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dc.contributor.authorLawton, Colin
dc.contributor.authorHanniffy, Ruth
dc.contributor.authorMolloy, Victoria
dc.contributor.authorGuilfoyle, Colin
dc.contributor.authorStinson, Michael
dc.contributor.authorReilly, Emily
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-15T13:14:04Z
dc.date.available2020-06-15T13:14:04Z
dc.date.issued2020-06
dc.identifier.citationColin Lawton, Ruth Hanniffy, Victoria Molloy, Colin Guilfoyle, Michael Stinson, Emily Reilly, 'All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey 2019', [report], National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 2020-06, Irish wildlife manuals, No.121, 2020en
dc.identifier.issn13936670
dc.description.abstractThe NPWS Project Officer for this report was: Ferdia Marnell; ferdia.marnell@chg.gov.ie . This IWM was edited by Ferdia Marnell, John Carey and Brian Nelson. In 2019, a survey was conducted across the island of Ireland on the distribution and status of three mammal species, the native Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris and Pine Marten Martes martes, and the invasive Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis. The Grey Squirrel was introduced to Ireland just over 100 years ago, and has since spread to cover most of the eastern half of the island. The Grey Squirrel competes with the Red Squirrel for resources, and carries a disease that is fatal to the native species. As a result, the spread of Grey Squirrel had been mirrored by a retraction in Red Squirrel range and a reduction in numbers. The distributions of the two squirrel species have been observed through a series of surveys running since the middle of the 20th century. In recent surveys however, it became apparent that in some parts of Ireland there had been a change in the fortunes of the two species. In surveys conducted in 2007 and 2012 it was evident that the Grey Squirrel had disappeared from parts of the midlands of Ireland. This disappearance was linked in subsequent studies to the re-emergence of the Pine Marten, a native carnivore of Ireland. The Pine Marten had previously almost disappeared but has made a considerable recovery after becoming protected under Irish and EU legislation. High densities of Pine Marten were found in the midlands of Ireland, in the areas where Grey Squirrel had disappeared. Meanwhile, Red Squirrel has made a recovery in some of these areas and seemed capable of co-habiting woodlands with the native carnivore. The current survey sought to update the distribution maps for the three species in recognition of the rapidly changing situation. The survey team was a collaborative effort between academics and NGO officers from both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and used the online recording facilities offered by the National Biodiversity Data Centre (RoI) and Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (NI). The survey was publicised using print, broadcasting and social media, with the public invited to contribute sightings as part of a citizen science effort. Three thousand four hundred and seven records were received during the course of the survey, a large increase on the number received in previous surveys. Grey Squirrel records however had decreased in number, and the range covered by the species had dropped considerably, with 37.8% fewer hectads (10 km x 10 km squares) occupied than in 2012. The distribution gap in the midlands now stretches across nine counties, with Grey Squirrel having functionally disappeared from Co. Fermanagh, Co. Monaghan and parts of Co. Meath and Co. Kildare since the 2012 survey. Red Squirrel sightings have increased considerably, and it has returned to parts of the midlands from which it had disappeared. The number of sightings of Pine Marten, previously considered an elusive animal, was very high, with signs that its core range has expanded from the west and midlands to include parts of Northern Ireland and Co. Wicklow. Again, there is evidence of the negative correlation between the Grey Squirrel and Pine Marten, and it is in the areas where the Pine Marten has increased most significantly that this squirrel has disappeared. The Grey Squirrel continues to thrive in some areas, in particular in urban regions around Belfast and Dublin. There was some evidence of further Grey Squirrel spread into the southwest of the island. The survey was very successful and underlined the benefits of citizen science and using the collective knowledge of an informed and enthusiastic public. The collaborative nature of the study, bringing together colleagues from institutions across both parts of the island, was very productive. The status of the two native species is very good, with very important populations in their strongholds in the west and midlands of Ireland. However, recommendations are made to ensure that this remains the case, with further monitoring required to allow early intervention if conservation at a local or national level is required.en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherNational Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltachten
dc.rightsYen
dc.subjectRed Squirrelen
dc.subjectGrey Squirrelen
dc.subjectPine Martinen
dc.subjectDistribution surveyen
dc.subjectIrelanden
dc.subjectCitizen scienceen
dc.titleAll-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey 2019en
dc.typereporten
dc.type.supercollectionedepositireland
dc.contributor.corporatenameIreland. National Parks and Wildlife Serviceen
dc.publisher.placeirelanden
dc.rights.ecaccessrightsopenAccess
dc.relation.ispartofseriesdate2020en
dc.relation.ispartofseriesissueNo.121en
dc.relation.ispartofseriestitleIrish wildlife manualsen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2262/92771


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