Monitoring of the Annex V Clubmoss group (Lycopodium spp.) in Ireland 2015-2018
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2020-01-09Access:
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Fionnuala H. O'Neill, Maria P. Long, Rory L. Hodd, 'Monitoring of the Annex V Clubmoss group (Lycopodium spp.) in Ireland 2015-2018', [report], National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 2020-01-09, Irish wildlife manuals, No.117, 2020Download Item:
Abstract:
This report presents details of a monitoring survey conducted between 2015 and 2018 to assess the conservation status of the Habitats Directive Annex V species group Lycopodiumspp. (EU code 1413). In Ireland,this is understood to comprise the four clubmoss species Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Lycopodium clavatumand Lycopodiella inundata. The aims of the survey were to assess these four target species in terms of three parameters: Population, Habitat for the species and Future prospects. A total of 25 sites were surveyed: five D. alpinum, ten H. selago, five L. clavatumand five L. inundatasites. A review of the survey methodology and assessment criteria was undertaken. For all four species, Populationwas assessed at each site by five criteria: total number of occupied square metres (OSMs), population extent in square metres, percent cover of target species (obtained from the average percent cover across all monitoring stops), estimated number of target species shoots (extrapolated up from average shoot counts across all monitoring stops) and presence of sporing plants. Habitat for the specieswas assessed differently for each species. For D. alpinumit was assessed by means of three criteria: percent cover of Calluna vulgaris, percent cover of disturbed bare ground and impact of negative pressures on habitat. For H. selagoit was assessed usingone criterion: impact of negative pressures on habitat. For L. clavatumit was assessed usingthree criteria: percent cover of Calluna vulgaris, percent cover of disturbed bare soil, and impact of negative pressures on habitat. For L. inundatait was assessed usingfive criteria: average sward height across all plots, cover of Nardus stricta, percent cover of bareground, wetness of substrate, and impact of negative pressures. Positive and negative activities were recorded at sites where they occurred. The main negative impacts recorded at D. alpinumsites were sheep grazing and damage due to trampling from walkers. These were regarded as being of low importance and not seriously damaging to the plant or its habitat. For H. selago, pressures from overgrazing were high across five of the ten sites surveyed. Negative impacts at L.clavatumsites included both overgrazing and undergrazing, as well as some damage due to walkers. L. inundatasites were generally found to be managed appropriately and negative impacts were of low intensity or absent. Drainage, noted in the baseline survey as one of the most severe impacts affecting L. inundatasites, did not appear to be a problem at any of the five L. inundatasites visited during the current survey. Nine of the ten H. selagosites received a Favourable assessment for Population, and one received an Unfavourable-Inadequateassessment. Five sites received a Favourable assessment for Habitat for the species and five were assessed as Unfavourable-Inadequate. Future prospects for four of the sites were assessed as Favourable, while six were Unfavourable-Inadequate. An overall conservation status assessment of Favourable was achieved by four sites, with six receiving an overall conservation status assessment of Unfavourable-Inadequate. At one of the L. clavatumsites surveyed, the target species was not located. Therefore this site received a Populationassessment of Unfavourable-Bad. The other four sites were Favourable for Population. Habitat for the specieswas assessed as Favourable at three sites, one was Unfavourable-Inadequate, and at the fifth site (where L. clavatumwas absent) the habitat was not assessed, therefore the assessment result is Unknown. Future prospects were assessed as Favourable at three sites, Unfavourable-Inadequate at one and Unfavourable-Bad at the fifth. Overall, three sites were assessed as Favourableand one each was assessed as Unfavourable-Inadequate and Unfavourable-Bad. All five L. inundata and D. alpinumsites received a Favourable assessment for Population, Habitat for the speciesand Futureprospects; therefore all five sites for both species received an overall conservation status assessment of Favourable. The report concludes with a discussion of the results and recommendations for future monitoring of the species.
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Ireland. National Parks and Wildlife ServicePublisher:
National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Culture, Heritage and the GaeltachtType of material:
reportCollections
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Clubmoss, Lycopod, EU Habitats Directive, Monitoring, Annex V, Article 17, Ecology, Conservation statusISSN:
13936670Metadata
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