1994 Purbeck Marine Research Unit Canford School, Swanage Dorset, Ross Coral Mapping Drift dive transect surveys
All these records relate to "Powell (ed) (1994) - Ross Coral Mapping Project (Preliminary Report) 1994" A copy of the report is held at English Nature (Dorset Team). This survey aimed to map the distribution and record the abundance of Ross coral (Pentapora foliacea) in the area off Swanage between Handfast Point and Ballard Point. The survey confirmed that Ross coral occurs much further east along the English Channel than previously recorded. Due to strong tidal flows in the area, drift dives were used to make transects of the area. 12 dives were undertaken, 10 of which recorded Pentapora, and have been entered on this database. The largest colonies were 30cm or more in diameter and occurred on outcrops of chalk and large boulders in the south western part of the survey area. Within the area investigated, several thousand colonies were recorded, making Ross Coral locally abundant. GPS/Decca navigation was used to pinpoint the position of the dive support boat at the start, during (following the diver's surface marker buoy) and at the end of the dive allowing a habitat map along the line of the dive to be constructed. The survey also highlighted an area of significant marine interest with a species rich animal turf on the chalk and rubble sea floor off Ballard Point. Underwater photography was used to supplement written records and to aid identification of other species. Reference was made to two records further east, off the Isle of Wight, one occurring in water 65-70m deep.
dataset
MRLRC00100000508
eng
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::27700
biota
imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
revision
2008-01-06
creation
2011-02-16
creation
2003-01-01
creation
2011-07-06
revision
2009-11-16
-1.9286
-1.9046
50.6448
50.6248
revision
2010-01-01
benthic boundary layer
creation
2009-06-18
Eastern Channel
creation
2009-06-18
Western Channel and Celtic Sea
creation
2009-05-01
29E7
creation
2009-05-01
30E7
creation
2009-05-01
29E8
creation
2009-05-01
30E8
creation
1954-01-01
English Channel
1994-05-09
1994-10-12
publication
2013-02-14
notPlanned
Survey run by Purbeck Marine Research Unit, Canford School Dorset. All these records relate to "Powell (ed) (1994) - Ross Coral Mapping Project (Preliminary Report) 1994" A copy of the report is held at English Nature (Dorset Team). This survey aimed to map the distribution and record the abundance of Ross coral (Pentapora foliacea) in the area off Swanage between Handfast Point and Ballard Point. The survey confirmed that Ross coral occurs much further east along the English Channel than previously recorded. Due to strong tidal flows in the area, drift dives were used to make transects of the area. 12 dives were undertaken, 10 of which recorded Pentapora, and have been entered on this database. The largest colonies were 30cm or more in diameter and occurred on outcrops of chalk and large boulders in the south western part of the survey area. Within the area investigated, several thousand colonies were recorded, making Ross Coral locally abundant. GPS/Decca navigation was used to pinpoint the position of the dive support boat at the start, during (following the diver's surface marker buoy) and at the end of the dive allowing a habitat map along the line of the dive to be constructed. The survey also highlighted an area of significant marine interest with a species rich animal turf on the chalk and rubble sea floor off Ballard Point. Underwater photography was used to supplement written records and to aid identification of other species. Reference was made to two records further east, off the Isle of Wight, one occurring in water 65-70m deep.
Data is freely available for research or commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced.
No restrictions to public access
Headmaster
Canford School
originator
Data Manager
Natural England
Northminster House
Peterborough
PE1 1UA
+44 (0)845 600 3078
+44 (0)1733 455103
enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
custodian
Marine Survey and Data Officer
Dorset Wildlife Trust
CBolton@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
pointOfContact
2016-11-15