Identification

Title

2011 - 2015 North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) Sabellaria alveolata surveys

Abstract

In 2011 the north Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority began to complete surveys of intertidal Sabellaria alveolata (honeycomb worm) reefs in the district. This survey technique was developed initially to assess the reef on Heysham Flat as a tool to investigate the percentage cover and health of Sabellaria aveolata reef, to provide datasets to inform mussel management and to provide data to Morecambe Bay EMS Management Group on condition of the reef. This reef was surveyed annually from 2011-15. In addition this survey was used in other areas, particularly at Dubmill Point in Cumbria. The surveys recorded the percentage cover of S. alveolata as well as other ground cover types and classified the form and health of the growth. Evidence from the annuals surveys showed that there was continuous competition for space on the cobble and boulder reef between substantial mussel settlements and the worms, both of which proved to be ephemeral in nature. This competition was found to be the main driving force behind the health and distribution of the Sabellaria alveolata. Observations continue to be made on this relationship during regular mussel inspections carried out for fisheries management purposes.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

NWIFCA_SAB

codeSpace

http://www.nw-ifca.gov.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

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

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-3.2116

East bounding longitude

-3.1960

North bounding latitude

54.0437

South bounding latitude

54.0346

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Irish Sea

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2011-06-16

End position

2011-06-16

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2013-12-12

date type

creation

effective date

2013-12-12

date type

revision

effective date

2013-12-12

Frequency of update

annually

Quality and validity

Lineage

Areas are surveyed using a 50 m grid of points uploaded onto a handheld GPS. If a grid from previous surveys is unavailable then a walkover survey is required first in order to produce this grid. At each survey station a 0.5 m2 quadrat is place randomly within 2 m of the station. Percentage cover of the following ground cover types is recorded: mussels (adult and 0 year class seed), mussel mud, shell, sand, bare rock, bare cobble/stone, algae, whether it’s lying in a pool rendering it impossible to assess, or other. Then of the total Sabellaria alveolata present in the quadrat the percentage of each formation type (patchy, sheet, hummock or reef) and health (dead, worn apertures, crisp apertures or newly settled) is recorded. Guidance sheets with pictures are used to aid in classification. Photographs of the whole quadrat and close ups of the S. aveolata in that quadrat are taken for validation purposes. If Sabellaria is present outside on the predetermined grid, additional survey points can be taken and recorded. Raw data can be analysed to produce GIS maps of the data and some reports are available.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Data is freely available for research or commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced. A charge may be applied to cover costs of compiling and sending data.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

No restrictions to public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

North Western IFCA

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

science@nw-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

science@nw-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2021-05-28

Metadata language