Identification

Title

Structure and function assessment of macrobenthic communities from north of the Dogger Bank, the Oyster Ground and at Sean Gas Field, in 2007

Abstract

Four infaunal replicate samples were collected at each site using 0.1 m2 Nioz corers (diameter of approximately 30 cm) were sieved on a 1mm mesh sieve, the sieve remains were then sorted and preserved following the methodology described by Boyd (2002). On return, to the laboratory all the infaunal samples were identified to the lowest taxonomic level as possible, counted and weighted. Five epifaunal replicate samples were collected at each site using 2 m beam trawls during each of the five research cruises. Each trawl was conducted at a constant speed (~2 knots per minute) and sampled an area of seabed of approximately 400 m2. Once on board, the contents of the trawl were sieved over 5mm mesh and all retained individuals were identified, counted and weighed. In some cases, the very high numbers of some groups (e.g. brittle stars, shrimps, and small fish) needed sub-sampling before counting and weighting. The raw abundance and biomass data for both the infauna (from the cores) and epifauna (trawls) were scaled to values per m2. As some taxa were present in both datasets, taxa which were more appropriately classed as infauna and/or their densities were better estimated via a corer were classed as infauna and removed from the trawl data. Accordingly, those taxa which were generally considered as epifaunal (and their numbers and biomasses better estimated using a trawl) were considered as epifaunal and/or their densities more suitably estimated using a trawl were reported as epifauna.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://data.cefas.co.uk/view/3573

name: Cefas Data Portal

description: The Cefas Data Portal contains metadata records and data sets available to download and connect to in support of our commitment to open science. Data is available in the following formats: CSV, ESRI Shapefile. The data can also be accessed via the WFS and WMS protocols.

function: download

Unique resource identifier

code

CEFAS3573

codeSpace

https://data.cefas.co.uk

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

2012-01-11

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

1.73881

East bounding longitude

1.74086

North bounding latitude

52.4595

South bounding latitude

52.4581

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2007-02-01

End position

2007-10-31

Dataset reference date

date type

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

Five research cruises were conducted (during February, April, May, September and October, 2007) at three study sites, north of the Dogger Bank (hereafter as DB) (55.68 º N, 2.28 º E), the Oyster Ground (54.41º N, 4.04º E) (hereafter as OG) and at Sean Gas Field (hereafter SGF) (53.17º N, 2.81º E). Previous research conducted at the sites, have shown that these sites have representative characteristics of larger regions with similar water column and seabed attributes, considering them as eco-hydrodynamic regions in the southern and central North Sea (see van der Molen et al., 2012; Painting and Foster, 2013). At each site four replicate samples were collected with a 0.1 m2 Nioz corer to sample benthic infauna and sediments. From each Nioz corer, a small corer (internal diameter of 5.5 cm) was used to obtain sediments for the analysis of particle size, porosity, chlorophyll a/phaeopigment and organic carbon analysis. These cores were sliced at 0.5 to 1 cm intervals up to 10cm depth and stored at -20°C.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

INSPIRE Data Specification on Species Distribution – Technical Guidelines

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2013-12-10

degree

false

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Data format

name of format

Unknown

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

responsible party role

distributor

Responsible party

organisation name

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

email address

defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk

responsible party role

owner

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2022-04-19T11:03:11

Metadata language

eng