Ecological parameter: life form

Parameter group: life related parameters

Explanation:
The life form type describes the way of life (life form) of the respective species. The classification of types, which follows the "Bundestaxaliste Deutschland" (BTL; Schilling 2020), was reviewed and revised based on literature. The categories benthic, planctic, epiphytic/epizoic, epiphytic on plankton and terrestrial as well as combinations of types are used.

Schilling P. (2020): Bundestaxaliste der Gewässerorganismen Deutschlands (BTL) - Stand Mai 2020. Herausgegeben im Auftrag der Bund/Länder-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wasser (LAWA) - Ausschuss Oberirdische Gewässer und Küstengewässer (AO) und des Umweltbundesamtes (UBA). – Elektronische Veröffentlichung auf gewaesser-bewertung.de. Download am 10.06.2020.

Type of assignment: presence/absence assignment system ()
A description of the coding system can be found here  Abbreviations/Coding Systems

Abbreviations:

Category name:	Abbreviations:	Explanation:
benthic	B	benthic living species
epiphytic	E	species living on plants
epiphytic on plankton	EP	living epiphytic on plankton
planktic	P	planktic living species
planktic/benthic	PB	living planktic or benthic
terrestrial	T	living terrestrial