Identification

Title

2015 SSE Renewables Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm pre-construction benthic grab survey

Abstract

A pre-construction benthic characterisation survey was conducted by APEM Ltd at the proposed Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) and Annex 1 Habitat Survey of the Offshore Transmission Works (OfTW) cable corridor (APEM ref 413984, client ref ED518) between the 22nd and the 27th June 2015. The aim of the survey was to collect grab samples that will provide baseline data on the benthic ecology and sediment composition within the OWF area. Additionally the survey was to utilise Drop Down Video (DDV) to determine the presence of potential cobble reef Annex 1 habitats (EC Habitats Directive) the OfTW cable export corridor and investigate sites of potential archaeological importance within both the OWF area and export route. Twelve grab stations were selected to provide representative coverage of the SS.SCS.ICS.MoeVen (Moerella spp. with venerid bivalves in infralittoral gravelly sand) biotope that was identified as being of high importance in the Beatrice OWF Environmental Statement and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and is representative of the Tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves Priority Marine Feature. Ten of the stations were located within the OWF boundary, with two reference stations located to the north east of the OWF. All stations corresponded to locations that were sampled during the EIA baseline characterisation study undertaken in 2010 (CMACS, 2011). At each of the twelve locations three replicate samples were acquired using a 0.1m2 Hamon grab. Each replicate was then sub-sampled for both macrofauna and Particle Size Analysis (PSA).

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://doi.org/10.17031/6452722f2110c

description: A link to the web service or dataset

http://https://www.dassh.ac.uk

name: DASSH website

description: A link to DASSH website

Unique resource identifier

code

413984_Beatrice_2015

codeSpace

http://https://www.dassh.ac.uk

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

geoscientificInformation

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

effective date

2011-07-06

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-2.9681

East bounding longitude

-2.5658

North bounding latitude

58.3590

South bounding latitude

58.1971

soil and sediment

Vertical extent information

Minimum value

37.6000

Maximum value

51.7000

Coordinate reference system

authority code

code identifying the coordinate reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::5831

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2015-06-23

End position

2015-06-23

Dataset reference date

date type

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

To separate preservative from the macrofaunal invertebrates, all samples were washed over a 1 mm sieve in a fume cupboard. All fauna retained in the sieve were then extracted, identified and enumerated. Taxa were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level using the appropriate taxonomic keys and literature. This is not always possible for certain taxonomic groups such as nemerteans, nematodes, and certain oligochaetes due to the widely acknowledged lack of appropriate identification tools for these groups. The National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control (NMBAQC) Scheme has produced a Taxonomic Distinction Protocol (TDP) (Worsfold and Hall 2010) which gives guidance on the most appropriate level to which different marine taxa should be identified, and this guidance was adhered to for the laboratory analysis. Where required, specimens were also compared with material maintained within the laboratory reference collection. Nomenclature followed the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Following analysis, 10% of samples were subject to internal Analytical Quality Control (AQC). For archiving purposes all samples were stored in 70% industrial denatured alcohol solution. Associated images referenced in the image fields of the dataset can be found on Resource Space:https://www.dassh.ac.uk/dasshresourcespace/pages/search.php

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011-02-02

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

CC-BY: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Open Access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

email address

manchester@apemltd.co.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH)

full postal address

Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill

Plymouth

PL1 2PB

telephone number

01752 633102

facsimile number

01752 633291

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Responsible party

organisation name

email address

manchester@apemltd.co.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Responsible party

organisation name

SSE Renewables

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH)

full postal address

Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill

Plymouth

PL1 2PB

telephone number

01752 633102

facsimile number

01752 633291

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2024-08-20

Metadata language

eng