Monitoring of Kelp Depth as an Indication of Turbidity in Pen Llyn a'r Saranac Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Turbidity provides an indication of water clarity and water quality. The depth to which light can penetrate is reduced with increased turbidity, which may be the result of natural processes in coastal and estuarine waters but can also be caused by anthropogenic causes such as coastal construction and dredge spoil dumping. Curvie (Laminaria hyperborea) is known to be susceptible to the impacts of elevated turbidity levels and therefore changes in L. hyperborea can be an indicator of changes in turbidity. Grazing of L. hyperborea by the common sea urchin Echinus esculentus may also have an impact of numbers of kelp plant and therefore numbers of this species present must also be taken into consideration. The purpose of this data capture was to use depth measurements for the distribution of kelp Laminaria hyperborea as a monitoring indicator for medium/long-term changes in turbidity level. Also to measure the overall 'luxuriousness' (biomass) of the algal turf of the rocky reef. This information will assist with reporting on the favourable conservation status of reef features in Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau.

Identifier: NRW_DS111139

Alternative Title

Monitro dyfnder gwymon fel dynodiad o dyrfedd yn ACA Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau
Kelp monitoring at St Tudwels West
Kelp monitoring at Pen Cristen, Bardsey

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: A transect is established on an unbroken slope of bedrock with a constant gradient. Permanent stations are not required. The diver records the depth (corrected for chart datum) and length of the stipe of the deepest kelp plant. Only established plants i.e. those with a stipe greater than 100mm in length are recorded. The diver swims directly upslope with a 3m pole, when 3 plants are touching the pole, the details are recorded. The diver swims upslope again until the pole is touching 6 plants, recording the details. The process is carried out at 5 transects at least 10m apart. The number of Common sea urchins Echinus esculentus occurring along the length of the transect are also recorded. Within these 3 zones (lower, middle and upper) algal turf is gathered from a 0.3m x 0.3m quadrat. Quadrats are repeated as time allows. In the lab the algae is washed and excess water removed and the wet weight recorded. The samples are then dried and the ash-free dry weight recorded. Detailed methodologies and descriptions can be found in Marine Monitoring Report 25b (standard operating procedures 10). Although sampling is repeated annually, poor weather conditions have meant that no data has been collected since 14/07/2005. In future volunteers may be used to assist with data collection.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2009-12-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 2004-05-21

End date: 2009-12-31

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: Cardigan Bay

Geographic Extent: Tremadog Bay

Geographic Extent: GWYNEDD - GWYNEDD

Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword: benthic boundary layer

Vertical Extent

Minimum value (metres): -5.4

Maximum value (metres): -10

Vertical CRS

Format Type and Description

Documents Documents ()

Specification

Data provided as excel spreadsheets and/or word documents. Incidental video on mini DV tapes, incidental images as .jpgs

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: A transect is established on an unbroken slope of bedrock with a constant gradient. Permanent stations are not required. The diver records the depth (corrected for chart datum) and length of the stipe of the deepest kelp plant. Only established plants i.e. those with a stipe greater than 100mm in length are recorded. The diver swims directly upslope with a 3m pole, when 3 plants are touching the pole, the details are recorded. The diver swims upslope again until the pole is touching 6 plants, recording the details. The process is carried out at 5 transects at least 10m apart. The number of Common sea urchins Echinus esculentus occurring along the length of the transect are also recorded. Within these 3 zones (lower, middle and upper) algal turf is gathered from a 0.3m x 0.3m quadrat. Quadrats are repeated as time allows. In the lab the algae is washed and excess water removed and the wet weight recorded. The samples are then dried and the ash-free dry weight recorded. Detailed methodologies and descriptions can be found in Marine Monitoring Report 25b (standard operating procedures 10). Although sampling is repeated annually, poor weather conditions have meant that no data has been collected since 14/07/2005. In future volunteers may be used to assist with data collection.

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)
Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau cSAC
Pen Cristen
St Tudwals Islands
St Tudwels West
laminaria hyperborea
kelp
echinus esculentus
sea urchins
common urchin
water clarity
turbidity

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2023-12-31

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

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

Macroalgae and seagrass taxonomy-related counts
Macroalgae generic abundance in water bodies

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Revision): 2021-01-06

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

Keywords

Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary

water quality

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Revision): 2013-04-03

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects

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: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313131313339 XML

Metadata Language: English

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

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2024-05-31T09:40:59.023Z

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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Monitoring of Kelp Depth as an Indication of Turbidity in Pen Llyn a'r Saranac Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

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Extent

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Vertical Extent

Distribution

Quality

Data quality

Keywords

Keywords

Citation

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

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