Using historical data to detect temporal changes in the abundances of intertidal species on Irish shores

An historical data set, collected in 1958 by Southward and Crisp, was used as a baseline for detecting change in the abundances of species in the rocky intertidal of Ireland. In 2003, the abundances of each of 27 species was assessed using the same methodologies (ACFOR [which stands for the categories: abundant, common, frequent, occasional and rare] abundance scales) at 63 shores examined in the historical study. Comparison of the ACFOR data over a 45-year period, between the historical survey and re-survey, showed statistically significant changes in the abundances of 12 of the 27 species examined. Two species (one classed as northern and one introduced) increased significantly in abundance while ten species (five classed as northern, one classed as southern and four broadly distributed) decreased in abundance. The possible reasons for the changes in species abundances were assessed not only in the context of anthropogenic effects, such as climate change and commercial exploitation, but also of operator error. The error or differences recorded among operators (i.e. research scientists) when assessing species abundance using ACFOR categories was quantified on four shores. Significant change detected in three of the 12 species fell within the margin of operator error. This effect of operator may have also contributed to the results of no change in the other 15 species between the two census periods. It was not possible to determine the effect of operator on our results, which can increase the occurrence of a false positive (Type 1) or of a false negative (Type 2) outcome

Marine Zooplankton of Southern Britain - Part 1: Radiolaria, Heliozoa, Foraminifera, Ciliophora, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Nemertea, Rotifera and Mollusca. Occasional Publication of the Marine Biological Association 25

This series of three guides (of which this is Part 1) collates taxonomic identification information for the zooplankton groups recorded off south-west Britain , primarily for local identification and training purposes. However, because prevailing currents also bring oceanic zooplankton into the English Channel , the range of species sampled off Plymouth covers the majority found over the shallower parts of northern European continental shelf (excluding the Mediterranean Sea ), so the guides should be more widely useful and hopefully make tackling zooplankton identification easier for a wider audience. The commonest truly planktonic species and the most widely studied groups are covered in most detail, but some information is also included on benthic, epibenthic and parasitic species that are sampled occasionally. For all groups there is at least information on their morphology, guidance on their identification and bibliographies giving identification resources.

Marine Zooplankton of Southern Britain - Part 2: Arachnida, Pycnogonida, Cladocera, Facetotecta, Cirripedia and Copepoda. Occasional Publication of the Marine Biological Association 26

This series of three guides (of which this is Part 2) collates taxonomic identification information for the zooplankton groups recorded off south-west Britain , primarily for local identification and training purposes. However, because prevailing currents also bring oceanic zooplankton into the English Channel , the range of species sampled off Plymouth covers the majority found over the shallower parts of northern European continental shelf (excluding the Mediterranean Sea ), so the guides should be more widely useful and hopefully make tackling zooplankton identification easier for a wider audience. The commonest truly planktonic species and the most widely studied groups are covered in most detail, but some information is also included on benthic, epibenthic and parasitic species that are sampled occasionally. For all groups there is at least information on their morphology, guidance on their identification and bibliographies giving identification resources.

Recovery of a biodiversity action plans species in northwest England: possible role of climate change, artificial habitat and water quality amelioration. Occasional Publication of the Marine Biological Association 16

The honeycomb reef worm Sabellaria alveolata is recognised as being an important component of intertidal communities. It is a priority habitat within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and as a biogenic reef forming species is covered by Annex 1 of the EC habitats directive. S. alveolata has a lusitanean (southern) distribution, being largely restricted to the south and west coasts of England. A broad-scale survey of S. alveolata distribution along the north-west coasts was undertaken in 2003/2004. These records were then compared with previous distribution records, mainly those collected by Cunningham in 1984. More detailed mapping was carried out at Hilbre Island at the mouth of the River Dee, due to recent reports that S. alveolata had become re-established there after a long absence.

Creating a modern database from archive material - The Norman Holme archive: Interpretation of marine field research notebooks in the historical context of the MBA, 1958-83

This document provides details of the transfer of the Norman Holme archive data held in the National Marine Biological Library onto a modern database, specifically Marine Recorder. A key part in the creation of the database was the retrieval of a large amount of information recorded in field notebooks and on loosely-bound sheets of paper. As this work involved amending, interpreting and updating the available information, it was felt that an accurate record of this process should exist to allow scientists of the future to be able to clearly link the modern database to the archive material. This document also provides details of external information sources that were used to enhance and qualify the historical interpretation, such as estimating volumes and species abundances.

PCR from the CPR offers a historical perspective on marine population ecology.

The Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey has collected plankton samples from regular tracks across the world's oceans for almost 70 y. Over 299,000 spatially extensive CPR samples are archived and stored in buffered formalin. This CPR archive offers huge potential to study changes in marine communities using molecular data from a period when marine pollution, exploitation and global anthropogenic impact were much less pronounced. However, to harness the amount of data available within the CPR archive fully, it is necessary to improve techniques of larval identification, to genus and species preferably, and to obtain genetic information for historical studies of population ecology. To increase the potential of the CPR database this paper describes the first extraction, amplification by the polymerase chain reaction and utilization of a DNA sequence (mitochondrial 16S rDNA) from a CPR sample, a formalin fixed larval sandeel.