English Coastal Benthic Habitat Surveys with Species Abundance Data

13,769 records from 226 sites document benthic marine habitats and species around the coast of England. English Nature commissioned and collected this data using semi-quantitative SACFOR abundance scales for epibiota. The dataset was contributed to the Marine Nature Conservation Review program, with a last recorded update in 1999.

Use Cases

• Classify benthic biotopes using habitat features like substrata, depth, and wave exposure.
• Analyze species distribution and abundance patterns using SACFOR scale records for over 1,310 species.
• Model habitat suitability by correlating species presence with environmental parameters like salinity and current regimes.
• Assess coastal zone management priorities by identifying areas of marine natural heritage importance from survey site data.

Strengths

• Contains 13,769 survey records from 226 distinct sites.
• Documents 1,310 species using standardized SACFOR abundance scales.
• Focuses on intertidal and inshore subtidal areas within 3 nautical miles.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, with a last update recorded in 1999.
• Geographic scope is limited to England, excluding other UK coastal regions.
• Sample size is moderate with 498 individual samples across all sites.

Provenance

Source

English Nature (now part of Natural England), extracted from the MarBEF Data System.

Collection Method

Field surveys using MNCR Rational and Methods, with semi-quantitative recording techniques (SACFOR scales).

Time Range

null

Freshness

1999-11-09

Geography

Coastal and inshore waters of England, typically within 3 nautical miles.