Site condition monitoring of lamprey in the Endrick Water SSSI and SAC, 2012

Quality Control

There is a high degree of confidence - sampling was by experienced surveyors. River and brook lamprey larvae cannot be reliably differentiated (Gardiner, 2003) and are identified only to genus in the dataset.

Method steps

1. Twenty-five sites were sampled across the Endrick Water (n = 19) and Blane Water (n = 6). The survey consisted of electrofishing optimal or sub-optimal habitat within 100 m long stretches of river (Harvey & Cowx, 2003). When sufficient optimal habitat was present at a site a total of 4 m2 was electrofished using fully-quantitative methods and quadrat frames (see section 2.3). At sites where the size of habitat patches was limited or a mix of optimal and sub-optimal habitat was present, both habitats types were electrofished using fully-quantitative methods and quadrats and the results for each habitat type were recorded separately. When no optimal habitat was present at a site, a fully-quantitative survey of sub-optimal habitat was undertaken using quadrats. Where, due to obstructions on the channel bed or bank, it was not possible to use quadrats, semi-quantitative timed electrofishing of a measured area of substrate was undertaken. Larval lamprey were identified, counted, measured under anaesthetic, and returned to the sample area.

The records in this dataset relate to the Endrick Water SSSI and SAC in west central Scotland.