BIODIVERSITY IN IRELAND

A review of species diversity in the Irish Flora.

by

J. A. Neff MSc.(Ecol). MIEEM.

for

the Heritage Policy Unit

of the

Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht

May 1996 "Lists of this kind must be ongoing there is only one final list -when everything is extinct".

. (Ing, 1992a)

i CONTENTS Page No.

Acknowledgements iv Summary v

Introduction I

a. Preamble I b. Legislation 1 c. Red Data Book Categories 1. Vascular Plants: 4 1.1.Introduction 4 1.2. Native and introduced species 4 1.2.1. Systematics and Diversity 4 1.2 Conservation and Threats 5 1.3. Others: Aliens, Garden Plants and Commercial Species 6 1.3.1. Aliens 6 1.3.2. Garden and Aboretum Plants 6 a. General 6 b. Gardens and aboreta 7 c. National Collections 7 1.33. Commercial/ Crop Species. 7 1.4. Genetic Resources. 7 1.5. Conclusions 8

2.Bryophytes: 9 2.1. Introduction 9 2.2. Diversity 9 2.3. Endemics 10 2.4. Conservation and Threats 10 2.5. Economic and Social Importance 11 2.6. Conclusions. 11 3. Fungi 12 3.1. Diversity 12 3.2. Conservation and Threats 13 3.3. Economic and Social Importance 14 3.4. Conclusions. 14

4. Lichens 15 4.1. Introduction 15 ii Contents (continued) Page No.

Lichens (continued) 4.2. Diversity 15 4.3. Conservation and Threats 15 4.4. Conclusions. 16

5. Algae 17 5. 1. Introduction 17 5.2. Marine Al gae 17 5.2.1. General 17 5.2.2. Diversity 17 5.23. Conservation and Threats. 18 5.2.4. Economic and Social Importance 19 5.3. Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae 19 5.3.1.General 19 5.3.2. Diversity, Conservation and Threats 20 54. Conclusions - algae. 21

6. General Conclusions 22 7. Sources 24

8. Bibliography 25 Appendix 30 Appendices: I.Vascular Plants:Table of Systematic Diversity. 31 II.Species which are considered to belong to various biogeographical groups. 37 III. Summary of Plant Genetic Resources in Ireland.38 IV. Seed Production Areas-forest species. 41 V. Summary of systematic diversity - mosses. 42 VI. Summary of systematic diversity - liverworts. 44 VII. Bryophytes which occur in Ireland but are absent from continental Europe. 46 VIII. Summary of fungal systematic diversity. (excluding Myxomycetes). 47 IX.Summary of Myxmycete systematic diversity. 48 X. Provisional Revised Red Data List. 49 XI.Study brief. 51

iii Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the may people who responded sowillingly to requests for sources of information and comment related to this study - they are listed at the endof this report at 7. Sources.

Particular thanks are due to Sarah Ball, librarian at theNational Botanic Gardens, whose assistance in finding texts was invaluable.

J.Neff. May 1996.

iv SUMMARY

The study examines aspects of species diversity at various taxonomiclevels, according to the Study Brief - Appendix M. The informationcomes from a wide variety of sources comprising some 74 texts and 30 personalcommunications from individual experts.

Currentlegislation,nationaland international,relatingtoconservationare summarised. Red Data Book Categories are also summarised in thecontext of new IUCN categories.

Where information is available,species diversity, conservation status and socio- economic importance is given for each group. Where possible comparisonsare made with Britain, Europe and Globally. The lack of information forsome groups - particularly in the lower plant groups is noted and probablecauses are discussed.

