This topic has arisen several times over the recent past, and is currently the subject of a cleverly-conceived iFocus.
I doubt that any revision of the current offering of habitat choices is feasible: it would likely be immensely difficult. But, recognising another of my numerous areas of ignorance, I decided to have a look at the current choices elsewhere.
The UK Habitat Classification (UKHab) listing is tricky to access, but I found a pdf of it. There are 5 levels, from Level 1 (e.g. “Terrestrial”) to Level 5 (e.g. “Beech forests on neutral to rich soils [H9130]”)
I think that Level 2 might be the most suitable for the range of skills/knowledge of iSpot users:
.
Level 2
Grassland
Woodland and forest
Heathland and shrub
Wetland
Cropland
Urban
Sparsely vegetated land [rocky]
Rivers and lakes
Marine inlets and transitional waters
.
Level 3 offers more accurate opportunities, but would, I think be awkward to navigate and over-complicated for many of us:
.
Level 3
Acid grassland
Calcareous grassland
Neutral grassland
Modified grassland
Broadleaved mixed and yew woodland
Coniferous woodland
Dwarf shrub heath
Hedgerows
Dense scrub
Bog
Fen marsh and swamp
Arable and horticulture
Built-up areas and gardens
Inland rock
Supralittoral rock [above the spring high tide line]
Supralittoral sediment
Standing open water and canals
Rivers and streams
Littoral rock [intertidal]
Littoral sediment
I agree that the level 3 ones you mention would be too difficult for the average beginner and indeed some more experienced users. the level 2 ones are similar to what we already have but I think is more confusing for the beginner. For example where does hedgerow fit in, what is ‘urban’ in their terms is it people’s gardens, tarmac streets, parks and what about indoors.
Basically any scheme for boiling down the huge range of habitats into a small number that beginners can understand is tricky. We have debated the list at length on quite a number of occasions throughout ispot’s life and think we have come close to modifying the list several times, the list we have now may not be exactly the same as the one that appeared on day 1.
Yes, it’s a difficult subject, and hedgerows are one noticeable “awkwardness”:
I am reminded of the introduction of the European Waste Regulations (2003, if I recall correctly). Proponents insisted that every conceivable waste was in the list: of course, it soon turned out that this wasn’t quite true. Although - like this effort - it was a damned good try!
I’d like something to be done about Coastal. It is too vague to be a habitat. There isn’t a corresponding one called Inland.
I agree that coastal is a bit different and rather vague, there is nothing in the level 2 list that Amadan mentions that corresponds.
On the other hand general public recognise that the coast is different, there is sand/shingle/cliffs/mud and various other habitats where we don’t separate them out anywhere else. There are also many species that live part or all of their life ‘on the coast’ and it is unusual to see them elsewhere (in some cases because they live out to sea at other times of the year), examples include birds, plants, lichens, invertebrates etc.
In level 3 I think the difficulty would be distinguishing the various types of grassland (without using a geological map to identify the substrate). Looking further those grasslands don’t include rye-clover leys and similar pastures, or salt meadows, or lawns and urban grass verges.
I am REALLY sorry not to have read this thread before now - it just went down the list of Recent Threads too quickly
I will read it carefully soon
You will know I have produced the Guide to Habitats - I was NOT asked to do this and it began as an iFocus which ran for over two weeks.
I am not very keen to see choices and settings becoming complex but it should be clear and easy to interpret.
There are suggestions that it is sometimes difficult to choose the right one and plenty of people have suggested additional Habitat Types.
My view it choose the most relevant or adjacent Habitat AND add a Habitat Tag (from the list) and also add NOTES to the Location Panel.
.
My feeling is that the choice is fine at the moment but that one addition of Urban might be very useful.
.
I am currently looking at Combinations like Birds/indoors or Mountains and Rocks/urban and I am leaving comments in a few RANDOM choices where the Habitat setting is interesting or perhaps wrong. I am in slow mode though
One thing that we should know about, is that HIDING a location, prevents anyone from looking to see if the Habitat setting is reasonable. Hiding also hides any notes in the Location Panel and from any user looking at the location via Street View. We all should know when to Hide a location - privacy or rarity perhaps.
Some Organisms are auto-hidden when an agreement is added. This ‘bug’ is actually quite recent (post 2018 I think) and seem to be for birds only but NOT just for sensitive ones - all Eider are auto hidden.
There is no value in naming the precise location AND hiding it like here
I think most of what is written above is ‘covered’ in here Parts of which are still in draft mode BUT will not change much