Project Page Views: [ 637 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Alien invasive species in Irish water bodies |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Christine A. Maggs |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 54.58443, -5.93460 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/01/2008 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 01/03/2010 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Alien Invasive Species; Water Framework Directive; River Basin Districts; Monitoring and Reporting |
| Project Abstract | This all-island consortium of experienced researchers from university, SME and government sectors will address the knowledge gap identified under the Water Framework Directive for alien invasive species in Ireland's River Basin Districts, and produce a monitoring and reporting strategy. This will be achieved by: literature review of impacts on natural ecosystems, vectors, spread potential and control options; analysis of impacts of selected invasive species on structure and function of natural ecosystems (primarily by innovative studies of impacted and non-impacted foodwebs using stable isotopes in exemplar waterbodies); and preparation of an archived GIS-based database of aquatic aliens in Ireland. We anticipate at least three peer-reviewed publications, with conference presentations: (1) stable isotope investigation of impacted and non-impacted foodwebs; (2) quantitative ecological studies of impacted and non-impacted systems in two waterbodies; (3) recommendations from trials of control of Lagarosiphon and Chub; this project will also educate and train two MPhil students. Invasive Species in Ireland (www.invasivespeciesireland.com) will have a dedicated page of project outputs, with links to consortium partners websites. The Invasive Species Forum (60 organisations) will disseminate and communicate research findings to stakeholder groups, including all relevant Government departments and agencies, industry, NGOs and academia. |