Identification

Title

2014 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) biological analyses of Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Loch Linnhe benthic camera survey

Abstract

This SNH analyses of underwater video footage collected in Loch Linnhe is intended to improve knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of the species and habitats of recognised conservation importance and help to improve future nature conservation action by undertaking a marine habitat classification using JNCC standards, and to search for Priority Marine Features (PMF). A drop-down video survey to collect this benthic habitat data was undertaken by SEPA between the 23rd and 28th May 2014 on board the SEPA survey vessel Sir John Murray. The underwater video footage was collected using a high definition underwater camera system, custom built for the purposes of environmental monitoring by marine Scotland Science and SNH specifically for use on SEPA's survey vessel, at 81 stations. The seabed video and still photographic imagery material was collected as part of SEPA's work to gauge the health and ecological condition of coastal water bodies but passed to SNH to be analysed by a contractor to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. Video runs and run segments were assessed for the presence of protected features and other priority marine features (PMFs), as well as for the presence of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000273-MRSNH03200000002-LLIN

codeSpace

http://www.nature.scot

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Additional information source

Morris-Webb, E.S. & Stamp, T.S. 2015. Biological analyses of underwater video footage from Arran, Loch Linnhe, Loch Shell and Loch Seaforth. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 818.

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

imageryBaseMapsEarthCover

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-02-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2003-01-01

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-07-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2005-04-27

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2006-08-31

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2017-05-12

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-5.9521

East bounding longitude

-5.0030

North bounding latitude

56.7994

South bounding latitude

56.2971

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Minches & Western Scotland

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

41E4

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

42E4

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1954-01-01

code identifying the extent

Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

circalittoral

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

infralittoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2014-05-23

End position

2014-05-28

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2015-12-31

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

This subtidal seabed data from Loch Linnhe was collected on an incidental research visit by SEPA on board their research vessel Sir John Murray between the 23rd and 28th May 2014. Video images were obtained from 81 drop-down video drifts. Standard resolution video was obtained from drop-down video tows with time overlay, and where possible high definition GoPro imagery was taken alongside (without time overlay). Due to better quality results, the GoPro video was analysed preferentially to the original DDV footage. No still images were taken alongside the video tows, however images were taken as screen grabs from video tows post survey. This data were derived from SEPA video footage provided to SNH for biological analyses. Analyses of the video footage was undertaken by Marine Ecological Solutions, contracted by SNH, to describe the physical structure and species assemblages present. Species present were identified and quantified using the semi-quantitative MNCR SACFOR scale, as far as possible. Video was first split into individual habitats or biotopes where new habitats were either bigger than 25m2 (a minimum biotope size) or greater than 1 minute in length. A first view of the video included assigning habitat name, substrate composition, characterizing biota, sample descriptions and evidence of any human disturbance. On the second view, all species identifiable to a World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) accepted taxa were recorded and where possible a SACFOR abundance rating was assigned. Biotopes were assigned based on the biological and physical attributes, using the JNCC Marine Habitat Classification guidance. Where video runs traversed a sequence of biotopes, the runs are split into corresponding segments with the transition points recorded using the clock time, position and depth.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2018-01-23

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Not to be used for navigation. This survey recorded no species or biotope occurences that SNH consider as sensititive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissable under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

No restrictions on public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Data manager

organisation name

Marine Ecological Solutions

email address

info@marine-ecosol.com

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2020-02-12

Metadata language