Identification

Title

Benthic infaunal abundance and biomass from Belfast Lough dredge disposal monitoring operations 2017 and 2018.

Abstract

This dataset contains information on benthic infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs and video footage from off the Copeland Islands in Belfast Lough in late 2017 and early 2018 on the RV Corystes. This survey was carried out to describe the species and seabed habitats within a 0.5NM buffer zone of a dredge disposal site. The survey was carried out pre and post operation to allow the potential impacts to be investigated. In total there were 29 grab samples taken and analysed and 4 video tows carried out and analysed. Particle size analysis (PSA) and Carbon and Nitrogen analysis were also carried out on the sediments from the grab samples. All grab samples contained fauna species with the most abundant being Balanus cretanus and the most frequently recorded being Sabellaria spinulosa. The most frequently recorded species on the video tows were Spirobranchus triqueter and Balinidae.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

http://www.dassh.ac.uk/datasets/AFBIBLoughDDS

name: Click to get data

description: A link to the web service or dataset

Unique resource identifier

code

AFBIBLoughDDS

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

planningCadastre

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

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-5.7446

East bounding longitude

-5.2907

North bounding latitude

54.8794

South bounding latitude

54.6107

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Irish Sea

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

benthic boundary layer

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

circalittoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2017-10-23

End position

2018-01-22

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2019-01-08

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass and association habitat biotope from sediment grabs and video tows carried out off the Copeland Islands in Belfast Lough. The main aim of this survey was to describe the species present and the seabed habitats within a 0.5NM buffer zone of a dredge disposal site off the Copeland Islands. Another key aim was to allow scientists to investigate the potential impact of the dredge disposal site operations. The survey was carried out on the RV Corystes and it targeted 5 stations that transect across the disposal site buffer zone. Two surveys were carried out in this project, one pre operation and one post operation (within 2 months of completion of the disposal) of the disposal site, to allow the potential impacts to be assessed. In both surveys, two sample methods were used; Day grabs and video tows. The 1st (pre) survey took place on 2017-10-23 and the 2nd (post) took place on 2018-01-22. In the pre-disposal survey 14 grab samples were taken and 1 video tow completed. In the post-disposal survey 15 grab samples were taken and 3 video tows completed. It should be noted that different camera set ups were used in both surveys. During the 1st survey a drop frame camera was used but this proved to be problematic due to strong tidal currents in the area, therefore in the 2nd survey a towed camera sledge was used to enable more control and mobility. It should also be noted when using this data that there was very poor visibility on all the camera footage due to the suspended sediment load in the water column, this made taxonomic discrimination difficult. This was mitigated to the best of our ability by using two experienced marine biologists to review and analyse the video data. The methodologies for both the grab samples and video tows are detailed below. Grab samples. A 0.1m2 day grab was used to take a sample of the sediment and associated infaunal communities. When the sample reaches the deck, a 250ml sample is taken for PSA and a further 25ml is taken for C and N analysis. The rest of the sample is carefully sieved to reveal any infauna. Fixed Formalin (4 percent buffered formaldehyde) is added to the remains of the sample and these are placed in labelled buckets. The samples are sent to accredited taxonomic laboratories were they are identified to as high a level as possible and weighed. Video tows. As previously stated, both a drop frame camera and a towed camera sledge were used in this project to try and maximise control over the device and to obtain better quality footage. The footage is reviewed twice by experienced marine biologists to ensure a high level of quality control. Unfortunately in this project there was poor visibility on all footage due to a high level of suspended sediment in the water column (particularly in 2018-01 due to a large number of storms) and this impeded slightly on taxonomic discrimination which is important to note if using this data for analysis.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

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

no conditions

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

no restrictions

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Project manager

organisation name

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Project manager

organisation name

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Project manager

organisation name

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2019-08-23

Metadata language