Underground Cavities is a sub-factor of the Nesting Sites (NS) KPI. It measures availability of underground cavities (rodent burrows, root channels) used by cavity-nesting bees. The NS index combines multiple habitat sub-factors using area-weighted averaging based on land cover classes.
Values range from 0 (unsuitable habitat) to 100 (optimal habitat for this nesting/foraging type). This sub-factor contributes to the overall NS score proportionally to the land cover area that supports it.
Each Corine Land Cover (CLC) class is assigned a suitability score (0–100) for this specific nesting type, derived from expert ecological assessments. The site-level value is the area-weighted average across all CLC classes present in the site polygon.
Data are sourced from Corine Land Cover (CLC) and the 3Bee Nesting Suitability Lookup Table based on ecological literature.
Detail Card. A card showing this sub-factor's suitability score within the Nesting Sites breakdown panel.
Purpose: How suitable is this site for underground cavities?
Description: The card shows the factor name, the suitability score (0–100), and a color indicator. It appears in the NS detail panel alongside other nesting sub-factors.
How it's calculated: Area-weighted average of CLC-class suitability scores for the site polygon.
Interpretation example:
A score of 65 means the site has moderately good conditions for underground cavities — some land cover classes provide suitable habitat while others do not.
| Source | Provider | Coverage | Resolution | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corine Land Cover (CLC) | Copernicus / EEA | European | 100 m | 2018 (CLC2018) |
| Nesting Suitability Lookup | 3Bee (ecological literature) | European CLC classes | Per-class | Static |
The suitability score for each CLC class is derived from a lookup table based on peer-reviewed ecological assessments of pollinator nesting requirements. For each pixel in the site polygon, the CLC class is identified and the corresponding suitability score is assigned. The site-level score is the area-weighted average of all pixel scores.