Identification

Title

2014 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch Alsh benthic camera and infaunal grab survey

Abstract

The main aim of this investigation in Loch Alsh (within the Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh marine protected area (MPA)) was to improve knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of the species and habitats of recognized conservation importance, including protected features burrowed mud and flame shell beds. This site was selected for survey because it is an MPA. A drop-down video survey and a grab survey of benthic habitats was undertaken by SNH from the 25th to 26th March 2014 on board the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) research vessel Sir John Murray. Underwater video footage was collected using DDV camera system at 52 sites within the MPA. Analysis of seabed video and still photographic imagery is used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. Runs and run segments were assessed for the presence of protected features and other PMFs, as well as for the presence of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance. On the same survey and research vessel, SNH collected single infaunal grab samples at 12 stations for Marine Scotland.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-000259-LA

codeSpace

http://GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-000259-LA

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

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

Additional information source

Allen, J.H. 2014. Infaunal and PSA analyses of benthic samples collected from Loch Alsh, in March 2014. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 790; Moore, C.G. 2015. Biological analyses of underwater video from research cruises in marine protected areas and renewable energy locations around Scotland in 2014. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 819

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

biota

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

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

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

2011-07-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2012-03-16

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

-5.7773

East bounding longitude

-5.5166

North bounding latitude

57.2980

South bounding latitude

57.2426

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

43E4

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

littoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2014-03-25

End position

2014-03-26

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 Alsh was collected by SNH on board Sir John Murray on the 25th and 26th March 2014, covering the areas within and immediately outside Loch Alsh in water depths ranging from 6m - 78m. This data were collected using a mini-drop down video system. HD GoPro video footage was recorded at 52 stations. Analyses of the video footage was undertaken by SNH contractor Dr Colin Moore 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. Biotopes were allocated based on the biological and physical attributes. Where the video run traversed a sequence of biotopes, the run is split into corresponding segments with the transition points recorded using the time, position and depth. Grab samples were collected at 12 stations, undertaken over the same 2 survey days as drop down video. At each station, a single grab was collected using a 0.1m2 Day grab. A total of 12 infaunal samples were collected during the survey, although particle size analysis (PSA) samples were only collected at 10 of these stations. Each infaunal grab sample was passed through a 1mm mesh sieve and the infaunal sieve residue retained and fixed with buffered formalin for subsequent analysis. A small subsample of the grab was removed for PSA analysis and stored in plastic bags before being frozen. Precision Marine Limited were contracted by SNH to undertake infaunal analysis of the grab samples. This included infaunal identification, PSA, assigning of a biotope to each sample, and identification of protected features. All laboratory methodologies were based on best practice and Precision Marine Survey Ltd is a member of the NMBAQC.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011-02-02

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

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

Consultant

organisation name

No organisation

email address

c.g.moore84@gmail.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

2019-08-02

Metadata language