AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Habitat point records from 1990 MNCR Rhos Point to New Brighton littoral survey

The coastline within the survey area is bordered by the heavily industrialised Mersey to the east and the more unspoilt North Wales coast to the west. The shores within the survey area are backed by sand dunes, shore defence works and urban developments. Sediment shores predominate and there are few sites where a rocky substratum extends down onto the lower shore. Sixteen sites were surveyed on both rocky and sedimentary substrata. A wide range of soft sediment habitat was present and four basic communities were recognised: Crustacean/Polychaete, Tellina (characterised by Spio martinensis), Arenicola and Echinocardium - siliqua (with Lanice conchilega being an important component species). There was a limited range of habitats from the hard substrata sites which, together with the isolated nature of the sites within the region and the heavy sediment influence in most habitats, has lead to a poor species diversity. Beware ! the infauna has been entered in the epifauna window The nature conservation importance of the area has been assessed pointing out those sites and species which might be considered of regional and national importance.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Habitat point records from 1987 Loughborough University Poll Loisgann & Cull Lochain survey

Brief description of these 2 lochans and their marine life by snorkelling. Recommends the area as rich and diverse and that current salmon farming applications should be opposed, and trawling/dredging resisted. Recommends the extension of MNR boundaries to include the marine interest as a MNR. Records currently considered sensitive have been removed from this dataset.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Habitat point records from 1977 UCNW Bardsey Island survey

Detailed littoral and sublittoral survey of fauna and flora of Bardsey Island carried out in order to determine whether Bardsey warrents consideration as a PMNR. Faunal and floral data was recorded as either presence/absence or on a 3 - 4 point abundance scale. The island's shores and sublittoral were very current swept and exposed to wave action, except for limited shelter at Henllwyn. Shore fauna and flora was generally comparable to other exposed shores on west Anglesey. No actual changes in littoral fauna could be discerned from these recorded by Pyefinch (1943). However, the alga Nemalion helminthoides recorded by Jones (1978) was absent at the time of this survey, but this species is known to be of sporadic occurrence in north Wales. Dosya hatchinsiae was found in 1977, but was not recorded in 1955. Sublittoral sampling was carried out using transects, and spot dives, and recording prominent species on an abundance scale. Algal cover was extremely dense as a result of good water clarity. A number of 'southern' species were found. Records currently considered sensitive have been removed from this dataset.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Habitat point records from 1986 BMNH Shakespeare & Abbot's Cliffs (Kent) littoral algal survey

Fifty-eight species of benthic marine algae and 1 marine lichen are recorded. A range of communities colonising supralittoral, upper littoral and lower littoral levels was detected at Abbot's Cliff; midlittoral algal communities were largely absent due to wave-exposure. Midlittoral and lower littoral communities were particularly well developed at Shakespeare Cliff. Different communities were detected on the Gault central area foreshore.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Habitat point records from 1988 Rostron Scilly Isles sublittoral sediment survey

Past survey work in the Isles of Scilly has shown the area to be of high biological and conservation interest because of the variety of habitats and species present. This survey was carried out in order to obtain more information about subtidal sediments and communities, especially from sites not previously examined, and to enable some clarification of habitat and community distributions. Fieldwork took place in September 1988. Work was completed at 15 sites, which were well spaced around the archipelago. A team of divers used an airlift suction sampler to obtain sea bed samples for biological analysis and also took core samples for sediment particle size analysis. Habitat features were recorded in situ. In the laboratory, animals from each sample were identified and data recorded in tabular form. Sediment particle size analyses were carried out by a combination of dry sieving techniques and the use of a Malvern 2600 laser particle sizer. Descriptions of each site were prepared based on the data obtained. Similarity between sites was found to be very low. The number of taxa found in samples showed wide variation. Although in some cases, population distributions appeared to be strongly linked to sediment characteristics, some taxa were apparently randomly distributed throughout the survey area. On coarse sediments, distinct divisions into community types were inappropriate. However, the composition of benthic communities within fine sediments showed less variation, and species present were more predictable. Some of the shallow subtidal areas are rich and potentially vulnerable. It would be useful to have more regular data from specific sites within these areas. The Isles of Scilly sediments are of high nature conservation importance. The habitat overall has a number of unique features which result in the communities present being different and interesting. In addition, the area is almost entirely unspoilt by human activities at the present time.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Habitat point records from 1985 BMNH Kent & Sussex littoral chalk-cliff algal survey

