Citation: Erwin, D., Connor, D., Gilleece, P., Howson, C. & Picton, B. 1985 The Northern Ireland sublittoral survey: methodology and early results. Progress in Underwater Science (Series New series) 10: 27-37
Number of Pages: 11
Keywords: Community, Diving, Habitat, Marine, Marine Inlet, Methods, Northern Ireland, Open Coast, Sublittoral, Survey
Abstract: Paper describes methodology and early results of a sublittoral survey to describe the habitats, flora and fauna of Northern Ireland and to assess conservation potential. A survey is currently in progress to describe the habitats, flora and fauna of the Northern Ireland sublittoral and to assess conservation potential. It is being carried out by the Botany and Zoology Department of the Ulster Museum under contract to Conservation Branch of the Department of the Enviroment (N.I.). Fieldwork is carried out with dives at five predetermined depths along a transect. Salinity and sediment samples are collected, wide-angle and close-up photographs taken, habitat and species information noted and a record card completed after the dive. A microcomputer is used for all data storage and handling, and dedicated software, including search and mapping facilities has been devised for the project. The project is due to end in 1986, but even at this stage variations around the coastline are apparent, with the north coast wave exposed, the east coast tide exposed and the silt load increasing from north to south. A number of different communities have been recorded. New geographic limits have been recorded for several species, and gaps have been filled in the known distribution of many species.