2013 Natural England Verification Survey of Intertidal Sediments within the Beachy Head West rMCZ
Description
A Natural England commissoined verification survey of intertidal sediments within the Beachy Head West rMCZ.
Phase I Biotope mapping was carried out across the rMCZ for broad scale habitats where intertidal coarse sediment occurred. Phase II Infaunal sampling was carried out to provide information on the benthic infaunal assemblages and particle size distribution of the study sites by means of core sampling. Sediment surface scrapes were obtained for heavy metals and organic contaminants analysis.
The data was used to produce a EUNIS Level 3 boradscale habitat map of the Beachy Head West rMCZ.
Aerial imagery and OS mapping was digitised to produce baseline maps of biotope boundaries. The maps were annotated in the field to identify biotopes and boundaries as well as significant features. In addition, intertidal sediment cores were taken at 6 stations (0.01m2 cores 3 replicates at each station) distributed throughout the Beachy Head West rMCZ, in order to assess the benthic species present, along with an additional sample for Particle Size Analysis. Samples were sieved over a 0.5mm sieve. Sediment scrape samples were also taken at 3 stations for Tributyl tin, heavy metal and organic contaminant analysis. The methods used for data collection and processing followed protocols and standards for biotope mapping and sampling. MEDIN Data Guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos.
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Tags
- marine-habitat-mapping
- eunis
- eastern-channel
- oceanographic-geographical-features