Current ISIS code: W212
Previous assemblage name: W222 northern lakes & lochs.
Linked assemblage: None.
Description of habitat typically supporting the assemblage:
This aquatic SAT is associated with large northern lakes and may be sensitive to nutrient enrichment and temperature rise. Multivariate analysis identified it as a distinct assemblage type, but it was poorly expressed by ISIS, at least in England, and was disabled in the original spreadsheet, but has been reinstated in Pantheon.
It may well only really reach good expression from the Lake District north, and probably excels in Scotland and the outer Isles. In terms of its development, it would benefit from more standardised sampling from Scottish sites, and a re-ordination of the species data.
Only 18 taxa are coded to the SAT, though these are cold and low productivity waters. The taxonomic spread is useful.
Sampling & assessing the assemblage
Standard sampling protocols apply
Target groups: all taxa
Fieldwork methods: only pond netting is considered necessary here
Alternative methods: n/a
Season: spring, though in the northern areas, the definition of what constitutes spring will need to be moderated by longitude
It is likely that a fair number samples from a loch edge will be required before the SAT is adequately assessed. This is a consequence of the small species pool, and lower site productivity. It is sensible to combine the samples into one overall lake or loch data set, and assess that.
Discrimination of conservation quality: very poor in England, but likely to be of greater use in Scotland
Default target: 15 species