Aquatic and Riparian Invasive Species Research in Republic of Ireland
Joe Caffrey Inland Fisheries Ireland
ISI Forum, Belfast Museum – 30th May 2013 What is being done to halt the introduction and spread of AIS?
IFI has assumed responsibility for aquatic and riparian invasive species
Research & Management Strategy for AIS
Follows the three stage hierarchical approach (recommended by CBD) Prevention Early detection and rapid response Long-term control, eradication or containment
Bloody Red Shrimp Research conducted in collaboration with no. institutions and organisations throughout Ireland Nature of AIS Research Undertaken within IFI
n Policy - to influence dev. of national and EU legislation
n Scientific - applied (to underpin management) - collaborative n Management - to refine / develop practical control methods
n Biosecurity - prevent the negative impacts of IAS n Education & Awareness Priority Invasive Aquatic Invertebrate & Fish Species in Ireland
Asian clam Corbicula fluminea
Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis Bloody red shrimp Hemimysis anomala Chub Leuciscus cephalus Dace Leuciscus leuciscus
Priority Invasive Aquatic & Riparian Plant Species in Ireland
Nuttall’s waterweed Elodea nuttallii Curly leaved waterweed Lagarosiphon major
New Zealand pigmyweed Crassula helmsii Parrot’s feather Myriophyllum aquaticum Fringed water lily Nymphoides peltata Water fern Azolla filiculoides
Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera Knotweed spp Fallopia spp Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum
Rinerroon Bay, Lough Corrib pre- Lagarosiphon invasion
Rinerroon Bay, Lough Corrib post-Lagarosiphon (2005)
Japanese knotweed in Corrib catchment
Himalayan balsam on lower River Barrow
Giant hogweed
Asian clam in River Barrow at St Mullin’s
Policy Research
Approach to IAS both nationally and across Europe is fragmented and uncoordinated
A dedicated EU legislative instrument is planned to tackle:
IAS pathways, early detection and response, control and management
To assist IFI (with Life+ CAISIE) hosted international conference in April 2013 160 international delegates focused workshops --> 20 priority items to be addressed by Europe technical report (FAO) and scientific paper
Participate in dialogue with European Parliament, IUCN, EIFAAC, BIC, etc. Scientific Research
Applied - strongly field based
Collaboration - IT Sligo (Asian clam; Zebra mussel; Lagarosiphon)
- UCD (biocontrol, impacts of AIS on native invertebrates)
- UCC (factors affecting distribution and ecology of Asian clam) - TCD (as above) - GMIT (as above) - QUB (agents to control Asian clam; riparian plant research)
Further collaboration - CABI UK (biocontrol) - EIFAAC (European project) - EC - Life+ (Rivers Trust, RAFTS…) Applied Research to underpin Management of AIS
…. get ‘down & dirty’ to refine or develop new control/eradication methods
n Leuciscus cephalus in River Inny
n Lagarosiphon major in Lough Corrib and Darndale Pond
n Corbicula fluminea in lower River Barrow
n Crassula helmsii in Grand Canal
n Elodea nuttallii in many canal, river and lake habitats
n Riparian IS in many catchments
Bloodyn and Red more……. Shrimp Chub (leuciscus cephalus) in River Inny
§ Capable of establishing large populations § Will compete for food and space § Prey on young salmonids and other fishes § Could introduce new diseases or pathogens Chub in the River Inny
2001 & 2004 Unconfirmed reports of angler-caught chub
2005 Presence of live chub confirmed
Progress with Chub Removal from River Inny
n 2006 17 chub (all adult bar one at 13 cm) removed
n 2007 7 chub (all adult) removed
n 2008 2 chub (both adult) – radio tagged and movements monitored monthly for 12 months “Judas Chub” - Radio tag being surgically implanted (2008)
Both stayed together and moved no more than 500 m from original location
Progress with Chub Removal from River Inny
n 2006 17 chub (all adult bar one at 13 cm) removed
n 2007 7 chub (all adult) removed
n 2008 2 chub (both adult) – radio tagged
n 2009 2 chub (both adult) – one of which had been tagged removed
n 2010 2 chub (both adult) – one of which had been tagged removed
n 2011 no chub (no reported sightings or catches)
n 2012 no chub (no reported sightings or catches)
n 2013 no reported sightings or catches Eradicated?
Majority of chub removed from River Inny No sustainable population
No juveniles captured or reported No reported sightings by anglers since 2009
Rapid and continuous reaction ---> Success!! Lagarosiphon major (Curly-leaved waterweed)
Highly invasive aquatic
Native to Southern Africa
‘Oxygenating weed’
Artificial watercourses
1st confirmed in L Corrib in 2005
Life+ project commenced 2009
Lagarosiphon in Lough Corrib
Lagarosiphon Management Programme
n Hand removal (using divers)
n (Herbicides)
n Biological control – in collaboration with UCD (and Rhodes University, SA)
n Life cycle studies (find weak link)
n Mechanical harvesting
n Light exclusion
With funding from EU Life+ and NPWS Mechanical Cutting in Lough Corrib
n Deep cut using paired V-blades
n Containment nets employed
Harvesting Cut Weed in Lough Corrib
Light Exclusion using Biodegradable Jute Matting
n Open-weave fabric - jute or hessian (burlap in US) n Natural fibre
n Biodegrades totally n Saturates and sinks rapidly Light Exclusion using Jute Matting*
Preliminary trials proved highly effective
Lagarosiphon died rapidly beneath jute
Native charophyte vegetation grew through matting within 4 months Dense meadows established within 10 months No Lagarosiphon has grown through geotextile
Technique being widely employed
* Caffrey et al. (2010) Aquatic Invasions Lagarosiphon Management in Lough Corrib n By 2013 – 90% reduction in biomass from initial infestation n No large canopy-forming stands
n Angling has dramatically improved n Biodiversity preserved Corbicula fluminea (Asian clam)
One of the most widespread and notorious aquatic invaders…..
