English Nature Research Reports Number 499 A biotope sensitivity database to underpin delivery of the Habitats Directive and Biodiversity Action Plan in the seas around England and Scotland Harvey Tyler-Walters Keith Hiscock This report has been prepared by the Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA) as part of the work being undertaken in the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN). The report is part of a contract placed by English Nature, additionally supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, to assist in the provision of sensitivity information to underpin the implementation of the Habitats Directive and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The views expressed in the report are not necessarily those of the funding bodies. Any errors or omissions contained in this report are the responsibility of the MBA. February 2003 You may reproduce as many copies of this report as you like, provided such copies stipulate that copyright remains, jointly, with English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Marine Biological Association of the UK. ISSN 0967-876X © Joint copyright 2003 English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Marine Biological Association of the UK. Biotope sensitivity database Final report This report should be cited as: TYLER-WALTERS, H. & HISCOCK, K., 2003. A biotope sensitivity database to underpin delivery of the Habitats Directive and Biodiversity Action Plan in the seas around England and Scotland. Report to English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage from the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN). Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the UK. [Final Report] 2 Biotope sensitivity database Final report Contents Foreword and acknowledgements.............................................................................................. 5 Executive summary .................................................................................................................... 7 1 Introduction to the project ............................................................................................... 9 2 Aims and objectives ...................................................................................................... 10 3 Timetable....................................................................................................................... 11 4 Key information ............................................................................................................ 13 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 13 4.2 Design of the Key Information fields ........................................................................ 13 4.3 Species Key Information fields ................................................................................. 14 4.4 Biotope Key Information fields................................................................................. 15 5 Sensitivity assessment rationale for species and biotopes............................................. 15 5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 15 5.2 Assessing the sensitivity and recoverability of biotopes........................................... 15 6 The Biology and Sensitivity Key Information database ............................................... 17 6.1 Development of the database..................................................................................... 17 6.2 The Biotope Key Information database..................................................................... 18 6.3 The user interface ...................................................................................................... 20 7 The Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) Web site..........................................21 7.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 21 7.2 Biology & Sensitivity Key Information pages .......................................................... 22 7.3 Decision support tools............................................................................................... 24 8 Undertaking the research............................................................................................... 26 8.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 26 8.2 Priority and representative biotopes.......................................................................... 26 8.3 Biotope Key Information research............................................................................. 27 9 Summary of work completed........................................................................................ 29 9.1 Biotopes and species researched................................................................................ 29 9.2 Biotope Images .......................................................................................................... 30 9.3 Peer review ................................................................................................................ 31 10 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 32 11 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 35 12 References ..................................................................................................................... 36 3 Biotope sensitivity database Final report List of Appendices Appendix 1 Guidance for Data Researchers .......................................................................... 39 Appendix 2 Biotope biology and sensitivity Key Information pro forma (May 2000 onwards)............................................................................................................................ 45 Appendix 3 Final list of researched and representative biotopes at the end of the contract (November 2002) .............................................................................................................. 49 Appendix 4 Species selected as indicative of the sensitivity of the biotopes researched....... 63 Appendix 5a Key Information reviews completed. Priority 1 species, designated or listed under statute or convention............................................................................................... 77 Appendix 5b Key Information reviews completed. Priority 2 species; key, characterizing or exemplary species ............................................................................................................. 79 Appendix 5c Key Information reviews completed. Research only species .......................... 84 Appendix 5d Basic information researched. Priority 1 species, designated or listed under statute or convention......................................................................................................... 85 Appendix 5e Basic information researched. Priority 2 species; key, characterizing or exemplary species ............................................................................................................. 87 Appendix 5f Basic information researched. Nationally rare or scarce species ..................... 93 Appendix 5g Basic information researched. Non-native species........................................... 95 Appendix 5h Basic information researched. Species sensitive to climate change................ 96 Appendix 5i Basic information researched. Species information prepared for educational pages.................................................................................................................................. 97 Appendix 6 List of researched biotopes and their status at the end of the contract (November 2002) ............................................................................................................................... 101 Appendix 7 The marine natural heritage importance of the researched biotopes................ 109 List of Figures Figure 1 Data entry fields for the general biology of a biotope............................................. 19 Figure 2 Outline of the Biotope Key Information Web pages ............................................... 23 Figure 3 The number of researched biotopes within Annex I habitats of the Habitats Directive............................................................................................................................ 29 Figure 4 The number of researched biotopes within UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitats. 30 4 Biotope sensitivity database Final report Foreword and acknowledgements The MarLIN programme represents an important national initiative for the provision of quality controlled, scientifically based information for marine environmental management, protection and education to a wide and multi-disciplinary audience via the World Wide Web. The information is provided in a form that can support scientifically sound decision-making for marine environmental management and protection. MarLIN is a Web-based project so that it is not possible to do justice to the volume of work undertaken in this project, its resultant functionality or applicability, in a written report of this kind. The reader should refer to the MarLIN Web site (www.marlin.ac.uk) to appreciate the products of the contract. The Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme and the MarLIN Web site have involved input