Lexicons/dictionaries for the URGENT Programme
Prepared by:
C. Isabella Tindall
Institute of Hydrology
Tim J. Moffat
Environmental Information Centre,
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Richard P. Shaw
British Geological Survey
Simon R. Williams
British Atmospheric Data Centre,
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Contents
Section 1 - Overview of Lexicons for the URGENT Programme .................................4
Introduction .............................................................................................................4
Objectives ...............................................................................................................4
What is a Lexicon ...................................................................................................5
Existing Lexicons ....................................................................................................5
Section 2 - Details of Available Lexicons ....................................................................6
Land Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS) Chemical Determinand Dictionary ...............6
Author of the dictionary .......................................................................................6
How to obtain a copy of the Dictionary ................................................................6
Purpose...............................................................................................................6
Background .........................................................................................................6
The basis of the dictionary ..................................................................................7
Format ................................................................................................................7
LOIS Coded List of Freshwater Algae of the British Isles........................................8
Authors of the Coded List ....................................................................................8
How to obtain a hardcopy of the Coded List ........................................................8
Purpose...............................................................................................................8
Format ................................................................................................................9
Water Data Unit (WDU) Hydrological Determinand Dictionary .............................. 10
Authors of the lexicon ........................................................................................ 10
How to obtain a copy ......................................................................................... 10
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose ...................................... 10
Format .............................................................................................................. 10
WDU Coded List of Freshwater Macrohytes of the British Isles - Lichens Bryophytes - Vascular Plants ................................................................................... 11
Authors of the lexicon ........................................................................................ 11
How to obtain a copy ......................................................................................... 11
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose ...................................... 11
Format .............................................................................................................. 11
WDU Microbiological Determinand Dictionary ...................................................... 12
Author(s) of the lexicon ..................................................................................... 12
How to obtain a copy ......................................................................................... 12
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose ...................................... 12
Format .............................................................................................................. 12
WDU Sewage Disposal Determinand Dictionary .................................................. 13
Authors of the lexicon ........................................................................................ 13
How to obtain a copy ......................................................................................... 13
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose ...................................... 13
Format .............................................................................................................. 13
BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units ...................................................................... 14
Author(s) of the lexicon ..................................................................................... 14
How to obtain a copy ......................................................................................... 14
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose ...................................... 14
How to use the lexicon including a list of categories .......................................... 14
Statement of data quality .................................................................................. 15
BGS Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) for the UK ..... 16
Author(s) of the lexicon ..................................................................................... 16
How to obtain a copy ......................................................................................... 16
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose ...................................... 16
How to use the lexicon including a list of categories .......................................... 16
Format .............................................................................................................. 16
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Lexicons in Ecology .............................................................................................. 18
Introduction ....................................................................................................... 18
How to obtain further information ...................................................................... 18
Species Checklists and Dictionaries .................................................................. 18
British Atmospheric Data Centre lexicons ............................................................. 21
How to obtain further information ...................................................................... 21
A brief description of the BADC catalogue including its purpose ....................... 21
Format .............................................................................................................. 21
Cross reference tables.......................................................................................... 22
Section 3 - Recommendations ................................................................................. 23
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Section 1 - Overview of Lexicons for the URGENT Programme
Introduction
At the 1998 annual URGENT Programme workshop several project representatives
highlighted the problem of matching the terminologies used by the different
disciplines within the URGENT Programme. In a study that seeks to understand
processes that cross the traditional scientific boundaries a common understanding of
the terms used to describe inputs and outputs is essential.
This report is a ‘living document’ designed to guide PI’s on the availability of, and the
ways to gain access to, existing lexicons. Should you have any comments on this
document, or wish to add to the list of lexicons, please contact Isabella Tindall
(i.tindall@ioh.ac.uk). Later, as the need becomes clearer, it is intended to propose
which of these lexicons should be adopted for URGENT.
The report has been commissioned by the URGENT Programme Data Management
and Quality Assurance (DMQA) Committee.
Objectives
The overall task is described in detail as Task 8 in Section 2 of the Proposal for Data
and Quality Assurance Management in the URGENT Programme. Summarising, its
objectives are:
1. to identify existing lexicons used by URGENT Data Centres and PIs and to note
any conditions attached to their use;
2. to identify areas of overlap or omission, and recognise any shortcomings of the
current lexicons;
3. to propose a preferred set of lexicons, including any necessary new lexicons
where none currently exist, for use by URGENT Programme projects;
4. to identify where cross references need to be prepared for the translation of
existing sets of terms to comply with the proposed set of lexicons;
5. to place a copy of the report on the URGENT WWW site, after its approval by the
URGENT DMQA Committee.
