Stromness Spoil Ground Benthic Video Survey for Species and Habitat Analysis, 2013

A benthic video survey conducted by Marine Scotland Science on June 1, 2013, west of Stromness, Orkney. The survey aimed to document species and habitats of conservation importance, particularly priority marine features, using drop-down video drift tows from the vessel FRV Alba na Mara. Biological analyses of the video imagery were commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage to describe seabed physical structure and species assemblages.

Use Cases

• Mapping the distribution of priority marine features based on the video survey imagery.
• Assessing seabed physical structure and habitat types from the commissioned biological analyses.
• Studying species assemblages in a designated spoil ground area near Stromness.
• Providing baseline ecological data for marine spatial planning and conservation management.

Strengths

• Survey conducted on a specific date (June 1, 2013) by a government science agency (Marine Scotland Science).
• Focus on species and habitats of recognised conservation importance, particularly priority marine features.
• Analyses commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage, a statutory nature conservation body.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

Marine Scotland Science (MSS), with analyses commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Collection Method

Underwater drop-down video drift tows conducted from the vessel FRV Alba na Mara.

Time Range

Survey conducted on June -1, 2013.

Freshness

Data is from a single survey in 2013; update frequency is unknown.

Geography

Stromness spoil ground, located west of Stromness, Orkney, Scotland.