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7 September 2010

Home > Status & trends > Status & trends of species and habitats

Status & trends

	Status & trends UK & Country trend overviews Status & trends of species and habitats

National status

National trends

LBAP status and trends


	Habitat: Serpulid reefs

National status
Latest estimate post 2008 reporting round

	Date assessed	Value	Units	Accuracy	Adequate baseline data?
UK	04/11/2008	128.44	Hectares	Sample or full survey	Yes
	In July 2006 during the site condition monitoring of the Sunart SAC small aggregations of serpulid reef were found in Loch Teacuis. A further more detailed study in November 2006 revealed that the aggregations cover 20.02 ha of the loch in water of depths 1-5m, therefore increasing the total coverage of this habitat to 128.44ha together with the 108 ha in Loch Creran. The small aggregations discoved in Loch Teacuis appear to be a stage in a step wise development towards true serpulid reefs (live tubes of Serpula vermicularis growing on dead, skeletal tube material). The management of Sunart SAC will be modified to take account of the serpulid aggregations and their development will be monitored.
E	Not relevant for this country
NI	Not relevant for this country
S	04/11/2008	128.44	Hectares	Sample or full survey	Yes
	In July 2006 during the site condition monitoring of the Sunart SAC small aggregations of serpulid reef were found in Loch Teacuis. A further more detailed study in November 2006 revealed that the aggregations cover 20.02 ha of the loch in water of depths 1-5m, therefore increasing the total coverage of this habitat to 128.44ha together with the 108 ha in Loch Creran. The small aggregations discoved in Loch Teacuis appear to be a stage in a step wise development towards true serpulid reefs (live tubes of Serpula vermicularis growing on dead, skeletal tube material). The management of Sunart SAC will be modified to take account of the serpulid aggregations and their development will be monitored.
W	Not relevant for this country

National status
2008 reporting

	Date assessed	Value	Units	Accuracy	Adequate baseline data?	Data available via NBN?
UK	2008	128.44	Hectares	Sample or full survey	Yes	Yes
	Did you refer to the LBAP data (e.g. obtained from the links provided) when compiling this assessment? No
	In July 2006 during the site condition monitoring of the Sunart SAC small aggregations of serpulid reef were found in Loch Teacuis. A further more detailed study in November 2006 revealed that the aggregations cover 20.02 ha of the loch in water of depths 1-5m, therefore increasing the total coverage of this habitat to 128.44ha together with the 108 ha in Loch Creran. The small aggregations discoved in Loch Teacuis appear to be a stage in a step wise development towards true serpulid reefs (live tubes of Serpula vermicularis growing on dead, skeletal tube material). The management of Sunart SAC will be modified to take account of the serpulid aggregations and their development will be monitored.
E	Not relevant for this country
NI	Not relevant for this country
S	2008	128.44	Hectares	Sample or full survey	Yes	Yes
	Did you refer to the LBAP data (e.g. obtained from the links provided) when compiling this assessment? No
	In July 2006 during the site condition monitoring of the Sunart SAC small aggregations of serpulid reef were found in Loch Teacuis. A further more detailed study in November 2006 revealed that the aggregations cover 20.02 ha of the loch in water of depths 1-5m, therefore increasing the total coverage of this habitat to 128.44ha together with the 108 ha in Loch Creran. The small aggregations discoved in Loch Teacuis appear to be a stage in a step wise development towards true serpulid reefs (live tubes of Serpula vermicularis growing on dead, skeletal tube material). The management of Sunart SAC will be modified to take account of the serpulid aggregations and their development will be monitored.
W	Not relevant for this country

National status
2005 reporting

	Date assessed	Value	Units	Accuracy	Adequate baseline data?	Data available via NBN?
UK	2005	108.42	Hectares	Sample or full survey	No but likely by 2008	Some
	Serpula vermicularis aggregations (reefs) are known from two sites in Scotland - Loch Sween and Loch Creran. Surveys carried out in 1993 and 1994 found no live reef structures in Loch Sween leaving Loch Creran as the only known UK site supporting live Serpula reefs. A survey of Loch Creran in 1994/1995 carried out a broad assessment of reef distribution and density. A subsequent site condition monitoring survey was completed in late 2005. The final results are expected to be published in the Spring of 2006, but preliminary analysis suggests that although there are clear areas of reef loss from mechanical damage (mooring, scallop dredging etc.), the total area of such damage does not yet constitute a significant threat to the overall Loch Creran reef community and structural integrity. A precautionary condition assessment judgement of 'Unfavourable - partially destroyed' was, however, submitted in the second quarter of 2005, in the absence of a full monitoring dataset. This reflected strong concerns over acoustic imaging evidence for scallop dredging and mooring damage submitted by external organisations. Note: The estimation of area of total live reef cover given above is calculated as the peripheral band of seabed enclosing all reef sizes. The area covered by discrete reef aggregations greater than 50 cm2 (plan area) - defined as medium and large reef colonies - has been calculated as 56.79 ha.
E	Not relevant for this country
NI	Not relevant for this country
S	2005	108.42	Hectares	Sample or full survey	No but likely by 2008	Some
	Serpula vermicularis aggregations (reefs) are known from two sites in Scotland - Loch Sween and Loch Creran. Surveys carried out in 1993 and 1994 found no live reef structures in Loch Sween leaving Loch Creran as the only known UK site supporting live Serpula reefs. A survey of Loch Creran in 1994/1995 carried out a broad assessment of reef distribution and density. A subsequent site condition monitoring survey was completed in late 2005. The final results are expected to be published in the Spring of 2006, but preliminary analysis suggests that although there are clear areas of reef loss from mechanical damage (mooring, scallop dredging etc.), the total area of such damage does not yet constitute a significant threat to the overall Loch Creran reef community and structural integrity. A precautionary condition assessment judgement of 'Unfavourable - partially destroyed' was, however, submitted in the second quarter of 2005, in the absence of a full monitoring dataset. This reflected strong concerns over acoustic imaging evidence for scallop dredging and mooring damage submitted by external organisations. Note: The estimation of area of total live reef cover given above is calculated as the peripheral band of seabed enclosing all reef sizes. The area covered by discrete reef aggregations greater than 50 cm2 (plan area) - defined as medium and large reef colonies - has been calculated as 56.79 ha.
W	Not relevant for this country

National status
2002 reporting

	Amount	Units	Year	Accuracy	Reference for data
UK	1	Sites	2002	Partial or sample survey	Mapping survey in 1997, sample surveys to 2002
E
NI
S	1	Sites	2002	Partial or sample survey	Mapping survey in 1997, sample surveys to 2002
W