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 : (G1 )Broadleaved deciduous woodland
Diagram :

Question g01 :   Highly artificial?

Highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forests (often of exotic species) of uniform age and structure, completely dependent on man’s operations and with impoverished associated communities (path = Yes) are separated from less highly managed habitats.

Answers: Yes ( g02 ) No ( g03 )

Question g02 :   Usage

Highly artificial forestry plantations normally used primarily for timber production (including for fibre and wood-pulp) are separated from fruit and nut tree orchards. Note that shrub orchards are categorised under FB.

Answers: timber production [ G1.C ] tree orchards [ G1.D ]

Question g03 :   Hydrology

Three hydrological regimes are distinguished: waterlogged (permanently wet, with the water table at or close to the surface), riparian or alluvial (dependent on flowing water, giving rise to a high water table and subject to occasional flooding) and dry or seasonally wet.

Answers: riparian or alluvial ( g04 ) waterlogged ( g06 ) dry or seasonally wet ( g07 )

Question g04 :   Riparian zone?

Riparian woods with one or few dominant species, typically alder, birch, poplar or willow (Alnus spp., Betula spp., Populus spp. or Salix spp.) (path = Yes) are distinguished from mixed flood-plain and river-terrace forests, sometimes structurally complex and species-rich, often including ash, oak or elm (Fraxinus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.).

Answers: Yes ( g05 ) No [ G1.2 ]

Question g05 :   Dominant species

Riparian woodlands dominated by willow, alder and birch (Salix spp., Alnus spp., Betula spp.) are separated from riparian woodland habitats characteristic of the Mediterranean climate dominated by other species including ash, plane and elm (Fraxinus spp., Platanus spp., Ulmus spp.). Note that Mediterranean willow woods follow path = willow, alder or birch.

Answers: willow, alder or birch [ G1.1 ] other [ G1.3 ]

Question g06 :   On acid peat?

Broadleaved swamp woodlands are distinguished between those growing on acid peat (path = Yes) and those formed under neutral or basic conditions (path = No).

Answers: Yes [ G1.5 ] No [ G1.4 ]

Question g07 :   Dominant species

Dry and seasonally wet woodland habitats are separated according to their dominant species: beech (Fagus spp.); alder (Alnus spp.); birch (Betula spp.), aspen (Populus tremula) or rowan (Sorbus aucuparia); and other.

Answers: beech [ G1.6 ] alder [ G1.B ] birch, aspen or rowan [ G1.9 ] other ( g08 )

Question g08 :   Thermophilous?

Woodlands characterised by thermophilous species, e.g. downy oak Quercus pubescens, eastern hornbeam Carpinus orientalis, chestnut Castanea sativa, hop hornbeam Ostrya carpinifolia (path = Yes) are distinguished from those of other climatic types.

Answers: Yes [ G1.7 ] No ( g09 )

Question g09 :   Oligotrophic?

Woodlands characteristic of oligotrophic soils, usually with acidophilous species, are separated (path = Yes) from those on more meso- to eutrophic substrates. Note that birch may be present but never dominant in habitat units in G1.8. More or less pure stands of birch are included under G1.9.

Answers: Yes [ G1.8 ] No [ G1.A ]