CEFAS6be9866e-dc0a-4e57-9f6c-de7bff72793c English dataset Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk pointOfContact 2023-02-06T12:47:45 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2022-01-07 revision WGS 84 A comparison of benthic biodiversity in the North Sea, English Channel and Celtic Seas. Epifauna trawl sampling 1992-1996 2020-07-03 publication 2023-02-06 revision 2020-06-04 creation CEFAS20628 https://data.cefas.co.uk Comparison dataset of Animalia in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Celtic Sea. Samples were obtained by MAFF research vessels from 69 stations between 1992-1996. A 2-m Lowestoft beam trawl with a 3 mm cod-end liner was deployed for 5–10 min across each station at a speed of about 0.5 m/s. Data includes information of the species found at each station. The start and end of the haul positions were recorded. Tow length averaged about 400 m, but varied substantially (s.d.=290) depending on tidal current velocity and wind strength at the time of sampling. On retrieval of the trawl, an estimate of sample volume was made, along with a summary of the contents, noting especially the presence of stones, rock, etc. The sample was then sorted on deck over a 5 mm mesh sieve. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk originator Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk custodian Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk distributor Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk owner notPlanned Benthos Sediment GEMET, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication Sediment grain size parameters SeaDataNet P02 parameter discovery vocabulary 2011-03-25 revision Biota abundance, biomass and diversity SeaDataNet P03 parameter discovery vocabulary 2011-03-25 revision Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication Benthic boundary Circalittoral Deep Circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2010-05-18 revision Marine Environmental Data and Information Network MEDIN metadata record availability 2012-01-11 publication data.gov.uk MEDIN metadata record availability 2012-01-11 publication otherRestrictions noLimitations otherRestrictions Public data - no limitations to reuse English biota -8.00 4.00 49.00 58.50 1992-05-11 1996-07-08 Delimited Geographic Information System Unknown https://data.cefas.co.uk/view/20628 Cefas Data Portal download 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. dataset INSPIRE Data Specification on Species Distribution – Technical Guidelines 2013-12-10 publication false See the referenced specification Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication true See the referenced specification Most specimens were identified and enumerated at sea. Any problematic specimens were preserved in formalin for identification on land. The presence of infaunal organisms arising from the fouling of soft sediments, and pelagic species such as jellyfish were noted. However, these records were excluded from the final compilation of the data. Motile taxa not dealt with at sea were identified to species level, as far as possible, using a range of standard taxonomic keys. Nomenclature followed that of Howson (1987). A ranked descriptor of the predominant substratum type along trawl tows was derived from a combination of records of trawl contents, particle size analyses of sediments from grabs where available, and information from Admiralty Charts. MEDIN 3.1.1