This first version of the report will address objectives 1 and 5 and propose ways in
which objectives 2, 3 and 4 could be carried out.
It is anticipated that access to the agreed lexicon(s) should be via an appropriate
WWW site (URGENT or NERC) that will be updated as required or through a Data
Centre.
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What is a Lexicon
For the purposes of this study, a lexicon or dictionary is any list of terms, such as
chemicals, that either by design or usage has come to define a standard terminology
for use in a given context. As a minimum, a lexicon comprises a set of self-defining
terms. In the context of environmental modelling, most lexicons are essentially lists of
parameters or variables that are observed in the field, or which form the inputs and
outputs of models. Some lexicons are supported by lists of the permitted values for
variables the lexicon describes. A simple example might be the variable ‘colour’, which
has the permitted values, red, green and blue. Lists of permitted values are frequently
referred to as ‘Look Up’ tables, and that term will be adopted for this report. Many
lexicons have been developed to service the needs of computer systems. Such
lexicons hold not only user information defining the terms, but also information that
enables the computer system to handle data relating to the term, for example, the
variables data type, units of measurement or rules for validation.
Existing Lexicons
The project has identified formal and informal lexicons that are currently in use within
Data Centres. It is probable that as many others exist within NERC but outside the
Data Centres and that still more are in use within the academic community. It is also
known that a number of national and international bodies, professional organisations,
government agencies and commercial companies maintain lexicons, for example,
IUPAC names (for chemical compounds), the Dunlop committee, Pharmacopoeia, UN
numbers and the HAZCHEM system. Unfortunately, resource limitations prevented
these from being identified and included in the survey.
Lexicons maintained by the NERC Data Centres have been identified and are listed
below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Land Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS) Chemical Determinand Dictionary
LOIS Coded List of Freshwater Algae of the British Isles
Water Data Unit (WDU) Hydrological Determinand Dictionary
WDU Coded List of Freshwater Macrohytes of the British Isles - Lichens Bryophytes - Vascular plants
5. WDU Microbiological Determinand Dictionary
6. WDU Sewage Disposal Determinand Dictionary
7. British Geological Survey (BGS) Lexicon of Named Rock Units
8. BGS Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) for the UK
9. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE) Ecological lexicons
10. British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC) lexicons
Brief details of these lexicons are given in Section 2 - An Assessment of Available
Lexicons. As far as possible, each has been described in the following terms:




Lexicon title;
Lexicon author(s);
How to obtain a copy;
Brief description of the lexicon, including its original purpose.
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Section 2 - Details of Available Lexicons
Land Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS) Chemical Determinand Dictionary
Author of the dictionary
Ms C. Isabella Tindall, Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon.
OX10 8BB
How to obtain a copy of the Dictionary
Hardcopy copies of the Dictionary can be obtained from:
Ms C. Isabella Tindall, LOIS Rivers Data Centre, Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh
Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1491 838800 Fax: +44 (0)1491 692424 Email: cit@ioh.ac.uk
Digital copies can be obtained from the WWW at the following address:
http://www.nwl.ac.uk/~loissys/chem_det_dict.htm
LOIS Publication Number:
Brief Description:
Date of Issue:
221
Second Edition
March 1997
Purpose
The purpose of this Dictionary is to provide LOIS researchers and data managers
with a standard set of names, definitions and identifying codes for the water quality
determinands being used in the study.
The dictionary has two key roles:
 to provide standard terminology supported by definitions where terms are open to
multiple interpretation
 to list identifying codes for determinands that will be used by the LOIS Data
Centres in data exchange and for labelling data in database systems, together
with codes that will be used for recording non-numeric data about chemical
samples.
Background
In order to create the required integrated base of time series and spatial data within
a single database for LOIS, the Data Centres have been faced with the challenging
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task of matching data types from different sources. There was no standard encoding
system for similar data types within the different regions of the EA and SEPA, or
between water quality data from freshwater and marine sources. This meant that the
estuarine modellers requiring, say heavy metal data, from both the rivers and marine
sectors could not be sure that they were comparing data of similar analytical origin or
quality. Therefore, one of the Rivers Data Centre's first tasks has been to harmonise
the data from the individual EA and SEPA regions. To do this, it was necessary to
have a base list against which to match the EA, SEPA and other suppliers
determinands. This list came to form the LOIS Chemical Determinand Dictionary.
