Freshwater Macrophyte Survey Data
Citation
Natural Resources Wales (2025). Freshwater Macrophyte Survey Data. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/n8a1o9 accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-06-23.Description
The habitat 'H3260 Water Courses of Plain to Submontane Levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-batrachion Vegetation' (henceforth 'Ranunculion habitat') is listed in Annexe I of the EU Habitat Directive as a habitat of European Importance. Four rivers in Wales, the Afon Gwyrfai, Afon Teifi, River Dee and River Wye are considered of European importance for this habitat type (Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)’, 2013). A gap analysis of available data has indicated that there is a shortage of recent information on macrophyte community composition and extent in the Teifi and Upper Wye catchments. Therefore, these catchments have formed the focus of this study and data has been collected and analysed from these areas to determine whether the performance indicators for macrophyte community composition and extent for these rivers pass the required standard for extent and quality. This dataset comprises of a survey entered into Recorder 6 which have been packaged for dissemination onto the NBN Atlas.
Purpose
The primary aim of this project is to produce an assessment of the status of the plant community component of the Ranunculion habitat on the Rivers Wye and Teifi.
Sampling Description
Quality Control
Confidence in this dataset is high, all survey work was undertaken by a team of two experienced macrophyte surveyors.Method steps
- Field survey was undertaken within the recognised macrophyte survey season (June-September inclusive). Survey was undertaken at low flows when visibility through the water column was good and timed to avoid the periods during and immediately following inclement weather conditions such as heavy rain which can affect the quality of macrophyte data collected. Field survey followed the LEAFPACS methodology at each survey site. One hundred meter sections of river were surveyed according to this methodology by traversing the channel in a zigzag, recording plants present in all channel habitats that are inundated for >50 % of the year. Where the channel was very wide (>50 m) or deep (>1 m) and the central channel was devoid of vegetation or could not be accurately recorded due to turbidity or depth, a 5 m wide strip down either side was surveyed. Species were recorded according to the LEAFPACS species list, with voucher specimens taken where necessary to confirm identification. Each species recorded was assigned a cover score for the 100 m according to a nine point scale used in the MTR methodology.
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
originatorNatural Resources Wales
metadata author
Natural Resources Wales
distributor
NBN Atlas
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