Coastal soft cliff fidelity score

Howe (2002) summarised published data on coastal soft cliff invertebrates in Wales and the UK in general to create the index. 105 species have an association with coastal soft cliffs in the UK. These are subdivided into:

• Grade 1 - species which are restricted to coastal soft cliff in the UK and dependent, for at least some stage of their life cycle, on soft cliff habitats, and include species which have always been restricted to coastal soft cliff and others which were once more widespread but are now confined to this habitat.
• Grade 2 - species where the majority of populations or the strongest populations occur on coastal soft cliff in the UK but they can also be found in other habitat types where extensive areas of bare ground and pioneer vegetation, or seepages and fen vegetation occur, such as sand dunes, dry sandy heathland, coastal grassland, sand or gravel pits, inland seepages and reed beds.
• Grade 3 - species which are associated with coastal soft cliff in the UK, at least in some part of their geographic range, but also occur in a wide range of habitat types where the presence of bare ground, pioneer vegetation, seepages or fen vegetation is of fundamental importance for some of their life cycle.

For more information see: Howe, M.A. 2002. A Review of the Coastal Soft Cliff Resource in Wales, with particular reference to its Importance for Invertebrates. CCW Natural Science Report No. 02/5/1.