ecdf49af2467979b8c7f1995db1e5139 English dataset Natural England Marine 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 pointOfContact 2016-09-19 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2010 Natural England (NE) Tamar, Tavy and St John's SSSI, intertidal biotope survey 2010-12-31 publication NATENG000303 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk Report following a survey of the Tamar-Tavy and St Johns's Lake Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The studies purpose was to establish baseline physical and biological data sets (where it doesn't exist) which can be used to assess the favourable condition status of the littoral sediment habitats of the two SSSIs. It also aimed to identify species and biotopes that are representative and/or notable within the two estuarine systems. The surey involved both Phase 1 and Phase 2 survey techniques. The result of the Phase 1 surveying is a series of GIS maps showing the distribution of the biotopes identified. Additional results are included such as species abundance information and sediment analysis. There is a discussion of the condition assessments findings, the application of biotope methods and recommendations. L.A. Curtis Ecospan Environmental Limited dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk originator Natural England Marine 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 Delimited Documents Geographic Information System Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Habitats and biotopes GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Habitat extent Habitat characterisation SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions otherRestrictions Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions English biota Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Western Channel and Celtic Sea ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 29E5 International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation English Channel -4.3018 -4.0237 50.3069 50.4667 2010-10-08 2010-11-09 Littoral Biotope Survey and Condition Assessment of the Tamar, Tavy and St John's Lake SSSI 2010 Project: 10-138 Report: ER11-128 Natural England Marine 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 Report following a survey of the Tamar-Tavy and St Johns's Lake Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The study looks at the intertidal biotopes within the SSSI's, maps them and characterises them. Phase 1 surveying was carried out to assess the distribution and extent of intertidal biotopes, interest features and species within the SSSI's. Aerial photographs of the sites were acquired and annotated in the field. In particular to determine whether the extent of the saltmarsh matched that in the photographs. A hovercraft was used throughout the field work to travel between the survey stations. The stations were pre-determined at approximately 500m intervals throughout the study area. Where changes in biotope were observed, the boundaries were annotated onto the aerial photos and a target position and attributes recorded. The attributes recorded were species, topography, reduction-oxidisation (redox) discontinuity layer and sediment type. Biotopes were assigned based on direct observations. If the species present and therefore the biotope were not obvious a core of sediment was taken, sieved and the infauna identified. The Phase 2 sampling was based on a preliminary biotope map created using the Phase 1 survey data. Locations for intertidal cores were determined from the map with the intention of providing a representative sample of the fauna within each biotope. Box cores were taken at the stations, the samples sieved and preserved for later identification. The benthic fauna were identified to species level and enumerated according to National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme guidelines (SOP ES-04). Again, the topography, redox profile and sediment type were noted. Further, statistical analyses were carried out on the faunal data where more than one replicate were taken within a defined biotope (these are detailed within the report). The report includes a series of biotope maps showing the biotopes present and their distributions. It also includes particle size analysis (PSA) results, sediment organic carbon content and details of the redox profiles. Each biotope present is also looked at in turn with it's distribution depicted, a detailed description and characterising species listed. Finally a discussion is presented including future recommendations.