Studies and Biometric Gut Content Analyses of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra nigra Killed During the Sea Empress Oil Spill

Carmarthen Bay is the most important wintering site for Common Scoters in the UK. It is estimated that the Sea Empress oil spill in February 1996 resulted in the deaths of at least 4,500 Common Scoter. This dataset contains the results of a study to describe the population structure, body condition, level of oiling, biometrics, moult, diet and cause of death of Common Scoters killed by the Sea Empress oil spill, and to investigate factors affecting body condition, diet and cause of death. Data captured in order to describe the biometrics and moult of Common Scoters killed in the Sea Empress oil spill, to determine the age structure of killed birds, and to determine the diet of birds through gut contents analysis.


All data is held within the reports.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS110126
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

After retrieval of Common Scoters killed during the Sea Empress oil spill were stored at the National Museum of Wales and catalogued in terms of date and location of recovery, rehabilitation status (i.e. whether or not birds had been supplied from bird hospitals), and condition of corpse (Howlett 1996).


Birds transported to WWT Slimbridge where every specimen was further categorised in terms of the degree of oiling suffered, physical condition, sex and age. The level of oiling was scored from 0 to 4. The amount of fat reserves present was ascertained by dissection and scored from 0 to 4. During the biometrics and moult study, the oesophagus, proventriculus and gizzard of each bird were removed and immediately frozen at -20 degrees C. Gut contents were extracted for analysis at a later date. As the proportion of Common Scoters with food in the oesophagus or proventriculus was very low ( less than 1% in the preliminary sample), gut contents analysis was restricted to gizzard analyses. Gizzard contents consisted mainly of shell fragments; therefore it was not possible to collect quantitative information on the biomass and relative proportions of different food items. Consequently, each food item was simply identified to species level and the proportion of birds feeding on each food item (% occurrence) calculated.
Additional Information

Hughes, B., Stewart, B., Brown, M., Hearn, R. 1997. Studies of Common scoter Melanitta nigra nigra killed during the Sea Empress oil Spill. Final Report to SEEEC, CCW Sea Empress Science Report 233.


Hughes, B., Stewart, B., Brown, M., Hearn, R. 1996. Biometric and Gut Contents Analysis of Common Scoter Melanitta Nigra Nigra. Preliminary Report to SEEEC, CCW Sea Empress Science Report 233a.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
1997-11-30
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). WWT Wetlands Advisory Service. -
c/o Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
http://www.wwt.org.uk/
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
SIR GAERFYRDDIN - CARMARTHENSHIRE
Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
water column boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Documents ( )

    Specification

    [A] The reports are held in the following formats (MS Word, PDF format, WPD) [B] Application (LHA.EXE and SEEECSCO.EXE unknown application files)

 

Quality

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

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

After retrieval of Common Scoters killed during the Sea Empress oil spill were stored at the National Museum of Wales and catalogued in terms of date and location of recovery, rehabilitation status (i.e. whether or not birds had been supplied from bird hospitals), and condition of corpse (Howlett 1996).


Birds transported to WWT Slimbridge where every specimen was further categorised in terms of the degree of oiling suffered, physical condition, sex and age. The level of oiling was scored from 0 to 4. The amount of fat reserves present was ascertained by dissection and scored from 0 to 4. During the biometrics and moult study, the oesophagus, proventriculus and gizzard of each bird were removed and immediately frozen at -20 degrees C. Gut contents were extracted for analysis at a later date. As the proportion of Common Scoters with food in the oesophagus or proventriculus was very low ( less than 1% in the preliminary sample), gut contents analysis was restricted to gizzard analyses. Gizzard contents consisted mainly of shell fragments; therefore it was not possible to collect quantitative information on the biomass and relative proportions of different food items. Consequently, each food item was simply identified to species level and the proportion of birds feeding on each food item (% occurrence) calculated.
 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • Milford Haven
  • biometrics (biometry)
  • starvation
  • moult
  • gut content analysis
  • oiled birds
  • wintering site
  • muscle wastage
  • marine and freshwater inventory
  • fat reserves
  • melanitta nigra
  • Carmarthen Bay
  • diets
  • body condition
  • population structure
  • common scoter (black scoter)
  • Sea Empress
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2024-06-19
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Keywords

IPSV Subjects List
  • Oil spillage
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2020-11-18
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Biometric and gut contents analyses of common scoter melanitta nigra nigra : preliminary report
NRW Related Title

Studies of common scoter Melanitta nigra nigra killed during the Sea Empress oil spill
 

Constraints

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.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130313236 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T14:27:59.545Z
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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