You are here: Home  Research  Thematic area: Policy and public goods  Forest biodiversity  FORESTBIO
You are here: Home  Research  Thematic area: Policy and public goods  Forest biodiversity  FORESTBIO

FORESTBIO

Managing for biodiversity in a range of Irish forest types

DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 392Kb)  
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 399Kb) 

PROJECT TEAM
Prof. John O'Halloran, University College Cork
Dr Daniel Kelly, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Sandra Irwin, University College Cork*
Dr Fidelma Butler, University College Cork
Dr Linda Coote, Trinity College Dublin
Howard Fox, Trinity College Dublin
Steven Keady, University College Cork
Dr Michael Keane, Coillte
Dr Tom Kelly, University College Cork
Kathrin Kopke, University College Cork
Rebecca Martin, University College Cork
Dr Fraser Mitchell, Trinity College Dublin
Karen Moore, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Pat Neville, Coillte
Dr Anne Oxbrough, University College Cork
Oisín Sweeney, University College Cork
Dr Mark Wilson, University College Cork

* Email: s.irwin@ucc.ie

COMPLETION DATE: December 2011

BACKGROUND
The COFORD/EPA funded BIOFOREST project (2001-2006) was an integral part of the emerging body of knowledge on forest biodiversity in Ireland following a period of intensive afforestation and associated landscape changes during the latter part of the twentieth century. Although expansion of the existing forest estate remains a priority, the character of Ireland's forests is undergoing considerable change. An increasing proportion of existing conifer forests is being harvested and restocked, and a high proportion of plantings now consists of a mix of conifer and broadleaved species. FORESTBIO seeks to address gaps in the knowledge of forest biodiversity in three forest types (second rotation conifer plantations, mixed tree species plantations and native woodlands) through surveys of plants, birds and invertebrates.

OBJECTIVES

  • Determine the biodiversity of second rotation forests, mixed-species forests and native woodlands at different stages of the forest cycle.
  • Make inter-forest type comparisons and comparisons with data from BIOFOREST.
  • Identify indicators of biodiversity for different forest types and describe monitoring techniques.
  • Identify measures that may be used to enhance the biodiversity of the different forest types.
  • Compare Irish and UK forest biodiversity using existing data and study sites.

    PROGRESS
    The current reporting period was concerned primarily with data analysis by plant and bird specialists, and laboratory identifications by invertebrate biologists. Data entry has been completed for many of the taxa being studied and data analysis is well underway. The first results are beginning to emerge, particularly from the first and second rotation Sitka spruce plantation studies that compare the findings of the FORESTBIO research in second rotation plantations with the findings in first rotations of BIOFOREST project. For each taxon, analysis will also be undertaken on native woodland surveys, and on mixed plantation surveys, as well as an over-arching analysis across all three surveys at all 60 FORESTBIO sites. This work is at varying stages of advancement for each of the target taxa. An analysis of deadwood in native and plantation forests has also been completed.
    While a number of the taxa under investigation in this project can be identified in the field, invertebrate identification can only be undertaken in the laboratory with the aid of a microscope and specialised identification keys. The current reporting period has been mainly concerned with this aspect of the work for invertebrate biologists. Identification of all ground-dwelling specimens was completed in August and of canopy-dwelling specimens by the end of 2009. All data collected by researchers on this project are being compiled into a GIS database which will provide an updateable system that allows access, visualisation and further analysis of the spatial data component within the FORESTBIO project.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
  • Data analysis for each taxon under investigation (ground vegetation, epiphytes, invertebrates and birds) covering: afforestation versus reforestation at different stages of the forest cycle; canopy mixes; oak and ash native woodlands and inter-forest type comparisons.
  • Analysis for each taxon will include species richness and abundance, species assemblages, identification of biodiversity indicators, management recommendations and specific methods used will be dependent on taxonomic group.
  • Completion of cross-taxon analysis.
  • Preparation of findings for dissemination at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Completion of the GIS database.
  • Investigation of relationship between terrestrial laser scanning data and manually collected biodiversity data.