Vascular Plants: There are 1309 vascular plants - which include the Pteridophytes(ferns) and the Spermophytes, or seed - bearing (flowering) plants - in IrelandThis number is based on a fairly complete knowledge of the flora. Ireland's floweringplants account for less then 5% of the known species in the worldand only 11% of those in Europe as a whole. This belies the fact that many of the communitiesare ecologically highly significant and despite a relatively poor flora in terms ofspecies numbers, Ireland has a responsibility for the uniqueness of its flora in thewidest context. At present Irish vascular threatened species comprise 6% of the native total (815).The main threats to species are habitat -related. These include: total habitatloss,damage, alteration through land use management changes, constriction of suitable habitat byimpinging activities such as developments and so on.

The situation is therefore potentially critical. Urgent conservation measures are needed if this trend is to be at the veryleast halted, if not actually reversed.

Alien, garden and commercial plant species are discussed briefly. Geneticand plant resources are summarised.

Bryophytes (Mosses and Liverworts): Bryophytes are a significant element of the Irish flora inthat they are diverse both in their form. numbers of taxa and in the variety ofhabitats in which they occur. There are 759 species of bryophyte known in Ireland though inreality the figure is probably much greater, this represents less than fiver per cent ofthe world's bryophytes. Of the total number of 759,46 species of liverwort and 146 species of mossare included in the Red Data Book for Ireland

Undue emphasis should not be placed on species numbers, butrather the overall contribution to ecosystems by bryophytes. Their importance lies in theirabundance rather than the species richness. Bryophyte communities and species areimportant and often very evident components in Irish habitats, often accountingfor a high proportion of the species present, especially in terms of cover.Because of their. abundance, Ireland has a special responsibility for bryophyte communities.

v Fungi: Fungi are one of the largest groups of organisms inthe world The exact number of fungalspecies in Ireland, as with the rest of the worldis not known Approximately 3 species of fungi are (mown at present in Ireland, althoughit is behaved that the true figure is likely to be nears to 7800 spaces.The basis for tins figure and the reasons for under-rec of fungi ate discussed in Chapter 3. Their importance in ecological, economicandsocial terms is also discussed.

There is an urgent need for review, co-ordination and standardisation of fungal recording in Ireland including the provision of a central data-base. Uchens: Figures for lichen diversity are reasonably up to date. TheCensus Catalogue of Irish lichens based on via-county distribution was published 1994 and lists1050 taxa in 223 genera The taxa include 4 subspecies, 13 varieties and2 forms. In addition the Catalogue lists 25 taxa of lichenicolous fungi and non lichenisedfungi in 12 genera. 147 taxa were added to the Irish lichen flora and56 taxa omitted since the previous Census Catalogue of 1984. With almost 30% of the Europeantaxa, Irdand s lichen flora is significantin an international context

Thirty-four of the Irish species are regarded as threatened inEurope. That lichens are highly sensitive to aerial pollutants is a well -established factThis may account for the presence of certain species in greater abundance than incontinental Europe where air pollution levels would generally be far higher. Ireland's geographicalposition on the north -west fringe of Europe almost certainly has abeating on this.

Algae: Generally speaking it is not wise to attempt to estimateoverall species diversity relating to algae since our knowledge is limited,with the exception of the two groups for which there is more information - the Seaweedsand the Charophytes (Stoneworts).

Algae area vast and diverse group in terms of number,form and habitat, comprising macro- and micro-algae (including phytoplankton). They are ecologically and economicallya very significant group-particularlythe micro-algaeor phytoplankton. Their importance lies in their role as primary producers,often the y ones men Ireland is particularly suited to the growthof algae, combining climate and a wide variety of suitable habitats.

Ireland's long coastline with its variety of habitats, has longbeen the subject of studies of marine algae so that there is reasonably reliableinformation on the seaweeds with regard to their numbers, though different sources varyslightly- presumably due to taxonomic changes. Figures are given for marinemacro-algae in Chapter 5. Information on marine phytoplankton comes largely as aresult of a research on coastal waters, often in the context of fisheriesand aquaculture. As a group they are very important, being responsible for nearly allthe primary production in the sea. The main threats to marine algae arediscussed

Freshwater algae are ubiquitous, occurring wherever there is a bodyof freshwater- large or small-which is exposed to sunlight Terrestrial algae,wbich occur on the surfaces of soil, walls and buildings etc.- areprobably the least known algal group.

