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Habitat
classification
How do we classify habitats?

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Habitat classification

Habitat classification

1
Page

2 Introduction

4 EUNIS Habitats

5 NBN Habitats Dictionary

IUCN Habitats

Appendix
1 EUNIS Habitat Classification
2 EU Habitat Directive (Annex 1)
3 Corine Biotopes
4 IUCN Habitat Classification Scheme
Habitat classification

Introduction

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Why do we need to classify habitats?

How would you classify habitats?

What types of habitats can you name?

What habitat classification systems do you know or use?

Habitat classification

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Introduction

‘Classification is a prerequisite to structuring knowledge and developing our understanding

of the natural world. It is vital to be able to identify and record species, ecological
communities and habitat types of interest that are under threat so that they can be related to a
legal framework to ensure their protection. Classification also provides a language through
which data can be communicated at a national and international level.’

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1425

The need for a classification has several driving forces:

o establishment of habitat protection legislation

o inventory of habitats in a country, region, or site
o biodiversity monitoring and reporting
o or description of a species' habitat requirements

http://www.nbn.org.uk/Useful-things/Dictionaries/Habitat-Dictionary.aspx

Habitat classification is not like species classification. There is no clearly agreed ‘taxonomy’
and many different systems have been developed, often independently of each other and for
different purposes. Although botanists have been classifying vegetation for the past century,
habitat classification is a relatively new development. In the past few decades a number of
national habitat classifications have been developed with the first European initiatives
beginning in the early 1980s. As a result, there are several habitat type classification systems
in use for monitoring and description of habitats. These systems have many similarities, but
they are not identical and reporting at European level is therefore difficult. Furthermore,
different international directives and conventions have used different classifications, making
their inter-relationship complex.
Habitat classification

EUNIS Habitats

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The European Nature Information System (EUNIS) Database is the European Nature
Information System, developed and managed for the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The EUNIS habitat types classification is a comprehensive pan-European system to facilitate

the harmonised description and collection of data across Europe through the use of criteria for
habitat identification. Each habitat type has a unique alphanumeric code and full description.

It builds upon the CORINE Habitat classification (developed for the European Commission)
and its successor the (ongoing) Palaearctic Habitat classification, developed for the Council
of Europe, but re-structures and re-defines this classification.

The EUNIS Habitat classification is closely related to the EU Habitats Directive Annex I and
the Bern Convention Resolution No. 4. All habitats included in these legislative lists can be
located through cross-references in the EUNIS classification.

The EUNIS Habitat Classification is a complete classification system, i.e. it covers in one
system all habitat types, whereas the two legislative lists cover only those habitat types which
at a particular time were most in need of protection through international designation.
Because of their fixed place in legal frameworks, the EU Habitats and the Bern Convention
Lists have not continued to evolve.

http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/about.jsp
http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/sites.jsp
http://lv-twk.oekosys.tu-berlin.de/project/twinning/documents/htmls/EUNIS%20-
%20Draft%20Habitat%20Classification_information_copied.htm
http://lv-twk.oekosys.tu-berlin.de/project/twinning/documents/htmls/EUNIS%20-
%20Draft%20Habitat%20Classification_information_copied.htm
Habitat classification

The NBN Habitat Dictionary

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The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Habitats Dictionary brings those classifications in
current use [in the United Kingdom] together as a single publicly accessible information
resource, and allows a user to compare them and select a classification suitable for their
purpose. However, reference should also be made to the website and/or publication source of
the classification itself for more detailed information.

The NBN Habitats Dictionary includes information on 16 classifications in use in the UK. In
some cases there have been updates to these classifications, and the Habitats Dictionary gives
priority to the most recent update while still providing information about earlier versions.

Some advice is included in the Habitats Dictionary website as to how to choose between
different classifications, including notes on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

http://www.nbn.org.uk/Useful-things/Dictionaries/Habitat-Dictionary.aspx

IUCN Classification Schemes

In order to ensure global uniformity when describing the habitat in which a taxon occurs, the
threats to a taxon, what conservation measures are in place or are needed, and whether or not
the taxon is utilized, a set of standard terms have been developed for documenting taxa on the
IUCN Red List.