The dictionary now plays an indispensable role in establishing standardised data
transfer and exchange procedures.
The basis of the dictionary
This second edition of the LOIS Chemical Determinand Dictionary is an extension of
the first edition of the Dictionary. The first edition matched the codes for LOIS core
determinands with the EA Midlands Region and the Yorkshire section of the EA
North East Region. The second edition adds to these regions by including the
Northumbria section of the EA North East Region and the Tweed section of the
SEPA East Region. This edition has also corrected any errors that were identified in
the first edition. The first edition of the LOIS Chemical Determinand Dictionary was
based on the third edition of the Water Data Unit's Chemical Determinand Dictionary
(July, 1980). Initially, only those determinands that were being measured by the
LOIS core programme, or were required for research purposes by any participating
scientist were listed. Therefore, not all of those determinands shown in the Water
Data Unit's Chemical Determinand Dictionary appear. A number of new
determinands were added. The new determinands were those which were either
being measured by the LOIS core programme or were those for which measurement
had only recently been commenced by the EA regions in the LOIS study area and
were of interest to the researchers.
Format
The Chemical Determinand Dictionary exists as a hardcopy ring bound A4 book. As
well as the Determinand Dictionary it provides introductory text which explains the
role of determinands in the LOIS Rivers database.
The Determinand Dictionary is divided into three sections:
 Listing of determinands in alphabetical order by determinand name
 Listing of determinands in numeric order by determinand code
 Listing of determinands in alphabetic order by external organisation's determinand
name
The Chemical Determinand Dictionary also exists as a downloadable file.
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LOIS Coded List of Freshwater Algae of the British Isles
Authors of the Coded List
The authors of 'The Coded List of Freshwater Algae of the British Isles' are:
Dr Brian A. Whitton, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham,
Durham DH1 3LE
Dr David M. John, Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, London
SW7 5BD
Dr Leslie R. Johnson, Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, London
SW7 5BD
Mr Paul N. G. Boulton, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham,
Durham DH1 3LE
Dr Martyn G. Kelly, Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn, Durham
DH6 5QB
Dr Elizabeth Y. Haworth, Freshwater Biological Association, Ferry House, Far
Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0LP
The Coded List was prepared for publication by:
Ms C. Isabella Tindall and Mr Roger V. Moore, Institute of Hydrology, Wallingford,
Oxon OX10 8BB
How to obtain a hardcopy of the Coded List
Hardcopy copies of the Coded List can be obtained from:
Mrs Julia Crocker, LOIS Office, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West
Hoe, Plymouth, Devon. PL1 3DH. UK
Tel: +44 (0)1752 633100 Fax: +44 (0)1752 633101 Email: lois@pml.ac.uk
Digital copies can be obtained from the WWW at the following address:
http://www.nwl.ac.uk/~loissys/algal_coded_list.htm
LOIS Publication Number:
ISBN Number:
Brief Description:
Date of Issue:
Price (includes surface mail world wide - if airmail
is required please contact Mrs Julia Crocker):
222
1 85531 187 9
First Edition
December 1998
£99.00 (Academic rate £30.00)
Purpose
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The purpose of this Coded List is to help those researchers wanting to collect and
store information on freshwater and terrestrial algae in the British Isles, by providing
a standard set of names and identifying codes. It includes the great majority of
known records, though the authors are aware that several groups are not quite
complete. It is hoped that the Coded List will stimulate many new surveys and that
these will lead in turn to the recognition of many more taxa. Assembly of the Coded
List is also an important step in the production of the 'Freshwater Algal Flora of
Britain and Ireland', the publication of which (excluding diatoms) is scheduled for
spring 2000.
The ‘Coded List of Freshwater Algae of the British Isles’ is based on, and much
expanded from, the 1978 publication 'A Coded List of 1000 Freshwater Algae of the
British Isles' (Whitton, Holmes & Sinclair) prepared for the then Water Data Unit of
the Department of the Environment.
Format
Hardcopy
The Coded List exists as a hardcopy ring bound A4 book which includes only records
for the British Isles. As well as the Coded List it provides introductory text, sections
on 'How to use the Coded List', including subsections on 'The different categories',
'The NEW 8 digit code', 'Authorities' and 'Synonyms', General comments' about
various groups of algae, 'References' and a comprehensive 'Bibliography'.
