Scottish Loch Habitat Records from 1991 UMBSM Survey
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Description
A 1991 survey of four Scottish sea lochs—Lochs Laxford, Inchard, Broom, and Little Loch Broom—conducted between 10th and 22nd May. The survey, performed by the UMBSM/MNCR team with NCCS staff, recorded 85 sites (62 sublittoral, 23 littoral) and described 37 habitat/community types. Data was collected from board the charter vessel M.V. 'Salutay' and via littoral surveys, focusing on communities across a spectrum of wave-exposure and tidal stream strengths.
Use Cases
Analyze habitat community transitions based on wave-exposure and tidal stream gradients mentioned in the description.
Model species distribution based on described substrata types like bedrock, boulders, sand, and muddy sediment.
Compare marine communities between fjordic and fjardic loch characteristics described for Lochs Laxford and Inchard.
Study the impact of human activities like shellfish farming and shipping on coastal habitats as noted in the survey context.
Strengths
Survey covers 85 distinct sites across four lochs, providing spatial breadth.
Describes 37 specific habitat/community types, indicating detailed ecological classification.
Integrates data from both sublittoral (62 sites) and littoral (23 sites) zones for a vertical profile.
References previous survey work in the area (e.g., Lewis 1957, Smith 1985), suggesting contextual awareness.
Limitations
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for statistical modeling.
Data is from a single survey in May 1991, limiting temporal generalizability.
Provenance
Source
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Collection Method
Field survey from board the charter vessel M.V. 'Salutay' and littoral surveys by staff.
Time Range
Survey conducted 10-22 May 1991.
Freshness
Last updated 2026-04-14 09:46:46.818911; freshness should be verified.
Geography
Four sea lochs in northwest Scotland: Lochs Laxford, Inchard, Broom, and Little Loch Broom.
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