habitat

Plant cover at ground level is restricted by relatively low light levels and accumulations of leaf litter. Many characteristic species occur in or under leaf litter and are either saprophagous or predaceous. A smaller number of species are phytophagous and develop on shade-loving plants.

They are typical of river valley, the surroundings of mires and raised bog, the transition zones between open water and drier ground, and beside small winding streams. Species typed into this resource are associated with the wet shaded ground. Foliage feeders are not included. Resource also in Wetland broad division.

(Invertebrates associated with soft-rock seepages are typed to the appropriate wetland habitat - the sea cliff habitat focuses on hard rocks and associated open vegetation.)