Coastal Creatures Intertidal Surveying Focusing on Species Census Results February 2017 - July 2018
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Coastal Creatures Intertidal Surveying focusing on Species Census Results February 2017 - July 2018 Written by Cat Oliver, North Devon Coast AONB Education & Interpretation Officer 7th September 2018 Contents Table of Tables ........................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Figures .......................................................................................................................... 3 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Survey rationale .................................................................................................................. 5 2. Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1. Survey locations .................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Volunteer training and survey protocol ............................................................................... 6 2.3. Equipment ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.4. Data input ........................................................................................................................... 8 3. Results & Discussion ........................................................................................................... 9 3.1. Species records ................................................................................................................... 9 3.2. Taxonomic group composition in each location ............................................................... 10 3.3. Taxonomic group composition during each season ......................................................... 14 3.4. Invasive and non-native species ....................................................................................... 17 4. Bioblitz Events .................................................................................................................. 18 5. Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................. 21 6. Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 22 Appendix 1: SACFOR scale (Field Studies Council) ................................................................... 23 Appendix 2: Metadata ............................................................................................................. 24 Appendix 3: Full list of species records .................................................................................... 25 Appendix 4: Location survey maps of BioBlitzes run during the Coastal Creatures project ... 81 Table of Tables Table 1: Invasive, non-native species and climate change indicator species (CCIS) recorded during species census surveys. ................................................................................................ 17 Table 2: What and where? A table depicting which animals or plants people are most likely to see when visiting each location and at what time of year. ................................................. 21 Table of Figures Figure 1: Map of the North Devon Coast AONB with target beaches highlighted. ................... 5 Figure 2: Volunteers after a December survey at Westward Ho! beach. .................................. 8 3 Figure 3: Total number of species recorded and total number of unique species recorded in each location. ............................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 4: Graph depiciting survey effort comparing number of species recorded each survey against the number of volunteers conducting the survey. In the survey identification number, the last two letters refer to the location: WH = Westward Ho!, LB = Lee Bay, CM = Combe Martin, CY = Croyde. .................................................................................................... 10 Figure 5: Number of unique species recorded in each taxonomic group in each location. Where 1 = Arthropods, 2 = Molluscs, 3 = Cnidarians 4 = Annelids, 5 = Bryozoans 6 = Porifera 7 = Pisces 8 = Ascidians 9 = Echinoerms 10 = Algae................................................................. 11 Figure 6: Taxonomic group composition broken down as a percentage using unique species data in each location. Where 1 = Arthropods, 2 = Molluscs, 3 = Cnidarians 4 = Annelids, 5 = Bryozoans 6 = Porifera 7 = Pisces 8 = Ascidians 9 = Echinoerms 10 = Algae ........................... 12 Figure 7: Taxonomic groups divided into survey location using unique species records. n = denotes the number of species surveyed in that taxonomic group........................................ 13 Figure 8: Number of surveys conducted at each location during each season. ...................... 14 Figure 9: Number of species recorded each season in each location. .................................... 15 Figure 10: Taxonomic groups divided into season using all species records. n = denotes the number of species surveyed in that taxonomic group. ........................................................... 16 Figure 11: Summary of BioBlitzes run during the Coastal Creatures project in North Devon.19 Figure 12: Summary of the Lee Bay BioBlitz, run in September 2017. .................................... 20 Glossary Arthopods – group of animals including crabs, prawns, shrimps and barnacles Molluscs – group of animals including sea snails, sea slugs and bivalves Cnidarians – group of animals including anemones, hydroids and jellyfish Annelids – group of animals including worms Bryozoans – group of animals forming a moss like colony of single celled creatures Porifera – group of animals including sponges Pisces – group of animals including fish Ascidians – group of animals called sea squirts Echinoderms – group of animals including starfish and seaurchins Algae – plants called seaweed Intertidal – the area of coast between mean high water and mean low water CCIS – climate change indicator species 4 1. Survey rationale Coastal Creatures was a two year project (July 2016 - Septmber 2018) which focused on the diverse marine and coastal natural heritage of the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). During the project we provided citizen science opportunities to identify, record, enjoy and learn about the varied flora and fauna of our diverse intertidal and coastal habitats. To better understand our coast, we focused on four beaches along the AONB coast with a range of habitats and species. The focus beaches were Northam Burrows (Westward Ho! and Greysands), Croyde, Lee Bay and Combe Martin. The species census surveys which are the focus of this report formed the marjority of our citizen science surveying effort. 2. Methodology 2.1. Survey locations During February 2017 and July 2018 as part of the Coastal Creatures project a series of 23 species census surveys were undertaken on four rocky shores (in the intertidal zone) along the North Devon Coast AONB ( Figure 1): • Combe Martin (five sucessful surveys, one cancelled survey) • Lee Bay (six successful surveys) • Croyde (six sucessful surveys) • Westward Ho! (six sucessful surveys, one cancelled survey). Figure 1: Map of the North Devon Coast AONB with target beaches highlighted. 2.2 Volunteer training and survey protocol Volunteers were recruited and then during a workshop in February 2017, they were trained on how to complete the survey methodology by the NDC AONB Education and Interpretation Officer. The marjority of the survey group were recruited from Coastwise North Devon (http://www.coastwisenorthdevon.org.uk/). Other volunteers were recruited via online advertisement, leaflets and posters distributed at festivals and shows. Below are the instructions given to volunteers to complete the survey. Coastal Creatures Species Census As part of the Coastal Creatures project we will be undertaking a species census across four beaches along the North Devon Coast AONB. To take part in this species census please refer to the following survey methodology: 1. The survey will take place over a one-hour period (preferably half an hour either side of low tide). 2. In pairs decide who will be the surveyor and who will be the photographer (it is okay to switch roles within the survey time). 3. Decide which phylum (species group) you would like to focus on. Alternatively you can choose to do a generalist survey and record everything you find. Please use the corresponding sheet which you would like to use. Use the forms as a guide, there is plenty of space on the back of each sheet for additional species. The phyla being focused on in this survey include: • arthropods (including crustaceans), • molluscs, • cnidarians, annelids, bryozoans, porifera, • chordates (including vertebrates and ascidians), echinoderms • and also algae. 4. Fill in both your names on the form, date and the camera number you are using. 5. It is vital that you take a photo of each species and record photo number(s). 6. Record height of species record on shore (H = high, M = middle, L = low) and record the abundance if possible using the SACFOR scale (Appendix 1). 6. Once completed return forms and cameras to Cat (NDC AONB Education Officer). Thank you for taking part