Our coastal wetlands and their biodiversity...

Surveys

15 Aug

Dr Mary Catherine, an ecologist working for Wetland Survey Ireland (WSI) has made some great rare species discoveries as part of her work the NPWS Coastal Habitats Monitoring Project in south west Ireland, which she is co-ordinating for WSI.

Some of her finds include abundant stands of Crambe martima (Sea-Kale) on shingle beach habitat at Barley Cove to Ballyrisode Point SAC, and Yellow Horned-poppy (Glaucium flavum) on shingle beach habitat at Lower River Shannon SAC.

Peter Foss joined Mary Catherine for a few days of this years’ survey when they visited Magharees sand dunes in Co. Kerry (part of the Tralee Bay and Magharees Peninsula, West to Cloghane SAC).

Peter was delighted to find a new species for me, Jaapiella veronicae (Long Legged Gall Midge) in dune slack vegetation. This tiny fly lays its eggs on the growing tip of Veronica chamaedrys (Germander Speedwell), which causes the growing shoot to turn into a tiny fuzzy white snowball. The find at Magharees in dune slack habitat, is only the second time the species has been recorded for in Ireland.

But without a doubt… the highlight of the trip to Magharees was the discovery of flowering spikes of the orchid Spiranthes spiralis (Autumn Lady’s-tresses).

These finds and many more less exciting, show yet again how little we know about our wetlands and their biodiversity, even when they have Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status.

The Coastal Habitats Monitoring Project was funded ny NPWS.