Nature along the Coast Route
One of the main attractions of the town of Ametlla is well preserved natural ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine. In the coastal zone and under the sea there are remarkable effects of one of the most significant plant communities of the Mediterranean. These are known seagrass meadows, where the presence Ocean Posidonia can be seen. These Habitats are home to a rich biodiversity of both animal and plant species. In the supralittoral zone, where environmental conditions are extreme for life, you can find native plants and other species of high ecological importance.
1. The Tidal Zone (Nature Costal Route)
The fishing activity has created strong ties with many species of sea bird. Many are species which during different times of the year feed from the fish the boats reject, above all the trawler vessels. As such, during the summer and reproductive period as well as the winter, you can see various species of sea bird along the l’Ametlla coast. Many are difficult to sea as they rarely come near land, expect when the boats sort the fish and discard before entering the port. The tidal zone is an area of changes and fluctuations, where the living organisms have a great capacity to adapt to these changes. The tidal fluctuations of the Mediterranean are minimal, with a maximum of 50cm and always tied to seasonal events and atmospheric pressures. As such, the main variations take place during the months of January and February, periods of high pressure, changes known locally as “minves”. Temporary pools with high salinity levels are created in this area and water levels vary due to evaporation. As such, these pools host various animal and vegetal species. Various species of gobies, blennioid, anemones and crustaceans make these pools their home.
2. Sea Birds (Nature Coast Routes)
The fishing activity has created strong ties with many species of sea bird. Many are species which during different times of the year feed from the fish the boats reject, above all the trawler vessels. As such, during the summer and reproductive period as well as the winter, you can see various species of sea bird along the l’Ametlla coast. Many are difficult to sea as they rarely come near land, expect when the boats sort the fish and discard before entering the port.
3. Vegetation and Fauna (Coastal Nature Path)
In this coastal environment halophilic vegetation appears in soils rich in salt and of a clay or sandy nature. The edges of the lagoons are temporarily or permanently submerged in water. Here we find cane communities basically made up of common reeds (Phagmites australis) and lesser bulrush (Typha angustifolia), and in more salty areas, substituted with sea reeds. Next to the water we find other communities which depend on the ground and salinity such as the community of rushes and crassifoli plants, in sandy soils with silt which retains water; the community of sea lavenders (imoniums) and White Thyme (Artemisia galica) and Salicornia Grass and Sea Bushes. These coastal lake environments welcome a great variety of faunal species. During migration periods these areas are used by different species of birds as a feeding and resting place; at the same time it is an ideal habitat for those species of bird that want to breed, as is the case of the common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). Also, due to the conditions, in this environment we find two species of fish which find refuge here for their survival. These are the Spanish Toothcarp (Aphanius iberus) and the Valencia Toothcarp (Valencia hispanica) which are on the endangered species list due to the disappearance and changes of their habitats and the introduction of alien species. It is also an ideal refuge for different species of amphibians, reptiles and mammals such as the Grass Snake (Natrix natix) or the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) or the Great White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura russula) and of course a large number of insect species in all stages of life.
4. The Lagoons (Coastal Nature Path)
The town of l’Ametlla de mar is a vast sedimentary plain that is marred by the presence of Mediterranean rivers and ravines. During their course they have eroded the beds which eventually lead to the sea, forming small delta shaped beaches. Due to the erosion, large ravines are below the water level causing an upwelling of surface water, especially in areas close to the sea, just at the point of contact with the sea water. It is at this point where the coastal lagoons are created and is, without doubt, the most outstanding coastal land of l’Ametlla de Mar.
5. Coastal Cliffs (Coastal Nature Path)
The coastal cliffs, despite not being very high, are the most dominant of l’Ametlla de Mar’s coastline and are the bedrock for developing communities of rocky coastline halophiles, adapting to rocky habitats with little or no soil, isolation and extreme salinity. These halophile plants mix with others of the same community as they move away from the coastline. That is why the community is spread along the entirecoastline but confined to a narrow range of about 2 to 10 metres wide. The communities that dominate this environment are Sea Lavender (Limonium sp) and Samphire (Crithmum maritimum) and those native to this area of the Catalan coast are the Lavenders Limonium giberti and the Limonium vigoi.
6. Supralittoral Vegetation (Coastal Nature Path)
A rocky coastline and extreme environmental conditions are not an impediment to the vegetation that populates this area of the coast. Thanks to their adaptive features, some species are able to colonise in this area. Often the types of plants are thin with wooden stems and leaves, with the ability to excrete salt through specialised glands. The presence of Samphire (Crithmum maritimum) and the different species of the genre Sea Lavender which comes from the Limonium vigoi group, are native to the Tarragona coastline and make up 99% of the entire species. Another species to be found here is pedrenca marina (Plantago crassifolia). Also present are white pine trees, (Pinus halepensis), maquis and maritime shrubbery. In the case of the white pine, they have strategic ways of adapting to the closeness to the sea wall because of the environmental conditions caused by the salinity and the wind.