As for other lower plant groups, there appears to beanurgent need for more study,

vi a centralrecords facility, not just for the algae, but other groupsof lower plants too, is evident particularly of the phytoplankton, and the drawing togetherof records. The need for

General conclusions: Despite the small size of the country and the relativelylow number of vascular plants,Ireland is of importance in terms of itsflora and plant resources.In recognition of this. the following action is needed

a. Much more work is needed, in particular in thelower plants before Ireland can make any informed statement as to the status of thesegroups.

b. There is a strong case for a centrally coordinatedapproach to the collection and collation of species records in Ireland This is particularly sofor lower plant groups such as fungi and algae A properly resourced central recordsdata -base for all plant taxonomic groups is essential if species diversity is to beproperly monitored

c. There is a real need for expertise in fieldrecording - especially for Irish expects. Recording in the past has been done by visitors whotend to concentrate on particular areas of "botanical interest" resulting in patchy distributions eg.for the bryophytes. However, without the input of visiting botanists our state ofknowledge of the Irish Flora would be much worse than it is at present

d. Ireland must fulfil its obligations at national and internationallevels regarding the conservation of species and habitats. There is an urgent needfor legal protection for habitats. This is seen as the only hope of survivalfor many species.

vu INTRODUCTION a. Preamble.

The purpose of this review is to form atexts for example: Webb. 1983: and Praegger, basis,along with the status review on the1950 and while it is not the purpose of this fauna. for the Irish Biodiversity Action Planstudy to reiterate these earlier writings, their to be prepared later this year (1996). contribution to the general debate, exstanding of and perspective on the Irish The status review of the flora has involvedflora has been invaluable.- contacting many individuals and institutions to achieve as wide a perspective as possible.However, when examining any aspect of the In a period of two months (study time -scale)Irish flora,it isvital that it should be 33 individuals were contacted by letter,consideredinitsoverall climatic, telephone and fax. Of these 30 responded ingeographical and geological context Also - some way, if only to direct the author toand probably of greater significance than is other sources.In some casesrespondentsoften recognised-the effect of man's gave detailed comments in relation toactivities: including forest clearance, biodiversity and their particular speciality. Adrainage, the extension of urban areas and all full list of respondents is given at 7. Sourcesthe associated environmental impacts - over at the end of the report. the course of time is probably the greatest contributory factor tothe formation of The review deals with the main groups ofhabitats as we see them today. plants, covering each taxon in nun.The descending order was chosen arbitrarily-itc. Legislation could equally have been considered in reverse. For conservation measures and the maintenance of biodiversity to stand any Where there is detailed informationto bechance of success, legal protection of species presented in a large tabular form it has beenand habitats is essential. The following is a put intoan appendix. The reason for thissummary of theexisting and proposed being an attemptto allow the (necessarilylegislation as it applies to the flora somewhat fragmented in places) text to flow as easily as possible. Smaller tables are Wildlife Act 1976: under this Act included in the text of each section. endangered species of plants are protected under Section 21's provision for ministerial There is inevitably more information onFlora Protection Orders.The most recent certain aspects of some taxa more so thanwas made in 1987 when 68 species of others. The report attempts to present thevascular plants were listed. No lower plants information factually and as equitably aswere included A revised FPO is expected to possible. Other sections of the Introductionbe announced shortly, it is understood that below coveraspects of relevance to allthe list includes some species of lower plants groups of flora. (Curtis, pers. con.). Appendix IX gives a list of species for the 1996 Flora Protection b. The Irish Flora Order, however it will only be included in this report when the Ministerial No review of this kind would be completeannouncement has been made. without reference to the past. Much has been written on the history of the Irish flora, itsThe provision under the Act for National distribution, origins and past study. ItisNature Reserves benefits the flora within considered that this has been adequatelytheir confines. At present there is no legal dealt with and summarised in a number of protection for habitats -with the exception

