The CWHR habitat classification scheme has been developed
to support the CWHR System, a wildlife information system and predictive model for
California's regularly-occurring birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. When first
published in 1988, the classification scheme had 53 habitats. These habitats --
except the non-vegetated Barren habitat -- are described in detail in the CWHR
publication entitled:
The predictive model for each species has expert-applied suitability ratings for three
life-requisites - breeding, cover and feeding. For each species, each habitat stage is rated as high,
medium, low or unsuitable for each of these life requirements. Each special habitat element
is also assessed as essential, secondarily essential, preferred or not rated for the species.
Information on classification and mapping of terrestrial vegetation is available from the Vegetation
Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP), Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of
Fish and Game at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/vegcamp/.
Field sampling for CWHR habitat stages has been incorporated
into the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rapid Assessment Protocol, to increase the utility
of the resulting vegetation maps for wildlife modeling and conservation. Information and
links to field forms are available at
http://www.cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/protocol.php.
Crosswalks to the CWHR habitat classification scheme are included in all of California's major vegetation
and land cover mapping efforts. Cooperation through a
Vegetation MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
signed by member organizations of the California Biodiversity Council is ongoing.
A classification scheme for the conservation and management of marine and estuarine habitats
was developed in cooperation with the CWHR Program in 2002. It includes descriptions for 22
marine and 19 estuarine habitats. At present, it does not include suitability ratings to habitat
stages or special habitat elements for the terrestrial amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals currently
in the CWHR System.
The new classification includes crosswalks to other important, recent classifications regarding coastal
waters. Included are crosswalks to Wetlands of the Central and Southern California Coast and
Coastal Watersheds; a methodology for their classification and description (Ferren et al., 1996),
Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals: a report of habitat recommendations (U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1999), A classification scheme for deep sea floor habitats (Greene et al.,
1999), and Wildlife-habitat relationships in Oregon and Washington (Johnson and O'Neil, 2001).
Also included are crosswalks to a national scheme for marine and estuarine ecosystems and habitat
classification published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2002 and a
classification for habitats of the Channel Islands drafted in 2000 by the Channel Island National Marine
Sanctuary (CINMS). (See link below.)
HABITAT |
PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT |
| 1988 Text Account |
Range Map |
Photo |
|
UPDATES |
|
|
| Subalpine Conifer (SCN) |
Engelmann Spruce, Subalpine Fir, Mountain Hemlock |
|
|
|
| Red Fir (RFR) |
Red Fir, White Fir, Lodgepole Pine |
|
|
|
| Lodgepole Pine (LPN) |
Lodgepole Pine, Aspen, Mountain Hemlock |
|
|
|
| Sierran Mixed Conifer (SMC) |
Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, White Fir |
|
|
 updated description of range |
| White Fir (WFR) |
White Fir, Douglas Fir, Sugar Pine |
|
|
corrected range map |
| Klamath Mixed Conifer (KMC) |
White Fir, Douglas-Fir, Ponderosa Pine |
|
|
updated description |
| Douglas Fir (DFR) |
Douglas Fir, Tanoak, Ponderosa Pine |
|
|
|
| Jeffrey Pine (JPN) |
Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine |
|
|
|
| Ponderosa Pine (PPN) |
Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Douglas Fir |
|
|
|
| Eastside Pine (EPN) |
Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, White Fir |
|
|
|
| Redwood (RDW) |
Redwood, Grand Fir, Sitka Spruce |
|
|
|
| Pinyon-Juniper (PJN) |
Pinyon Species, Juniper Species, Mountain Mahogany Species |