Probably intentionally introduced into one location as a food item
Distribution in Ireland 2010 - 2012
n Recorded in St Mullin’s, lower River Nore and Carrick-on-Shannon in 2010
n Recorded in Lough Derg in January 2011
n Recorded in Shannon locations in 2012
Probably unintentionally spread on anglers keep nets Corbicula fluminea – Invasive Life Cycle n Hermaphrodite, capable of cross- and self-fertilisation n Reproduce in spring and autumn
n Can produce up to 70,000 juveniles per annum n Juveniles fully formed on release, with a single sticky byssal thread n Matures at 3 – 12 months n Adult life spans 1 – 5 years Asian clam – Management Programme
n Collaboration with third level institutions
n Benthic barriers n Dredging n Disturbance trials Asian clam – Management Programme
n Collaboration with third level institution
IT Sligo, QUB, UCC, TCD and UCD
Detailed distribution Biology and ecology Pathways and vectors Reaction to chemicals / toxins Efficacy of practical control measures Benthic Barrier Trials in River Barrow 2011
n Trial to test efficacy of benthic barriers, with and without salt, on Corbicula n 5 replicates for each - plastic with salt / plastic without salt - jute with salt / jute without salt
- control with salt / control without salt n Baskets buried for 15, 30 and 45 days before removal and quantification
Benthic Barrier Trials in River Barrow 2011
Benthic Barrier Trials in River Barrow 2011
n Trial to test efficacy of benthic barriers, with and without salt, on Corbicula n 5 replicates for each - plastic with salt / plastic without salt - jute with salt / jute without salt
- control with salt / control without salt n Baskets buried for 15, 30 and 45 days before removal and quantification n Mortality among controls was significant – filling baskets affected results n Neither plastic or jute barriers alone resulted in significant clam mortality n With salt added, mortality increased beneath barriers n Most effective was 71% mortality after 45 days with plastic and salt n Not feasible to cover large areas (many kms) of natural river channel (may have application at early stage of infestation) Removal using Cockle Harvester 2012
Removal using Cockle Harvester 2012
Box dredge
Electric dredge Hydraulic dredge Removal using Cockle Harvester 2012
Each of the dredgers effectively removed clams and many tonnes were
removed over the 6 days
Removal using Cockle Harvester 2012
n Analysis of data in progress (IT Sligo)
Planned Control Work on Corbicula – 2013 and on
n Evaluate dredging and disturbance trials – progress as indicated n Electricity
n Ultrasound n Chemicals (e.g. anti-fouling paints…..) n International collaboration Biosecurity & Public Awareness
Measures to prevent and mitigate against the negative impacts of invasive species and pathogens
Awareness raising and stakeholder engagement
Active measures – implementation of rigorous cleaning and disinfection
To effectively tackle IS you must know what you are dealing with - those present - those not yet recorded What’s Around the River Bend?
Horizon scanning (RA) has revealed no. species on our doorstep
Killer shrimp Signal crayfish Topmouth gudgeon
Salmon fluke ( Gyrodactylus ) Koi Herpes Virus
Large-flowered waterweed Creeping water primrose Floating pennywort
Expect the Unexpected – River Dodder, Co Dublin
Education & Awareness Materials (aided by CAISIE and CIRB)
Information leaflets Popular, technical and scientific articles Biosecurity protocols for stakeholders (6)
Signage Pop-ups and back-drops IS Alerts Identification guides (e.g. leaflets, key rings) Websites Facebook and Twitter DVD for CAISIE project (30 minute) Calendars Rulers, badges, wrist bands, T-shirts, pens, USB keys …. Angler Disinfection Kits App for smart ‘phones Emergency no. (24/7) and more …….. Education & Awareness
n Over 100 oral presentations to stakeholders (CAISIE and CIRB projects) n Contributed to module on ‘Something Fishy’ curriculum course
n Practical ID courses at major events (e.g. Bloom, World Angling C’ships…) n Practical demonstrations of biosecurity to anglers, boaters n Set up disinfection stations at angling and boating events Biosecurity Research
Biosecurity must become an instinctive and integral part of one’s water-based activities
Aim – to provide the angler (water user) with the info and tools to self-regulate n Rolled out mobile disinfection procedure in 2010 - Virkon - “No Dip No Draw” policy (compulsory disinfection) n Upgraded system in 2011 and 2012 - widely used at all major events
n Produced compact Angler Disinfection Kits and permanent disinfection stations in 2013 (with assistance from CIRB)
AIS Research in Ireland
Collaborative effort in this area is vital to success (has worked well thus far!)
Continuing to research and develop practical control capabilities Continue to research and develop usable and effective biosecurity methods for stakeholders
No new priority AIS recorded since April 2010
Thanks for your attention
Acknowledgements
EU Life+ CAISIE
EU Interreg IVA CIRB IFI RBDs
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Office of Public Works
Waterways Ireland
National Biodiversity Data Centre
Invasive Species Ireland
…… then, there always is the Nuclear Option!!