Realm: Marine
Climate: Temperate
Biome: Temperate shelf and seas ecoregions
Central latitude: 60.466447
Central longitude: -1.322878
Duration: 35 years, from 1976 to 2012

91491 records

252 distinct species

Across the time series Littorina saxatilis is the most frequently occurring species

Methods

Fifteen sites are located within. or at the entrance to. Sullom Voe to enable monitoring of the effects ofoil terminal activities. A further five sites are located in Vidlin Voe and Burra Voe to act as referencesites for the natural changes that occur in rocky shore populations. Access to sites was either by carand foot. or by boat as appropriate. A workboat was supplied by the BP Pollution Response Base. Ahand held GPS receiver and site location sheets. containing maps. colour photographs and writtennotes in laminated plastic. were used to aid relocation.The site numbering system is based on the wave exposure of the shore. The first number (rangingfrom 1 to 6) is based on the Ballantine scale (Ballantine. 1961). which uses the biological communitieson the shore to estimate the wave exposure (where 1 = extremely exposed). The second number is aconsecutive number at that exposure.A fixed datum marker. usually a pat of concrete and/or a paint mark. marks the top of each transect.The line of the transect is defined by a bearing and by reference to conspicuous marks (permanentrock features and distant landmarks) shown in the photographs on the site location sheet. A tape may belaid down the shore from the fixed datum marker at the top of the transect. to provide a visiblereference.Fixed recording stations have been established along the transects at all sites. The stations are locatedat 20 cm height intervals from the fixed datum marker. These stations are marked with paint. wherepossible in the upper shore zones. or relocated by use of a cross staff level (with a 20 cm shaft) and thetape measurements. On the shores with extensive plateaux or very gradual slopes. the tapemeasurements alone are usually reliable. Relocation has been improved since 1993 by usingannotated photographs of transects and close-up photographs of the stations. In most cases these nowallow more rapid and precise relocation of the stations. The number of stations on the transect variesfrom twenty nine stations at West of Mioness (site 1.1) where there is an extensive supralittoral lichenzone. to ten at Scatsta Ness (sites 6.12 and 6.13).Five stations are now monitored on each transect. selected to represent the five major shore zones oflower shore (LS). lower middle shore (LMS). middle shore (MS). upper middle shore (UMS) andupper shore (US) as defined by their relative height above chart datum and their assemblages of plantsand animals. Unit of abundance = IndCountInt, Unit of biomass = NA

Citation(s)

Moore, J. J. & Howson, C. M. “Survey of the rocky shores in the region of Sullom Voe, Shetland, A report to SOTEAG from Aquatic Survey & Monitoring Ltd”, Cosheston, Pembrokeshire. 29 p. Available at: http://www.soteag.org.uk, accessed 2013.