2004 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch nam Madadh marine features Site Condition Monitoring inaugeration survey
The purpose of this study was to initiate Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) of the Loch nam Madadh SAC qualifying features: large shallow inlet and bays, saline lagoons, intertidal and sublittoral reefs, intertidal sediment flats, and subtidal sandbanks. This survey was done to: (1) establish a baseline biological data set that would facilitate the assessment of the condition of the habitats in the future; and (2) to allow a judgement to be formed on the current condition of these habitats. The main approach taken to achieve these objectives was to perform a drop-down video survey of the biotopes of the SAC, concentrating on the sublittoral sediments, to characterise the infauna of the main sediment biotopes by means of grab and core sampling, and to perform surveys of the epibiota of rock, lagoon, maerl and Zostera biotopes along relocatable transects.
dataset
GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000097-MRSNH01100000014-LM
http://www.nature.scot
eng
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Moore, C.G., Saunders, G., Mair, J.M. and Lyndon, A.R. (2006). The inauguration of site condition monitoring of marine features of Loch Maddy Special Area of Conservation. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 152 (ROAME No. F02AA409).
biota
biota
revision
2008-01-06
revision
2009-11-16
creation
2011-02-16
creation
2011-07-06
creation
2006-08-31
creation
2017-05-12
-7.2517
-7.0745
57.6715
57.5877
creation
2009-06-18
Minches & Western Scotland
creation
2009-05-01
44E2
2004-05-25
2004-08-05
publication
2006-01-01
notPlanned
Drop-down video, grab and core sampling, and relocatable transects were the three main methods used in this SCM baseline survey of Loch nam Madadh SAC features - sublittoral sediments, sediment biotope infauna, and epibiota of rock, lagoon, maerl, and Zostera biotopes. The fieldwork was performed in two phases: 25th May to 5th June and 17th July to 5th August 2004. Transect work was performed at 6 lagoon sites in a band 2m either side of the tape by two surveyors, one on each side, intertidally and subtidally. Transects were split into a series of zones defined by differences in composition of the biological community/substrate type. Within each zone the MNCR scale of abundance was used to record substrate type and biota within each zone. Video footage and digital stills were taken intertidally and subtidally to make representative visual recordings of the transect zones, with five replicate photoquadrats (0.25m2) taken intertidally. Mudflats were surveyed at two sites using the same method as described for lagoons. Additionally, at each survey station along the transect, eight replicate core samples of 10.3cm diameter and 20cm length were taken at random and pooled. Four replicate pooled samples were taken at one station of particular interest on each transect. Sediment was sieved and macrobenthos preserved for laboratory analysis. 1m2 dig-overs were used to supplement the abundance of macrobenthic infauna from core samples in-situ. At five rocky reef sites, transect surveys were performed from the top of the shore to subtidal sediment plains using the same methodology as for lagoons. Diving was carried out from the SNH RIB Aphrodite. At some sites the densities of Swiftia pallida and Caryophyllia smithii was determined. At tidal narrows, surveys were performed along transects at three tidal rapid sites. Drop-video work was done by SNH from the RIB Aphrodite at 73 sites to provide information on the distribution and diversity of the subtidal biotopes in the non-lagoonal region of the SAC. At each station the video was deployed from a drifting vessel for approximately 3 minutes. Time, depth, and precise start and end positioning were recorded for each drift. Video material from each station were processed in the laboratory, using the SACFOR scale of abundance where possible, and notes made on substrate and biota. Surveys of maerl beds at 4 sites were based on drop-down video survey footage and preliminary dives. At each site divers conducted a detailed examination of the area using a slightly modified MNCR phase 2 methodology. A hand-held digital video camera and still photographs were taken of the maerl and associated community to supplement real-time visual records and collections. Four replicate core samples were taken in areas of living maerl using a 10.3cm diameter corer to a depth of 20cm. The sediment was sieved and infauna extracted. An additional 20cm sediment core was taken for PSA analysis. A detailed examination of a Zostera bed was carried out using the same methodology as described for maerl beds. A subtidal sediment infaunal survey was conducted at 30 stations within the SAC. A single 0.1m2 van Veen grab sample was collected using the vessel RV Serpula at deeper stations. A subsample of each grab was taken for PSA. At shallower stations the SNH RIB Aphrodite was used to deploy divers who collected eight replicate core samples for infaunal analysis and one long sediment core for PSA analysis.
publication
2011-02-02
true
See the referenced specification
publication
2018-01-23
true
See the referenced specification
Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; 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 permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner.
no restrictions to public access
Consultant
Colin Moore
originator
Data Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters
Great Glen House, Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW
01463 725000
custodian
Data Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters
Great Glen House, Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW
01463 725000
pointOfContact
2020-03-05