The Coded List is divided into three sections:
 Genera and Species within each major taxon (listed in numerical order by New
Code)
 Synonyms within each major taxon (listed in numerical order by New Code)
 Synonyms within each major taxon (listed in alphabetical order by Synonym)
Digital copy
The Coded List also exists as a downloadable file which includes many diatom taxa
found elsewhere in Europe, but not reported for the British Isles. These further
diatom taxa have been taken from Krammer and Lange-Bertalot (1986 - 1991). The
list makes clear whether or not they are species of the British Isles.
Truly marine blue-green algae are included in both versions of the Coded List, as
floristic accounts of this group often combine freshwater and marine environments,
and there are relatively few species in the British Isles restricted to the sea.
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Water Data Unit (WDU) Hydrological Determinand Dictionary
Authors of the lexicon
Mr R.V. Moore, Mr J. Tyson, Mr T. Marsh, Mr J Boutwood and Mr W. L. Jack
The Dictionary was prepared for publication by:
Mr Roger V. Moore, Institute of Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB
How to obtain a copy
Ms C. Isabella Tindall, Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon,
OX10 8BB. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1491 838800 Fax: +44 (0)1491 692424 Email: cit@ioh.ac.uk
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose
The dictionary was produced in 1981 as a product of the development of the Water
Archive System, the database system used by the Water Industry. The dictionary
was primarily for use with the system but it was also intended as a national standard
for use by any organisation requiring a coded list of hydrological variables. It is still in
use today by many parts of the Water Industry and its use will be proposed for the
URGENT Programme.
Format
The Dictionary exists as a printed publication and would be made available as a
paper copy. The dictionary includes introductory text as well as sections on
‘Explanation of terms relating to determinands’ and ‘Guidelines for specifying
determinand titles’.
The Dictionary is divided into three sections:
 Short listing of determinands in alphabetical order
 Short listing of determinands in code order
 Definition of terms
There is also an Appendix giving Lookup Tables for determinands with permitted
values.
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WDU Coded List of Freshwater Macrohytes of the British Isles - Lichens
- Bryophytes - Vascular Plants
Authors of the lexicon
N.T.H. Holmes, B. A. Whitton and J. W. Hargreaves
The Dictionary was prepared for publication by:
Mr Roger V. Moore, Institute of Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB
How to obtain a copy
Ms C. Isabella Tindall, Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon,
OX10 8BB. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1491 838800 Fax: +44 (0)1491 692424 Email: cit@ioh.ac.uk
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose
The dictionary was produced in 1978 to help anyone recording photosynthetic
organisms from freshwaters in the British Isles. All species are included with the
exception of Algae (See Appendix 2). It represents a complete check list of truly
aquatic species, together with the great majority of species from very moist
environments, or which are tolerant to frequent submergence.. As the transition
between fresh and brackish waters is often gradual, some key species of brackish
environments have been added. The more important hybrids and intra-specific taxa
are also included.
Format
The Dictionary exists as a printed publication and would be made available as a
paper copy. As well as an Introduction, the dictionary includes the following sections:







Guide to coding
Summary to phylum codes.
Coded list of species
Comments on taxonomy and identification of the various groups
Guide to Ranunculus
Cross reference form English to Latin names
Bibliography
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WDU Microbiological Determinand Dictionary
Author(s) of the lexicon
The Dictionary was prepared for publication by:
Mr Roger V. Moore, Institute of Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB
How to obtain a copy
Ms C. Isabella Tindall, Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon,
OX10 8BB. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1491 838800 Fax: +44 (0)1491 692424 Email: cit@ioh.ac.uk
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose
The dictionary was produced in 1981 as a product of the development of the Water
Archive System, the database system used by the Water Industry. The dictionary
was primarily for use with the system but it was also intended as a national standard
for use by any organisation requiring a coded list of microbiological species. It
includes codes and units of measurement for parasites, algae, fungi, bacteria and
viruses. It is still in use today by many parts of the Water Industry and its use will be
proposed for the URGENT Programme.
Format
The Dictionary exists as a printed publication and would be made available as a
paper copy. The dictionary includes introductory text as well as sections on
‘Explanation of terms relating to determinands’ and ‘Guidelines for specifying
determinand titles’.
