus Plantations
Eucalypts have been planted on a raised area. The eucalyptus plantation effectively divides the southern thorn bush habitat from the northern Halimium zone. Ground cover under the eucalyptus is sparse, but there is some slight colonisation by scrub vegetation mainly spiky Carlinaspp. and Erigeron species.

Eucalyptus is not indigenous to Europe. They were introduced during the early part of the 19th century from seed brought to France from Australia in 1804 (Attenborough 1987). At the time the reasons for introducing eucalyptus, in particular Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus), were sound. It was discovered that they grew well on the deforested land of southern Europe where the soil was thin and poor, thus stabilising the soil and providing wind brakes and shade. They also grew fast, providing timber and raw material for paper- making. One of the reasons for the success of eucalyptus in Europe is that here it has few, if any, insect predators. It is this that makes European eucalyptus plantations ecologically undesirable. Eucalyptus evolved in biological isolation in Australia and European fauna find these highly aromatic trees unattractive. Very few insects or other invertebrates inhabit European eucalyptus woodlands and, except as for convenient perches, and in the case of some larger species as nesting sites, they are not particularly attractive to birds.

Grassland Areas
Immediately to the north of the eucalyptus plantation and curving into the thorn bush zone is a broad band of grassland including such species as Poa bulbosa, Bromus, and Briza sp. From the nature of the ground it would appear that this part of the site would probably be wet during the winter and early spring, making it an important habitat.

Sand and Gravel Areas
These are scattered throughout all of the other habitats on the site. Isolated plants from other vegetation zones have grown up in some sections but for the most part these areas are bare sand or gravel. Nevertheless they are not devoid of ecological interest and a number of species of birds, insects and other invertebrates that are characteristic of southern Europe prefer these dry open habitats.