EUNIS inland water habitats revision - description of biological communities
EUNIS inland water habitats revision - description of biological communities
including species richness, characteristic, common and dominant taxa in habitats in reference conditions and in impacted conditions
How to cite this report: Disclaimer
How to cite this report: Disclaimer
This report is a proposed revision of the inland water section of the EUNIS habitats classification covering all fully aquatic environments in rivers, lakes, and other standing or running waters in Europe. The habitats are described using an analytical framework based on truly aquatic biota and their presence in waterbodies at bankfull water level. The scope of the report is based on the broad habitat types monitored under the EU Water Framework Directive, with the addition of some important water body types not captured by the EU Water Framework Directive broad types: saline rivers and lakes, tidal rivers, springs, ponds and pools, glacial rivers and lakes, temporary rivers and lakes, permanent marl/karst lakes and volcanic lakes.
At level three of the classification, the inland water habitats are frequently habitats which vary both spatially and over time, but these should be distinguished from the EUNIS group Z: Habitat complexes, some of which also include surface water habitats. The report does not include riparian habitats, emergent macrophyte vegetation (e.g. helophytes), semi-terrestrial plant and animal communities nor dry-phase communities of temporary waters. These habitats and communities are covered under other sections within the EUNIS classification; however, some are included in the description of the Inland Water habitat types where appropriate. A few inland water habitat type descriptions may be amended after the finalisation of this report to cover closely associated temporary habitats.
Note that artificial water bodies such as constructed reservoirs, are represented in EUNIS group: Y5 Highly artificial man-made waters and associated structures. Where natural water bodies are used as reservoirs, these fall under inland waters.