Habitats with Sea Grape (Ephedra distachya) on the Dunes of Letea (Danube Delta, Romania)

The Danube Delta is known for its unique, biogeographical-important ecosystem complex that includes a large range of habitats from the permanently water-covered to the extremely dry area. These ecosystems are well represented in the area nearest to the Black Sea in the dune area of Letea, Caraorman and Sărăturile. Sea grape (Ephedra distachya) communities taking part of the habitat type 2130* fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes), Subtype 16.22 B Pontic fixed dunes and their classification in the European habitat system are discussed and a proposal is made for their appropriate integration in a corresponding category of habitat types in the frame of the Pontic bioregion.