The data comprise information on the nature of each site (such
as substratum, wave exposure and height or depth surveyed), the
type of sampling undertaken, the site's location and the species
present (together with an indication of their abundance) within
discrete habitats at the site. MNCR field recording techniques are
described in Hiscock (1996), with Appendix 8 providing the guidance
on how to complete MNCR field recording forms (the forms can be
downloaded from
here).The terminology relating to field survey
methods is described further below, and should help users of the
classification interpret the habitat information contained in the
biotope descriptions. Procedural Guidelines for a wide range of
field sampling techniques are given in the
Marine
Monitoring Handbook (Davies
et al. 2001).
In total, data for over 16,000 sites comprising more than
36,000 habitat records from around Britain and Ireland were
collated and entered onto the MNCR database (as described by
Hiscock, 1996). The database includes a module which holds
definitions of each classification type, linked to a national
dictionary of marine species and to the field survey data. The
field survey data have been made widely accessible via the
National Biodiversity
Network and
MESH from an
MS Access-based 'relational' database, Marine Recorder. The Marine
Recorder database application has been specifically developed to
accept marine biological data from a wide range of survey
techniques, including the data held originally in the MNCR
database. The application can be downloaded
here, and includes
a dictionary of the habitat classification types.