Algal habitats and communities on the chalk cliff coastline of Kent and Sussex were assessed by direct observation. Summarised accounts of the main observations are presented. Due to the geological characteristics of upper chalk, habitat and algal communities are best developed on the Isle of Thanet. Communities are relatively rarely present elsewhere in Kent and Sussex. However, only 8% (less than 2 km) of the Thanet coastline remain as natural chalk cliff. Because of the unique algal vegetation, it is strongly recommended that the remaining lengths of natural chalk cliff habitat be assigned conservation status and further coastal development be strongly opposed.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1993 MNCR Saltburn to Flamborough Head littoral survey

This survey was carried out as part of the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR). The MNCR was started in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council and subsequent to the Environment Protection Act 1990, was undertaken by JNCC on behalf of the conservation agencies up to its completion in 1998. The MNCR was initiated to provide a comprehensive baseline of information on marine habitats and species, to aid coastal zone and sea-use management and to contribute to the identification of areas of marine natural heritage importance throughout Great Britain. Data collected through the MNCR was stored in the Marine Recorder database, and has been extracted from Marine Recorder to produce this dataset. For more details, see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1596.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1993 MNCR Newbiggin to Saltburn sublittoral survey

This survey was carried out as part of the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR). The MNCR was started in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council and subsequent to the Environment Protection Act 1990, was undertaken by JNCC on behalf of the conservation agencies up to its completion in 1998. The MNCR was initiated to provide a comprehensive baseline of information on marine habitats and species, to aid coastal zone and sea-use management and to contribute to the identification of areas of marine natural heritage importance throughout Great Britain. Data collected through the MNCR was stored in the Marine Recorder database, and has been extracted from Marine Recorder to produce this dataset. For more details, see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1596.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1993 MNCR Shetland Braer oil spill survey

Littoral and Sublittoral field surveys were carried out between 25 February and 2 March 1993 around the vicinity of the Braer oil tanker grounding. The aim was to provide a rapid assesment of the oil's impact on the marine benthos of the area with a view to suggesting where future work should be carried out. Nine sublittoral and 14 littoral sites were surveyed using standard MNCR techniques, with additional attention being paid to recording noticeable effects from oil pollution, absence of species which would be expected in particular habitats, fish numbers, and collection of sediment biota for possible hydrocarbon analysis by SOAFD. The effects of the oil spill on the littoral biota appeared very limited in geographical extent, with minimal noticeable difference to expected rocky shore community structure beyond 4 Km of the wreck site. The littoral zone of Garths Ness itself was the most heavily impacted as would be expected, with a high mortality of patellid limpets and littorinids. To the east, in Bay of Quendale, obvious effects were more limited, though there appeared still to be a reduction in the numbers of Patella vulgata and littorinids. Littoral algae and lichens appear unnaffected, with no visible signs of damage such as bleaching. Littoral sediments close to the wreck site occur only in the Bay of Quendale, where extreme sediment mobility results in a very impoverished Crustacean-Polychaete community (Howson 1988). Samples collected from these sediments indicated an absence of any biota. Sublittoral surveys on rock and sediment indicated variation in the extent of damage. Rocky sublittoral areas surveyed within 4 Km of the wreck showed no obvious signs of damage. There was a noticeable absence of fish species but whether this is attributable to the oil spill is not clear. Other elements of the biota appeared to be unnafected, with numerous urchins grazing coralline algae encrusted bedrock, and a sparse kelp zone showing no signs of bleaching. In the same vicinity however, sublittoral sediments showed gross effects, with major mortality of bivalves such as Ensis sp. and Spisula solida, and no other biota observed. This gross effect on sediment biota was still apparent in West Voe, some 20 Km north of the wreck, but was not noted in sites further north towards the head of Clift sound.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1993 MNCR Saltburn to Flamborough Head sublittoral survey

