Habitat types key navigation

You can use the 'key navigation' function to identify a specific habitat by answering a set of questions. Starting from first question to next questions you select one of the possible answers. Here are samples of possible answers:

• No ( 002 ) - Leading to question named '002'
• Yes [ G ] - Leading to another questions subset of level G
• No [ E6 ] - Links directly to factsheet for E6

Additionally the diagram may be used for reference.


Category : (H )Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats
Diagram :

Question i :   Surface or underground?

Natural underground systems are separated from surface habitats irrespective of other criteria. Note that disused man-made underground systems which have been colonised by natural or semi-natural communities are also included here. Note also that caves in glaciers follow path = surface.

Answers: underground [ H1 ] surface ( ii )

Question ii :   Substrate

Habitats with unvegetated or sparsely vegetated surfaces are separated on the nature of the dominating substrate type. Three types are distinguished: snow and ice; recent volcanic origin; and other substrates. Note that non-permanent snow patches are included with alpine grasslands (E4).

Answers: snow and ice [ H4 ] recent volcanic origin [ H6 ] other ( iii )

Question iii :   Bedrock?

Cliffs and rock pavements comprising exposed horizontal or vertical bedrock are separated (path = Yes).

Answers: Yes [ H3 ] No ( iv )

Question iv :   Steep slope and mobile rock?

Screes consisting of mobile rock and rock fragments on steep slopes are separated (path = Yes) from all other unvegetated or sparsely vegetated inland habitats.

Answers: Yes [ H2 ] No [ H5 ]