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Metadata: 2015 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) St. Kilda sea caves site condition monitoring survey
Abstract:
The purpose of this survey of St. Kilda SAC sea caves, undertaken between the 15th and 17th August 2015, was to initiate site condition monitoring (SCM). The objectives of SCM were to establish a baseline biological data set that would facilitate the assessment of the condition of habitats in the future and to allow a judgement to be formed on the current condition of these habitats in the light of existing SAC management measures. At 4 selected sea caves, detailed biological and physical surveys were conducted; the topography was mapped and the biotopes surveyed by MNCR phase 2 methodology at relocatable points along the cave system. When wave surge prevented access to the caves, 3 rocky reef sites were targeted with the aim of surveying the biota along a relocatable transect running contiguously from the supralittoral into the sublittoral. Two other sea cave surveys were conducted as part of the same research cruise at North Rona SAC and Loch Eriboll.
Data holder:
NatureScot (HQ Inverness)
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| Other details | ||
| Internal code | Internally assigned metadata identifier | 11368 |
| Title | The title is used to provide a brief and precise description of the dataset such as 'Date', 'Originating organisation/programme', 'Location' and 'Type of survey'. All acronyms and abbreviations should be reproduced in full. | 2015 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) St. Kilda sea caves site condition monitoring survey |
| File Identifier | The File Identifier is a code, preferably a GUID, that is globally unique and remains with the same metadata record even if the record is edited or transferred between portals or tools. | 555838c76f0f2ee00684ee7f76458657 |
| Resource Identifier | This is the code assigned by the data owner. | GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000293-MRSNH0300000002D-KILDA |
| Resource type | The resource type will likely be a dataset but could also be a series (collection of datasets with a common specification) or a service. | dataset |
| Start date | This describes the date the resource starts. This may only be the year if month and day are not known | 2015-08-15 |
| End date | This describes the date the resource ends. This may only be the year if month and day are not known | 2015-08-17 |
| Spatial resolution | This describes the spatial resolution of the dataset or the spatial limitations of the service. | 1000 |
| Spatial resolution unit | This describes the unit of spatial resolution which for distance must be metres. | urn:ogc:def:uom:EPSG::9001 |
| Frequency of updates | This describes the frequency with which the resource is modified or updated i.e. a monitoring programme that samples once per year has a frequency that is described as 'annually'. | notPlanned |
| Abstract | The abstract provides a clear and brief statement of the content of the resource. | The purpose of this survey of St. Kilda SAC sea caves, undertaken between the 15th and 17th August 2015, was to initiate site condition monitoring (SCM). The objectives of SCM were to establish a baseline biological data set that would facilitate the assessment of the condition of habitats in the future and to allow a judgement to be formed on the current condition of these habitats in the light of existing SAC management measures. At 4 selected sea caves, detailed biological and physical surveys were conducted; the topography was mapped and the biotopes surveyed by MNCR phase 2 methodology at relocatable points along the cave system. When wave surge prevented access to the caves, 3 rocky reef sites were targeted with the aim of surveying the biota along a relocatable transect running contiguously from the supralittoral into the sublittoral. Two other sea cave surveys were conducted as part of the same research cruise at North Rona SAC and Loch Eriboll. |
| Lineage | Lineage includes the background information, history of the sources of data, data quality statements and methods. | This sea cave data from St. Kilda was collected by SNH and Heriot-Watt University between the 15th and 17th August 2015. Detailed biological data and physical surveys were conducted at 4 cave sites. The intended criteria for selecting specific caves for detailed survey included the requirement that individual caves should represent the broadest available range of cave habitats (i.e. longer, extensive caves with a large depth range). Ideally, sites would also represent a wide range of environmental conditions (i.e. caves from different parts of the coasts, caves of differing exposure levels etc.). However, choice of sites was severely constrained by weather conditions. Where sea conditions were suitable, the coast was systematically examined at close quarters from an inflatable boat. All inlets, alcoves or other potential cave sites were investigated. Cave entrances were photographed and coordinates recorded. Where time and sea conditions allowed, the caves were entered by a snorkeler to gather information on passage length and main biota. The purpose of this exercise was to work towards developing a comprehensive inventory of the caves around St. Kilda. Monitoring surveys of caves were initiated by conducting a physical survey and deploying a relocatable fixed datum line for precise spatial mapping of biotopes. The physical survey addresses the attribute extent of cave(s). It also provides a means of defining the location of points within the cave from which biological data was recorded and enables those points to be relocated by subsequent monitoring surveys. The position of the marker was fixed by dGPS and several photographs taken of it from different viewpoints, with the position of the camera recorded by dGPS and the bearing to the marker taken with a sight-bearing compass. An approximate plan view sketch was produced of the cave floor with notes on the composition of the substrate. At selected points along the line the cross-sectional shape of the passage was sketched and the cross sectional dimensions (e.g. distance to floor, ceiling and both walls) was estimated in relation to the fixed datum line. An assessment was also made of changes in biological communities along the length of the cave and a series of locations were identified for subsequent collection of biological data from cross sections of the cave passage. Typically, two biological cross section surveys were conducted in each cave at the specified distances along the datum line. The biological surveys were conducted within a 2 m wide band up one wall of the passage. Where appropriate, the