Arctic, North Atlantic & Rockall Trough, Portuguese coast

Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed; Shellfish morphology, age and physiology; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts

Pelagic trawl nets; cameras; sediment grabs; unconsolidated sediment corers; sediment dredges; beam trawls

The deep sea benthic biodiversity dataset encompasses a wide range of benthic sampling and observational activities carried out by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) since 1973. Data include analyses of samples obtained by fish trawls, benthic imagery and core sampling. The principle regions covered are the Arctic, North Atlantic and Rockall Trough and the Portuguese coast. Sampling has been carried out on numerous cruises, funded through various initiatives (ranging from NERC to commercially-funded ventures). A wide range of methods and equipment were used to obtain the information. These include Agassiz trawls, bed hop cameras, dredges, grabs, epibenthic sledges, corers and landers. Sampling of the macro and megabenthic community in the Rockall Trough (N.E. Atlantic) was primarily undertaken at two deep-sea permanent stations (54° 40 N, 12° 16 W in 2900m depth and 57° 19 N, 10° 28 W in 2200m depth) on a seasonal and interannual basis. Macrofauna samples were normally retained on 0.42mm sieves and sometimes 0.25mm. Net mesh sizes down to 0.3mm were also used. Sample processing was normally to major taxa then to family and, where possible, species groups. Partial sample processing of common echinoderms and bivalve molluscs for length/frequency/season data was carried out with most samples. Collaboration on taxonomy, where necessary, was with the Natural History Museum, London or the recognised experts in the field. These data help to build up a temporal and spatial record of regional biodiversity and consequently are a valuable tool to monitor the state of marine habitats.

British Oceanographic Data Centre
Joseph Proudman Building 6 Brownlow Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L3 5DA
United Kingdom