Identification

Title

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Sound of Arisaig SAC Site Condition Monitoring

Abstract

The principal purpose of the study was to carry out site condition monitoring of the of the inshore sublittoral sediment habitats of the Sound of Arisaig SAC, in order to identify any deterioration in the condition of the subtidal sandbank feature and to form a judgement on its current condition. The approach taken to achieve this aim is to perform an extensive drop-down video survey and a grab survey of the component habitats of the feature. Characterisation of the subsurface fauna and sediment composition of the main sediment biotopes is performed by means of grab sampling. Detailed surveying of the sea bed and subsurface communities at selected maerl bed sites is carried out using diving techniques.

Resource type

series

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-SCM-SoA

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

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

-5.9670

East bounding longitude

-5.6665

North bounding latitude

56.9024

South bounding latitude

56.7328

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

42E4

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2003-07-05

End position

2022-11-24

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2004-05-31

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

The SCM work is divided into three stages: 1) Dropdown Video: Knowledge of the distribution, diversity and extent of biotopes was gained by performing a stratified random sampling drop-down video survey, supplemented by a limited amount of focussed sampling. To promote adequate coverage of the different regions within the cSAC, the survey area between the 0m and 20m contours was split up into 20 strata. 150 stratified random sampling stations were selected. At each station the video is deployed briefly from a drifting vessel, noting the times, depths and precise positions at the start and end of the drift. The runs averaged 4 minutes duration and 50m in length. In addition to the 150 stratified random sample sites, a farther 53 drop-down video sites are worked to provide coverage of the deeper areas, to fill in any perceived geographical gaps in the random samples, and to position sites in the vicinity of locations previously surveyed by others. At a small number of sites where navigation was difficult, the dropdown system is replaced by diver-held video. 2) Grab Survey: Following categorisation of sample stations on the basis of biotope, sample stations representative of the different sedimentary biotopes are selected for analysis of the infauna and sediment composition by grab sampling at 20 stations. At each station a single 0.1m2 van Veen grab sample was collected using the vessel RV Serpula. A subsample of c.150ml sediment was taken from the surface of the grab contents for particle size analysis and the remaining material sieved on a 1mm mesh screen, the sievings being retained in borax-buffered 5% formalin. 3) Maerl Survey: Five maerl sites were selected for detailed examination of the infauna and epibiota by diver using MNCR phase 2 survey methodology along a 25m belt transect. A band 2m either side of the tape was surveyed by two divers, one on each side, who noted the presence, and where possible, estimates of the abundance of conspicuous biota, collecting material which needed to be identified in the laboratory. To supplement the real-time visual records and collections, the transect band was videoed using a hand-held digital video camera (Sony DCR-TRV900 in an Amphibico Navigator 900 housing) and at some sites still photographs taken of the maerl and associated community using two digital still cameras. In areas of living maerl, 4 replicate core samples using a 10.3cm diameter corer to a depth of 20cm are taken (using MNCR Phase II methods) for infaunal analysis, and an additional 20cm sediment core of 5cm diameter was taken for grain size analysis. The areal extent of these maerl beds beyond the 25m transect is also assessed by performing drop-down video surveys at stations along lines radiating out from the station marker.

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 suitable for use in navigation; 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

2022-11-24

Metadata language