2013 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch Sween Sargassum muticum records

The pMPAs on the west coast of Scotland encompass a number of sea lochs, including Loch Sween, which forms the subject of the present investigation. The principal aim of the work was validation of historical records and determination of the current distribution of the MPA search features: burrowed mud, inshore deep mud with burrowing heart urchins and beds of maerl, flame shells and native oysters; as well as assessment of the condition of these features. A further objective was the validation of records of representative sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities.苏格兰西海岸的保护型海洋保护区（pMPAs）涵盖多处海洛赫（sea lochs），其中斯韦恩洛赫（Loch Sween）为本研究的核心研究对象。本研究的首要目标为验证历史记录，并明确海洋保护区（Marine Protected Area, MPA）调查特征的当前分布：包括穴居底泥、栖息有穴居心形海胆的近岸深底泥、玛尔藻（maerl）床、火焰贝（flame shells）床以及本土牡蛎床；同时评估上述特征的健康状态。本研究的另一目标为验证具有代表性的潮下带泥质与混合沉积群落的相关记录。