Loch Laxford Intertidal Habitat Map from 2001 Broad-Scale Survey

An intertidal survey of Loch Laxford conducted in November 2001. Intertidal biotopes were mapped using a standardized methodology, with target notes, photographs, and video taken along the shore. The data was submitted to the European Commission as part of a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) designation.

Use Cases

• Classify coastal biotopes based on the standardized mapping methodology described.
• Analyze habitat distribution for conservation planning based on the candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) context.
• Validate remote sensing or modeling outputs against ground-truthed survey data from the nearshore boat and on-foot techniques mentioned.

Strengths

• Data collection followed a standardized methodology referenced from Hiscock (1996), Conner, et al. (1997) and Wyn, et al. (2000).
• Survey employed multiple validation methods, including target notes, representative photographs, and video.
• Covers Loch Laxford, described as an excellent and only example of a large, shallow inlet and bay on Scotland's west coast.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service

Collection Method

Field survey using nearshore boat techniques and on-foot investigation by a team of two surveyors.

Time Range

November 2001

Freshness

Survey conducted in November 2001; last update date is unknown.

Geography

Loch Laxford, west coast of mainland Scotland