Intertidal Monitoring of Rockpools in Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 2007

The purpose of this data capture was to establish sites for long-term monitoring and collect baseline/reference data using appropriate methods.


Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is designated primarily for Bottlenose dolphins, but is also designated for Sandbanks, Reefs and Sea Caves. These Reefs and Sea Caves are present within intertidal areas of Cardigan Bay SAC.


Intertidal reefs in Cardigan Bay SAC include areas of bedrock and boulder/cobble habitats and many areas are characterised by biogenic reef formed by the honeycomb reef worm Sabellaria. Many intertidal rockpool biotopes are considered to be important for their biodiversity (JNCC 1996).


Rockpools are also a notable feature of some intertidal reef areas in the SAC. This dataset includes the results of a survey of intertidal rockpools at two sites within Cardigan Bay SAC.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS111179
Alternative Title
  • 2007 CCW/ASML Cardigan Bay SAC Rockpool monitoring (MRCCW16300000004)
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Phase 1 surveys of intertidal habitats in the SAC were carried out in the SAC in 1996 and 2003, providing detailed mapping of the intertidal biotopes with some information on characterizing species.


Aberporth: A well defined mid shore rock platform was identified from CCW phase 1 data. Within this area 10 pools were selected for survey, they all had to be at a similar height on shore, have a surface area of more than 0.5m2, be more than 5cm deep and not more than 4 times as long as wide. A GPS fix was taken for each. Photographs were taken of each pool and basic measurement of depth and length were taken. The presence of typical pool sub-habitats and the influence of silt and scour were recorded as were the presence of typical pool taxa. Percentage cover estimates were made for algae and other cover species and presence of mobile animals and hydroids were recorded. A sample of Corallina officinalis algal turf was collected from each pool. These samples were sent to a laboratory for post-survey identification of cryptic fauna.


At Cei Bach: Two survey stations were established on the west side of a large shallow pool in the lower shore zone. At each a gridded 0.25m2 a quadrat was placed randomly 5 times within a radius of 10m. Digital photographs were taken of each quadrat. For features recorded at each transect see Aberporth methodology above. A total of two samples of Corallina officinalis algal turf were collected and sent to the laboratory.


There is high confidence in this dataset as survey carried out by an experienced team of marine biologists with good field identification skills.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2009-03-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date
2007-05-16
End date
2007-05-18
 
Topic category
  • Biota
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd (ASML) -
Whitfield Brow, Bollihope, Frosterley, Weardale, Co. Durham, DL13 2SZ, England
http://www.marineseen.com/aquatic_survey_and_monitoring.htm
 

Extent

Extent

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


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

benthic boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Database ( Marine Recorder Online - Version 2.09.02 )

    Specification

    Marine Recorder

 

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

Phase 1 surveys of intertidal habitats in the SAC were carried out in the SAC in 1996 and 2003, providing detailed mapping of the intertidal biotopes with some information on characterizing species.


Aberporth: A well defined mid shore rock platform was identified from CCW phase 1 data. Within this area 10 pools were selected for survey, they all had to be at a similar height on shore, have a surface area of more than 0.5m2, be more than 5cm deep and not more than 4 times as long as wide. A GPS fix was taken for each. Photographs were taken of each pool and basic measurement of depth and length were taken. The presence of typical pool sub-habitats and the influence of silt and scour were recorded as were the presence of typical pool taxa. Percentage cover estimates were made for algae and other cover species and presence of mobile animals and hydroids were recorded. A sample of Corallina officinalis algal turf was collected from each pool. These samples were sent to a laboratory for post-survey identification of cryptic fauna.


At Cei Bach: Two survey stations were established on the west side of a large shallow pool in the lower shore zone. At each a gridded 0.25m2 a quadrat was placed randomly 5 times within a radius of 10m. Digital photographs were taken of each quadrat. For features recorded at each transect see Aberporth methodology above. A total of two samples of Corallina officinalis algal turf were collected and sent to the laboratory.


There is high confidence in this dataset as survey carried out by an experienced team of marine biologists with good field identification skills.
 

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
  • Cardigan Bay SAC
  • Marine Recorder
  • rockpools
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2026-08-27
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
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Intertidal SAC monitoring Cardigan Bay SAC May 2007
NRW Related Title

Intertidal SAC monitoring Cardigan Bay SAC May 2008
 

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.
 

Licence

Other constraints
Open Government Licence
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313131313739 XML
Metadata Language
English
Parent Identifier
Across Wales Intertidal Monitoring Survey

NRW_DS109834
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-10-19T09:08:59.373Z
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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