Rare & threatened fern and fern allies conservation and monitoring
The Rare and threatened fern and fern allied species in Ireland under investigation include Killarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum), Clubmosses (Lycopodiaceae species) and Moore’s Horsetail (Equisetum x moorei). This is collaborative project between NPWS Scientific Unit, Trinity College Dublin Botany Department and the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin.
The three main aims of the project are:
- To develop practical monitoring guidelines for reporting on these species to the EU under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive.
- To develop methods for best conserving these species in the wild and in long-term storage (ex situ) as backup collections.
- To determine the genetic makeup of populations of the Annex I species Killarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum) using a DNA fingerprinting technique.
Photo: Killarney Fern (Naomi Kingston)
Bryophyte Conservation
There have been a number of NPWS bryophyte conservation projects completed in recent years including the publication of a Flora Protection Order Map Viewer – Bryophytes. Other useful resources include:
- Irish bryophytes
- Rare and Threatened Bryophytes of Ireland (2012)
- Ireland Red List No. 8: Bryophytes (2012)
- Revision of the bryophyte schedule for the Flora (Protection) Order, 2015. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 87 (2015)
- Revision of the Flora (Protection) Order in the Republic of Ireland. Field Bryology 114: 2–12 (2015)
- S.I. No. 235/2022 - Flora (Protection) Order, 2022)
- Monitoring methods for Petalophyllum ralfsii (Wils.) Nees & Gottsche (Petalwort) in the Republic of Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 90 (2015)
- The monitoring and assessment of Petalophyllum ralfsii (Petalwort) in the Republic of Ireland 2016–2018. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 109 (2019)
- Monitoring methods for Hamatocaulis vernicosus Mitt. Hedenäs (Slender Green feather-moss) in the Republic of Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 91(2015)
- The monitoring and assessment of Hamatocaulis vernicosus (Slender Green Feather-moss) in the Republic of Ireland 2015–2017. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 110 (2019)
- Results of a survey to monitor the EU Annex I habitat Calaminarian grassland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 105 (2018)
- Results of a survey to monitor the EU Annex I habitat Calaminarian grassland, Appendices. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 105 (2018)
- Checklists of protected and threatened species in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 116 (2019)
- Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) for Bryophytes: Selection Criteria. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 100 (2017)
- European bryophytes
- Checklist and country status of European bryophytes – towards a new Red List for Europe. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 84 (2015)
- Checklist and country status of European bryophytes – update 2020. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 123 (2020)
- European checklist of liverworts/hornworts July 2020 version 14 (Excel spreadsheet for download)
- European checklist of mosses July 2020 version 14 (Excel spreadsheet for download)
- An annotated checklist of bryophytes of Europe, Macaronesia and Cyprus. Journal of Bryology 42: 1–116 (2020)
- A miniature world in decline: European Red List of mosses, liverworts and hornworts. IUCN (2019)
- European Committee for Conservation of Bryophytes website (https://eccbbryo.nhmus.hu)
LichenIreland
The LichenIreland project, in conjunction with CEDaR and the Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland, was initiated in 2005. This project aims to increase awareness of the species group, as well as improve understanding of the distribution and ecology of the Lichen flora in Ireland.
Members of the Scienific Unit can be contacted by e-mailing: natureconservation@npws.gov.ie