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Field survey using the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) methodology (Rodwell, 2000) was used to record and map the vegetation of saltmarsh and other habitats within the Essex Estuaries candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) from July to October 2001 and 2002. Saltmarshes were surveyed at the major estuaries of the Colne, Blackwater, Crouch and Roach and the open coast tidal flats at Foulness and Dengie. This report presents the survey results for these sites. The Essex survey forms part of a wider study of The Wash, North Norfolk Coast and Essex Estuaries cSACs. The main aim of this project is to provide detailed NVC descriptions of the European sites, which will allow a baseline to be established for future monitoring purposes. Within the Essex Estuaries, most of the saltmarsh vegetation has not been surveyed since 1974, and the data from this and preceding surveys were incorporated into â??The Saltmarsh Survey of Great Britainâ?? (Burd, 1989), which provided a basis for selecting Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). However, this data is unsuitable for monitoring sites that are recognised for their international importance. Furthermore, â??The Saltmarsh Survey of Great Britainâ?? classification is not convertible into National Vegetation Classification (NVC) communities and rare and unusual saltmarsh communities were not described or mapped. Hence, there is a need for systematic vegetation species information and in particular, mapping of saltmarsh communities. In total, 860 quadrats were recorded during the 2001/2002 survey season and used to construct floristic tables describing the vegetation communities. Target notes were also recorded for various parameters including management practice, drainage and evidence of erosion and or deposition. The survey results were used in conjunction with aerial photographs of The Essex Estuaries in order to enhance the mapping output. The vegetation communities and sub-communities were mapped at 1:5000 scale in broad accordance with the colour coding used in the â??NVC Survey of Saltmarsh Habitat in the Severn Estuaryâ?? (Dargie, 1998a and 1998b). However, it was necessary to expand the range of colours in order to accommodate the large number of vegetation communities and sub-communities present. In addition to this, during 2002, 13 monitoring transects were established and sampled. The Essex saltmarshes are distributed around the estuaries, in varying size patches. In the sheltered areas within the estuaries, the build up of sediments creates the conditions required for saltmarsh development. Saltmarshes border the upper shores and display a range of vegetation which varies according to tolerance to tidal flooding. The Essex Estuaries European marine site contains approximately 8% of the UK saltmarsh resource (about 3,500 hectares). The habitats within the saltmarshes are of enormous conservation value not only because of the wide variety of saltmarsh plant communities, which occur, but also for the invertebrates and particularly for the vast numbers of breeding and overwintering waterfowl. There are areas of mudflats exposed at low tides which are interspersed with patches of SM6 Spartina anglica. The edges of the marshes generally have a cliff face of a few centimetres to a metre, and these have SM8 Annual Salicornia pioneer community in places. The most extensive mosaics comprise a mix of SM14 Atriplex portulacoides/SM13 Puccinellia maritima sub-communities. Throughout Essex there are swathes of SM24 Elytrigia atherica which occur along the seawalls, with occasional patches of SM26 Inula crithmoides. The SM25 Suaeda vera drift-line community is occasionally present along the base of the seawalls.
Natural England
Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions
Other details | ||
Internal code | Internally assigned metadata identifier | 3847 |
Title | The title is used to provide a brief and precise description of the dataset such as 'Date', 'Originating organisation/programme', 'Location' and 'Type of survey'. All acronyms and abbreviations should be reproduced in full. | NVC Survey of saltmarsh and other habitats in the Essex Estuaries European Site |
File Identifier | The File Identifier is a code, preferably a GUID, that is globally unique and remains with the same metadata record even if the record is edited or transferred between portals or tools. | 7891dc69137b48e692378e600c22d872 |
Resource Identifier | This is the code assigned by the data owner. | NATENG00000E |
Resource type | The resource type will likely be a dataset but could also be a series (collection of datasets with a common specification) or a service. | dataset |
Start date | This describes the date the resource starts. This may only be the year if month and day are not known | 2003-01-01 |
End date | This describes the date the resource ends. This may only be the year if month and day are not known | 2003-12-31 |
Spatial resolution | This describes the spatial resolution of the dataset or the spatial limitations of the service. | inapplicable |
Frequency of updates | This describes the frequency with which the resource is modified or updated i.e. a monitoring programme that samples once per year has a frequency that is described as 'annually'. | notPlanned |
Abstract | The abstract provides a clear and brief statement of the content of the resource. | Field survey using the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) methodology (Rodwell, 2000) was used to record and map the vegetation of saltmarsh and other habitats within the Essex Estuaries candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) from July to October 2001 and 2002. Saltmarshes were surveyed at the major estuaries of the Colne, Blackwater, Crouch and Roach and the open coast tidal flats at Foulness and Dengie. This report presents the survey results for these sites. The Essex survey forms part of a wider study of The Wash, North Norfolk Coast and Essex Estuaries cSACs. The main aim of this project is to provide detailed NVC descriptions of the European sites, which will allow a baseline to be established for future monitoring purposes. Within the Essex Estuaries, most of the saltmarsh vegetation has not been surveyed since 1974, and the data from this and preceding surveys were incorporated into â??The Saltmarsh Survey of Great Britainâ?? (Burd, 1989), which provided a basis for selecting Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). However, this data is unsuitable for monitoring sites that are recognised for their international importance. Furthermore, â??The Saltmarsh Survey of Great Britainâ?? classification is not convertible into National Vegetation Classification (NVC) communities and rare and unusual saltmarsh communities were not described or mapped. Hence, there is a need for systematic vegetation species information and in particular, mapping of saltmarsh communities. In total, 860 quadrats were recorded during the 2001/2002 survey season and used to construct floristic