Environmental Qualifiers

Environmental qualifier are codes that indicate humidity and acidity. They are not applied to urban/constructed, crop or sparsely vegetated elements. Environmental qualifiers are to be recorded in the second field.

Indication from the right category can be determined by substrate identification, direct measuring, Ellenberg values or indicative species. An example of indicative species for Italy is this downloadable table.  It is essential to note that local use of terms, especially dry, may differ from a European standard. The European standards should be used for a correct analysis.

The matrix shown in the Table is the  means of recording the environmental qualifier linked to a mapped element. The matrix consists of two primary axes, which largely determine vegetation composition i.e. humidity and nutrient content. The eutrophic row overrides the other nutrient levels. In general, acid is below pH 4.8; neutral is between pH 4.8 and 6.0; basic is over pH 6.0.

Ellenberg values Aquatic Water- logged Seasonally wet Wet Mesic Dry Very Dry Xeric Semi desert Desert
Eutrophic F >7 1.1 2.1 3.1 4.1 5.1 6.1 7.1 8.1 9.1 10.1
Acid 1.2 2.2 3.2 4.2 5.2 6.2 7.2 8.2 9.2 10.2
Neutral 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3 5.3 6.3 7.3 8.3 9.3 10.3
Basic 1.4 2.4 3.4 4.4 5.4 6.4 7.4 8.4 9.4 10.4
Saline low 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5 10.5
Saline medium 1.6 2.6 3.6 4.6 5.6 6.6 7.6 8.6 9.6 10.6
Saline high 1.7 2.7 3.7 4.7 5.7 6.7 7.7 8.7 9.7 10.7