6aa35138f97081a89e8bdf75d0a3bb13 English dataset 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 2005 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Firth of Lorn SAC rocky reefs site condition monitoring survey 2006-01-25 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000106-MRSNH00200000002-LORN NS-000106 NatureScot project ID The Firth of Lorn has been selected as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the marine feature (reefs) an Annex I habitat under the 1992 Habitats Directive. The chief reason for the selection of this site is that the varied physical environment, with its complex group of islands, sounds and inlets characterised by some of the strongest tidal streams in the UK, is reflected in the great variety of reef types and associated communities and species which are amongst the most diverse in both the UK and Europe. The purpose of the current study was to initiate site condition monitoring of the intertidal and subtidal reef habitats within the SAC, establish a baseline biological data set that would facilitate the assessment of the condition of the reef habitats in the future and allow a judgement to be formed on the current condition of these habitats. A hierarchical biological sampling approach was adopted to achieve these aims. An extensive drop-down video survey of subtidal biotopes (habitats and associated species) was undertaken together with more detailed semi-quantitative and quantitative sampling of intertidal and nearshore subtidal reefs and their associated communities. 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 Aquatic Survey & Monitoring Ltd. Data manager tom@aquatic-environments.co.uk 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 Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Macroalgae and seagrass taxonomy-related counts Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision 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/ otherRestrictions no restrictions to public access English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -5.9738 -5.5173 56.0891 56.3556 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 2005-07-08 2005-08-24 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision littoral Howson, C.M., Mercer, T. and Moore, J.J. (2006). Site Condition Monitoring: survey of rocky reefs in the Firth of Lorn marine Special Area of Conservation. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 190. (ROAME No. F05AC701). Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report Geographic Information System shapefile dataset 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 Drop-down and remotely operated video survey Drop-down video or ROV recordings were made at 219 stations in six sampling transects and two trench study areas. Each block transect was divided into a series of depth bands 0-20m, 20-50m, 50-80m and 80+ metres. The maximum number of tows to be carried out in each depth zone was set at 15 as a practical limit for the time available. Where no reef was discovered within a depth band or the area surveyed was homogeneous, then fewer deployments would be undertaken. A series of random positions within each depth band was generated for each transect prior to the survey. Video tows of 100m length were attempted where possible at pre-determined positions. Blocks were considered to be complete once there was acceptable geographic coverage within the block and no new biotopes were recorded. During the course of fieldwork an initial assessment of biotopes based on species visible and seabed type was made. Subsequent more thorough review of tapes took place and on this basis biotopes were assigned to samples. N.B. species recorded are not entered as species records in Marine Recorder, they are in the Sample Description. The video survey was carried out between the 9th and 21st July 2005. Intertidal and subtidal transect surveys Relocatable survey transects were established at seven intertidal sites and eight subtidal sites. Additionally four sites were dived as spot dives and no transects established as target feature not found or unfavourable tidal conditions (FL05SD01 to FL05SD04). Three sites had contiguous intertidal and subtidal transects, two were submerged reefs with nearby intertidal transects, and two were on subtidal rock, but had intertidal transects on adjacent shores. Each transect was approximately 100m long and 4m wide and was surveyed using semi-quantitative Phase II and quantitative quadrat recording techniques, with the aim of describing biotopes along the transects and establishing their species complement and the abundance of the constituent species. Subtidal transects extended to 30m below sea level or 100m distance, whichever was reached first. For intertidal transects a permanent marker was placed at the top of the transect, and extended by tape measure down a constant bearing into the intertidal where the end was attached to a buoyed shot line. The transect bearing was approximately perpendicualr to the shore. For transects wholly in the subtidal a buoyed shotline was dropped following dive reconaissance. The position of all markers was recorded by GPS and photographs were taken to aid future relocation. All information relating to positioning of the transect line and markers was entered into a transect relocation form in the field. Transects were split into zones based on biological community or substratum changes. Zone boundaries were recorded as distances along the tape and vertical height relative to the station marker. In the subtidal, water depth was measured at zone boundaries and at 5m distances along the tape. A band 2m either side of the tape was surveyed by two workers recording the habitat and the biota using the MNCR sacle of abundance, with collection of material for laboratory examination where in situ determination was not possible. Abundance was assessed over the zone asa a whole, unless stated otherwise. Video and still imagery made representative recordings of the transect zones in both the intertidal and subtidal. Data collected in each zone along the transect were subsequently allocated to each zone using the MNCR 04.05 classification scheme. One biotope on each trasect was selected for quantitative quadrat recording to supplement the semi- quantitative data. The percentage cover or count of each species within each quadrat was recorded on the appropriate proforma. The quadrats used in most cases were 0.25m2. Quadrats were sampled and photographed. The diving and intertidal fieldwork was carried out by a team of seven divers over a 12 day period 12th to 24th August 2005.