Monitoring of Limestone Communities and Sponge Morphology at Ynys Moelfre

Sponges are considered an important component of benthic communities in temperate waters and the community composition of subtidal limestone biotopes has been identified as a priority feature for the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Monitoring sponge morphology diversity is used as a qualitative estimate of sponge species diversity and changes in morphological composition of sponge assemblages may also provide an indication of changes in environmental conditions. The purpose of this data capture was to: - Identify community composition of subtidal limestone biotopes and their favourable conservation status. - Establish a baseline for the community and monitor changes in the diversity of subtidal sponge morphologies. Changes in sponge species composition may indicate a change within the sessile community as a whole.

Identifier: NRW_DS111011

Alternative Title

Monitro cymunedau calchfaen a morffoleg sbyngau ar Ynys Moelfre
Ynys Moelfre and Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island) sponge monitoring

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: Ynys Moelfre, East Anglesey is a monitoring station that lies on the NE side of the Isle of Anglesey on a steep rock and boulder wall. 14 fixed monitoring quadrats (0.25m2) in two rows have been established at Ynys Moelfre. Divers record in-situ the sponge morphologies from the quadrat on a cell frequency basis. Sponges have been split into 9 morphological types, each which are relatively straightforward to identify in the field. Species lists for quadrats and/or the site as a whole are taken periodically to place the sponge morphology data collected in context with the sponge species diversity found at the monitoring site. Detailed methodologies and descriptions of the morphology types can be found in Marine Monitoring Report 25b (standard operating procedures 4). Quality Assurance exercises have allowed the rules and descriptions to be refined over time. 2 additional sites of Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island) have been investigated for possible future monitoring, although these are not currently active sites. These sites lie on the north side of the island. Whilst recording is done in situ, still images/video images of the quadrats are taken for quality assurance exercises. Specimens may also be photographed and taken from outside quadrats for further identification.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2010-06-22

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 2004-07-06

End date: 2010-06-22

Topic category

Biota

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

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

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

Originator

Various contractors

See Natural Resources Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Originator

CCW Marine Monitoring Team

Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Extent

Geographic Extent: Irish Sea

Geographic Extent: Menai Strait

Geographic Extent: Caernarfon Bay

Geographic Extent: SIR YNYS MON - ISLE OF ANGLESEY

Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword: benthic boundary layer

Vertical Extent

Minimum value (metres): -6

Maximum value (metres): -10

Vertical CRS

Format Type and Description

Documents ()

Specification

[A] Reports in word and pdf format. [B] Sponge morphology data held as excel spreadsheet. [C] Quadrat images as JPGs. [D] Quadrat videos held as avi files and on mini dv tape. [E] Species lists held within the reports but may be entered into Marine Recorder in future.

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: Ynys Moelfre, East Anglesey is a monitoring station that lies on the NE side of the Isle of Anglesey on a steep rock and boulder wall. 14 fixed monitoring quadrats (0.25m2) in two rows have been established at Ynys Moelfre. Divers record in-situ the sponge morphologies from the quadrat on a cell frequency basis. Sponges have been split into 9 morphological types, each which are relatively straightforward to identify in the field. Species lists for quadrats and/or the site as a whole are taken periodically to place the sponge morphology data collected in context with the sponge species diversity found at the monitoring site. Detailed methodologies and descriptions of the morphology types can be found in Marine Monitoring Report 25b (standard operating procedures 4). Quality Assurance exercises have allowed the rules and descriptions to be refined over time. 2 additional sites of Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island) have been investigated for possible future monitoring, although these are not currently active sites. These sites lie on the north side of the island. Whilst recording is done in situ, still images/video images of the quadrats are taken for quality assurance exercises. Specimens may also be photographed and taken from outside quadrats for further identification.

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 monitoring (see also marine surveys)
Special Area of Conservation Monitoring
Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC
Ynys Moelfre
Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island)
limestone habitats
limestone community
sponges
porifera
morphology
sponge morphology

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2023-12-31

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

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

Zoobenthos generic abundance
Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Revision): 2021-01-06

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

Code: Latitude and Longitude (EPSG::4326)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

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 2009 There are no use restrictions on this data. Recipients may re-use, reproduce, disseminate this data free of charge in any format or medium, provided they do so accurately, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright, and do not use it in a misleading context. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose, that dissemination or publishing does not result in duplication, and that it is fairly interpreted. Advice on interpretation should be sought where required. To avoid re-using old data, users should periodically obtain the latest version from the original source.

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313131303131 XML

Metadata Language: English

Parent Identifier: Across Wales Diving Monitoring Project (2004)
NRW_DS109743

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2025-03-07T17:30:51.392Z

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

Access the portal

Full access to the portal and metadata.

Monitoring of Limestone Communities and Sponge Morphology at Ynys Moelfre

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Vertical 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