NRW Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC sediments survey 2023
In Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC the Annex I intertidal habitat features include: Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide. A series of 23 sediment monitoring locations, distributed around the SAC to represent different areas and habitats, were established between 2005 and 2008.
Most locations were initially defined as transects (a line from upper to lower shore) but many have been redefined as clusters of stations (areas of shore). Between 1 and 6 sampling stations have been established (with fixed positions) within each of those locations, though some have required repositioning due to channel movements.
These stations have been monitored using a combination of in-situ recording and sediment core sampling with laboratory analysis of infaunal composition and sediment granulometry. Some stations (those at Crofty and Llansteffan) are surveyed and sampled annually, others at intervals of 2 or more years. This description refered to data collected in 2023.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS161416
- Alternative Title
-
- 2023 NRW Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC sediment monitoring [43cadc21-0e19-4f03-a658-6ca40d5b310b]
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
Two survey methodologies are undertaken :
1) In-situ survey of conspicuous epibiota and their abundance (various data types depending on species) visible on the sediment surface (area within 5m radius from GPS located station coordinates), plus in-situ characterisation of sediment habitat. Photographs taken of the habitat and representative core samples at each station.
2) Five x 0.01m2 core samples sieved and preserved in formalin for infaunal analysis, plus a sample of sediment taken for granulometry analysis. Samples (macrofauna and sediments) analysed by Hull Marine Lab. Data collated and used to assign biotopes to each station.
The pupose of this data collection is to support long-term monitoring to maintain a baseline of data that can be used for regular assessment of condition of the SAC, to study any changes over time, and to understand the scale of natural temporal fluctuations in those communities and species.
All surveys completed by professional and experienced marine field surveyors. Data quality and confidence considered moderate to high.
- Additional Information
-
The data will be available through MEDIN Data Archive Centre and the NBN Atlas once automatic flow from MRO Is established
- Dataset Reference Date (Creation)
- 2024-08-30
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2025-10-11
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2023-10-16
- End date
- 2023-10-17
- Topic category
-
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/C19/current/UKMDN012/
))
Vertical Extent
- Medin Extent Keyword
- littoral
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Database
(
version 2.07.03
)
- Specification
-
Marine Recorder Online
-
Documents
(
)
- Specification
-
Digital versions of the contract report: Microsoft Word document(s); and an equivalent Adobe Portable Document Format version in prep
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Delimited
(
)
- Specification
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Excel spreadsheets with species data from infaunal analysis.
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Geographic Information System
(
)
- Specification
-
GIS layer of station positions
-
Image
(
)
- Specification
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Photographs of the station, core and selected species
-
Database
(
version 2.07.03
)
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
-
Two survey methodologies are undertaken :
1) In-situ survey of conspicuous epibiota and their abundance (various data types depending on species) visible on the sediment surface (area within 5m radius from GPS located station coordinates), plus in-situ characterisation of sediment habitat. Photographs taken of the habitat and representative core samples at each station.
2) Five x 0.01m2 core samples sieved and preserved in formalin for infaunal analysis, plus a sample of sediment taken for granulometry analysis. Samples (macrofauna and sediments) analysed by Hull Marine Lab. Data collated and used to assign biotopes to each station.
The pupose of this data collection is to support long-term monitoring to maintain a baseline of data that can be used for regular assessment of condition of the SAC, to study any changes over time, and to understand the scale of natural temporal fluctuations in those communities and species.
All surveys completed by professional and experienced marine field surveyors. Data quality and confidence considered moderate to high.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
-
- intertidal
- Infauna
- core sampling
- Intertidal monitoring
- Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2025-01-08
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
- noLimitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
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
-
© 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
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313631343136 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
-
Across Wales Intertidal Monitoring Survey
NRW_DS109834
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2025-12-02T16:09:51.249Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0