Karakteristieke soorten kleine fauna voor de beoordeling van structuur & functie van habitattypen Natura 2000

Characteristic species of small fauna for assessing the structure and function of Natura 2000 habitat types In this report characteristic species of habitat types of the Habitats Directive are defined as species ecologically linked to habitat types within the distribution area of the types in question. Trends in the occurrence of these species can therefore be used to assess the functioning of habitat types as habitat for these species. All species of ‘small fauna’ occurring in the Netherlands from the groups of butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, reptiles and amphibians have been assessed. A total of 82 species of small fauna were selected as characteristic for 42 habitat (sub)types. Marine and coastal habitats (H1100- and H1300-series) were not considered. Other species groups of small fauna, such as wild bees, hoverflies and caddisflies are very suitable for assessing the quality of these types due to their strong ecological link to terrestrial or aquatic habitat types, but are excluded for now because of insufficient distribution data. Existing lists of typical species and of quality species of SNL-management types were used. The report presents the list of characteristic species of small fauna and documents which principles were used when drawing it up.