Tralee Bay, Ardmucknish Bay, near Oban, Argyll (SE 56.49069, -5.410866 MID 56.492834, -5.414959 NW 56.4947, -5.419467) and St Andrews, Fife (56.355414, -2.803437)

Wind strength and direction; Fish abundance in water bodies; Fish taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related ash-free dry weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column; Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed

Anemometers; water temperature sensor; pelagic trawl nets; discrete water samplers; salinity sensor

Samples of fish and larger crustaceans were taken at approximately monthly intervals at three stations on the beach which is about 11km long. Trawl samples were taken by towing the trawl by boat from 0-5m, a distance of about 200m. Seine samples were taken at the water's edge at low tide. Salinity and temperature samples were taken at each station. Catches consisted of 43 fish species and 16 crustacean species. Abundance values were not corrected for net efficiencies. Abundance and species richness may vary with gear type. The data show clear, seasonal and annual variations in all parameters measured. Species abundance and richness is highest in the summer and lowest in the winter, but actual abundance values vary considerably between years.

Gibson R.N., Ansell A.D., and Robb L. (1993) Seasonal and annual variations in abundance and species composition of fish and macro crustacean communities on a Scottish sandy beach., Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol 98: 89-105.

Scottish Association for Marine Science

Argyll
Oban
PA37 1QA
United Kingdom