Impacts of Marine Aggregate Extraction on Adjacent Sabellaria spinulosa Aggregations and Other Benthic Fauna
- Reference:
- 08/P39
- Organisation:
- Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd
- Amount Funded:
- £223,369
- Status:
- Current
The primary aim of this project is to establish the impacts of
aggregate extraction on Sabellaria spinulosa and other benthic
fauna living in deposits closely adjacent to Licence Area 447
(Cutline). A series of eight sampling events will be carried out in
a time-series; one prior to the commencement of dredging activities
and the other seven once dredging begins, over a period of
approximately 18 months. Each sampling station will be sampled
using seabed imagery as well as a mini hamon grab allowing both a
qualitative and quantitative assessment of the seafloor. Changes in
the sediment composition and faunal complement will be assessed
alongside natural variation in control sites, using standard
multivariate community analysis as well as newly developed routines
to test for significant alterations.
As a means of taking full advantage of the time-series sampling
events, plankton haul samples will also be collected and analysed
for the presence of Sabellaria spinulosa larvae as a means of
providing new information on the reproductive cycle of this
species.
Work Completed to Date
The first three of the sampling events have now been completed
and planning has commenced for the fourth to take place at the end
of November / start of December. The sample analyses associated
with the first two survey events, before and shortly after dredging
activities commenced, have been completed and preliminary analysis
of these data is underway. The third set of samples has been logged
into the lab and analysis of these will commence shortly.
* This project is part funded through The Crown Estate.