The Dictionary is divided into three sections:
 Short listing of determinands in alphabetical order
 Short listing of determinands in code order
 List of methods
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WDU Sewage Disposal Determinand Dictionary
Authors of the lexicon
Mr R.V. Moore, Mr J. Tyson, Mr T. Marsh, Mr J Boutwood and Mr W. L. Jack
The Dictionary was prepared for publication by:
Mr Roger V. Moore, Institute of Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB
How to obtain a copy
Ms C. Isabella Tindall, Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon,
OX10 8BB. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1491 838800 Fax: +44 (0)1491 692424 Email: cit@ioh.ac.uk
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose
The dictionary was produced in 1981 as a product of the development of the Water
Archive System, the database system used by the Water Industry. The dictionary
was primarily for use with the system but it was also intended as a national standard
for use by any organisation requiring a coded list of sewage disposal variables. It is
still in use today by many parts of the Water Industry and its use will be proposed for
the URGENT Programme.
Format
The Dictionary exists as a printed publication and would be made available as a
paper copy. The dictionary includes introductory text as well as sections on
‘Explanation of terms relating to determinands’ and ‘Guidelines for specifying
determinand titles’.
The Dictionary is divided into three sections:
 Short listing of determinands in alphabetical order
 Short listing of determinands in code order
 Definition of terms
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BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units
Author(s) of the lexicon
BGS geologists generate and verify the entries.
How to obtain a copy
As a general rule hard copy is not generated, as even a simple list of names and
codes runs to many sides of paper. A query system with free download option is
available
over
the
WWW
at
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/bgs/w3/free/lexicon/lexicon_intro.html, producing reports of
individual entries. Individual names and codes can be queried and checked via the
WWW application. Lists of names and codes can be provided in spreadsheet format
but, as the Lexicon is a dynamic document, any such spreadsheet will rapidly
become out of date. Other enquiries should be addressed to the Lexicon Manager
(Dr D J Lowe, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG).
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose
The British Geological Survey (BGS) Lexicon of Named Rock Units is designed to
hold definitive and readily accessible information about all allostratigraphical,
lithostratigraphical and lithodemic units of member (or equivalent) and higher status
that are used, or have been used, on BGS maps and in BGS publications. It includes
information about lesser-named units, notably beds (and their equivalents), and
some information about names not currently recognised by the BGS or now
regarded as obsolete.
Some 10% of Lexicon current entries include full definitions, in the BGS context, of
formal or informal type. The detail level in each is broadly comparable, but the
informal label is applied if definitions do not yet meet all the criteria of modern
stratigraphical procedures.
Full Lexicon entries include details of rock unit name, unique computer code, map
code, currency, rank, parent unit and parent unit rank, age, lithology, lower and
upper boundaries , thickness, previous or alternative names, geographical extent,
stratotypes, occurrence by BGS 1:50000 scale map (with Map Code used) and
bibliographical references. All entries carry a code describing the level of information
held, ranging from full formal and informal [F and I] entries, through Partial [P] entries
that lack some elements of a full definition, to code only [C] entries for units that are
not yet defined, or are unsuitable for definition, but which require a unique computer
code for use in digital operations.
How to use the lexicon including a list of categories
Though all information within the Lexicon has potential value to workers in different
disciplines, its most likely usefulness within the URGENT Programme is as a
dictionary (list constraint) of valid rock unit terms and their related unique codes.
Users should be aware that obsolete as well as current terminology and terminology
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of uncertain status coexist within the Lexicon, and entry status flags should be
checked before assuming that any given rock unit name remains in valid use.
Enquiries about existing entries or about adding absent terms and codes to the
Lexicon should be addressed to the Lexicon Manager.
Statement of data quality
Completeness: The data are incomplete as they are constantly being refined, a
flagging system indicates the completeness of individual entries. Detailed definitions
only cover land area.
Level of Spatial Detail: A range of Spatial Detail is available. Detailed information
available for specific stratotypes. General information for whole UK.
Logical Consistency: There is a high degree of logical consistency for entries flagged
as ‘Formal’ or ‘Informal’. Other records have varying degrees of logical consistency.
Lineage: Includes information imported from earlier databases. Formal records have
good lineage and can be traced back to original signed paper records completed by
BGS mapping geologists and verified and/or validated by Lexicon Curator and
Lexicon Manager.
Format: Stored digitally within Oracle RDBMS tables.
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BGS Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) for the
UK
Author(s) of the lexicon
The database is described in detail in BGS Technical Report MRP 125 (WF/92/5)
Geochemistry database: data analysis and proposed design. J.R. Harris and J.S.