This survey was carried out as part of the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR). The MNCR was started in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council and subsequent to the Environment Protection Act 1990, was undertaken by JNCC on behalf of the conservation agencies up to its completion in 1998. The MNCR was initiated to provide a comprehensive baseline of information on marine habitats and species, to aid coastal zone and sea-use management and to contribute to the identification of areas of marine natural heritage importance throughout Great Britain. Data collected through the MNCR was stored in the Marine Recorder database, and has been extracted from Marine Recorder to produce this dataset. For more details, see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1596.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1993 AES south-east Scotland sublittoral sediment survey

This survey was carried out as part of the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR). The MNCR was started in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council and subsequent to the Environment Protection Act 1990, was undertaken by JNCC on behalf of the conservation agencies up to its completion in 1998. The MNCR was initiated to provide a comprehensive baseline of information on marine habitats and species, to aid coastal zone and sea-use management and to contribute to the identification of areas of marine natural heritage importance throughout Great Britain. Data collected through the MNCR was stored in the Marine Recorder database, and has been extracted from Marine Recorder to produce this dataset. For more details, see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1596.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1996 MNCR Deer Sound and Wide Firth (Orkney) littoral survey

This survey was carried out as part of the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR). The MNCR was started in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council and subsequent to the Environment Protection Act 1990, was undertaken by JNCC on behalf of the conservation agencies up to its completion in 1998. The MNCR was initiated to provide a comprehensive baseline of information on marine habitats and species, to aid coastal zone and sea-use management and to contribute to the identification of areas of marine natural heritage importance throughout Great Britain. Data collected through the MNCR was stored in the Marine Recorder database, and has been extracted from Marine Recorder to produce this dataset. For more details, see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1596.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Species point records from 1995 MNCR Wyre, Eynhallow and Rousay Sounds littoral survey

This survey was carried out as part of the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR). The MNCR was started in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council and subsequent to the Environment Protection Act 1990, was undertaken by JNCC on behalf of the conservation agencies up to its completion in 1998. The MNCR was initiated to provide a comprehensive baseline of information on marine habitats and species, to aid coastal zone and sea-use management and to contribute to the identification of areas of marine natural heritage importance throughout Great Britain. Data collected through the MNCR was stored in the Marine Recorder database, and has been extracted from Marine Recorder to produce this dataset. For more details, see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1596.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Biodiversity Indicator C9b, Plant genetic resources - Enrichment Index

This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator C9b, Plant genetic resources - Enrichment Index.

The UK is relatively rich in wild relatives of crops, landraces of cereal, vegetable and fruit crops, and traditional orchard trees.  Maintaining genetic diversity of UK plants is important for conservation of biological diversity, as well as for economic and cultural reasons.  The UK is a Party to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and has also committed to a five-point action plan in response to the Foresight (2011) report on the future of food and farming (Environmental Audit Committee 2011) which includes actions on conserving plant genetic resources.

The indicator presents the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and their wild relatives in the UK, including other socio-economically and culturally valuable plant species, by assessing the genetic diversity of target plants held in UK germplasm collections.  Effectively, it is a measure of the status of ex situ conservation of cultivated plants and their wild relatives in the UK.  Any plant which grows in or is cultivated in the UK, or has grown in or has been cultivated in the UK, could be included in the indicator.

