2012 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) biological analyses of Marine Scotland (MS) Fetlar to Haroldswick benthic MPA search feature survey
The purpose of this benthic survey within the Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA propasal (at time of survey) was to determine the wider distribution and validate the continued presence, extent, and status of specified proposed protected features maerl beds, horse mussel beds, and shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves within the MPA proposal and to inform future site management. An underwater video survey was conducted by SNH, Heriot-Watt University (HWU) and MS for MS on the 27th-5th September 2012 to collect detailed biological information on the seabed species and habitat features present. Drop-down video drift tows were undertaken at 69 sites, grab sampling was undertaken in 19 locations and in situ diver surveys (MNCR phase 2 style) were undertaken at 5 sites (three horse mussel beds and two maerl beds were investigated). Analyses on the seabed video and still images and infaunal samples by Heriot-Watt University, commissioned by SNH, were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. The survey vessel Moder Dy, owned by NAFC, was used from 27th-31st Aug to undertake drop-down video and grab survey work and a second vessel MZ Halton was used from 1st-5th September to undertake diving work.
dataset
GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000206-MRSNH02500000005-FH
http://www.nature.scot
eng
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Hirst, N.E., Kamphausen, L.M., Cook, R.L., Porter, J.S., Sanderson, W.G. 2013. Distribution and status of proposed protected features in the Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA proposal. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 599.
biota
biota
revision
2008-01-06
revision
2009-11-16
creation
2011-02-16
creation
2003-01-01
creation
2011-07-06
creation
2012-02-14
revision
2005-04-27
creation
2006-08-31
creation
2017-05-12
-1.0929
-0.7473
60.7889
60.5454
creation
2009-06-18
Northern North Sea
creation
2009-05-01
50E8
creation
2009-05-01
50E9
creation
1954-01-01
North Sea
revision
2010-01-01
circalittoral
revision
2010-01-01
infralittoral
2012-08-27
2012-09-05
publication
2013-12-31
notPlanned
This subtidal seabed data from the Fetlar to Haroldswick was collected by SNH, HWU and MSS between the 27th August and 5th September 2013. Video images were obtained from 69 drop-down video drift tows and 19 grab samples were collected onboard the vessel Moder Dy. The drop-down video camera set up was a Panasonic NV-GS150 3 chip digital video camera within a Seapro housing held within a small sled frame, and illumination provided by twin 100 watt lamps. A 150 m umbilical cable carried the video signal to a Sony Video Walkman for real-time observations and recording preliminary notes on habitats and species observed. Video tows lasted between approximately 5-10 mins. GPS tracks of each deployment were recorded to a Magellan GPS unit and simultaneously overlaid onto the video feed and logged onto a laptop. This gave positional information every second for the duration of each tow. Photographs of the seabed were taken at intervals to aid biotope determinations. Track and depth data were were recorded at the start and end of each video tow. SNH contracted HWU to analyse the video footage 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 or using a numerical abundance. Where video runs traversed a sequence of biotopes, the runs are split into corresponding segments with the transition points recorded using time. Segmentation of runs was not practicable in the case of mosaics of recurring biotopes, in which case all biotopes observed were simply listed. Runs and run segments were assessed for the presence of PPFs and other PMFs, as well as for the presence of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance. Grab samples of seabed sediment were collected using a 0.1m2 Van Veen grab. The sample was rejected and repeated if the grab gear was wedged open by stones of other organisms. A 150ml subsample was taken from each grab for PSA. The analyses of grabs involved infaunal identification, particle size analysis (PSA) and assigning a biotope to each sample. Each infaunal sample was passed through a 1mm mesh seive and the residue retained and fixed with 4% borax buffered formalin for processing. The PSA was carried out by a combination of dry sieving and laser particle size analysis. Prior to analysis photographs were taken of all samples. All laboratory measures were based on best practice and in line with the NMBAQC scheme guidelines and species reporting nomenclature used WoRMS standards. A diver survey was undertaken on board the MV Halton. In situ MNCR-style phase 2 surveys were carried out at five sites (three horse mussel bed sites and two maerl bed sites). The diver surveys were used to assess the quality of these proposed protected features. The locations of the dive survey sites were determined using the initial results of the DDV survey. A 25 m tape was laid out from a shot line. Two divers surveyed a 2 m band either side of the tape and recorded the presence and where possible, an estimate of the abundance of conspicuous biota using standard MNCR recording forms. The transect band was also recorded using a hand held video camera (Cannon HF G10 in a Light and Motion housing) and still photographs were taken of the proposed protected features and associated communities using a digital stills camera. For community analyses, at maerl bed sites divers took four replicate core samples which were sieved through a 1 mm mesh screen and the remaining sample was preserved in borax-buffered 5% formalin. A 20 cm sediment core of 5 cm diameter was also taken for PSA. Processing of these samples followed the same procedure as for grab samples. At horse mussel beds, four replicate clump samples were taken and placed in 5 litre buckets as a corer was not effective on horse mussel beds. Biotope codes were assigned to the records using in situ observations and clump/core data.
publication
2011-02-02
true
See the referenced specification
publication
2018-01-23
true
See the referenced specification
Not to be used for navigation. Native oyster was recorded during survey. SNH Sensitive species policy regards instances of Native oyster (Ostrea edulis) species occurrences and instances of biotope Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy mixed sediment (SS.SMx.IMx.Ost/ SS.IMX.Oy) as sensitive, as commercial fishing is threatening stocks. As such SNH would not release such records in response to an Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 request at a resolution below that provided by a 20km by 20km square. In such a case we would disguise the location by provision of data in GIS format and would replace the original location of the record with a square of 20km by 20km dimension placed around the precise location of the record(s). However, SNH may choose to share this data at full resolution with Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies and other trusted partners, academic researchers or developers for use in Environmental Statements at full resolution. However, such release would be strictly under the terms of a modified Open Government licence which would restrict published outputs and onward supply to the degraded resolution Other species or biotope occurrences in this survey are not considered by SNH to be sensitive; as such these may be released at full resolution in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information requests; additionally their re-use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data at whatever resolution will acknowledge the copyright owner.
Restrictions on public access due to sensitive species recorded, only available at 20km by 20km resolution
External Contractor
Heriot-Watt University School of Life Sciences
originator
Data Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness
custodian
Data Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness
pointOfContact
2020-02-12