tables describing the vegetation communities. Target notes were also recorded for various parameters including management practice, drainage and evidence of erosion and or deposition. The survey results were used in conjunction with aerial photographs of The Essex Estuaries in order to enhance the mapping output. The vegetation communities and sub-communities were mapped at 1:5000 scale in broad accordance with the colour coding used in the â??NVC Survey of Saltmarsh Habitat in the Severn Estuaryâ?? (Dargie, 1998a and 1998b). However, it was necessary to expand the range of colours in order to accommodate the large number of vegetation communities and sub-communities present. In addition to this, during 2002, 13 monitoring transects were established and sampled. The Essex saltmarshes are distributed around the estuaries, in varying size patches. In the sheltered areas within the estuaries, the build up of sediments creates the conditions required for saltmarsh development. Saltmarshes border the upper shores and display a range of vegetation which varies according to tolerance to tidal flooding. The Essex Estuaries European marine site contains approximately 8% of the UK saltmarsh resource (about 3,500 hectares). The habitats within the saltmarshes are of enormous conservation value not only because of the wide variety of saltmarsh plant communities, which occur, but also for the invertebrates and particularly for the vast numbers of breeding and overwintering waterfowl. There are areas of mudflats exposed at low tides which are interspersed with patches of SM6 Spartina anglica. The edges of the marshes generally have a cliff face of a few centimetres to a metre, and these have SM8 Annual Salicornia pioneer community in places. The most extensive mosaics comprise a mix of SM14 Atriplex portulacoides/SM13 Puccinellia maritima sub-communities. Throughout Essex there are swathes of SM24 Elytrigia atherica which occur along the seawalls, with occasional patches of SM26 Inula crithmoides. The SM25 Suaeda vera drift-line community is occasionally present along the base of the seawalls. |
Lineage | Lineage includes the background information, history of the sources of data, data quality statements and methods. | In total, 860 quadrats were recorded during the 2001/2002 survey season and used to construct floristic tables describing the vegetation communities. Target notes were also recorded for various parameters including management practice, drainage and evidence of erosion and or deposition. The survey results were used in conjunction with aerial photographs of The Essex Estuaries in order to enhance the mapping output. The vegetation communities and sub-communities were mapped at 1:5000 scale in broad accordance with the colour coding used in the â??NVC Survey of Saltmarsh Habitat in the Severn Estuaryâ?? (Dargie, 1998a and 1998b). However, it was necessary to expand the range of colours in order to accommodate the large number of vegetation communities and sub-communities present. In addition to this, during 2002, 13 monitoring transects were established and sampled. |
Related keywords | ||
Keyword | General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Marine Environmental Data and Information Network |
General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Habitats and biotopes | |
General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Species distribution | |
General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Macroalgae generic abundance in water bodies | |
General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Zoobenthos generic abundance | |
General subject area(s) associated with the resource, uses multiple controlled vocabularies | Habitat extent | |
Geographical coverage | ||
North | The northern-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | 51.9596 |
East | The eastern-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | 1.5648 |
South | The southern-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | 51.4147 |
West | The western-most limit of the data resource in decimal degrees | -0.3468 |
Regional sea | unknown | |
Responsible organisations | ||
Role | The point of contact is person or organisation with responsibility for the creation and maintenance of the metadata for the resource. | pointOfContact |
Organisation name | Natural England | |
Position name | Marine GI Team | |
Phone | +44 (0)300 060 3900 | |
Fax | +44 (0)300 060 2356 | |
Delivery point | Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green | |
Postal code | YO1 7PX | |
City | York | |
Role | The distributor is the person or organisation that distributes the resource. | distributor |
Organisation name | Natural England | |
Position name | Marine GI Team | |
Phone | +44 (0)300 060 3900 | |
Fax | +44 (0)300 060 2356 | |
Delivery point | Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green | |
Postal code | YO1 7PX | |
City | York | |
Role | The originator is the person or organisation who created, collected or produced the resource. | originator |
Organisation name | Natural England | |
Position name | Marine GI Team | |
Phone | +44 (0)300 060 3900 | |
Fax | +44 (0)300 060 2356 | |
Delivery point | Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green | |
Postal code | YO1 7PX | |
City | York | |
Role | The custodian is the person or organisation that accepts responsibility for the resource and ensures appropriate care and maintenance. If a dataset has been lodged with a Data Archive Centre for maintenance then this organisation is be entered here. | custodian |
Organisation name | Natural England | |
Position name | Marine GI Team | |
Phone | +44 (0)300 060 3900 | |
Fax | +44 (0)300 060 2356 | |
Delivery point | Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green | |
Postal code | YO1 7PX | |
City | York | |
Dataset constraints | ||
20 Limitations on Public Access - Access constraints | ISO restriction code chosen from ISO 19115-1 Codelist | otherRestrictions |
20 Limitations on Public Access – Other constraints | Any restriction on the use of the resource such as the need to agree to certain licence conditions. | Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions |
21 Conditions for Access and Use - Use limitation | Any restrictions imposed on accessing the resource such as the need to agree to certain licence conditions. | Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions |
Available data formats | ||
Data format | Format in which digital data can be provided for transfer | Documents |
Version info | ||
Date of publication | The publication date of the resource or if previously unpublished the date that the resource was made publicly available via the MEDIN network. | 2003-03-31 |
Metadata date | The date when the content of this metadata record was last updated. | 2022-03-08 |
Metadata standard name | The name of the metadata standard used to create this metadata | MEDIN Discovery metadata standard |
Metadata standard version | The version of the MEDIN Discovery Metadata Standard used to create the metadata record | 2.3.8 |
© OpenStreetMap contributors