313f47463fc78c53771443cf270342f3 English dataset 9e656b7e-5517-47fe-9c1e-5c759b210a3f NatureScot (HQ Inverness) data_supply@nature.scot pointOfContact 2025-06-10 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision WGS 84 2008 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Mousa reef and sea caves habitats Site Condition Monitoring survey 2009-04-20 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000114-MRSNH01500000002-Mousa http://www.nature.scot NS-000114 NatureScot project ID The aim of this study was to initiate site condition monitoring (SCM) of the littoral and sublittoral reefs and sea caves within the Mousa SAC. The purpose of this SCM is: 1) to establish a baseline biological data set that will facilitate the assessment of the favourable condition status of the habitats in the future; and 2) to allow judgement on the current condition of the habitats in the light of existing SAC management measures. To fulfil these objectives an extensive drop-down video survey of the sublittoral reef habitats of the SAC was completed in conjunction with detailed MNCR phase 2 surveys of reef biotopes along relocatable transects spanning both the littoral and inshore sublittoral environments. Sea cave distribution was examined, and for selected caves, the topography was mapped and the biotopes surveyed at relocatable points within five selected caves along the cave system. 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 2025-06-10 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-10 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 Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; 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 permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner. otherRestrictions no restrictions to public access 250 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment geoscientificInformation oceans -1.2165 -1.1240 59.9786 60.0201 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation North Sea Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Northern North Sea ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 48E8 ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 49E8 2008-08-04 2008-08-22 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision littoral Harries, D. B., Moore, C. G., Lyndon, A. R. and Mair, J. M. (2009). The establishment of site condition monitoring of the rocky reefs and sea caves of Mousa Special Area of Conservation. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 326. Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report Geographic Information System shapefiles Image dataset 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 Reef DDV Survey: To provide information on reef extent and the distribution and diversity of subtidal reef biotopes, a drop-down video survey of the SAC was undertaken. 120 video sites were distributed over the survey area, mostly distributed non-randomly to ensure both good geographical coverage and good representation of different depths, habitat types, exposures, and biotopes. This survey was carried out from the vessel Maranda May from 4th-6th August 2008. The video system used consisted of a Panasonic NV-GS150 3 chip digital video camera within a Seapro housing held within a frame and illuminated by twin 100 watt lamps. At each station the camera was deployed briefly from a drifting vessel, noting the times, depths and precise positions at the start and end of the drift using differential GPS (dGPS). Each run averaged two minutes in duration. The video footage from each station was processed in the laboratory, with notes being taken on the substrate and the biota present, where possible employing the SACFOR scale of abundance. Stations were also categorised as reef, non-reef, or mixed habitats based on the presence of reef biotopes or a mixture of reef and non-reef biotopes. Reef Transect Survey: Relocatable survey transects were established at six sites. Where weather conditions permitted, sites were selected to represent the range of environmental conditions and biotopes found on intertidal and shallow subtidal reefs of the SAC. The transect extended for a distance of 100 m in the subtidal, except where local conditions, such as the depth exceeding 30 m, prevented this. The transect was split up into a series of zones which were defined in terms of differences in the composition of the biological community and/or by changes in substrate type. All subtidal work was carried out with the use of SCUBA. A band 2 m either side of the tape was surveyed by two workers intertidally and two workers subtidally. Within each zone, records were taken of substrate type and biota using the MNCR SACFOR scale of abundance, with collection of material for laboratory examination where in situ. identification was not possible. Subtidally, a digital video camera (Panasonic DX100B in a Seapro housing) and a digital still camera (Canon 400D digital SLR - 10 megapixal - with 17 mm wide-angle lens and Sea and Sea housing) were used to make representative visual recordings of the transect zones. Intertidally, the same video camera was used to record the zones, but the digital still camera was a KODAK DX6490 (4 megapixel). On the littoral sections of transects where weather conditions and topography permitted, a zone of specific interest was selected for quantitative analysis. A 10 m tape was laid perpendicular to the transect line, with the distance along the line being recorded. Ten square 0.25 m2, non-overlapping quadrats were placed randomly along the tape. Each quadrat was photographed using a Kodak DX6490 camera before examination. Sea Cave Survey: Detailed biological and physical surveys were conducted at five cave sites and brief assessments were made at a number of other sites. Due to adverse weather conditions the choice of sites was constrained, with access to caves on the NE coast of Mousa being prevented. Where caves were present the nature of the biota was briefly noted, a sketch survey of cave extent was made, the entrance photographed and its geographic position recorded. A point on the upper shore/supralittoral just outside the entrance was marked with a piton. Coordinates and relocation photographs were obtained using the same procedures as described for the reef transects. During the physical survey, an assessment was made of changes in biological communities along the length of the cave. The biological surveys were conducted within a 2 m wide band around the cross-section of the passage, with boundaries of biological zones indicated on a sketch of the cross-section. Within each biological zone the abundance of each component species was estimated 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.