• To protect the native biodiversity in Lough Corrib by eradicating, controlling or containing Lagarosiphon major.
• To prevent further spread of high impact aquatic invasive species by implementing control measures in a key dispersal corridor (i.e. the canals and Barrow Navigation).
• To conduct a detailed desk study and consult experts and authorities widely in order to collect data on the ecology and invasive capacities of the more problematic alien species and on effective control methods. This information will permit the development of informed guidelines for effective aquatic invasive species management.
• To implement the widest range of containment, control and eradication procedures as is available in an effort to eliminate alien species from the targeted waters. The success of these methods will be scientifically monitored and the results will be used to inform ongoing control proposals. Specific research focus will be placed on developing new and innovative containment and control methods for use against the range of invasive species present in Irish waters.
• To engage key stakeholders in an education and awareness programme aimed at preventing new invasions, further spread and reinvasion by existing high impact species.
• To exchange and disseminate information on control and management methods with other European invasive species control teams and policy makers leading to more effective control of aquatic invasives in Ireland and across Europe.
• To contribute to the protection of biodiversity in Ireland and the European target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 by building capacity on invasive species control.

• To determine postglacial migration routes in Ireland for the species A. ciliata and M. recurva which will be tested using a comparative phylogeographical analysis including a range of Caryophyllaceae (Arenaria norvegica, Silene acaulis, Minuartia verna, M. rubella, M. sedoides and Arenaria serpyllifolia).
• To ascertain (i) the genotype of each individual using AFLP and cpDNA markers, and (ii) the genetic diversity of each population.
• To complete an accurate distribution record of the two Irish red data target species and establish the genetic vitality and viability of the individual Irish populations, compared to their European counterparts. Seed material will be collected from the wild populations and cultivated in the Botanic Gardens.

Objectives

1. To safeguard this grassland dataset that is currently held in hard copy only by entering the information into an electronic vegetation database.
2. To include a description of associated metadata, including materials and methods used in the collection of the data, and explanations of the data including definitions and personal comments made by O'Sullivan during this project.
3. Disseminate this large ecological datasets to potential users of the data; policy makers, policy evaluators and researchers.

Bourke, D. and Hochstrasser. T. (2006). Digitisation of grassland heritage data. Final Report. The Heritage Council.

Objectives

1. Identify the criteria that must be met for a farm to be considered HNV.
2. Develop farm-scale survey methods to identify HNV farmland.
3. Test the application of these criteria on a national level using remote sensing techniques.

Habitat maps were created for each farm surveyed. Grassland habitats were the most common, but a total of 26 different habitat types were identified across the 11 farms surveyed, with 12 habitats common to both DEDs including improved grassland, wet grassland and scrub. Each DED also had several habitats unique to it (as far as was sampled). The number of habitats per farm surveyed ranged from 13 to 4, the lower numbers often due to the use of wire fencing instead of hedgerows or stone walls; 90% of farms had six or more habitats. The average number of habitats per farm was 8.
Sampling so far has recorded no true species-rich grasslands. However using Ellenberg Values for nitrogen and moisture, and comparing these with the species-richness of each field, there is evidence for semi-improved fields. These are less intensively managed and may facilitate an increase in plant species richness more than in improved fields. The proportion of semi-improved fields on a farm could be a significant indicator of its HNV status.

Related Publications

Sullivan, C.. Sheehy Skeffington, M., Finn, J., Gormally, M and Kelly, S. (2006). Identification of species-rich grassland as key elements of High Nature Value (HNV) farmlands in the west of Ireland. Irish Plant Scientists' Association Meeting (IPSAM), MA, Galway, 10-12's April, 2006, p. 17

Sullivan, C., Sheehy Skeffington, M., Gormally, M ., Finn, J.A. and Kelly, S. (2007). Identifying High Nature Value Grassland in the West of Ireland. High Value Grassland: providing biodiversity. a clean environment and premium products, Proceedings of conference, University of Keele, Staffordshire, 17-19 April 2007.

1. To investigate the effect of time on biodiversity within established field margin plots.
2. To investigate potential new measures and management options to enhance diversity of plants and invertebrates.

1. fenced: existing grass sward is fenced off from surrounding paddock,
2. rotavated and fenced: rotavated and allowed to regenerate naturally,
3. rotavated and reseeded: rotavated and reseeded with a grass and wild flower seed mixture.

Related Publications:
Feehan, J., GlIlmor, A. and Culleton. N. (2005) Effects of an agri-environmental scheme on Farmland biodiversity in Ireland Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 107: 275-286.

Sheridan, H., Finn, J.A., Culleton, N., O'Donovan, G. 2007. Plant and invertebrate diversity In grassland field margins. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment (in press).

• more diverse grassland mixtures maintain forage production across perturbation gradients
• more diverse grassland mixtures are more resistant to invasive species

Reid N., McEvoy P.M. & Preston J.S. (2009) Efficacy of sod removal in regenerating fen vegetation for the conservation of the marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia, Montiaghs Moss Nature Reserve, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Conservation Evidence, 6; 31-38.

Preston, J.S. & Reid, N. (2008) Efficacy of sod removal in regenerating fen vegetation. Report prepared by the Natural Heritage Research Partnership, Quercus for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Northern Ireland, UK.