Intertidal Monitoring of Rockpools in Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in 2008

Intertidal surveys provide comprehensive baseline data for monitoring change or for the identification of locations sensitive to certain anthropogenic impacts. The data also provides information to support a notification programme or intertidal Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) thereby providing a series of intertidal designated sites across Wales. Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is designated primarily for Bottlenose dolphins, but is also designated for Sandbanks, Reefs and Sea Caves. Of these Reefs and Sea Caves are present within intertidal areas of Cardigan Bay SAC. Rockpools are also a notable feature of some intertidal reef areas in the SAC. Phase 1 surveys of intertidal habitats in the SAC were carried out in the SAC in 1996 and 2003 (Brazier et al. 2007), providing detailed mapping of the intertidal biotopes with some information on characterizing species. The data represents the results of a survey of intertidal rockpools at Aberporth, one of two sites surveyed during a similar survey undertaken in 2007, within the Cardigan Bay SAC.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS112903
Alternative Title
  • 2008 CCW / ASML Cardigan Bay SAC rockpool monitoring (MRCCW16300000017)
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The 14 rockpools that were identified and surveyed in 2007 were re-located and re-surveyed in May 2008 - 8 on a mid-shore rock platform and 6 on an area of upper shore bedrock. See Moore (2009) for details on the rockpool selection criteria. Photographs (usually 2 from different sides) were first taken of the whole pool, with gridded quadrats (1 m2 or combination of 1 m2 and 0.25 m2) laid over it. Photograph numbers were recorded on the survey form. Basic measurements of depth and length were not taken in 2008 as they were assumed to be the same as 2007. The presence of sediment on the pool bottom was recorded. The influence of silt and scour was estimated on a 5-point scale. The presence of typical pool taxa ('Aggregate taxa' and 'Frequently recorded taxa' ) were then searched for and recorded if present. Estimates of percentage cover were made for algae and other cover species. Notable examples of rockpool habitat in the SAC were mapped by the CCW Phase 1 survey (Brazier et al. 2007). Boyes et al. (2009) carried out some survey work in a large shallow rockpool on Cei Bach. A follow-up survey, using in-situ quadrat recording methods, was carried out in the Cei Bach pool in May by ASML and CCW. A methodology for monitoring small discrete rockpools was developed by ASML and CCW in 2007; and monitoring sites at Aberporth were established and surveyed in May 2007 (Moore 2009).
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2010-03-10

Temporal Extent

Begin date
2007-05-31
End date
2008-05-01
 
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

The 14 rockpools that were identified and surveyed in 2007 were re-located and re-surveyed in May 2008 - 8 on a mid-shore rock platform and 6 on an area of upper shore bedrock. See Moore (2009) for details on the rockpool selection criteria. Photographs (usually 2 from different sides) were first taken of the whole pool, with gridded quadrats (1 m2 or combination of 1 m2 and 0.25 m2) laid over it. Photograph numbers were recorded on the survey form. Basic measurements of depth and length were not taken in 2008 as they were assumed to be the same as 2007. The presence of sediment on the pool bottom was recorded. The influence of silt and scour was estimated on a 5-point scale. The presence of typical pool taxa ('Aggregate taxa' and 'Frequently recorded taxa' ) were then searched for and recorded if present. Estimates of percentage cover were made for algae and other cover species. Notable examples of rockpool habitat in the SAC were mapped by the CCW Phase 1 survey (Brazier et al. 2007). Boyes et al. (2009) carried out some survey work in a large shallow rockpool on Cei Bach. A follow-up survey, using in-situ quadrat recording methods, was carried out in the Cei Bach pool in May by ASML and CCW. A methodology for monitoring small discrete rockpools was developed by ASML and CCW in 2007; and monitoring sites at Aberporth were established and surveyed in May 2007 (Moore 2009).
 

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
  • rockpools
  • Cardigan Bay SAC
  • Specialised biotope Rockpools
  • Marine Recorder
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
 

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
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313132393033 XML
Metadata Language
English
Parent Identifier
Across Wales Intertidal Monitoring Survey

NRW_DS109834
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-10-19T09:59:29.846Z
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