Identification

Title

Scottish Natural Heritage Loch Moidart and Shiel Woods (LMSW) SAC Site Condition Monitoring

Abstract

The principle purpose of this project is to carry out site condition monitoring (SCM) of the intertidal sediment flats of Loch Moidart and Shiel Woods SAC site. SCM was inaugurated at this SSSI site in 2003, providing a baseline for future SCM surveys. The study approach taken aims to enable re-surveying of 16 relocatable stations along 5 transects that are representative of the biological and environmental diversity of the sediment flats in the SAC in order to 1) establish a baseline biological dataset to facilitate future assessment; 2) identify any deterioration in the condition of the mudflat feature; and 3) to form a judgement on its current condition.

Resource type

series

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-SCM-LMSW

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

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

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

imageryBaseMapsEarthCover

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

INSPIRE THEMES

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-02-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-07-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Global Change Master Directory Science Keywords V5

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2006-08-31

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

INSPIRE

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2017-05-12

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-5.8156

East bounding longitude

-5.7476

North bounding latitude

56.7968

South bounding latitude

56.7773

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Minches & Western Scotland

Extent group

authority code

title

ICES Rectangles

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

42E4

Extent group

authority code

title

International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas

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

ICES Statistical Areas

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2014-05-16

code identifying the extent

VIa

Extent group

authority code

title

SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

littoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2003-08-28

End position

2018-03-13

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2004-10-11

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

Data collection for the SCM work takes place at a series of relocatable stations along transects that reflect the biological and environmental diversity of the intertidal sediment flats in the SAC. The 5 transects (MA to ME), which include a total of 16 sample stations, are laid out perpendicular to the shore and to low water channels at the seaward end. Each station lies within a perceived habitat zone identified from the physical appearance and biological surface features. The positions of both stations and zone boundaries are recorded. The physicochemical characteristics of the stations are assessed by measurement of sediment particle size, depth of the anaerobic layer and by noting the physical appearance of the sediment. The biotic composition is assessed by analysis of sediment cores, by digging over 1m2 for the presence of the larger species, and by estimation of the abundance of casts and other conspicuous surface signs of the presence of the larger infauna. Replicate photo quadrats are also taken at each station and video footage taken of both the stations and of the transect. At each station, a record of any surfical biota is made by photographing five replicate randomly placed 0.25 m2 quadrats and noting incidental visual records.In addition, approximately 1 m2 of sediment is dug-over using a spade, to a depth of about 30 cm to check for the presence of conspicuous infauna and estimates of their density made using the SACFOR scale. Smaller infauna is similarly recorded but sampled by sieving, using a 1 mm mesh, an area of sediment of c. 250 cm2.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011-02-02

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

MEDIN data guideline for video surveys of species and benthos.

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 for navigational use; SNH copyright data which is available for re-use under government licence terms: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

no restrictions to public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

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

2018-11-21

Metadata language

eng