9961b55bf9b7fcb2f63791bf8d2d18e4 English dataset Carly Cassidy University Marine Biological Station (UMBS), Millport Millport KA28 0EG carlycassidy@hotmail.co.uk pointOfContact 2019-11-04 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 1996-1999 EC Study Contract Clyde Sea BIOMAERL 1999-01-01 publication MAS3-CT95-0020 A project investigating biomaerl biodiversity, functional structure and related anthropogenic impacts was funded by the European Commission under MASTS-3. The three year project involved collaboration between five laboratories from the UK, France, Spain and Malta. The project aimed to examine western European maerl-bed biodiversity and to establish the functional roles performed by key elements of the biota. The impacts of a variety on anthropogenic disturbances was investigated. The project set out to compile an inventory of NE Atlantic and Mediterranean maerl-bed biota and to develop management guidelines and conservation strategies for European maerl beds. Several publications have resulted from BIOMAERL. P.G. Moore University Marine Biological Station (UMBS), Millport Millport KA28 0EG dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk originator Kathryn Stevenson University Marine Biological Station (UMBS), Millport Millport KA28 0EG kathryn.stevenson@millport.gla.ac.uk custodian notPlanned Documents Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Macroalgae generic abundance in water bodies Macroalgae and seagrass infection and damage SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Restrictions apply. otherRestrictions DASSH terms and conditions apply English biota Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Irish Sea Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Minches & Western Scotland -5.4602 -5.0208 55.4165 56.1670 1996-02-01 1999-02-01 Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) Data Manager 01752 633102 01752 633291 Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill Plymouth PL1 2PB dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk distributor dataset Within the Clyde Sea area, fieldwork was carried out by UMBSM. Sampling was conducted using two UMBSM-owned research vessels, RV Aplysia and RV Aora. Equipment deployed included a Valeport current meter, N.I.O. water sampler, van Veen grab, Secchi disc and ring dredge. Maerl beds sites within the Clyde Sea were -6 to -15m CD. Eighty five SCUBA dives were conducted at Stravanan Bay, Bute and 57 were completed at Creag Gobhainn, Loch Fyne. Fifty cruises were undertaken to investigate Clyde Sea maerl grounds. The following equipment and sampling techniques were adopted within Clyde Sea maerl bed sampling: beam trawl, scallop dredge, Naturalist's dredge, ring drdge, bucket dredge, van Veen grab, Day grab, Jonasson and Olausson box corer, Senckenberg box corer, hand-held cores, air-lifting, resin cast cores, resin cast burrows, video from a ROV, 1m squared quadrats and transect swims using SCUBA. A beam trawl and three scallop dredges were used to capture larger species. An assessment into the damaged caused to non-target species while fishing for scallops was conducted. Video analysis and diver observations were utilised to observe the distribution abundance behaviour and identity of larger species inhabitants of small maerl deposits. Small dredges were used to collect burrowing fauna which could not be sampled by grabs or cores. A 75cm ring dredge was used regularly. Grab sampling was utilised for the collection of small surface (maerl) living organisms. 0.1m squared van Veen grabs were used. Hand-held 0.08m squared circular cores were used for sampling small (less than 1mm) near surface maerl fauna. A combination of air-lifting, Senkenberg box cores and resin-cast burrows was used to collect deep-burrowing megafauna. A seasonal sampling programme of three replicate van Veen samples (100 sieved), three hand-held core samples (1mm sieved), ten sediment-surface quadrats on one ring dredge sample (2mm sieved) was established per site to determine an inventory of the mega.macrobiota of maerl systems and to deliberate disturbance. In addition 8 complete resin-cast thalassinid burrows, nine 1m squared air-lift samples and four Limaria hians nests were collected by SCUBA for further laboratory analysis. Video footage and photographs were obtained of storm and dredge disturbance and benthos associated with Scottish maerl beds. Water samples were taken to monitor the range and timing of fluctuations of salinity, temperature and turbidity. Suspended seston was measured over one year at each site. Data of benthic current field was determined by a Valeport current meter. Changes in sediment macro-topography was measured using a specially designed gauge.