Identification

Title

Scottish Natural Heritage Loch Laxford SAC Site Condition Monitoring

Abstract

The principle purpose of this project is to carry out site condition monitoring (SCM) of the Annex 1 features littoral and sublittoral 'reef' and 'inlets and bays' at Loch Laxford SAC site. SCM was inaugurated at this SAC site in 2009, providing a baseline for future SCM surveys. The study approach taken aims to enable re-surveying of 135 video stations in inlet and bay habitat and 11 relocatable transects spanning littoral and inshore sublittoral reef and sediment biotope habitats that are representative of the biological and environmental diversity of the qualifying features within the SAC. The purpose of this work being to 1) establish a baseline biological dataset to facilitate future assessment; 2) identify any deterioration in the condition of the habitats; and 3) to form a judgement on the habitats current condition.

Resource type

series

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-SCM-LL

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

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

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

2012-02-14

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

-5.1483

East bounding longitude

-5.0240

North bounding latitude

58.4329

South bounding latitude

58.3764

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

45E4

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2009-08-02

End position

2022-11-29

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-01-01

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

Data collection on littoral and sublittoral reef and inlets and bay features for SCM work in the Loch Laxford SAC is performed using a combination of video survey, infaunal Van Veen grab, MNCR phase 2 surveying along relocatable transects, and habitat mapping. 135 drop video survey sites were established in 2009, ensuring good geographical spread and coverage of a range of biotopes, depths, exposure and anthropogenic activities in the SAC. 30 infaunal grab sampling sites, 11 relocatable shore and near-shore reef and sediment biotope transects, and 3 mearl sites were also established in this baseline survey. Subsequent SCM surveys of the SAC may constitute a subset of sites selected from the 2009 established baseline monitoring sites, due to logistical/time limitations or opportunistic surveying. Video material from each station is processed in the laboratory, with notes being made on the substrate and biota present, where possible employing the SACFOR scale of abundance. Representative visual recordings (video and still imagery) of reef and mixed/sediment transects are made of the transect zones and biota present, subtidally and intertidally, to supplement the species inventory fro each site. Infaunal samples are sorted in the laboratory, identified to species where possible, and counted. Sample start/end position, time, and depth are recorded for each sample event.

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 for navigational use; SNH copyright data which is available for re-use under government licence terms: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

no restrictions to public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

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 (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2022-11-29

Metadata language