8dd10484-2d86-4afd-93ec-eb236cecff04
English
bfbc0bbe648f7dd06ab776cb8f06eaba
dataset
Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness
Data Manager
data_supply@nature.scot
pointOfContact
2019-08-07
MEDIN Discovery metadata standard
2.3.8
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
2015 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch Laxford marine sedimentary and rocky reefs Site Condition Monitoring survey
2017-01-01
publication
GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-000312-LL
Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) was inaugurated in the Loch Laxford SAC in 2009. In 2015, a subset of survey sites were selected to represent good geographical coverage of the SAC from the baseline monitoring sites that were established and examined in 2009. The aim of this study was to (1) identify any deterioration in the condition of the protected marine features 'large shallow inlets and bays' and 'reefs', and (2) to form a judgement on their current condition. This work consisted of a drop down video drift survey at 70 sites and a detailed reef and mixed reef/sediment habitat survey along 3 relocatable transects. A maerl bed dive transect survey was carried out at the same 3 maerl bed sites examined in the baseline survey. This survey was opportunistic, representing a contingency plan to utilize poor weather conditions on a scheduled cruise, hence the reduced scope of the survey to examine a subset of the baseline monitoring sites established in 2009. Survey work was carried out from the vessel MV Halton.
Colin Moore
Consultant
c.g.moore@hw.ac.uk
originator
Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness
Data Manager
data_supply@nature.scot
custodian
notPlanned
Database
Marine Environmental Data and Information Network
NDGO0005
Habitats and biotopes
Species distribution
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
2008-01-06
revision
Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts
Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance
Habitat extent
Habitat characterisation
SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary
2009-11-16
revision
Habitats and biotopes
INSPIRE THEMES
2011-02-16
creation
Marine Environment Monitoring
Global Change Master Directory Science Keywords V5
2006-08-31
creation
Species Distribution
INSPIRE
2017-05-12
creation
Not for navigational use; 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 of Freedom of Information Regulations; SNH copyright data - its re-use and dissemination is permissable under Open Government Licence terms: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner.
otherRestrictions
no restrictions to public access
300
English
biota
biota
Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas
2009-06-18
creation
Minches & Western Scotland
ICES Rectangles
2009-05-01
creation
45E4
-5.1483
-5.0240
58.3764
58.4329
2015-08-06
2015-08-09
Moore, C.G., Cook, R.L., Porter, J.S., Sanderson, W.G., Want, A., Ware, F.J., Howson, C., Kamphausen, L. & Harries, D.B. 2017. 2015 site condition monitoring of marine sedimentary and reef habitats in Loch Laxford SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 943.
Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH)
Data Manager
01752 633102
01752 633291
Marine Biological Association of the UK,
The Laboratory,
Citadel Hill
Plymouth
PL1 2PB
dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk
distributor
dataset
MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos
2011-02-02
publication
See the referenced specification
true
MEDIN data guideline for video surveys of species and benthos.
2018-01-23
publication
See the referenced specification
true
This data was collected by SNH between the 6-8th August 2015, from the vessel MV Halton. The scope of this survey was reduced from the baseline SCM survey in 2009 due to the survey being opportunistic and a reduction in the time available, however a similar methodological approach was adopted.
DDV Survey: A subset of 70 sites were selected from the 135 examined during the baseline survey. These sites were chosen to represent good geographical coverage, but were limited to depths >10m due to the larger vessel employed during 2015 surveying. Video images were collected using a Panasonic NV-GS150 3 chip digital video camera. The video was recorded on a MiniDV tape. The camera was deployed for approximately 5 minutes from a drifting vessel at each station. positional and time/depth data were recorded at each station. Video material was processed in a laboratory, with the SACFOR scale of abundance employed where possible during the analysis to quantify the species present. Based on the physical and biological attributes, biotopes were allocated. Runs traversing a sequence of biotopes were split into corresponding segments; with the transition points recorded using the video time code.
Transect Survey: Three reef and mixed reef/sediment transects were selected out of the nine relocatable transect sites that were established in 2009. These transects represented a wide geographical and exposure range, allowing examination of the outer, middle, and inner loch. The transect route at each site was marked by a 200m graduated line attached to the transect. The transect extended from the shore to the subtidal, where scuba divers laid it along the seabed. A band 2m either side of the tape was surveyed intertidally and subtidally using MNCR Phase 2 survey methodology. Within each zone (defined in terms of differences in the composition of biological community and/or substrate type) records were taken of biota and substrate type using the MNCR SACFOR scale of abundance. Video and still imagery were used to make representative visual recordings of the transect zones and biota. Maerl bed transect surveys were carried out by divers at the same three sites examined in the 2009 baseline survey. A 25m tape transect line was marked out and a 2m band either side of the tape was surveyed by divers using MNCR Phase 2 methodology. Presence and estimates of abundance of conspicuous biota were noted by two surveyors. Video footage and still photographs were collected to retain a visual record of the nature of the habitat and community for the purpose of supplementary material to aid habitat description. 19-25 non-overlapping 0.25m2 quadrats were placed along the transect tape. 4 replicate core samples were taken in areas of live maerl using a 10.3 diameter corer to a depth of 20cm. An additional 20cm sediment core of 5cm diameter was taken for PSA.