habitat-and-biodiversity-facts – Parku Kombetar Detar

Facts

Rocky Coasts

The rocky coastline of Rreza e Kanalit-Karaburun, Sazan island display, mostly on the western side exposed to the Adriatic sea, high cliffs diving vertically into the sea.

The wave swept supralittoral of rugged cliffs is dyed in dark by cyanobacteria which are grazed by Littorina shells. The midlittoral is characterized by calcareous algae of Lithophyllium sp. which are good biological indicators of superficial pollution and fluctuant sea levels (Lithophyllium sp. is a protected species considered as a natural monument).

Coralligenous algae, a biogenic formation building a rim which can extend locally to more than 1m in width, are present at the mediolittoral stage along the western coasts of Karaburun, Sazan island and Rreza e Kanalit area.

The Infralittoral is mainly composed of Cystoseira sp. with Padina sp., Acetabularia sp. in beaten areas grazed by sea urchins and fish such as Sarpa salpa, other algae Peyssonelia sp., Halimeda sp, and Udotea sp. occur in calmer and deeper areas.

Patches of Posidonia oceanica are seen in protected areas at a depth of 15-20m on rocky platforms along the slope or at greater depth up tp 30-40 m according to our diving observations made at the tip of western Karaburun. Both Posidonia sp. and Cymodocea sp. are protected in the Mediterranean Sea by law since 1988.

Coastal vegetation in higher altitudes

In the National Park of Llogara, vegetation is mainly characterized by a Mediterranean shrub zone up to 600 m with predominantly kermes oak, lentic, tree heather and prickly cedar (Buxus sempervirens, Daphne laureola, Quercus coccifera, Evonimus europeaus) with single trees of Taxus baccata and small patches of Pinues hedreichi, between 600-800 m Holm oaks, ash, hop-hornbeam and sow thorn mainly grow.

Above this zone, from 800-1300 m the beech zone is dominated by beech, silver fir, black pine, maple, juniper and dog rose (Pinus nigra, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fraxinus ornus, Ostrya carpinifolia).

Endemic and rare species in the alpine zone of herbaceous species are scattered from 1400 m to 2000 m: Colchicum autunnale, Sideritis roeseri, Lilium chalchedonicum, Hypericum haplophylloides.

Caves

Four underwater caves at the tip of the Karaburun peninsula have been studied and have shown very specific fauna different from the other side of the Adriatic. Some of these caves are monumental (up to 50 m high) with stalactites along the walls and hosting fresh water fauna (kingfishers, mosquitos, bats), such as the Haxhi Ali’s cave located in the bay of Veriu.

Fresh water resurgence happens very often in the caves and along the canyons.

In particualar a population of Hypsicomus stichophthalmus (Polychaeta) was present in Haxhi Ali’s cave with abundant fishes, echinoderms, worms, crustaceans. At about 40 m deep, red cartilagineous algae Fauchea sp. is exuberant and very often seen with brightly colored sponges.

These habitats are rich in algae species and crustaceans decapods, while echinoderms are also present with holothurians, sea urchins, sea stars (cushion stars), and ophiurians. Coelenterates Corallum rubrum are of great interest.

The canyons and caves, often inaccessible, represent an ideal habitat for monk seals (Monachus monachus) wich were reported in the area still in 1982 (a juvenille has been 1960 and its body is exposed at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Tirana).

Mediterranean maquis and pine forests

The coast is mainly composed of xeromediterranean sclerophyllic maquis, locally forest of Euro-Medieterranean evergreen forest with pines, cypresses and mainly oaks (Quercion ilicis and Oleo-Ceratonion) in the valleys and dry river canyons. Rocky coasts are usually covered by a typical mediterranean maquis which is still quite abundant on Sazan island and along the Rreza e Kanalit – Karaburun.

The eastern sido of Karaburun has more areas deforested by fires in a landscape of maquis with a few pines and cypresses shaped by the wind. Small dry river canyons fall into the sea almost vertically.

Pelagic communities

The underwater coastal environmen and fauna is quite diversified and relatively abundant especially on the western side of the Rreza e Kanalit-Karaburun and around Sazan island.

Pelagis fish communities are composed of Merluccius merluccius, Trachurus trachurus, Parapenaeus longirostris, Mullus surmulletus, Exocetus volitans.

Other specific species are Diplodus sargus, D. vulgaris, D. annularis, Serranus cabrilla, Spicara moena, Coris sp., Thalassoma pavo (on rockysubstrates closer to the coast), schools of Boops boops, Anthias anthias, Phycis phycis (in cavities), large groupers (Ephinephelus sp.) and moray eels.

Marine mammals

The area is hosting a variety of habitats used by a great numbers of mammals of internacional, national and regional importance.

Four species of small mammals, respectively two insectivores (Talpa caeca and Talpa stankovici) and two rodents (Pitymys thomasi and Pitymys felteni) endemic of western Balkans or Mediterranean region have a part of their distribution range inside the area.

Birds

Coastal lagoons and estuaries are important areas for breeding and wintering for 192 species, more particularly for migratory and water birds.

Rocky substrates, in particular the high cliffs of Karaburun and Sazan island are ideal for nesting pelagic seabirds, e.g. Laridae. The most representative bird species in the Karaburun peninsula are Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) and peregrine falcons (Falcus peregrinus)

Marine turtles

Four specific of marine turtles have been recorded in the Mediterranean: hawkbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas), loggerheas (Caretta carreta) and very rarely, Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea).

The three latter are highly threatened (IUCN Red List, 2006).

Sea grass communities

Patches of Posidonia oceanica meadows occur at 6-10 m depth and deeper in sheltered sites of the rocky coastline of Rreza e Kanalit-Karaburun and Sazan island. Within the Posidonia oceanica meadows, benthic macro-fauna encompasses about 190 species including sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, mollusks, annelids, crustaceans, echinoderms and cidians.

Large Posidonia sp. meadows which are ideal nursery areas and swell shields, as well as Cymodocea sp. are seen in shallower depths on the eastern side of the Karaburun.

Among macrophyta algae species, some rare specimens of Fucus virsoides, an Adriatic endemic species which is mainly concentrated in upper Adriatic can be found in the area, the southern limit of its areal range corresponds to the geographic border of Adriatic, Lithophyllum lichenoides, a characteristic species of western Mediterranean found in eastern Mediterranian only in Crete and fossil formations of Holocen, has been located in Himara zone.

The macrophyte algae (Halophila stipulacea), a sea phanerogram with subtropical and trpical affinity of Indian Ocean origin, has found shelter in the gulf of Vlora and in Saranda areas.

Accosiated to the sea-grass ecosystem, are the crusteans decapods in the area Gennadas elegans, Parapenaeus longirostris, Sergestes sargassi etc.