wall was subdivided into biological zones and the depth of the zone boundaries recorded. Within each biological zone, the abundance of each component species was estimated using the MNCR SACFOR scale and notes made on the nature and inclination of the substrate. Video footage was obtained along the length of the cave using the datum line for orientation and detailed footage was obtained of the biota at each of the biological cross sectional survey locations. Additional underwater wide angle and macro digital still images were taken to illustrate the biota at the biological cross sectional survey locations. Note: Excessive wave surge necessitated modifications to the methodology at a number of sites. Wherever possible, in-situ species identifications were validated by detailed cross-referencing with the identifications of the voucher specimens and with macro photographs. In-situ abundance records were also validated by detailed cross-referencing with video footage and stills images. Abundance scales were assigned using the MNCR SACFOR scale and biotopes were assigned. Similarly, site descriptions were cross-referenced with video and stills imagery for consistency and validation. |
| Additional information | This describes relevant references to the data e.g. reports, articles, websites plus other useful information not captured elsewhere. | Harries, D.B., Moore, C.G., Porter, J.S., Sanderson, W.G., Ware, F.J. & Kamphausen, L. 2018. The establishment of site condition monitoring of the sea caves of the St Kilda and North Rona Special Areas of Conservation with supplementary data from Loch Eriboll. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report No. 1044. |
| Related keywords | ||
| Keyword | General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Marine Environmental Data and Information Network |
| General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | NDGO0005 | |
| Keyword title | data.gov.uk | |
| Keyword | General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Habitats and biotopes |
| General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Habitat characterisation | |
| General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Habitat extent | |
| General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance | |
| General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts | |
| Geographical coverage | ||
| North | The northern-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | 57.863 |
| East | The eastern-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | -8.4388 |
| South | The southern-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | 57.7591 |
| West | The western-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | -8.7574 |
| Regional sea | Scottish Continental Shelf | |
| 44E2 | ||
| Responsible organisations | ||
| Role | The point of contact is person or organisation with responsibility for the creation and maintenance of the metadata for the resource. | pointOfContact |
| Organisation name | NatureScot (HQ Inverness) | |
| data_supply@nature.scot | ||
| Role | The owner is the person or organisation that owns the resource. | owner |
| Organisation name | Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters | |
| Individual name | Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) | |
| Position name | Data Manager | |
| Phone | 01463 725000 | |
| data_supply@nature.scot | ||
| Role | The custodian is the person or organisation that accepts responsibility for the resource and ensures appropriate care and maintenance. If a dataset has been lodged with a Data Archive Centre for maintenance then this organisation is be entered here. | custodian |
| Organisation name | NatureScot (HQ Inverness) | |
| Position name | NatureScot Data Manager | |
| data_supply@nature.scot | ||
| Role | The originator is the person or organisation who created, collected or produced the resource. | originator |
| Organisation name | Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters | |
| Individual name | Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) | |
| Position name | Data Manager | |
| Phone | 01463 725000 | |
| data_supply@nature.scot | ||
| Role | The distributor is the person or organisation that distributes the resource. | distributor |
| Organisation name | Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) | |
| Individual name | Esther Hughes | |
| Position name | Data Manager | |
| Phone | 01752 633102 | |
| dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk | ||
| Dataset constraints | ||
| 20.1 Limitations on Public Access - Access constraints | This states `otherRestrictions` from ISO vocabulary RestrictionCode and is an INSPIRE/GEMINI requirement. | otherRestrictions |
| 20.2 Limitations on Public Access - Other constraints | This states any limitations on access to the data. Multiple occurences are allowed here. One entry shall be from the INSPIRE Metadata registry and the other free text should be part of the resource `Have specific limitations`. | Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurences that SNH consider as sensititive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissable under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner. |
| 21.1 Conditions for Access and Use - Use constraints | This states `otherRestrictions` from ISO vocabulary RestrictionCode and is an INSPIRE/GEMINI requirement. | otherRestrictions |
| 21.2 Conditions for Access and Use - Other constraints | This states any constraints on use of the data. Multiple conditions can be recorded for different parts of the data resource. If no conditions apply, then `No condtions apply` is recorded. This uses free text. | No restrictions on public access |
| Available data formats | ||
| Data format | Format in which digital data can be provided for transfer | Database (Marine Recorder) |
| Format in which digital data can be provided for transfer | Documents (Published report) | |
| Format in which digital data can be provided for transfer | Geographic Information System (shapefiles) | |
| Format in which digital data can be provided for transfer | Image (various) | |
| Version info | ||
| Date of publication | The publication date of the resource or if previously unpublished the date that the resource was made publicly available via the MEDIN network. | 2018-12-31 |
| Harvest date | The date which this record has been (re)harvested from the provider. | 2026-04-19 |
| Metadata date | The date when the content of this metadata record was last updated. | 2025-06-10 |
| Metadata standard name | The name of the metadata standard used to create this metadata | MEDIN |
| Metadata standard version | The version of the MEDIN Discovery Metadata Standard used to create the metadata record | 3.1.2 |