Biological survey of the intertidal chalk reefs between Folkestone Warren and Kingsdown, Kent 2009-2011
Kent Wildlife Trust
Description
This dataset consists of intertidal species and habitat records collected during a professional survey of the full extent of intertidal chalk to either side of Dover (between Folkestone in the south and Deal in the north). Surveys were conducted at roughly 500m intervals along the chalk exposure, employing a standard transect recording method (recording species in each biotope zone down the shore), augmented at some sites with replicated quadrats in each zone. Data have been entered into Marine Recorder, and a full report compiled (available from KWT)
2009 to 2011, with the majority of surveys being completed on extreme spring tides during 2009 and 2010. Transects were completed on the first visit to each site. Depending on daylight, tides and site accessibility, some quadrat surveys were completed within that same single visit to a site, while others required a second visit to complete the quadrats.
Geographic Description
The extent of the intertidal chalk exposure around Dover, Kent - from Folkestone Warren in the south to Kingsdown, Deal in the North.
Purpose
To provide a thorough baseline of data on species and biotopes along the full extent of the intertidal chalk exposure around Dover.
Data quality
Data were collected by professional marine biologists employed by Kent Wildlife Trust as staff or consultants, with complementary expertise in marine fauna and flora, resulting in a dataset with a high level of accuracy. Where faunal expertise was missing, species were recorded to a taxonomic level where high confidence could be maintained in the identification. Any unresolved uncertainty will be recorded in the 'uncertain' field. The dataset has been checked using NBN Record Cleaner and records highlighted as being outside their known range have been confirmed by the surveyors.
Methods
Data collection was carried out using a transect tape perpendicular to the cliff face, recording the extent of each biotope zone down the shore, and the abundance of the characterising and other species in each zone in a approximately 10m wide strip down the shore. Transects were surveyed at 16 sites, spaced at approximately 500m intervals along the chalk exposure. At roughly alternate transect sites (depending on accessibility), quadrat surveys where also undertaken, recording the physical habitat and abundance of all species within three replicate 1m2 quadrats in each biotope zone. All species were recorded, most were identified in the field, but, where necessary, algal, sponge, bryozoan and hydroid samples were taken for later laboratory examination. Piddocks, some polychaete worms, and small isopod and amphipod crustaceans were not normally identified to species level.
Citation
No citation information available.
Information withheld
Full data are held in the national Marine Recorder database, both centrally with JNCC (public snapshot: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1599), and locally at Kent Wildlife Trust. This contains further survey and habitat data relating to the species records. This survey has been written up into a comprehensive, illustrated report, including comparisons with previous intertidal surveys undertaken in the southern part of the survey area. (Spurrier, C.J.H., Chapman, B, and Tittley, I., 2012. Biological survey of the intertidal chalk reefs between Folkestone Warren and Kingsdown, Kent. A research report for Natural England's Biodiversity Action Fund Programme Countdown 2010. Kent Wildlife Trust, Maidstone. 109pp. plus Appendices 1-10.) Further information, and electronic copies of the report and appendices are available from the marine team at Kent Wildlife Trust, via info@kentwildlife.org.uk and our website: www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk.
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Digitised records
Looking up... the number of records that can be accessed through the NBN Atlas. This resource was last checked for updated data on 02 Jul 2018. The most recent data was published on 02 Jul 2018.
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