The three Classification Schemes used in this version of the Red List are the major habitats a
species occurs in; the major threats to a species (past, ongoing and future); and the
conservation actions needed for a species.

The habitat types listed are standard terms used to describe the major habitat/s in which taxa
occur. If recorded, these habitats are listed on the Fact Sheet page for each taxon.
Habitat classification

Appendix 1: EUNIS Habitat Classification

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A : Marine habitats

B : Coastal habitats

C : Inland surface waters

D : Mires, bogs and fens

E : Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens

F : Heathland, scrub and tundra

G : Woodland, forest and other wooded land

H : Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats

I : Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats

J : Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats

X : Habitat complexes
Habitat classification

Appendix 2: EU Habitats Directive (Annex 1)

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1 Coastal and halophytic habitats
11 Open-sea and tidal areas
12 Sea cliffs and shingle or stony beaches
13 Atlantic and continental salt marshes and salt meadows
14 Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic salt marshes and salt meadows
15 Salt and gypsum inland steppes
16 Boreal Baltic archipelago, coastal and land upheaval areas

2 Coastal sand dunes and inland dunes

21 Sea dunes of the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic coasts
22 Sea dunes of the Mediterranean coast
23 Inland dunes, old and decalcified

3 Freshwater habitats
31 Standing water
32 Running water

4 Temperate heath and scrub

5 Sclerophyllous scrub (matorral)

51 Sub-Mediterranean and temperate scrub
52 Mediterranean arborescent matorral
53 Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-steppe brush
54 Phrygana

6 Natural and semi-natural grassland formations

61 Natural grasslands
62 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies
63 Sclerophillous grazed forests (dehesas)
64 Semi-natural tall-herb humid meadows
65 Mesophile grasslands

7 Raised bogs and mires and fens

71 Sphagnum acid bogs
72 Calcareous fens
73 Boreal mires

8 Rocky habitats and caves

81 Scree
82 Rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
83 Other rocky habitats

9 Forests
90 Forests of boreal Europe
91 Forests of temperate Europe
92 Mediterranean deciduous forests
93 Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests
94 Temperate mountainous coniferous forests
95 Mediterranean and Macaronesian mountainous coniferous forests

Interpretation of European Union Habitats, EUR27, July 2007

Habitat classification

Appendix 3: Corine Biotopes

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1 Coastal and halophytic communities

2 Non-marine waters

3 Scrub and grasslands

4 Woodland

5 Bogs and marshes

6 Rocky habitats

7 Agriculture land and highly artificial landscapes

Example:

CORINE Biotopes Habitat Directive Annex I

4 Woodland 9 Forest
41 Broadleaved deciduous woodland 91 Forests of temperate Europe
41.2 Oak-hornbeam forest (Carpinion) 9160 Sub-Atlantic and medio-European oak or
oak-hornbeam forests of the Carpinion betuli
41.24 Oak-hornbeam forest with Stellaria 9170 Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests
(Stellaria- Carpinetum)
91L0 Illyrian oak-hornbeam forests
(Erythronio-carpinion)

http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/corine-biotopes
Habitat classification

Appendix 4: IUCN Habitats Classification Scheme

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1. Forest
1.1. Boreal
1.2. Subarctic
1.3. Subantarctic
1.4. Temperate
1.5. Subtropical/Tropical Dry
1.6. Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
1.7. Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level
1.8. Subtropical/Tropical Swamp
1.9. Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane

2. Savanna
2.1. Dry Savanna
2.2. Moist Savana

3. Shrubland
3.1. Subarctic
3.2. Subantarctic
3.3. Boreal
3.4. Temperate
3.5. Subtropical/Tropical Dry
3.6. Subtropical/Tropical Moist
3.7. Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude
3.8. Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation

