Harbour Porpoise Statistical Review
The aim of this project is to investigate the influence of environmental and observational effects on Harbour Porpoise survey counts from the NPWS monitoring programme conducted across three spatial areas of conservation in 2007, 2008, 2013-2016 and 2018. First, the detection probability function will be estimated using distant sampling methods extended with covariates in order […]
The Harbour Porpoise in Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay is an important maritime area, both in terms of anthropogenic activity and the marine species that inhabit it. It hosts Ireland’s busiest port, is a popular area for marine recreational activities and has a number of EU Designated habitats through Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). This PhD study […]
Marine Invasive Species Ireland
The goal of this project is to set up novel tools for the detection and monitoring of marine Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Irish coastal waters. This includes the development of environmental DNA protocols for rapid detection, establishment of a surveillance eDNA database and mapping of marine invasive species. This project is led by GMIT […]
eDNA monitoring of Arctic char
The main goal of this project is to develop and apply an environmental DNA (eDNA) protocol for the detection and monitoring of declining Irish Arctic char (<i>Salvelinus alpinus</i>). This project has seen the participation of several students, academics and researchers since its first iteration in 2015 and it has recently resulted in a peer-reviewed publication […]
Characterising Oligotrophic Lakes
This EPA funded research project (2020-2024) is led by ATU Galway City in partnership with Roden Ecology. The multi-disciplinary team are gathering and assessing baseline data on oligotrophic lakes, allowing for their characterisation under the EU Habitats Directive. The team will determine what physical, chemical and biological monitoring methods and assessment tools are needed to […]
Supply of Vertebrate Necropsy and Sample Recovery Services
This collaboration between GMIT and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (lead partners) and Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory aimed to establish the cause of death of stranded dolphins and porpoises and recover tissues for research purposes. The work was funded through a contract by the Marine Institute between 2017-2019.
Feathered friends and their foes
Migratory birds annually aggregate at breeding colonies, often at very high densities. This creates an ideal transmission scenario for directly transmitted parasites, such as ticks and mites. In addition, dense congregations of birds can increase competition for space and food, with potential impacts on breeding success. In collaboration with Birdwatch Ireland and colleagues in France […]
Corncrake conservation
GMIT are partners on this five year (2020-2025) collaboration which is funded through the EU LIFE program (LIFE18 NAT/IE/000090). The research aims to improve corncrake conservation status in Ireland by enhancing the SPA network and surrounding farmland. We are focusing on acoustic monitoring as a method of deriving density and abundance. Thermal imaging trials will […]
MicroplastiX
MicroplastiX is an international collaborative and interdisciplinary research project funded by JPI Oceans that focusses on how weathering and biofouling affect the degradation of microplastics in the marine environment. This project aims to overcome knowledge gaps on microplastic weathering, biofouling, and fragmentation and how these processes influence the distribution and dispersal of plastic particles. The […]
Impacts of flow on river ecology
The objectives of this project are to: Test a range of macroinvertebrate flow indices using historical and current data, and develop appropriate macroinvertebrate flow indices for use in Irish river monitoring programmes; Employ statistical modelling approaches, using historical and current data, to infer the impact of flow on fish communities, and develop fish flow metrics; […]
