[Stronsaylimpet] Survey of seagrass

[Limpet editor]

Seagrass is an underwater marine flowering plant important for 
diversity, nursery habitat, shoreline storm protection, and carbon 
storage. The Orkney Islands contain some of the most pristine seagrass 
meadows in the UK.

Project Seagrass is a UK-based charity that is working with communities 
to map, conserve and restore seagrass meadows.

*From the 19^th  of July to the 1^st  of August, Project Seagrass will 
be working in partnership with Heriot Watt University to monitor and map 
seagrass meadows across the Mainland, Wyre, Westray and Stronsay.* Our 
work in Orkney aims to improve our understanding of the health and 
services provided by Orkney’s seagrass. Additionally, the work will 
inform techniques for mapping seagrass across the rest of Orkney, 
Scotland and the UK.

One of the seagrass meadows we will be measuring is located in Mill Bay 
on Stronsay. There are two types of work you might see happening:

 1. *Snorkelling. *We will be in the water snorkelling, taking
    measurements of the seagrass meadow’s characteristics – such as the
    number and length of shoots, amount of seed produced, and soil type.
    These metrics paint a picture of the seagrass meadow’s health. Any
    questions relating to the snorkelling work can be directed to
    @Elizabeth Lacey <mailto:elizabethlacey at projectseagrass.org>, our
    Scotland Science Lead, or Jo Porter
    <mailto:J.S.Porter at hw.ac.uk?subject=Query%20relating%20to%20Project%20Seagrass%20collaboration> at
    Heriot-Watt University.

 2. *Small drone surveys. *We will be flying a small drone over the
    seagrass meadow, taking birds-eye pictures of the meadow’s extent.
    We can create a map of the meadow by stitching thousands of these
    pictures together, giving us a broader perspective than our
    snorkel-based measurements. The approximate locations we’ll be
    flying the drone from are marked in the attached map. Any questions
    relating to the drone work can be directed to @Calum Hoad
    <mailto:calum at projectseagrass.org>, our drone and satellite mapping
    scientist.

Whenever we are working, we’ll have signs up on the beach. If you see 
us, please feel free to stop by and say hello!

There are a few other opportunities to meet the team in person, to learn 
more about seagrass, and even to see some seagrass in person:

  * Renewables Revolution Open Day, 2-5pm on 23^rd  July at the Orkney
    Research and Innovation Centre,
  * A guided snorkel over a seagrass meadow near Kirkwall on Sunday
    27^th  July (sign-up necessary),
  * The Orkney International Science Festival Family Day, 10-12:30 and
    1-3pm on 6^th  September.

Please circulate this email to anyone in your community who may be 
interested, or who may have questions.

We’re looking forward to working on Stronsay.

Kind regards,

Calum

*Calum Hoad *(he/him)

Senior Science Officer – Seagrass habitat mapping
calum at projectseagrass.org
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