Biological survey of the intertidal chalk reefs between Folkestone Warren and Kingsdown, Kent 2009-2011

Quality Control

Data were collected by professional marine biologists employed by Kent Wildlife Trust as staff or consultants, with complementary expertise in marine fauna and flora, resulting in a dataset with a high level of accuracy. Where faunal expertise was missing, species were recorded to a taxonomic level where high confidence could be maintained in the identification. Any unresolved uncertainty will be recorded in the 'uncertain' field. The dataset has been checked using NBN Record Cleaner and records highlighted as being outside their known range have been confirmed by the surveyors.

Method steps

1. Data collection was carried out using a transect tape perpendicular to the cliff face, recording the extent of each biotope zone down the shore, and the abundance of the characterising and other species in each zone in a approximately 10m wide strip down the shore. Transects were surveyed at 16 sites, spaced at approximately 500m intervals along the chalk exposure. At roughly alternate transect sites (depending on accessibility), quadrat surveys where also undertaken, recording the physical habitat and abundance of all species within three replicate 1m2 quadrats in each biotope zone. All species were recorded, most were identified in the field, but, where necessary, algal, sponge, bryozoan and hydroid samples were taken for later laboratory examination. Piddocks, some polychaete worms, and small isopod and amphipod crustaceans were not normally identified to species level.