Report Cover Vol I - Clare County Library

The County Clare Wetlands Survey Patrick Crushell & Peter Foss 2008
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GLEY - Soil type subject to water logging because of the high content of impermeable clays.
GRAVEL - Sediment particles that are between 4-16 mm in diameter.
HABITAT - Refers to the environment defined by specific abiotic and biotic factors, in which a species
lives at any stage of its biological cycle. In general terms it is a species home. In the Habitats Directive
this term is used more loosely to mean plant communities and areas to be given protection.
HABITATS DIRECTIVE - (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). The Directive on the conservation of Natural
Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna. This Directive seeks to legally protect wildlife and its habitats. It
was transposed into Irish legislation by the EU (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997.
HAND CUTTING OF PEAT - Refers to traditional cutting of peat using a slean or spade.
HERBACEOUS - Of or relating to non-woody plants or vegetation.
HUMIC ACID - Dark brown acid derived from humus or partially decomposed organic material in soils,
particularly peats.
HUMMOCK - A small hillock/mound. Often used to describe the surface of active bogs where the ground
forms a pattern of mounds, hollows and pools. Such hummocks commonly comprise bog mosses.
HYDROLOGY - The movement of water through a catchment area including freshwater and seawater
inputs, water level changes and drainage mechanisms which are all influenced by the underlying geology.
HYPERTROPHIC - Over-enriched with nutrients, polluted.
IMMERSED - Submerged by water.
IPCC - Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Non-governmental organisation established in 1982
promote the protection of Irish bogs and fens.
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LAGG - Fringing wetland area around raised bogs where groundwater mixes with bog water, and where
vegetation communities are transitional between bog and fen.
LATITUDE – The angular distance measured in degrees north or south of the equator.
LICHENS – An organism that consists of a fungus growing in close association (symbiosis) with an alga.
LINES – A feature that is linear such as a river or a hedgerow, which are difficult to map spatially due to
scale are often stored in the GIS in this format.
LOAM - Friable or crumbly soil comprising sand, silt, clay and organic matter.
MANAGEMENT - a) Controlling processes within a site (this can be actively carrying out work or can be
doing nothing), preferably in accordance with a conservation plan. - b) The practical implementation of
the management plan. - c) Undertaking any task or project identified in the management plan, including
the identification of new opportunities.
MapInfo - A commonly used desktop GIS software package produced by the MapInfo Corporation.
Similar basic functionality and capabilities as ArcGIS.
MapInfo TABLE – Similar to the shapefile concept but used with MapInfo.
MARGINAL VEGETATION - At or near the margin or border, often used to describe the vegetation at
the edge of a lake or river.
MARL - White calcareous clay or precipitate with a high proportion of soft calcium carbonate, usually
found as an alluvial deposit.
MARSH - Wet grassy habitats, with more or less permanent standing water at or near ground level, with
little or no peat formation. Generally quite species rich.
MECHANICAL PEAT EXTRACTION - Refers to the use of machinery to cut peat. This includes extrusion
cutting such as by sausage machine (e.g. Difco) or any other type of mechanical cutter (e.g. Hopper).
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