d4ee76da506663c1384ecf0867a90775 English dataset Peter Tinsley Dorset Wildlife Trust Living Seas Manager Enquiries@derc.org.uk pointOfContact 2021-05-05 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::27700 1994 Purbeck Marine Research Unit Canford School, Swanage Dorset, Ross Coral Mapping Drift dive transect surveys 2013-02-14 publication MRLRC00100000508 All these records relate to "Powell (ed) (1994) - Ross Coral Mapping Project (Preliminary Report) 1994" A copy of the report is held at English Nature (Dorset Team). This survey aimed to map the distribution and record the abundance of Ross coral (Pentapora foliacea) in the area off Swanage between Handfast Point and Ballard Point. The survey confirmed that Ross coral occurs much further east along the English Channel than previously recorded. Due to strong tidal flows in the area, drift dives were used to make transects of the area. 12 dives were undertaken, 10 of which recorded Pentapora, and have been entered on this database. The largest colonies were 30cm or more in diameter and occurred on outcrops of chalk and large boulders in the south western part of the survey area. Within the area investigated, several thousand colonies were recorded, making Ross Coral locally abundant. GPS/Decca navigation was used to pinpoint the position of the dive support boat at the start, during (following the diver's surface marker buoy) and at the end of the dive allowing a habitat map along the line of the dive to be constructed. The survey also highlighted an area of significant marine interest with a species rich animal turf on the chalk and rubble sea floor off Ballard Point. Underwater photography was used to supplement written records and to aid identification of other species. Reference was made to two records further east, off the Isle of Wight, one occurring in water 65-70m deep. J.D. Lever Canford School Headmaster office@canford.com originator Natural England Data Manager +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk custodian notPlanned Database Documents Marine Environmental Data and Information Network NDGO0005 Habitats and biotopes Land cover GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Habitats and biotopes INSPIRE THEMES 2011-02-16 creation Marine UNESCO 2003-01-01 creation Biodiversity GEMET 2011-07-06 creation Habitat extent Habitat characterisation Seabed photography SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Data is freely available for research or commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced. otherRestrictions No restrictions to public access English biota imageryBaseMapsEarthCover Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Eastern Channel Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Western Channel and Celtic Sea ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 29E7 ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 30E7 ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 29E8 ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 30E8 -1.9286 -1.9046 50.6248 50.6448 1994-05-09 1994-10-12 Natural England Data Manager +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk distributor dataset Survey run by Purbeck Marine Research Unit, Canford School Dorset. All these records relate to "Powell (ed) (1994) - Ross Coral Mapping Project (Preliminary Report) 1994" A copy of the report is held at English Nature (Dorset Team). This survey aimed to map the distribution and record the abundance of Ross coral (Pentapora foliacea) in the area off Swanage between Handfast Point and Ballard Point. The survey confirmed that Ross coral occurs much further east along the English Channel than previously recorded. Due to strong tidal flows in the area, drift dives were used to make transects of the area. 12 dives were undertaken, 10 of which recorded Pentapora, and have been entered on this database. The largest colonies were 30cm or more in diameter and occurred on outcrops of chalk and large boulders in the south western part of the survey area. Within the area investigated, several thousand colonies were recorded, making Ross Coral locally abundant. GPS/Decca navigation was used to pinpoint the position of the dive support boat at the start, during (following the diver's surface marker buoy) and at the end of the dive allowing a habitat map along the line of the dive to be constructed. The survey also highlighted an area of significant marine interest with a species rich animal turf on the chalk and rubble sea floor off Ballard Point. Underwater photography was used to supplement written records and to aid identification of other species. Reference was made to two records further east, off the Isle of Wight, one occurring in water 65-70m deep.