Who is involved?
EnviroCentre – Policy Development – WP1
An extensive review of invasive species in Ireland has already been undertaken so it is proposed to build on that review and the work already completed by focusing on high impact species and their management in the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Objective 1: To carry out a literature review of research on alien invasive species in Ireland and internationally that can be used to inform policy development and management with a focus on high risk species.
Objective 2: Develop a monitoring and reporting strategy for high impact invasive species.
Objective 3: Develop a strategy for containing and preventing high impact alien invasive introductions.
Contact: Dr Cathy Maguire Website: http://www.envirocentre.ie
Queens University Belfast supported by the Central Fisheries Board – Aquatic Invasive Species Impacts – WP2
Many Irish waterbodies are being impacted by invasive species so the project is focusing effort on high impact species in waterbodies of high ecological value as these will require management actions in the context of WFD-required programmes of measures.
Research is being carried out on two recent invaders, Lagarosiphon major in Lough Corrib and chub in the River Inny. This work package consists of two projects, one focusing on stable isotope analysis of food webs and impacts of invasives (WP 2a) and the other on more traditional quantitative community analysis of impacted versus non-impacted sites. These two approaches are complementary. Both projects will include studies of control measures on chub and Lagarosiphon (WP 2b).
Objective 1: To describe the key consequences of invasion on the function and food-web dynamics of selected freshwater ecosystems in Ireland using stable isotope analyses
Objective 2: To describe the key consequences of invasion on the community structure of selected freshwater ecosystems in Ireland.
Objective 3: To examine the efficacy and consequences of measures aimed to control key invasive species including an invasive plant Lagarosiphon major, and an invasive fish (Leuciscus cephalus). View the report: Research and control programme for Lagarosiphon major on Lough Corrib 2008.
Contact: Dr Chris Harrod, Dr Jaimie Dick, Prof Chris Maggs, Dr Joe Caffrey
Website: http://www.qub.ac.uk
National Biodiversity Data Centre – Mapping and Recording – WP3
Accurately tracking the movement of invasive species is particularly important as this information can feed directly into effective monitoring and control programmes. In the aquatic environment it makes more biological sense to display data by segments of river or lake system so that movements of species can be tracked through water catchments. The development of a GIS based database of aquatic invasive species enables records to be displayed against the backdrop of additional GIS layers.
Combining this with a mechanism for online submission of verified records, will move the database from a static resource into a dynamic database that has the potential to become a vital tool in the identification, monitoring and control of aquatic invasive species in Ireland in the future.
Objective 1: To identify the data requirements for monitoring and reporting strategies in line with national protocols and best practice.
Objective 2: To prepare a GIS database of the location of all reported aquatic invasive species displayed by river system and lake catchments units
Objective 3: To make this information publicly available via the National Biodiversity Data Centre web system and to provide an efficient mechanism for this information to be updated.
Contact: Colette O’ Flynn Website: http://invasives.biodiversityireland.ie/
