Using eDNA to monitor Irish pollan
This project funded was under the Genetic Resources Grant Aid Scheme (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine). The aims were to (i) design and validate novel eDNA assays for the detection of pollan in Irish waters; (ii) test and apply a range of water sampling and filtration protocols for eDNA analysis; and (iii) evaluate […]
Microplastics in Galway Bay
This is a 3 year project (2017-2020) funded under both Government of Ireland International scholarships and the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme (IRC). This project is addressing some of the knowledge gaps on microplastics in benthic fauna and sediments in Galway Bay. The bay is being used as a test site where both the […]
Conservation status of white-clawed crayfish
The objectives of this project were to assess the conservation status of the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, in all fifteen Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Ireland for which the species is listed as a qualifying interest, by (i) establishing the range of the species in the SACs, (ii) estimating the population size, (iii) quantifying […]
Genetics of white-clawed crayfish
This MSc project (student Daniel Brady) was co-funded by GMIT and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The main objectives were to enable effective conservation and management of Irish white-clawed crayfish by: (i) characterising genetic diversity and population structure of Irish crayfish populations using modern molecular techniques and (ii) study immune factors-associated genes with particular […]
Seal Management and Conservation
The main objectives of this project are to: (1) investigate population genetic structure among protected species of seal around Ireland and further afield; (2) investigate harbour seal habitat use in chosen SACs and around Ireland using a combination of photo-identification and genetic methodologies as well as citizen science; and (3) provide high quality knowledge required […]
ObSERVE Acoustic
This three year project (2015-2018), aimed to provide robust scientific knowledge with respect to protected species occurrence and ecology along the Irish Atlantic Margin. Project partners included the Marine Institute, JASCO Applied Sciences, Sea Mammal Research Unit, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. The project was funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources […]