|
|
|
| Juniper (JUN) |
Juniper Species, White Fir, Jeffrey Pine |
|
|
|
| Aspen (ASP) |
Aspen, Willows, Alders |
|
|
|
| Closed-Cone Pine-Cypress (CPC) |
Sargent Cypress, Monterey Cypress, Monterey Pine |
|
|
|
| Montane Hardwood-Conifer (MHC) |
Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar, California Black Oak |
|
|
|
| Montane Hardwood (MHW) |
Canyon Live Oak, California Black Oak, Oregon White Oak |
|
|
|
| Blue Oak Woodland (BOW) |
Blue Oak, Interior Live Oak, California Buckeye |
|
|
|
| Valley Oak Woodland (VOW) |
Valley Oak, California Walnut, California Sycamore |
|
|
|
| Coastal Oak Woodland (COW) |
Coast Live Oak, Engelmann Oak, Island Oak |
|
|
updated description of dominants |
| Blue Oak-Foothill Pine (BOP) |
Foothill Pine, Blue Oak, Interior Live Oak |
|
|
|
| Eucalyptus (EUC) |
Blue Gum, Red Gum |
|
|
|
| Montane Riparian (MRI) |
Black Cottonwood, Bigleaf Maple, White Alder |
|
|
|
| Valley Foothill Riparian (VRI) |
Cottonwood, Sycamore, Valley Oak |
|
|
|
| Desert Riparian (DRI) |
Tamarisk, Mesquite, Fremont Cottonwood |
|
|
|
| Palm Oasis (POS) |
Fan Palm, Velvet Ash, California Sycamore |
|
|
|
| Joshua Tree (JST) |
Joshua Tree, Juniper Species, Mojave Yucca |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alpine Dwarf-Shrub (ADS) |
Oceanspray, Greene Goldenweed, Mountain Heather |
|
|
|
| Low Sage (LSG) |
Low Sagebrush, Black Sagebrush, Rabbitbrush Species |
|
|
|
| Bitterbrush (BBR) |
Bitterbrush Species, Big Sagebrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush |
|
|
|
| Sagebrush (SGB) |
Sagebrush Species, Rabbitbrush Species, Horsebrush |
|
|
|
| Montane Chaparral (MCP) |
Ceanothus Species, Manzanita Species, Bitter Cherry |
|
|
|
| Mixed Chaparral (MCH) |
Scrub Oak, Ceanothus Species, Manzanita Species |
|
|
|
| Chamise-Redshank Chaparral (CRC) |
Chamise, Redshank, Ceanothus Species |
|
|
|
| Coastal Scrub (CSC) |
Coyotebush, California Buckwheat, Sage Species |
|
|
|
| Desert Succulent Shrub (DSS) |
Octillo, Mojave Yucca, Desert Agave |
|
|
|
| Desert Wash (DSW) |
Paloverde Species, Desert Ironwood, Mesquite |
|
|
|
| Desert Scrub (DSC) |
Creosotebush, Catclaw Acacia, Desert Agave |
|
|
|
| Alkali Desert Scrub (ASC) |
Allscale, Saltbush Species, Shadscale |
|
|
|
|
|
| Annual Grassland (AGS) |
Wild Oats, Soft Chess, Brome Species |
|
|
updated range map and description of range |
| Perennial Grassland (PGS) |
California Oatgrass, Hairgrass, Sweet Vernalgrass |
|
|
updated range map and description of range |
| Wet Meadow (WTM) |
Sedge Species, Rush Species, Tufted Hairgrass |
|
|
|
| Fresh Emergent Wetland (FEW) |
Cattail, Bulrush, Redroot Nutgrass |
|
|
|
| Saline Emergent Wetland (SEW) |
Cordgrass, Pickleweed, Bulrush |
|
|
|
| Pasture (PAS) |
Bermuda Grass, Ryegrass, Tall Fescue |
|
|
|
|
|
| Riverine (RIV) |
Water Moss, Algae, Duckweed |
|
|
|
| Lacustrine (LAC) |
Plankton, Duckweed, Water Lilies |
|
|
|
| Estuarine (EST) |
Plankton, Algae, Eel Grass |
|
|
|
| Marine (MAR) |
Plankton, Algae, Kelp |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cropland (CRP) |
Tomatoes, Corn, Wheat |
|
|
Replaced by DGR, IGR, IRH, IRF, RIC |
| Dryland Grain Crops (DGR) |
Cereal Rye, Barley, Wheat |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Irrigated Grain Crops (IGR) |
Corn, Dry Beans, Safflower |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Irrigated Hayfield (IRH) |
Alfalfa, Hay |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (2002)
Photo
|
| Irrigated Row and Field Crops (IRF) |
Tomatoes, Cotton, Lettuce |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Rice (RIC) |
Rice |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Orchard - Vineyard (OVN) |
Apples, Oranges, Grapes |
|
|
Replaced by DOR, EOR, VIN |
| Deciduous Orchard (DOR) |
Almonds, Walnuts, Peaches |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Evergreen Orchard (EOR) |
Oranges, Avocados, Lemons |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Vineyard (VIN) |
Grapes, Kiwi Fruit, Boysenberries |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo
|
| Urban (URB) |
Grass Lawns, Ornamental Trees, Hedges |
|
|
|
|
|
| Barren (BAR) |
Rock, Gravel, Soil |
| |
Text Account (1999)
Range Map (1999)
Photo 1
Photo 2
|
![[woodland]](/biogeodata/cwhr/images/woodland.jpg)
