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Infaunal abundances from mud samples taken from the Outer Ards penninsula (Northern Ireland) in 2014 and 2016 as part of an assessment of the Modiolus modiolus reefs
Citation
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) (2019): Infaunal abundances from mud samples taken from the Outer Ards penninsula (Northern Ireland) in 2014 and 2016 as part of an assessment of the Modiolus modiolus reefs.. v3.2. Marine Biological Association. Dataset/Samplingevent https://doi.org/10.17031/u4lvva
Contact: Clements, Annika ;

Access data
Archived data
Availability: Creative Commons License This dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Description
This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs taken off the coast of the Ards Penninsula, Northern Ireland in 2014 & 2016. This survey was carried out to contribute to a larger project to assess the status and extent of Modiolus modiolus biogenic reefs in this area. The biogenic reefs were in an unfavourable condition even though this Annex 1 habitat was the reason for the designation of the Strangford Lough Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This survey was carried out on board the RV Corystes using a 0.1m2 day grab. The infaunal communities were identified and weighed, particle size analysis and carbon & nitrogen analysis were carried out on the samples. In total there were 36 samples taken (only 30 could be analysed for infauna). The most abundant species recorded was the tunicate Dendrodoa grossularia and the most frequently recorded species was the mollusc Leptochiton asellus. more

"This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs taken off the coast of the Ards Penninsula, Northern Ireland in 2014 & 2016 as part of a larger more comprehensive project. The project was aiming to assess the status and extent of Modiolus modiolus biogenic reefs in the area. The biogenic reefs were in an unfavourable condition even though this Annex 1 habitat was the reason for the designation of the Strangford Lough Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There is a plan in place to restore these reefs to a favourable conservation Status and this project will provide information on this area. These surveys were carried out on board the RV Corystes using a 0.1m2 day grab (see below). In total there were 36 samples taken (only 30 could be analysed for infauna). Samples were analysed for infaunal communities, Particle Size Analysis (PSA) and Carbon & Nitrogen content. The survey in 2014 was carried out on 2014-09-04 near Craigbrain and Burial Island and in 2016 the survey was carried out on 2016-02-01 & 2016-02-02. The methodology for the day grab is detailed below. • A 0.1m2 day grab was used to take a sample of the sediment & associated infaunal communities. • When the sample reaches the deck, a 250ml sample is taken for PSA and a further 25ml is taken for C & N analysis. The rest of the sample is carefully sieved to reveal any infauna. • Fixed Formalin (4% buffered formaldehyde) is added to the remains of the sample and these are placed in labelled buckets. • The samples are sent to accredited taxonomic laboratories were they are identified to as high a level as possible and weighed. "

Scope
Themes:
Biology > Benthos, Biology > Plankton > Zooplankton
Keywords:
Marine/Coastal, Benthic infauna, Corystes, research vessel, ANE, Irish Sea, EurOBIS calculated BBOX, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Malacostraca, Ophiuroidea, Polychaeta

Geographical coverage
ANE, Irish Sea [Marine Regions]
EurOBIS calculated BBOX Stations
Bounding Box
Coordinates: MinLong: -5,4643; MinLat: 54,4927 - MaxLong: -5,4046; MaxLat: 54,595 [WGS84]

Temporal coverage
4 September 2014 - 2 February 2016

Taxonomic coverage
Bivalvia [WoRMS]
Gastropoda [WoRMS]
Malacostraca [WoRMS]
Ophiuroidea [WoRMS]
Polychaeta [WoRMS]

Parameters
Count (in assayed sample) of biological entity specified elsewhere [BODC]
Development stage of biological entity specified elsewhere [BODC]
Gender of biological entity specified elsewhere [BODC]
Occurrence of biota

Contributors
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)data creator
Clements, Annika
Service, Matt
McArdle, James
Lillie, Katie
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)data creator
Alvarez Alonso, Clara
Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA), moredata provider

Related datasets
Published in:
EurOBIS: European Ocean Biodiversity Information System, more

Dataset status: Completed
Data type: Data
Data origin: Research: field survey
Metadatarecord created: 2019-01-21
Information last updated: 2022-07-20
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