    OUTPUTS
    French, V., Oxbrough, A., Irwin, S., Kelly, T.C. and O'Halloran, J. 2009. Moth diversity in native woodlands and plantation forests. ENVIRON '09.
    Irwin, S. 2009. A novel approach to forest biodiversity assessment. Science Spin.
    Irwin, S., Kelly, D. L., Kelly, T., McCarthy, N., Mitchell, F., Coote, L., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M., Martin, R., French, V., Fox, H., Sweeney, O., Moore, K. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Planning and management tools for biodiversity in a range of Irish forests. (Poster presentation). Scientific Seminar in the connection to the European Forest Institute Annual Conference: Forest Ecosystem Management in the 21st Century, Dublin, Ireland.
    Martin, R., Oxbrough, A., Irwin, S., Kelly, T.C. and O' Halloran, J. 2009. Assessing the biodiversity of canopy arthropods in a range of forest types throughout Ireland. 2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology: Conservation biology and beyond: from science to practice, Prague.
    Moore, K.A. 2009. Bryophyte Identification. Dublin Naturalists Field Club, March 2009.
    O'Halloran, J. 2009. PLANFORBIO. Presentation to COFORD Council. Cork, March 2009.
    Oxbrough, A. 2009. Biodiversity indicators of ground-dwelling spiders in Irish plantation forests and native woodlands. ERI Research Open Day, UCC, May 2009.
    Palmu, E. 2009. Initial effects of afforestation on ground beetles (Coleoptera: carbidae) in Irish grasslands and peatlands. MSc Thesis, Lunds University, Sweden (Practical work carried out at UCC.
    Sweeney, O.F.McD. 2009. Woodland and Forest Biodiversity. Trees - why we need them. Dunmanway, October 2009.
    Sweeney., O.F.McD., Wilson, M.W., Irwin, S. Kelly, T.C., and O'Halloran, J. Bird communities of second rotation plantations in Ireland at different stages of the forest cycle. Submitted to Ibis.
    Sweeney, O. F.McD., Wilson, M., Kelly, T.C., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Bird diversity and abundance in different stages of the forest cycle in first and second rotation plantation forests. Current Ornithological Research in Ireland: 5th Ornithological Research Conference, University College Cork, November 2008.
    Sweeney., O.F.McD., Wilson, M.W., Kelly, T.C., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2009. What differences exist between the bird communities of first and second rotation plantation forests? In: Keller, V. and O'Halloran, J. (eds) 7th Conference of the European Ornithologists' Union Abstracts, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach.
    Sweeney., O.F.McD., Wilson, M.W., Kelly, T.C., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2009. Bird density and species richness in native and plantation woodlands in Ireland: what differences exist and why? 2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology: Conservation biology and beyond: from science to practice, Prague.
    Sweeney., O.F.McD., Martin, R., O'Halloran, J., Irwin, S., Kelly, T.C., Wilson, M.W., and McEvoy, P.M. A lack of large diameter logs and snags characterises dead wood patterns in Irish forests. Submitted to Forest Ecology and Management.
    John O'Halloran is a partner in a consortium preparing a bid for funding under ENV.2010.2.1.4-1 Functional significance of forest biodiversity. This bid is based on a pan-European partnership with partners including CEH (UK), ALTER Europe, LTER Europe and ICO forests as well as a number of universities. The aim of the proposal is to integrate, enhance and facilitate the use of European research on the significance of forest biodiversity for ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem goods and services.
    A 'Mammals in forests' workshop was hosted by FORESTBIO research project at the all Ireland Mammal Symposium, Waterford Institute of Technology and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, 8 November 2009.