4. Grassland
4.1. Tundra
4.2. Subarctic
4.3. Subantarctic
4.4. Temperate
4.5. Subtropical/Tropical Dry Lowland
4.6. Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded Lowland
4.7. Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude

5. Wetlands (inland)
5.1. Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks [includes waterfalls]
5.2. Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks
5.3. Shrub Dominated Wetlands
5.4. Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands
5.5. Permanent Freshwater Lakes [over 8 ha]
5.6. Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes [over 8 ha]
5.7. Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools [under 8 ha]
5.8. Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools [under 8 ha]
5.9. Freshwater Springs and Oases
5.10. Tundra Wetlands [includes pools and temporary waters from snowmelt]
5.11. Alpine Wetlands [includes temporary waters from snowmelt]
5.12. Geothermal Wetlands
5.13. Permanent Inland Deltas
5.14. Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes
5.15. Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes and Flats
5.16. Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools
5.17. Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools
5.18. Karst and Other Subterranean Hydrological Systems [inland]
Habitat classification

6. Rocky Areas [e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks]

10
7. Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic)
7.1. Caves
7.2. Other Subterranean Habitats

8. Desert
8.1. Hot
8.2. Temperate
8.3. Cold

9. Marine Neritic (Submergent Nearshore Continental Shelf or Oceanic Island)

9.1. Pelagic
9.2. Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs
9.3. Subtidal Loose Rock/Pebble/Gravel
9.5. Subtidal Sandy
9.6. Subtidal Sandy-Mud
9.7. Macroalgal/Kelp
9.8. Coral Reef
9.8.1. Outer Reef Channel
9.8.2. Back Slope
9.8.3. Foreslope (Outer Reef Slope)
9.8.4. Lagoon
9.8.5. Inter-Reef Soft Substrate
9.8.6. Inter-Reef Rubble Substrate
9.9. Seagrass (Submerged)
9.10. Estuaries

10. Marine Oceanic

10.1. Epipelagic (0-200 m)
10.2. Mesopelagic (200-1,000 m)
10.3. Estuarine Waters
10.3. Bathypelagic (1,000-4,000 m)
10.4. Abyssopelagic (4,000-6,000 m)

11. Marine Deep Benthic

11.1. Continental Slope/Bathyl Zone (200-4,000 m)
11.1.1. Hard Substrate
11.1.2. Soft Substrate
11.2. Abyssal Plain (4,000-6,000 m)
11.3. Abyssal Mountain/Hills (4,000-6,000 m)
11.4. Hadal/Deep Sea Trench (>6,000 m)
11.5. Seamount
11.6. Deep Sea Vents (Rifts/Seeps)

12. Marine Intertidal

12.1. Rocky Shoreline
12.2. Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc.
12.3. Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches
12.4. Mud Flats and Salt Flats
12.5. Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses)
12.6. Tidepools
12.7. Mangrove Submerged Roots
Habitat classification

13 Marine Coastal/Supratidal
13.1. Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands
13.2. Coastal Caves/Karst

11
13.3. Coastal Sand Dunes
13.4. Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes
13.5. Coastal Freshwater Lakes

14. Artificial - Terrestrial

14.1. Arable Land
14.2. Pastureland
14.3. Plantations
14.4. Rural Gardens
14.5. Urban Areas
14.6. Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest

15. Artificial - Aquatic

15.1. Water Storage Areas (over 8 ha)
15.2. Ponds (below 8 ha)
15.3. Aquaculture Ponds
15.4. Salt Exploitation Sites
15.5. Excavations (open)
15.6. Wastewater Treatment Areas
15.7. Irrigated Land [includes irrigation channels]
15.8. Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land
15.9. Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches
15.10. Karst and Other Subterranean Hydrological Systems [human-made]
15.11. Marine Anthropogenic Structures
15.12. Mariculture Cages
15.13. Mari/Brackish-culture Ponds

16. Introduced Vegetation

17. Other

18. Unknown

http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3