f7653c13e768a228cdbdb45645fb9a3a English dataset 5b234a24e7aff97ad742a7741d4d6699 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 2006 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Sound of Barra broad-scale mapping survey 2007-12-31 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000109-MRSNH00300000004-SOB Marine Recorder NS-000109 NatureScot project ID The purpose of this broad-scale mapping survey in the Sound of Barra and in the Sound of Eriskay in the vicinity of the causeway was to: extend the coverage of subtidal biotope mapping to encompass the central and western parts of the Sound; to conduct intertidal biotope mapping over the whole of the Sound including those areas surveyed subtidally in 2001 and to produce comprehensive biotope maps; and to assess biological changes occurring in the Sounf of Eriskay. 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. The work was undertaken for SNH by the Universities of Heriot-Watt (HWU) and Edinburgh (EDU) between the 9th July and 12th August 2006 and acoustic data was supplied under subcontract by Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). To collect this detailed biological information on the seabed species and habitat features present, records were acquired from a total of 204 subtidal stations. Of these, 137 were surveyed by drop-down video and 67 by diver. A total of 46 shore locations were visited and records acquired from 258 shore zones. Sediment infauna samples were collected from 56 locations (40 subtidal and 16 intertidal). 5 sites, previously surveyed in 2001 around the Eriskay causeway, were revisited and resurveyed by divers recording details of substrate, environmental conditions and biological communities. The images, analysed under SNH contract by Heriot-Watt University, University of Edinburgh and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages and assess anthropogenic induced change. 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 Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision Seabed Impact Internal_Waves 2017-10-31 revision otherRestrictions Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner. otherRestrictions No restrictions on public access 500 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -7.4604 -7.2270 56.9594 57.1372 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 ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 43E2 2006-07-09 2006-08-12 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral Harris, D.B., Malthus, T.J., Karpouzli, E., Moore, C.G., Lyndon, A.R., Mair, J.M., Service, M., Mitchell, A. (2007). Biotope mapping of the Sound of Barra, Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.258 Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report Geographic Information System shapefiles Image dataset MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos 2011-01-28 publication See the referenced specification true MEDIN data guideline for video surveys of species and benthos 2018-01-23 publication See the referenced specification true 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 This subtidal and intertidal seabed data from the Sound of Barra was collected by Universities of Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh between the 9th July and 12th August 2006.The biotope mapping survey was conducted by 2 teams. Records were acquired from a total of 204 subtidal stations. Of these, 137 were surveyed by drop-down video and 67 by diver. A total of 46 shore locations were visited and records acquired from 258 shore zones. Sediment infauna samples were collected from 56 locations (40 subtidal and 16 intertidal) and all were selected for full identification and enumeration. One team (Team A) concentrated on deeper areas of the Sound surveying ground-truth stations by dropdown video. A representative selection of sedimentary habitats were sampled by Van Veen grab (0.1m2) to aid biotope identification. The second team (Team B) concentrated on shallow or inaccessible areas and stations were surveyed by diver. At each station divers spent 10 minutes recording details of substrate, environmental conditions and biological communities. The divers also recorded video footage to give an overview of the nature of the site. A representative selection of sedimentary habitats were sampled by 5 deployments of a 0.045m2 mini Van Veen grab to aid biotope identification. During periods of low tide each team visited a number of intertidal groundtruth stations. At each site surveyors recorded details of substrate, environmental conditions and biological communities dividing the shore profile into biological zones as appropriate. Zones of sufficient extent to be discernable on the satellite image were identified for use in the supervised classification of the image. In addition to field records, representative video footage and digital stills images were taken at each shore location. At selected sediment shores infaunal samples were collected, each sample consisting of 8 cores of 10 cm internal diameter taken to a depth of 15 cm. In addition, a dig-over was made of a 1m2 area and the presence of any fauna noted. Five sites around the Eriskay Causeway, previously surveyed in 2001, were revisited and resurveyed by divers recording details of substrate, environmental conditions and biological communities. The divers also recorded video footage to give an overview of the nature of the site. These sites included two maerl sites and one Zostera site. Two sites previously sampled for infauna in 2001 were re-sampled including one of the diver survey sites.