The indicator is based on an Enrichment Index developed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO 2010) to describe the enhancement of ex situ plant germplasm collections.  The method factors in duplication and similarity to existing accessions.  An upward trending line indicates diversity is being added to collections - the steeper the line, the greater the diversity being incorporated.  A horizontal line indicates no accessions, and hence no diversity, being added, and a downward trending line indicates diversity is being lost from collections.  The total number of accessions illustrates the yearly collection effort added to the genetic resources institutes, without taking into account genetic diversity within those collections.  Note, not all accessions of target species are included in the Enrichment Index, as some were excluded due to poor or insufficient data.  Full calculation procedures are provided in the technical background paper.

This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator C9b the latest data are for 2015.  The supporting technical document details the methodology used to create the indicator.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Biodiversity Indicator C4b, Status of UK priority species - distribution

This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator C4b, Status of UK priority species - distribution.

Priorities for species and habitat conservation are set at a country level through country biodiversity or environment strategies.  Each country has an identified list of priority species, which are of high conservation concern due, for example, to restricted range or population declines.  The indicator therefore includes a substantial number of species that, by definition, are becoming less widespread.

Measures of distribution are less sensitive to change than measures of abundance (as included in indicator C4a).  Nonetheless, if a species that has been declining starts to recover, its distribution will stabilize, and may start to increase.  If the proportion of species in the indicator that are stable or increasing grows, the indicator will start to decline less steeply.  If the proportion declines, it will fall more steeply.  Success in each country can therefore be judged by reference to trends in indicators C4a and C4b, as well as other information on other priority species for which there are insufficient data for inclusion in the indicator.

The indicator shows occupancy changes of priority species in the UK: defined as those on one or more of the biodiversity lists of each UK country (Natural Environmental and Rural Communities Act 2006 - Section 41 (England) and Section 42 (Wales), Northern Ireland Priority Species list, Scottish Biodiversity List).  The combined list contains 2,890 species in total.  The priority species identified in each of the four UK countries were highlighted as being of conservation concern for a variety of reasons, including rapid decline in some of their populations.  This indicator should be read in conjunction with C4a which provides data on those species for which abundance information is available.

This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator C4b the latest data are for 2012.  The supporting technical document details the methodology used to create the indicator.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Biodiversity Indicator E2, Expenditure on UK and international biodiversity

This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator E2, Expenditure on UK and international biodiversity.

Spending is one way of assessing the priority that is given to biodiversity within Government.  Funding for conservation work is critical to delivery of country biodiversity and environment strategies.  Adequate access to resources is essential for the effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in developing countries, along with other international biodiversity policy commitments, as part of more general development aid and poverty alleviation.

The increases in public sector expenditure in the UK should be considered in the context of the funding needed, in tandem with appropriate policy and legislative measures, to a level sufficient to meet UK and international biodiversity targets.

This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator E2 the latest data are for 2015.  The supporting technical document details the methodology used to create the indicator.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Biodiversity Indicator E1, Biodiversity data for decision making

This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator E1, Biodiversity data for decision making.

Good policy making and evaluation is based on evidence.  Evidence will also help to engage the public, natural resource managers and business to actively address biodiversity loss.  There are therefore a range of geographic scales of decision making (from local to national), and audiences (public sector, industry, public, research, etc.) that have an interest in the availability of biodiversity data.  The indicator is focused on the availability of data collated by the National Biodiversity Network for decision making - evaluating actual use within decision making is more difficult.

Millions of biological observations (records) have been recorded in the UK over the past century by a wide variety of organisations and individuals.  Most of these people are volunteers who organise themselves through many national and local societies and recording schemes.  The UK government (through its conservation and environmental agencies), local government and non-government wildlife-related organisations all collect and use biodiversity data.  Information is held by many different organisations and the individuals who collect it, in a variety of formats, from computer databases to handwritten record cards.  This means that although a huge amount of information exists, it is not always easy to access.

This indicator provides an evaluation of the number of records added to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway in a particular year, and the resolution of those data, as a proxy for the evidence available to underpin conservation decision making.  Figure E1i shows the year that records were added to the NBN Gateway, not the date of the record.

This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator E1 the latest data are for 2015.

Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee