UHI Shetland in partnership with the Fair Isle DR MPA Executive Steering Group have released a report detailing preliminary findings from the Fair Isle Benthic Habitats Distribution Modelling research project. This report details predicted biotopes and Priority Marine Features potentially present within the Fair Isle DR MPA.
Until now, limited knowledge exists about the benthic habitats around Fair Isle. UHI Shetland in partnership with the Fair Isle DR MPA Executive Steering Group have released a report detailing preliminary findings from the Fair Isle Benthic Habitats Distribution Modelling research project.
This report details predicted biotopes and Priority Marine Features (PMFs) potentially present within the Fair Isle DR MPA identified by Habitat Distribution Models (HDMs). Distribution models are created by using available marine environmental data to establish what habitats and biotopes may be present.
Biotopes represent ecosystems where distinct groups of plants, animals and environmental factors interact within a shared space. Biotopes of conservation importance, such as PMFs, are also included in the model.
Preliminary benthic HDMs have identified 16 potential biotopes within the Fair Isle DR MPA including 5 potential PMF biotopes. These findings will be ground-truthed using multi-beam system hydro-acoustic and drop-down video surveys around Fair Isle this summer. This data will be used to create updated HDMs which will be invaluable in identifying and confirming the biotopes and PMFs present within the Fair Isle DR MPA.
The report is available online here.
This project is supported by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the National Trust for Scotland’s Love our Nature project.
