Bioplastic Leachate Ecotoxicity
This study will investigate the potential ecotoxicity of bioplastic leachate to the aquatic environment. Bioplastics are manufactured from biomass and are commonly thought to be environmentally friendly. However, to achieve the desired physical characteristics additional chemicals are required during production. Many of these chemicals are loosely bound and susceptible to leaching into the environment. Information […]
Linking Oceanographical Connectivity Pathways and Environmental Pollution Pressures to the Genetic Structure of Planktonic Biota in Coastal Embayments
Various biological resources and ecosystem services are provided by coastal embayments. These have been impacted by growing human populations, overexploitation, habitat transformation and pollution associated with urban developments and agricultural practices. These pressures may be further exacerbated by climate change driven events. The monitoring of such pressures is enforced via several statutory instruments in the […]
Anthropogenic Activities and Their Impact on the Functional Role of Saltmarshes
Saltmarshes are sumps for anthropogenic pollutants that lie at the interface between land and sea. They are important habitats particularly for overwintering birds and specialised salt-tolerant plants. While listed under the Habitats Directive, as habitats whose conservation requires SAC designation, the potential for anthropogenic alteration of the marshes will always exist. The inherent resilience to […]
Adapting the Biological Quality Elements (BQE) to Irish Benthic Coastal and Transitional Habitats
The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) was adopted in October 2000 and is one of the most important pieces of legislation in relation to water quality in EU member states. The aim of the WFD is to protect and monitor all water bodies including surface waters (rivers, lakes, estuaries (transitional waters) and coastal waters) and […]
WARPPEd – Wildlife Art Representing Pressures and Providing Education
The WARPPEd project combines science and art to share information about the pressures wildlife face due to various human activities. As just one form of art media, the project uses ethical taxidermy to produce specimens highlighting pressures such as light pollution, climate change and plastic pollution.
IMPACT – Integrated Monitoring of PArasites in Changing EnvironmenTs
Global parasite biodiversity is facing an extinction crisis, with up to 30% of species in each major parasite group predicted to be extinct by 2070; a risk that only escalates when host coextinctions are considered. However, parasites are typecast as biological villains, despite most species posing no threat to human health or wildlife conservation. Unsurprisingly, parasites […]
The ecological effects of the invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea on native seagrass meadows on the island of Grenada
Due its fast and successful expansion and ecological effects, the Mediterranean seagrass Halophila stipulacea is recognized as an invasive species in the island of Grenada, in the Caribbean Western Indies. The available data on the rate of expansion of monospecific colonies, and its effects on native seagrasses and their associated biota, is superficial and warrants […]
Monitoring and evaluating targeted mitigation approaches to improve water quality
Declining water quality is an issue of global concern. Over half of the surface waters in the European Union are failing to achieve the minimum threshold required under the Water Framework Directive, with a similar pattern apparent in Ireland. Nutrient enrichment, coupled with excess sediment inputs are the primary pollutants for most freshwater ecosystems, with […]
Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership
The Breeding Waders EIP project aims to secure existing Breeding Wader populations and support population recovery through research, landscape management and policy development. This EIP-Agri project is a €25 million nationwide programme, co-funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Co-ordinated by Irish Rural Link, the […]
Assessing the use of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles to monitor Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas and provide best practice advice
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are essential tools for the conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity. In Ireland, there is an urgent need to assess best monitoring practices that would allow MPA legislation to establish a well-thought out management framework, and minimise any management that would jeopardizes conservation goals. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) also commonly known […]