Coats (1992)
How to obtain a copy
British Geological Survey
G-BASE Data Sales Manager
Keyworth, Nottingham, UK
NG12 5GG
+ 44 (0) 115 936 3534
+ 44 (0) 115 936 3329
p.green@bgs.ac.uk
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/bgs/w3/argg/argg.htm
A brief description of the lexicon including its purpose
The G-BASE Programme involves systematic sampling and the determination of
chemical elements in samples of stream sediment, stream water and, locally, soil, to
build up a picture of the surface chemistry of the UK. The average sample density for
stream sediments is about one site per 1 km², and for stream waters one site per 1.5
km². Analytical precision is high with strict quality control to ensure countrywide
consistency. The data provide baseline information on the natural abundances of
elements, against which anomalous values due to such factors as mineralisation and
industrial contamination may be compared. Analytical data for the 150µ fraction of
soil and stream sediment samples are available for some or all of: Ag, As, B, Ba, Bi,
Be, Ca, Ce, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb,
Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, U, V, Y, Zn, and Zr. Most water samples have been analysed
for alkalinity, pH, conductivity, F and U and some for multi-element analyses
including Al, Cl, Na, Si, SO4, NO3, and TOC.
How to use the lexicon including a list of categories
Dataset Association
UKGEOCHEM
MRPGEOCHEM
UKSOILGEOCHEM
UKSEDSGEOCHEM
UKWATERGEOCHEM
UKROCKGEOCHEM
Format
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Oracle. Requests by URGENT users should be directed through their DDCs.
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Lexicons in Ecology
Introduction
Species checklists and dictionaries are essential requirements for any activity
involved with biological recording, biodiversity or conservation studies. There is, at
present, no official checklist of taxa occurring in the UK and neither is there a readily
accessible source of checklists for individual groups of taxa.
The Biological Records Centre (BRC), part of the NERC Environmental Information
Centre at ITE Monks Wood can provide advice on species names or sources of
checklists. BRC maintains its own taxon dictionary but it does not cover all UK taxa,
and individual groups of taxa tend only to be reviewed and updated in association
with a specific project (e.g. publication of a new atlas). The BRC dictionary is based
primarily on the sources listed below.
A comprehensive and reliable taxon dictionary, which includes and correlates
checklists of British fauna, is being prepared as part of the National Biodiversity
Network (www.nbn.org.uk)
How to obtain further information
Biological Records Centre, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Abbots Ripton,
Huntingdon, Cambs. PE17 2LS Tel: 01487 773381
Science/natural history bookshops
Species Checklists and Dictionaries
The Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) Handbooks including the following
volumes:








Charophytes of Great Britain and Ireland
Crucifers of Great Britain and Ireland
Roses of Great Britain and Ireland
Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland
Sedges of the British Isles
Umbellifers of the British Isles
Dandelions of Great Britain and Ireland
Pondweeds of Great Britain and Ireland
List of Vascular Plants of the British Isles. D.H. Kent. BSBI.
