2005-2006 English Nature (EN) Thanet Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC): Intertidal monitoring

notPlanned

"The results of monitoring reef and sea-cave features in the Thanet coast SAC in autumn 2005 are reported. d{Study areas monitored in 2001 were re-assessed and several new study quadrats were investigated.cliff and cave biotopes at the study areas were as previously reported.reef biotopes at the study areas were largely as previously reported; revised biotope maps for the 6 detailed study areas are presented.the 35 biotopes recorded in 1997, the 15 most common were re-assessed (the remainder fell outside the study quadrat locations). d{The important biotope Kelp-dominated communities on animal-bored rock was present in most study locations and remained widespread in the Thanet coast SAC; constituent species were largely as recorded in 2001. Detailed quadrat studies were undertaken at only 2 sites due to the state of the tide. d{Of the 7 important biotopes encompassing red-algal turf communities, 2 were missed in the present study, and 3 were re-assessed at single study areas only. d{The targets for favourable condition status have been met.non-native algal and animal species (e.g. Sargassum muticum, Crassostrea gigaswere more abundantly present in 2005.climate change indicator species were detected although the red alga Spyridia filamentosa (a western species not previously recorded as far east as Kent) was found in Thanet in 2004.for future monitoring are made. d"