01f2aec270a12b497b7b3d7846aaec05 English dataset cd3509f475a6c594d3dcbda1a45a21d6 NatureScot (HQ Inverness) data_supply@nature.scot pointOfContact 2025-06-03 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision OSGB 1936 / British National Grid 2003 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch Moidart and Shiel Woods Site Condition Monitoring survey of intertidal sediment flats 2004-10-11 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000091-MRSNH0110000000B-LMSW NS-000091 NatureScot project ID The purpose of the current study was to initiate site condition monitoring of the intertidal sediment flats of the Loch Moidart SAC. This was done to 1) establish a baseline biological data set that would facilitate the assessment of the condition of the intertidal sediment flat habitats in the future, and 2) to allow a judgement to be formed on the current condition of these habitats. The approach taken to achieve these objectives is to establish a series of relocatable stations along transects that reflect the biological and environmental diversity of the sediment flats of the SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters Data Manager 01463 725000 data_supply@nature.scot owner NatureScot (HQ Inverness) NatureScot Data Manager data_supply@nature.scot custodian Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters Data Manager 01463 725000 data_supply@nature.scot originator Esther Hughes Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) Data Manager 01752 633102 dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk distributor notPlanned Marine Environmental Data and Information Network MEDIN metadata record availability 2025-06-03 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-03 revision Habitats and biotopes GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Seabed photography Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision otherRestrictions no restrictions to public access otherRestrictions Not for navigational use; SNH copyright data which is available for re-use under government licence terms: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ 150 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment geoscientificInformation oceans -5.8998 -5.7265 56.7665 56.8072 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Minches and Western Scotland ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 42E4 2003-08-28 2003-08-31 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision littoral Moore, C.G., Lyndon, A.R., Mair, J.M. and Edwards, D.C.B. (2004). Site condition monitoring of the intertidal sediment flats of the Loch Moidart and Sheil Woods cSAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 051. Documents Published report Image jpeg Database Marine Recorder dataset MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos 2011-01-28 publication See the referenced specification true MEDIN data guideline for video surveys of species and benthos 2018-01-23 publication See the referenced specification true 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 Data collection for the SCM baseline work took place at a series of relocatable stations along transects that reflected the biological and environmental diversity of the intertidal sediment flats in the SAC. The 5 transects (MA to ME), which included a total of 16 sample stations, were laid out perpendicular to the shore and to low water channels at the seaward end. Each station lay within a perceived habitat zone identified from the physical appearance and biological surface features. The positions of both stations and zone boundaries were recorded. The physicochemical characteristics of the stations were assessed by measurement of sediment particle size, depth of the anaerobic layer and by noting the physical appearance of the sediment. The biotic composition was assessed by analysis of sediment cores, by digging over 1m2 for the presence of the larger species, and by estimation of the abundance of casts and other conspicuous surface signs of the presence of the larger infauna. Replicate photo quadrats were also taken at each station and video footage taken of both the stations and of the transect. At each station, a record of any surfical biota was made by photographing five replicate randomly placed 0.25 m2 quadrats and noting incidental visual records. At 15 stations (out of 16), 8 replicate core samples of 10.3 cm diameter and 20 cm length were taken at random and pooled. The sediment was sieved on a 1mm mesh sieve and the sievings stored in 5% formalin for analysis of the macrobenthos. A 3.4cm diameter core sample to a depth of 20cm was taken for grain size analysis. In addition, approximately 1 m2 of sediment was dug-over using a spade, to a depth of about 30 cm to check for the presence of conspicuous infauna and estimates of their density made using the SACFOR scale. Smaller infauna was similarly recorded but sampled by sieving, using a 1 mm mesh, an area of sediment of c. 250 cm2. All transects and stations had their positions fixed by hand-held differential GPS using WGS84 datum.