Food sources for Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) in Carmarthen Bay
Ffynonellau bwyd i'r for - hwyaden ddu ym Mae Caerfyrddin

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In the UK the Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) is recognised as a nationally threatened species due to its small and declining breeding population. Carmarthen Bay is an internationally important wintering ground for the Common Scoter duck (Melanitta nigra) and is widely regarded as the most important such site in the UK causing the site to be proposed as a Special Protection Area (pSPA) under the EC Birds Directive.


Carmarthen Bay is considered to support peak numbers of 17000 - 24000 birds. The Common Scoter is strongly migratory and often travels considerable distances over land making brief stop-overs on inland waters. Its diet consists predominantly of molluscs, especially during the winter, although it occasionally takes other aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans (e.g. barnacles and shrimps), worms, echinoderms, isopods, amphipods and insects (e.g. midges and caddis flies) as well as small fish and fish eggs.


An extensive macrofauna sampling survey was undertaken to coincide with an aerial scoter survey. Conservation concerns for the scoter population focus on threats of hunting pressure, breeding habitat disturbance and loss, food chain contaminants, oil spills and the threat to non-breeding habitats represented by offshore developments.


The aim of this project was to investigate the biological and physical factors affecting the winter distribution of common scoter in Carmarthen Bay and to identify what component of the benthos they feed upon. The identification of such components is crucial to the future management and monitoring of the Carmarthen Bay Special Protection Area and, to some extent, the Special Area of Conservation.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS87189
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Guided by a previous aerial scoter survey on the 25 January 2004, a stratified random sampling strategy was used to sample the benthos in 50 2x2 km grid cells using a Day Grab. In addition a series (8) of 2m beam trawls and 6 intertidal samples were taken to sample potential epifaunal and lower intertidal prey respectively. Biological data were recorded on a suite of epifauna, bivalve and macroinfauna biomass, shell length and bivalve abundance (count) and individual bivalve taxa abundance. An aerial survey was undertaken on the 28th February, 2004.
Additional Information

Previous work on scoters in the Carmarthen Bay include; Woolmer (2003) report and data from Unpublished PhD Thesis - Media 207; ABP (2000) Data from Bristol Channel marine Aggregates: Resources and constraints research project (Wales Assembly Government Report)- Media 207; Woolmer et al (2001) Two PhD studentships investigated the benthos and Scoter populations of Carmarthen Bay, in response to concerns stimulated by the consequences of the Sea Empress oil spill of February 1996- Media 221; Smyth (2003) Unpublished MSc Thesis-Media 227.
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2004-10-31
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Swansea University, Dept of Biological Sciences -
Singleton Park, Swansea, Abertawe Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales
http://www.swan.ac.uk/
 

Extent

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
SIR GAERFYRDDIN - CARMARTHENSHIRE
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
benthic boundary layer

Maint Fertigol
Vertical Extent

Gwerth lleiaf
Minimum value (metres)
-19.3
Gwerth uchaf
Maximum value (metres)
0
System Gyfeirio Cydlynu Fertigol
Vertical CRS
 
 

Distribution

Dosbarthiad
Distribution

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad
Format Type and Description
  • Documents ( )

    Specification

    Final report and draft version are held as Word documents.

  • Geographic Information System ( )

    Specification

    Data is held as spatial data (Tab files) and within Excel spreadsheets.

 

Quality

Ansawdd Data
Data quality

Cwmpas Ansawdd
Quality Scope
Dataset
Dataset
Cydymffurfiad
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

Guided by a previous aerial scoter survey on the 25 January 2004, a stratified random sampling strategy was used to sample the benthos in 50 2x2 km grid cells using a Day Grab. In addition a series (8) of 2m beam trawls and 6 intertidal samples were taken to sample potential epifaunal and lower intertidal prey respectively. Biological data were recorded on a suite of epifauna, bivalve and macroinfauna biomass, shell length and bivalve abundance (count) and individual bivalve taxa abundance. An aerial survey was undertaken on the 28th February, 2004.
 

Keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • coast (coasts) (coastal) (coastline) (maritime)
  • melanitta nigra
  • benthic marine habitats
  • marine species
  • marine birds (see seabirds,shorebirds)
  • Carmarthen Bay
  • common scoter (black scoter)
  • Carmarthen
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2024-06-19
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

All Wales common scoter survey : report on 2003/2004 work programme
NRW Related Title

Food sources for common scoter in Carmarthen Bay
 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Math o Gyfyngiad
Restriction type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions to this data. CCW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Cyfyngiadau Defnyddio
Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CCGC/CCW 2004. 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 CCW'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.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil
File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3837313839 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T15:45:03.186Z
Enw Safonol Metadata
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Fersiwn Metadata
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt
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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