2006 Loch Sunart Marine Habitat Survey: Benthic Species and Seabed Features

A July 2006 benthic survey in the Loch Sunart SAC and SSSI designed a hierarchical monitoring program for rocky reefs, Ascophyllum nodosum beds, and seagrass beds. Sampling was conducted by Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd. for Scottish Natural Heritage using video, diver transects, mapping, and coring techniques to collect biological information on seabed species and habitats.

Use Cases

• Establishing baseline conditions for marine protected areas based on the hierarchical monitoring program design.
• Classifying seabed physical structure and species assemblages based on video and still photograph imagery.
• Monitoring the condition of specific features like Ascophyllum nodosum ecad mackaii beds and seagrass beds.
• Comparing intertidal and subtidal rocky reef communities based on diver and intertidal transect data.

Strengths

• Survey employed a multi-method approach combining remote video, diver transects, mapping, grab sampling, and coring.
• Data collection was conducted over a defined period from 2nd to 20th July 2006.
• Focus on specific, ecologically important features like rocky reefs, A. nodosum beds, and seagrass beds.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), collected by Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd. (ASML).

Collection Method

Combination of remote drop-down video, diver transects, intertidal transects, mapping, limited grab survey, and diver coring/quadrat sampling.

Time Range

2nd to 20th July 2006.

Freshness

Data is from a single survey in July 2006; update frequency is not specified.

Geography

Loch Sunart Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Scotland.