Mapping the distribution of benthic biotopes of Loch Maddy. Small area. Biotopes

The study âTrialing of AGDS and video sledge monitoring techniques in Loch Maddyâ is part of a larger project âLoch Maddy monitoring trialsâ which itself contributes to Task 2.1 of the UK marine SACs LIFE project. This aims to establish an appropriate programme of surveillance and monitoring for the Special Areas for Conservation (SAC) and to trial monitoring methodologies and protocols for the features of a site. The Loch Maddy project will assist in the development of best practise for future monitoring and reporting programmes for other marine SACs in the UK and Europe. The first phase (1998-9) concentrates on testing variability within methodologies and the determination of the minimum intensity of sampling necessary to provide adequate data for monitoring. The second phase (1999-2000) will concentrate on repeatability. However the major part of the 1998-9 study, which concentrates on the use of acoustic ground discrimination systems (AGDS) for biotope mapping, will make use of previous mapping studies undertaken in 1996 and will provide valuable guidance for future studies on repeatability of mapping.

Additional information sources:

Foster-Smith et al. (2000). 1999 Field survey & summary of the 1998/99 monitoring trials. Unpublished report to SNH

SSRG and Submetrix Ltd (2000). 1999 Swath-sounding survey of Loch Maddy cSAC, North Uist using Submetrix System 2000. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report F99PA19.

本研究《在洛奇马迪试运行AGDS和视频滑橇监测技术》是更大规模项目《洛奇马迪监测试验》的一部分，而该项目本身又是对英国海洋特别保护区域（SAC）LIFE项目任务2.1的贡献。该项目的目标是建立适用于特别保护区域（SAC）的监控与监测方案，并试验针对场地特征的监测方法和协议。洛奇马迪项目将有助于制定英国和欧洲其他海洋SAC未来监测与报告程序的优化实践。第一阶段（1998-9年）专注于测试方法内部的变异性以及确定提供充足监测数据所需的最小采样强度。第二阶段（1999-2000年）将集中于重复性。然而，1998-9年研究的主要部分，即专注于使用声学地面判别系统（AGDS）进行生物群落制图，将利用1996年进行的先前制图研究，并为未来关于制图重复性的研究提供宝贵的指导。