c75b9f293cdeda43d3bb466139db5f65 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 WGS 84 2005 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Sound of Harris broad-scale mapping survey 2006-01-01 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000105-MRSNH00300000003-HARRI Marine Recorder NS-000105 NatureScot project ID The Sound of Harris is a topographically complex marine area situated between North Uist and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Very little is known of the marine biota of the area but it is likely to be largely unmodified by anthropogenic influences. An increased knowledge of the marine biotope distribution in the Sound of Harris is desirable in order to assess the potential impacts of any proposed future developments in the area. Specifically, proposals to build access causeways linking Hebridean Islands are increasingly under consideration. Such developments have the potential to radically modify environmental conditions in neighbouring marine habitats. This study utilised satellite imagery, underwater acoustic sensing techniques and biological ground surveys to develop a biotope distribution map of the area and relate this distribution to prevailing environmental conditions. 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 Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance 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/ English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment -6.0000 -8.0000 57.0000 58.0000 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 2005-08-08 2005-08-14 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 Malthus, T.J., Harries, D.B., Karpouzli, E., Moore, C.G., Lyndon, A.R., Mair, J.M., Foster-Smith, B., Sotheran, I. and Foster-Smith, D. (2006). Biotope mapping of the Sound of Harris, Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.212 (ROAME No. F01AC401/2) Documents Published report Image jpeg Movie 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 Post survey processing: All video records were reviewed and additional notes on substrate and biotoa incorporated. Sediment infauna were extracted, identified and enumerated at species level. A reference collection was retained for incorporation into the biological collections of the National Museums of Scotland. Corresponding sediment samples were processed to establish particle size distribution. After drying, washing and disaggregation, seidments were processed by dry-sieving and recording the dry weight of particle size fractions at half phi intervals. Appropriate biologically relevant parameters were then calculated (ie median grain size, silt/ clay content, gravel content). Data entry: Data entered into Marine Recorder as 249 Survey Events (198 subtidal and 51 intertidal). Sound of Harris was used to describe both the Survey and Location levels in Marine Recorder. For the 'Event' and 'Sample' names, the prefixes IA and IB refer to intertidal surveys carries out by Groups A and B; SA and SB refer to subtidal surveys carried out by groups A and B. Sample references, the suffixes .1, .2, .3 etc. for intertidal surveys refer to the zones identified at each site (e.g. IA12.1 refers to zone 1 at intertidal site 12 surveyed by group A). For the subtidal surveys, the suffixes .DD, .DR, .GR and .CR refer to the method used to obtain samples (DD = Drop-Down video; DR = Diver; GR = Grab; CR = Core). Note zone boundaries for intertidal transects were imperfectly recorded in the field, some zones (samples) lack upper or lower boundary coordinates, sometimes mid zone values have been used, and occasionally a single coordinate representing the whole transect has been used. The data entered is an imperfect spatial footprint but that entered is as good as it can be.