     

    2008 report

    PROJECT TEAM
    Prof. John O'Halloran, University College Cork
    Dr Sandra Irwin, University College Cork*
    Dr Daniel Kelly Trinity College Dublin
    Dr Tom Kelly, University College Cork
    Dr Fraser Mitchell, Trinity College Dublin
    Dr Michael Keane, Coillte
    Dr Mark Wilson, University College Cork
    Dr Anne Oxbrough, University College Cork
    Dr Linda Coote, Trinity College Dublin
    Pat Neville, Coillte
    Howard Fox, Trinity College Dublin
    Veronica French, University College Cork
    Rebecca Martin, University College Cork
    Karen Moore, Trinity College Dublin
    Oisín Sweeney, University College Cork
    Kathrin Kopke, University College Cork
    Dr Fidelma Butler, University College Cork

    * Email: s.irwin@ucc.ie

    COMPLETION DATE: December 2010

    BACKGROUND
    The COFORD/EPA funded BIOFOREST project was an integral part of the emerging body of knowledge on forest biodiversity in Ireland following a period of intensive afforestation and associated landscape changes during the latter part of the twentieth century. Although expansion of the forest estate remains a priority for government, the character of Ireland's forests is undergoing considerable change. An increasing proportion of existing conifer forests are being harvested and restocked, and a high proportion of plantings now consist of a mix of conifer and broadleaved species. FORESTBIO seeks to address gaps in the knowledge of forest biodiversity in three forest types (second rotation conifer plantations, mixed tree species plantations and native woodlands) through surveys of plants, birds and invertebrates.

    OBJECTIVES
  • Assess the biodiversity of native woodlands, second rotation plantations and mixed species plantations.
  • Conduct inter-forest type comparisons and comparisons with data from BIOFOREST to build a picture of the variety of forests in Ireland today.
  • Identify indicators of biodiversity for different forest types and describe long term monitoring techniques.
  • Identify measures to enhance the biodiversity of the different forest types.

    PROGRESS
    This project will sample 60 forest sites in total, 20 each of the three forest types. The following target taxonomic groups are being examined:
  • Epiphytes;
  • Ground-dwelling plants;
  • Ground-dwelling invertebrates;
  • Canopy-dwelling invertebrates;
  • Lepidoptera;
  • Birds.
    The intention was to complete the majority of fieldwork during the first two years to allow sufficient time for subsequent laboratory identification of specimens and for data analysis. To this end 30 sites (20 second rotation plantation, five oak native woodland and five ash native woodland) were selected for survey during 2007 and thirty (20 mixed tree species plantation, five oak native woodland and five ash native woodland) during 2008. Much of the project fieldwork has now been completed and specimen identification is well underway. In addition to the flora and fauna surveys conducted during 2007, dedicated Lepidoptera surveys were conducted during the summer of 2008, and a subset of sites selected for autumn Lepidoptera surveys. Similarly, a subset of sites was selected for winter bird surveys.
    Analysis of data collected thus far has commenced and team members are working towards interpretation and dissemination of results. Construction of the project database will bring together the many disciplines and add value to the results generated by each group, while making the data accessible to stakeholders in a user-friendly format.
    During the summer of 2008 the canopy fogging surveys uncovered a new species of spider to Ireland. One male and one female of Entelecara acuminata (Wider 1834) were captured at Brownstown Wood in Co Kilkenny. This species is rare in England and has occasionally been recorded in Scotland, but never before in Ireland. Although a labour intensive and often difficult method for surveying forest canopy invertebrates, thermal fogging offers a unique tool in the assessment of fauna in our forest canopies, and has been directly responsible for the discovery of this species in Ireland.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
    Much of the fieldwork on FORESTBIO is now complete; however, Lepidoptera and canopy invertebrate sampling will continue through the next reporting period.
    Sorting and identification of plant and invertebrate samples collected during 2007 and 2008 fieldwork will be completed.
    Detailed statistical analysis of data will be a priority with a view to the production of manuscripts for submission to international journals.
    Preliminary data will be presented at conferences and workshops, nationally and internationally.

    OUTPUTS
    Popular articles
    Moore, K. 2008. Plant communities after clearfelling. Irish Tree Society Winter Newsletter.

