12
A shrub/tree layer occurred in the marsh area
and included essentially young trees, e.g.
willow (Salix sp.), ash (Fraxinus excel-
sior} , beech (F. sylvatica) and alder
(Alnus glutinosa) , with large mature trees on
the margins of the area (including oak (Q.
robur), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), birch
(B. pendula) , and beech (F. sylvatica) .
Coarse tussocks of vegetation occurred over the
area and included such species as cotton grass
(Eriophorum sp.), spike rush (Eleocbaris
palustris), willowherbs (Epilobium hirsutum,
E. parviflorum), marsh bedstraw (Galium
palustre), marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre),
sharp flowered rush (Juncus acutiflorus) , as
well as ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) on the
drier marginal areas. Many of these plants
are indicative of a poorly drained acidic soil,
and this supports the observations made in the
soil pro-files of the site.
3.2. Habitat Factors
For a general study of this kind, it was not
practicable to try to analyse all the climatic,
edaphic and biotic factors. It was considered
more important to generally assess those
-factors which appear to play a prominent part
in the -factor complex.
Temperature
The air temperature was recorded at each site
approximately 5 feet above ground level
(together with the water temperature at site 3)
at between 10.45 and 12.30 hours at each visit
(Table 1.). Ideally a greater number of
temperature readings should have been taken at