carolyn waddell 2015 cornwall intertidal survey
DESCRIPTION
Unlocking the secrets of Cornwall’s North Coast; results of the Intertidal Discovery ProjectCaz WaddellMarine Conservation Officer, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ T: 01872 273939 ext. 208 E: [email protected] Web: www.intertidaldiscovery.org.uk Between 2012 and 2014 Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) together with the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) ran a ground breaking project to map the intertidal habitats along 370 miles of Cornwall’s north coast. Surveys were undertaken using innovative mobile GIS technologies and conducted to recognised scientific standards produced by the JNCC. In total 3,190 hectares of intertidal habitat were surveyed; including every major outlying rock/island within 1 mile of the coast, and extending inland to the tidal limit on the major estuaries. Results showed that 111 different intertidal biotopes (habitat types) were present on the North coast, and 32 of these were BAP and/or FOCI habitat types. Approximately 1200 hectares of rocky habitats were surveyed (of which 6.5% was BAP habitat), and 1850 hectares of sediment habitats were surveyed (of which 24% was BAP habitat). Detailed species records of over 200 intertidal species, including non-natives, were also obtained. With the project now complete, results are already being put to use in the field of marine conservation - most notably in support of tranche II Marine Conservation Zones currently under public consultation. Results are also in the public domain; available to download via the interactive webmap. Our hope is that this resource will ensure information is accessible to anyone with an interest in marine conservation, and inspire others to learn more about Cornwall’s diverse coastal habitats.TRANSCRIPT
Photo: Caz Waddell
The Intertidal Discovery Project
Caz WaddellMarine Conservation Officer
Enriching Nature
Programme
1. Map intertidal habitats along 450km of Cornwall's North Coast.
2. Produce three key datasets; species, biotopes and non-
natives.
3. Create an Internet Mapping Portal.
4. Input towards marine management plans.
Aims
Foot surveys
Boat & Kayak
• 51% foot
• 40% boat
• 9% kayak
Photos: Caz Waddell
450 km (280 miles)
Cornwall’s North Coast
Data Collection
Data Collection
Biotopes: Uniform areas of plant and animal distribution (recognised ecological communities)
Barnacles and mussels
LR.HLR.MusB.MytB
Yellow and Grey Lichens
LR.FLR.Lic.YG
‘Intertidal Underboulder communities’
(BAP Habitat)
LR.MLR.DF.FserBo
Data Collection
Data Collection
Over 450 people trained
Equivalent of 2.2 full-time
staff
Over 5000 volunteer hours
Value of over
£50,000!
Communities & Volunteers
• Surveyed 31,899,064 m2 of intertidal habitat (3,190 hectares).
• Every major outlying rock and island within 1 mile of the coast.
• Tidal limits on the 3 major estuaries.
• Complete baseline data for the North coast; accurate to within 5m.
Proven ability to undertake
field surveys with innovative
mobile GIS technology.
Achievements
111
intertidal
habitat
types
(biotopes)
32 BAP
and/or
FOCI
habitat
types Detailed records of over 200species
(including non-natives)
Approx. 1,850 ha of sedimenthabitats.
24% is BAP(14 types)
Approx. 1,200 ha of
rockyhabitats.
7% is BAP(18 types)
Photo: Caz Waddell.
Using Evidence
Polzeath
Using Evidence
Broad Habitat Type Area (ha)
Caves 0.001
Bare rock 0.037
Lichens 0.399
Rockpools 0.223
Green algae dominated 0.251
Red algae dominated 0.267
Fucoid dominated 1.356
Kelp dominated 0.376
Mussel beds 1.402
Barnacle habitats 1.916
Sand habitats (worms) 6.900
Sand habitats
(amphipods)1.790
Sand habitats (other) 0.710
TOTAL 15.625
Polzeath’s Intertidal Habitats:
41 different biotopes
13 broad habitat types
7 lifeform types
(152 species)
Polzeath’s Management
Bait digging –
Possible
locations
Resource management
1.42 ha mussel habitat = approx. 4.26
tonnes
Fucoid/kel
p
collection
BAP
habitatsNon-native
species
Polzeath VMCA
monitoring
MCZ
baseline
Intertidal
DiscoveryVMCA
monitoring
Honeycomb worms reefs
Sabellaria alveolata
Photos: Alan Rowland (top left) and Matt Slater (above).
Using Evidence
Honeycomb worms reefs
Sabellaria alveolata
IDP Data
(2014)
IDP Data
(2014)
Using Evidence
MCZ Tranche II evidence data
sent to NE/DEFRA
Data AnalysisTrends &
Environmental Planning
Informing Policy
45.0 ha24.79 ha
1487.27 ha
Surveyed area of Sabellaria BAP/HPI habitat in the Heartland Point to Tintagel rMCZ
LS.LBR.Sab
LS.LBR.Sab.Salv
Total IntertidalHabitat (75 Types)
Using Evidence
• A fully interactive mapping portal for desktop & mobiles.
• New marine data website www.marinedatacornwall.org‘one-stop’ location for all CWT and ERCCIS managed marine data.
Resources
All free and publically available.
69 sectional areas www.intertidaldiscovery.org.uk/OnYourBeach
I want info
about the
habitats in my
local area…
I want more
on a particular
biotope…
108 biotope guideswww.intertidaldiscovery.org.uk/Biotopes
104 access guides By kind permission from Mike Hawkey
I want info on
beach
access…
I want to
print a map…
I want to
remove the
survey
layers…
I want to
change the
background…
I want to
measure
things…
I want to know
where I am, or set a reference point for when
I’m out surveying…
I want to know
when the area
was
surveyed…
Enriching Nature
Programme
For more information:
www.intertidaldiscovery.org.uk
Or contact the Project Team:
Caz Waddell, Martin Goodall, Cat Wilding
Photo: Caz Waddell