List of Vascular Plants of the British Isles: 1st Supplement D.H. Kent. BSBI
New Flora of the British Isles. Clive Stace (ed.). 1997. Cambridge University Press
Plant Crib. T.C.G Rich and A.C. Jermy. 1998. BSBI
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Handbooks for the Identification of Insects published by the Royal Entomological
Society (RES). (Series Editors: P.C. Barnard and R.R. Askew) The series includes:
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Volume 1 Part 11 Thysanoptera (Out of Print)
Volume 1 Part 14a Trichoptera - Hydrotilidae
Volume 1 Part 7 Psocoptera (Out of Print)
Volume 2 Part 2a Hemiptera - Cicadomorpha
Volume 2 Part 2b Hemiptera - Cicadomorpha
Volume 2 Part 2c Hemiptera - Cicadellidae
Volume 2 Part 3 Hemiptera - Fulgoromorpha
Volume 2 Part 4a Hemiptera:Homoptera - Aphidoidea
Volume 2 Part 5a Hemiptera – Psylloidea (Adults)
Volume 2 Part 5b Hemiptera – Psylloidea (Nymphal Stages)
Volume 2 Part 6 Hemiptera - Aphids (Out of Print)
Volume 4 Part 10 Coleoptera - Histeroidae (Out of Print)
Volume 4 Part 2 Coleoptera - Carabidae
Volume 4 Part 6a Coleoptera - Clambidae
Volume 5 Part 10 Coleoptera - Tenebriondae
Volume 5 Part 11 Coleoptera - Scarabaeoidae (Dung Beetles and Chafers)
Volume 5 Part 16 Coleoptera Curculionoidea - Nemonychidae, Anthribidae,
Urodontidae
Volume 5, Part 17a: Broad-Nosed Weevils Coleoptera: Curculionidae (Entiminae)
Volume 5 Part 2c Coleoptera - Heteroceridae
Volume 5 Part 3 Coleoptera: Adults and Larvae of Hide Larder and Carpet
Beetles
Volume 5 Part 5a Coleoptera - Rhizophagidae (Out of Print)
Volume 5 Part 5b Coleoptera - Phalacridae (Out of Print)
Volume 5 Part 6a Coleoptera - Pollen Beetles
Volume 6 Part 2a Hymenoptera - Symphyta
Volume 6 Part 2c Hymenoptera - Symphyta (Out of Print)
Volume 6 Part 3a Bethyloidea Excluding Chrysididae
Volume 6 Part 3b Hymenoptera - Scoliodae
Volume 6 Part 3c Hymenoptera - Formicidae (Out of Print)
Volume 6 Part 4 Spider Wasps: Hymenoptera: Pompilidae
Volume 6 Part 5 Hymenoptera - Cuckoo Wasps
Volume 7 Part 1 Hymenoptera - Flies
Volume 7 Part 11 Classification and Biology of Braconid
Volume 7 Part 2a1 Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae (Out of Print)
Volume 7 Part 2a2 Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae
Volume 7 Part 2b Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae (Out of Print)
Volume 8 Part 1a Hymenoptera - Cynipoidea (Out of Print)
Volume 8 Part 1b Hymenoptera - Cynipoidea (Out of Print)
Volume 8 Part 1c Hymenoptera - Cynipoidea
Volume 8 Part 2a Hymenoptera - Chalcidoidea (Out of Print)
Volume 8 Part 2b Hymenoptera - Chalcidoidea
Volume 8 Part 3(di) Diapriidae (Diapriinae): Hymenoptera
Volume 8 Part 3(d2) Hymenoptera - Proctotrupoidea
Volume 9 Part 1 Diptera - Introduction (Out of Print)
Volume 9 Part 3 Mycetophilidae (Bolitophilinae, Ditomyiinae, Diadocidiinae,
Keroplatinae, Sciophilinae and Manotinae)
Volume 9 Part 4 Diptera: Tabanoidea - Asiloidea
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 Volume 9 Part 5 Diptera - Dolichopodidae (Out of Print)
 Volume 9 Part 6 Diptera - Sciarid Flies
 Volume 9 Part 7 Bibionid and Scatopsid Flies: Diptera: Bibionidae and
Scatopsidae
 Volume 10 Pt 14 Diptera - Larvae with Notes on Eggs, Puparia and Purpae: An
Introduction to the Immature Stages of British Flies
 Volume 10 Part 2a1 Diptera - Lonchopteridae
 Volume 10 Part 2c Diptera - Pipunculidae
 Volume 10 Part 3a Diptera - Conopidae
 Volume 10 Part 4a1 Diptera - Tachinidae
 Volume 10 Part 4b Diptera - Muscidae
 Volume 10 Part 5a Diptera - Tephritid Flies
 Volume 10 Part 5c Diptera - Sepsidae
 Volume 10 Part 5e Diptera - Lesser Dung Flies
 Volume 10 Part 5g Diptera - Agromyzidae (Out of Print)
 Volume 10 Part 6 Diptera - Scuttle Flies (except Megaselia)
 Volume 10 Part 7 Diptera - Keds, Flat flies and Bat flies
 Volume 10 Part 8 Diptera - Scuttleflies (Genus Megaselia)
 Volume 11 Part 1 Hemiptera - small orders (Out of Print)
 Volume 11 Part 2 Lepidoptera
 Volume 11 Part 3 Coleoptera - Strepsiptera (Out of Print)
 Volume 11 Part 4 Checklist of British Insects - Hymenoptera
 Volume 11 Part 5 Checklist British Diptera Siphonaptera
 Volume 12 Part 1: Checklist of Insects of the British Isles Diptera
The Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland. C.O. Hammond. (Revised by R. Merritt)
Harley.