    Peer-reviewed papers
    Martin, R. In Press. Entelecara acuminata (Wider 1834) at Brownstown Wood, Co Kilkenny, new to Ireland. The Irish Naturalists Journal.

    Presentations at workshops and conferences (including posters)
    Coote, L., Kelly, D.L., Kelly, T., Mitchell, F., Irwin, S., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M.W., Martin, R., French, V., Fox, H., Sweeney, O., Moore, K., Neville, P., Keane, M. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. FORESTBIO. Irish Plant Scientists Association meeting 2008. NUI Maynooth.
    Fox, H. and Kelly, D.L. 2008. Epiphyte diversity in native and plantation forests. ENVIRON 2008 DkIT.
    Irwin, S., Kelly, D. L., Kelly, T., McCarthy, N., Mitchell, F., Coote, L., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M., Martin, R., French, V., Fox, H., Sweeney, O., Moore, K. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Planning and management tools for biodiversity in a range of Irish forests. (Poster presentation). ENVIRON 2008, DkIT.
    Martin, R., Kelly, T., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Assessing the biodiversity of canopy arthropods in a range of forest types. (Poster presentation). ENVIRON 2008, DkIT.
    Martin, R., Kelly, T., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Assessing the biodiversity of canopy arthropods in a range of forest types. Postgraduate Ecology Forum 2008, Trinity College Dublin.
    Moore, K., Coote, L., Fox, H., Vézeau, C., Mitchell, F. and Kelly, D. L. 2008. Ground flora diversity of Sitka spruce reforestation plantations in comparison with afforestation plantations in Ireland. ENVIRON 2008 DkIT, Postgraduate Ecology Forum 2008 TCD and Irish Plant Scientists Association Meeting 2008 NUI Maynooth.
    O'Halloran, J., Kelly, D. K., Kelly, T., Mitchell, F., Giller, P. S., Iremonger, S. and Irwin, S. 2008. BIOFOREST and Biodiversity (BIOFOREST and PLANFORBIO). Environmental Research Conference 2008, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Environmental Protection Agency.
    Oxbrough, A., Kelly, T., Irwin, S., and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Biodiversity indicators of ground-dwelling spiders in Irish plantation forests and native woodlands. Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems and Landscapes' (IUFRO) conference, Thompson Rivers University, Canada.
    Sweeney, O., Kelly, T., Wilson, M., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. What affects bird diversity in native and plantation woodlands? (Poster presentation). ENVIRON 2008, Dundalk Institute of Technology.
    Sweeney, O., Wilson, M., Irwin, S., Kelly, T. C. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Bird diversity of Irish Woodlands. Postgraduate Ecology Forum 2008, Trinity College Dublin.
    Sweeney, O., Wilson, M., Kelly, T. C., Irwin, S. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Bird diversity and abundance in different stages of the forest cycle in first and second rotation plantation forests. Cork Ornithology Research Conference, University College Cork, November 2008.

    Theses
    Chauvigne, C. 2008. The ground-dwelling invertebrate communities of native oak woodlands (Quercus sp.), pure plantation forests (Norway spruce (Picea abies)) and mixed plantation forests (Norway spruce and oak). MSc Thesis, Ecole Superieure d'Agriculture d'Angers.
    Daly, O.H. 2008. An investigation of the ground flora diversity of mixed forests. MSc Thesis, Trinity College Dublin.

    Inputs to curriculum development and teaching
    O'Halloran, J. 2008. Biodiversity of birds in Irish woodlands. Seminar Series Hilary Term, TCD.
    Anne Oxbrough and Mark Wilson have lectured to the MSc Ecosystem Conservation and Landscape Management run by the ZEPS department, University College Cork.
    Oisín Sweeney, Mark Wilson and John O'Halloran gave lectures on the Biodiversity Components of Forestry course at UCC.

    Project website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/planforbio/Projects/FORESTBIO/