Status of Breeding Common Scoter Melanitta nigra nigra in Britain and Ireland in 1996: The Effect of the Sea Empress Oil Spill

Following concerns regarding potential effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in Carmarthen Bay, February 1996, on the British and Irish populations of breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra nigra, their status and distribution were determined from a survey in May - June 1996. The survey was undertaken in five areas (Shetland, the Flow country, West and South Scotland, Islay and Ireland), using methods devised during the first complete British and Irish census of this species in 1995. Survey effort was concentrated on sites that held Common Scoters in 1995, and on sites with historical records. The survey visited 223 sites and located 376 birds. This was 79 fewer birds than the previous year, a 17% decline in numbers (16% in Ireland and 19% in Britain), a 19% decrease in occupied 10-km squares and a 31% decrease in occupied sites, compared to visits made at a similar time in 1995. It is possible that a decline of this magnitude may be within the range of natural population fluctuations or it could be due to the late arrival of birds after the late spring in 1996. However, over the last eight years, the number of Common Scoters in the Flow country has declined by 42% from an estimated 48 pairs in 1988 to only 28 in 1996. Given the Common Scoter's threatened status in the UK, that the dynamics of the population are unknown, and the potential decline, annual monitoring of both numbers and productivity is a high priority. Data used to assess the potential effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in Carmarthen Bay, February 1996, on the British and Irish populations of breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra nigra.

Identifier: NRW_DS110113

Alternative Title

Statws mor-hwyaid duon melanitta nigra nigra oedd yn nythu ym Mhrydain ac Iwerddon yn 1996: effaith gollyngiad olew'r Sea Empress

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: Sites on the Scottish mainland were surveyed from 12-18 May and Islay was surveyed on 7 June. In Ireland, Loughs Conn/Cullin, Corrib and Arrow were surveyed between 16-19 May, but surveys of Lough Ree were delayed until 22-25 May by poor weather. During each survey, all open water and the entire mainland and island shorelines were scanned for birds using binoculars or telescopes. Most observations were land based, but boat surveys were used on larger and complex sites. Clear, calm weather was selected for all field visits and observers recorded the number of birds present, classified into pairs (male and female in continuous close consort), single adult males, single immature males, unaged males, single females and unsexed birds. To minimise the risk of double counting birds, where possible, surveys were organised to cover adjacent sites simultaneously. In order to investigate whether there had been any decline in numbers between 1995 and 1996, the numbers of birds present per site were analysed using a generalised linear model with Poisson error distribution and log link function in the GLIM statistical package. Sites were selected for analysis if birds were present either during the 1996 survey, or during the comparable visit in 1995. Four explanatory variables were included in the model: sex, area, site, and year.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 1996-08-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 1996-05-31

End date: 1996-06-30

Topic category

Biota

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Originator

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

Sutherland House, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AB

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wales/

Originator

Wildfowl And Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT, England

http://www.wwt.org.uk/

Originator

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW

http://www.snh.gov.uk/

Extent

Geographic Extent: Great Britain (GBN)

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword: water column

Format Type and Description

Documents ( )

Specification

Report is held in Word and .pdf format

Data quality

Quality Scope: Dataset

Conformity: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation
Degree: false

Lineage: Sites on the Scottish mainland were surveyed from 12-18 May and Islay was surveyed on 7 June. In Ireland, Loughs Conn/Cullin, Corrib and Arrow were surveyed between 16-19 May, but surveys of Lough Ree were delayed until 22-25 May by poor weather. During each survey, all open water and the entire mainland and island shorelines were scanned for birds using binoculars or telescopes. Most observations were land based, but boat surveys were used on larger and complex sites. Clear, calm weather was selected for all field visits and observers recorded the number of birds present, classified into pairs (male and female in continuous close consort), single adult males, single immature males, unaged males, single females and unsexed birds. To minimise the risk of double counting birds, where possible, surveys were organised to cover adjacent sites simultaneously. In order to investigate whether there had been any decline in numbers between 1995 and 1996, the numbers of birds present per site were analysed using a generalised linear model with Poisson error distribution and log link function in the GLIM statistical package. Sites were selected for analysis if birds were present either during the 1996 survey, or during the comparable visit in 1995. Four explanatory variables were included in the model: sex, area, site, and year.

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Species distribution

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2008-06-01

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus

marine and freshwater inventory
Shetland
South Scotland
common scoter (black scoter)
survey methods (survey techniques) (survey) (surveying)
melanitta nigra
distributions
endangered species (threatened species)(protected species)
Flow country
west Scotland
breeding
Carmarthen Bay
breeding birds
Islay

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2024-06-19

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

Bird taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of surface

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2024-06-19

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title: The status of breeding common scoter melanitta nigra nigra in Britain and Ireland in 1996 : the effect of the Sea Empress oil spill

NRW Related Title: All Wales common scoter survey : report on 2001/02 work programme

NRW Related Title: All Wales common scoter survey : report on 2002/03 work programme

NRW Related Title: All Wales common scoter survey : report on 2003/2004 work programme

NRW Related Title: Common scoter Melanitta nigra monitoring in Carmarthen Bay following the Sea Empress oil spill

NRW Related Title: Common scoter monitoring in Carmarthen Bay following the Sea Empress oil spill. April 1997 to March 1998

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type: Other restrictions

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations: no limitations

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints: There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.

Use Constraints

Use constraints type: Other restrictions

Other constraints: © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130313133 XML

Metadata Language: English

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2024-12-13T15:55:46.662Z

Metadata Standard Name: NRW

Metadata Standard Version: 1.0

pointOfContact

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Publishing Body

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Status of Breeding Common Scoter Melanitta nigra nigra in Britain and Ireland in 1996: The Effect of the Sea Empress Oil Spill

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Vertical Extent

Distribution

Quality

Data quality

Keywords

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body