Intertidal monitoring of muddy gravel in Menai Strait and Conwy Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), 2013
Several rich marine mud and muddy gravel habitats were identified within the Menai Strait by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Marine Intertidal Phase 1 survey team and a sampling programme initiated in order to better characterise the intertidal communities of these habitats. Marine mud and muddy gravel habitats are an important feature of several Special Area of Conservation (SACs), including the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SACs. The purpose of this data capture was to carry out a repeat survey of sites previously surveyed to further test and develop monitoring methodology and collect monitoring data. In fully marine conditions on the lower shore, sheltered muddy gravel habitats can be particularly species rich due to the complex nature of the substratum supporting a high diversity of infauna and epifauna.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS115886
- Alternative Title
-
- 2013 NRW / ASML Menai Strait & Conwy Bay SAC muddy gravel survey (MRCCW16300000031)
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
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In Menai Strait & Conwy Bay SAC, the Annex I intertidal habitat features include 'Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide'. A series of nine monitoring stations were established within muddy gravel habitats and re-sampled at intervals of two to three years.
In-situ surveys were undertaken to record conspicuous epibiota and their abundance visible on the sediment surface within a 5 m radius of GPS-located station coordinates, together with in-situ characterisation of the sediment habitat. Photographs of the habitat and representative core samples were taken at each station.
Five 0.01 m² core samples were collected from each of the nine stations, sieved and preserved in formalin for infaunal analysis. A sediment sample was also collected for granulometry analysis. Samples were analysed in laboratories and the resulting data were collated and used to assign biotopes to each station.
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2013-06-28
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2013-06-24
- End date
- 2013-06-28
- Topic category
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- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
Vertical Extent
- Medin Extent Keyword
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soil and sediment
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Database
(
Marine Recorder Online - Version 2.09.02
)
- Specification
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Marine Recorder
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Database
(
Marine Recorder Online - Version 2.09.02
)
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
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This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
- Degree
- false
- Lineage
-
In Menai Strait & Conwy Bay SAC, the Annex I intertidal habitat features include 'Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide'. A series of nine monitoring stations were established within muddy gravel habitats and re-sampled at intervals of two to three years.
In-situ surveys were undertaken to record conspicuous epibiota and their abundance visible on the sediment surface within a 5 m radius of GPS-located station coordinates, together with in-situ characterisation of the sediment habitat. Photographs of the habitat and representative core samples were taken at each station.
Five 0.01 m² core samples were collected from each of the nine stations, sieved and preserved in formalin for infaunal analysis. A sediment sample was also collected for granulometry analysis. Samples were analysed in laboratories and the resulting data were collated and used to assign biotopes to each station.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
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- Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC
- muddy gravel
- Marine Recorder
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2026-10-19
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
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There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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© 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
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Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
Licence
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313135383836 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
-
Across Wales Intertidal Monitoring Survey
NRW_DS109834
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2026-10-20T07:55:42.947Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0