e70062ddfaa7dbbfde3fd57c04a363f4 English dataset bfbc0bbe648f7dd06ab776cb8f06eaba 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 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision OSGB 1936 / British National Grid 2001 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch laxford sublittoral habitats joint broad-scale mapping survey 2003-01-01 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000065-MRSNH00100000002-LAXSUB NS-000065 NatureScot project ID A comprehensive biotope mapping survey of the sublittoral habitats was undertaken in July 2001, by a collaborative research group comprising staff from the University of St Andrews, Heriot-Watt University and SNH. Rapid broadscale remote acoustic mapping techniques were utilised and 'groundtruth' data were collected to enable the interpretation of of acoustically classed seafloor maps. Groundtruthing data were collected in the field using a range of sampling techniques including diver-based observations with video and still cameras (19 stations), video imagery collected by remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or drop-down video (60 stations) and grab sampling of sedimentary habitats for infaunal and sediment analyses (23 stations). It is the diver survey data which is present in Marine Recorder. 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 Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Macroalgae and seagrass taxonomy-related counts Sediment grain size parameters 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 geoscientificInformation oceans -5.1667 -4.9833 58.3500 58.4667 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 2001-07-05 2001-07-18 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral Bates, C. R., Moore, C. G., Harries, D. B., Austin, W. and Mair, J. (2004). Broad scale mapping of sublittoral habitats in Loch Laxford, Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 004 (ROAME No. F01AA401A). Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report Image Geographic Information System shapefiles 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 Diver survey: 19 stations were sampled many using MNCR phase II recording methodology, diver vido at 9 stations and still photography at 2 stations. The level of survey quality was set as adequate for both flora and fauna. MNCR survey, site and habitat forms were completed. N.B. this is the data currently present in this Survey for Marine Recorder. ROV sampling: deployed at 28 stations predominantly in sedimentary areas, using dGPS for position fixing. At 16 stations ROV was used to record biotope zonation in infralittoral and circalittoral zones on the fringes of the Loch. N.B. this data does not appear to have been entered into Marine Recorder. Drop-down video sampling: deployed at 16 staions a drop-down video system was used with position fixing by means of non-differential GPS. Digital vido recordings of the sea bed were made for 5-20 minutes at each station. N.B. this data does not appear to have been entered into Marine Recorder. Grab sampling: Samples for macrobenthic infauna were taken at 23 stations. Single 0.1m2 Van Veen grab samples were taken. A subsample of around 100-150ml of sediment was taken from each sediment sample for grain size analysis before sieving the remainder through a 0.5mm mesh. The screenings were buffered on 10% formalin. N.B. this data does not appear to have been entered into Marine Recorder. Acoustic survey: Bathymetric sidescan and single beam acoustic mapping techniques were used at near 100% coverage to develop acoustically classed seafloor maps. AGDS and sidescan data were simultaneously acquired. A Furuno FCV292 dual frequency echosounder with 28kHz and 200kHz transducers and a Lowrence 300A with 50 kHz transducers. The use of alternative frequencies with different echosounders was undertaken in order to test AGDS methods for discriminating particular biotopes. The bathymetric sidescan used was a Submetricz System 2000 with 117kHz transducers. Acquisition settings varied with transmit lengths of 18-100cps (77-424?sec), a ping rate of 3-5 per second and 2048 sample receiver length. Sound velocity measurements were acquired at the site but no depth stratification was noted and thus velocities of 1498ms-1 were used for ray tracing throughout the site. The transducers were bow-mounted on the survey vessel with the motion reference unit permanently fixed immediately above the transducers. The motion reference unit was a TSS DMS-05 dynamic motion sensor which used solid state sensing elements to measure instantaneous linear accelerations and angular rates of motion change to 0.05°. Differential global positioning system (dGPS) was used alnog with a fluxfate magnetic compass. Survey line spacing was chosen to give a minimum 50% overlap on bathymetric sidescan data, and was further reduced where sea floor change was rapid or of important interest. AGDS was calibrated for depth, E1 and E2 values. Sidescan was roll calibrated. Tidal corrections were applied to both the bathymetric sidescan data and ADGS from 10minute tidal curves modelled using information from Admiralty Tide tables and the Hydrographic Office.