New British Beetles. Peter J. Hodge and Richard A. Jones. BENHS
A Practical Handbook of British Beetles (2 Volumes). Norman H. Joy.
British Plant Communities. (Series Editor: J.S. Rodwell) Series includes:
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Volume 1: Woodlands and Scrub
Volume 2: Mires and Heaths
Volume 3: Grasslands & Montane Communities
Volume 4: Aquatic Communities, Swamps and Tall-herb Fens
Volume 5: Maritime and Weed Communities and Vegetation of Open Habitats
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British Atmospheric Data Centre lexicons
How to obtain further information
Dr. Sam Pepler, British Atmospheric Data Centre, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory,
Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX
Tel: 01235 446432 Email: sam.pepler@.rl.ac.uk
A brief description of the BADC catalogue including its purpose
Very limited use is made of data dictionaries at the BADC. For cataloguing purposes,
the BADC has adopted a controlled list of keyworks which are used by the NASA
Directory Interchange Format (DIF) and the Global Change Master Directory
(GCMD) at NASA Goddard to allow data sets to be described in a consistent way.
The use of this dictionary facilitates the exchange of meta-data with other data
centres.
Appropriate keywords to identify the parameters available in a given data set are
attached to the data sets in the BADC's catalogue, which can be queried on the
WWW at http://www.badc.rl.ac.uk/data/. The keywords attached to a data set form a
hierarchy of increasing detail and take the form:
CATEGORY > TOPIC > TERM > VARIABLE (> DETAILED VARIABLE)
The first four elements of this hierarchy form part of a controlled list which is
regulated by NASA. The "detailed variable" is assigned by the data centre. Some
examples of keywords attached to BADC data sets are listed below. The category
(EARTH SCIENCE) is omitted for brevity.
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
>
>
>
>
Atmospheric
Atmospheric
Atmospheric
Atmospheric
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
>
>
>
>
Trace Gases >
Trace Gases > BrO
Trace Gases > helium 3 (3He)
Volatile Organic Compounds >
Format
The BADC catalogue is held in an INGRES relational data base with a front -end
accessible through the web. A full list of the keywords that make up the DIF/GCMD
set is available from NASA Goddard at http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
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Cross reference tables
Below is an example of a cross-reference table from the LOIS Chemical
Determinand Dictionary. The four left-hand columns show the attribute details as
they are stored in the LOIS database. The ‘External’ columns show the details held
for the same attributes by other organisations and the last column shows the
conversion required to translate a value from the external organisations’ units to the
LOIS database units.
Dict
Code
Attrib
Code
Attrib
Name
Units
External
Dict Code
External
Attrib
Code
External
Name
CHEM
CHEM
CHEM
0117
0117
0118
Nitrate
Nitrate
Nitrite
mg/l N
mg/l N
mg/l N
EANH
LCOR
SETW
7117
0117
241
CHEM
0118
Nitrite
mg/l N
EANH
7118
CHEM
0118
Nitrite
mg/l N
EAST
091
NITRATE
Nitrate
NITRIC NITROGEN
as NO3
NITRITE
(FILTERED)
Nitrite as no2
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Attrib
External
units
Conversio
n
mg/l N
mg/l NO3
mg/l
X*14/62
X*14/62
mg/l N
mg/l
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Section 3 - Recommendations
It is clear that there is a degree of overlap in some areas within the lexicons. There is
therefore a need to gain a feel for how much harmonisation is necessary within the
URGENT Programme.
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With the agreement of the Data Committee, it is recommended that this is
achieved by meeting with the PIs, to identify the specific need for, as
opposed to the general desirability of, standardisation.
The main groups within URGENT have been asked to consider how their work can
be brought together and to report their proposals to the URGENT Annual meeting at
the end of the year. This will be an ideal opportunity to identify where a common
understanding is required and therefore standards are needed.
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It is proposed that an item on identifying standards should be on the
agenda for this meeting and that suitable representatives from the Data
Management and Quality Assurance Committee should attend.
It is clearly unrealistic to expect all URGENT Programme workers to change
established and ongoing practices and move immediately to a common standard,
though where appropriate adoption of common standards remains a long-term goal.
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Therefore, following the Annual meeting and depending on what is
feasible, it is recommended that either existing lexicons, modified if
necessary, should be adopted for URGENT or cross-reference tables
(see appendix 11) that will enable researchers and data managers to
move towards the eventual standard should be prepared.
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