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Abundance and Biomass of infaunal species from grab samples from a benthic assessment for Fair Head tidal energy development site (Fair Head, Co. Antrim), 2014
Citation
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) (2019): Abundance and Biomass of infaunal species from grab samples from a benthic assessment for Fair Head tidal energy development site (Fair Head, Co. Antrim), 2014. v2.4. Marine Biological Association. Dataset/Samplingevent https://doi.org/10.17031/vlnar9
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 & biomass from sediment grab samples and video tows carried out off the coast of Fair Head (Co. Antrim) on the FPV Banríon Uladh (now Queen of Ulster). This survey was carried out to provide a benthic baseline for a potential offshore windfarm development site in May 2014. The main aim of this survey was to undertake a baseline assessment of the species & biotopes found in the area of interest. The survey comprised of 26 video stations and 10 grab stations (3 repeats per station) with 24 samples retained for infaunal analysis- the abundance & biomass was recorded. Particle size analysis (PSA) was also carried out but due to low success rate of grab samples, only 4 samples were appropriate for this analysis. The most abundant infauna found was Ascidiacea. more

"This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance & biomass & associated habitat biotope from sediment grabs & video tows carried out off the North Antirm coast. This survey was carried out as a baseline survey of the benthos in an area that had been proposed as an offshore windfarm. The survey area contained the proposed tidal site and potential routes for cables, 1 leading from the tidal site to Ballycastle (historic route) or leading to Drumnakill Point (northern edge of Murlough Bay) The analysis of this dataset also addressed the conservation important of the benthic communities identified along with their potential sensitivity to certain physical factors by referring to the Northern Ireland Priority Species List as well as information from the Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland (MarLIN). The methodologies for both the video tows & grab samples are detailed below. Video survey & Analysis • The video system used in this survey was an Osprey camera attached to an epibenthic sledge which was also fitted with a Go-Pro camera. This provided a field of view of 1m2 (oblique) for video analysis. • The epibenthic sledge was chosen over the drop frame camera as it is a more stable platform for camera footage, especially in stronger currents (current speeds can reach up to 3ms-1 at the survey site). The sledge was towed between the sites as they were relatively close together & to optimise efficiency. • A GPS overlay was recorded on the osprey to allow the position on the seabed to be estimates. Notes were taken of the ship’s position as well. • Due to site hydrodynamics, the video footage had poor visibility and was much faster than ideal. Epifauna of ~3cm and larger were identified. Biotopes were classified according to the UK MNCR classification. Benthic grabs & analysis • To obtain sediment samples for infaunal analysis both a pipe dredge & a day grab were used in attempt to obtain more sediment. • 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. • Due to the presence of large cobbles in many regions the jaws became blocked of the day grab which meant that a large amount of sediment was lost by the time the grab reached the ship. • Only 4 sediment PSA were retained for analysis and 24 samples were retained for infaunal analysis (abundance & biomass data). "

Scope
Themes:
Biology > Benthos, Biology > Plankton > Zooplankton
Keywords:
Marine/Coastal, Queen of Ulster, Renewable energy, research vessel, ANE, British Isles, Scottish West Coast, ANE, Irish Sea, EurOBIS calculated BBOX, Bivalvia, Gymnolaemata, Hydrozoa, Malacostraca, Polychaeta

Geographical coverage
ANE, British Isles, Scottish West Coast [Marine Regions]
ANE, Irish Sea [Marine Regions]
EurOBIS calculated BBOX Stations
Bounding Box
Coordinates: MinLong: -6,2197; MinLat: 55,2159 - MaxLong: -6,1081; MaxLat: 55,2247 [WGS84]

Temporal coverage
From 12 May 2014 on [Completed]

Taxonomic coverage
Bivalvia [WoRMS]
Gymnolaemata [WoRMS]
Hydrozoa [WoRMS]
Malacostraca [WoRMS]
Polychaeta [WoRMS]

Parameters
Count (in assayed sample) of biological entity specified elsewhere [BODC]
Description of habitat by classification to a term from the JNCCs Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland Version 15.03 (SDN:M21::) [BODC]
Development stage of biological entity specified elsewhere [BODC]
Occurrence of biota

Contributors
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), moredata creator
Fugro EMU Ltd, more
DP Energy Ireland Ltd, more
Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd, more
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: 2022-08-16
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