1 of nature reserves - though Amendments to Bern Convention on the Conservation of the Wildlife Act 1976 are anticipated These European Wildlife and Habitats(1982) - are-expected m e legal protection to about this was the first real attempt to introduce 1200pro.naturalalHeritageArea formal measures to protect species and (NHAs). should be of significant benefit their habitats in Europe. for species of the flora. In addition, the National Patios and Heritage Rio Convention for the Maintenance of Areas Bill (currently being drafted), if en- Biodivmsb - this was Jointly ratified by acted.willgiveprotectiontospecies EU Member States in 1992 occurring within the confines of National Parks (Stapleton, 1996). Washington Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species Northern Ireland - CITES. - provisions are implemented by Ireland and ratification is anticipatedsoon. Endangered species of plants (52 species) are protected at present by the Wildlife (NI)The following conventions are mentioned to Order 1985. It is understood that this is duekeep the list complete, though they do not for revision in 1996 (Furphy,pers. comm.).apply to the flora It is not known if lower plant species will be included in any revised list Areas of Special B= -for migratory species-not Scientific Interest and Nature Reservesare directly affecting the flora protected under the Nature Conservation and Amenity (NI) Order. 1985. The InternationalConvention for the Regulation of Whaling (1985) The International Context In addition to the conventionsand EU EU Directive(No. 92/43/EEC) on thehabitat legislation, there are two networks of conservation of natural habitats and of wildreserves of which there are designated sites fauna and floraestablishes a commonin Ireland, these are: frameworkforhabitatsandspecies throughout Europe with its Special Areas of Council of Europe Biogenetic Reserves- Conservation (SACs). requiring fulfilment ofspecific criteria, The "Natura 2000" network of habitats as there are 14 in the Republic, all of which proposed under the "Habitats" Directive are national nature reserves and as such should contribute to the maintenance and have protection under the Wildlife Act, restorationofbiodiversityinthe EU 1976. countries. The Special Protection Areas (SPAs) set up UNESCO- Biosphere Reserves - these under theBirds Directive(79/409/EEC) must fulfilna number of criteria in addition indirectly benefit the plant species within to ecological factors. Research, them monitoring, education and social importanceareallfactorstakeninto consideration for Biosphere Reserves. Two In addition to EU legislation, Ireland is a have been designated in the Republic: signatory to a six internationalconventions Killarney National Park and the North Bull of which some are directly of benefit to the Island,Dublin. flora and others indirectly. d. Red Data Book Categories Ramsar- important wetlands - primarily for wildfowl but indirectly benefits the flora. These are calculated on the basis of a Designated Ramsar sites in Ireland alsonumber of criteria and reflect the degree of happen to be national nature reserves. threat to any particular species.Red Data 2 Books, for the most part from Ireland andThe IUCN categories have beenrevised Britain, are referred to throughout this study(IUCN,1994) and there are now ten and the categories are more or less consistentcategories, including subdivisions. throughout-with minor modifications relating to the types of plants and habitats.The new IUCN Categories are: The categories broadly follow the early IUCN divisions and are (from Curtis and Extinct (EX) Mcoough.1988): Extinct in the Wild (EW) Critically Endangered (CR) Extinct- Endangered (EN) Endangered- indanger of becoming Vulnerable (VU) extinct and whose survival is Lower Risk (LR) unlikely if the casual factors Conservation Dependent (ed) continueoperating. Also Near threatened (nt) includedam taxag whose Least concern (lc) numbers are critically low or Data Deficient (DD). whose habitats have been reduced to the extent that they are in danger of extinction. While Lower Risk- as asingle category- is probably a useful one, it is difficult to see Vulnerable- taxawhichare consideredhow so many categories can be applied to the likely to move into the en- relatively small floras of Ireland and Britain. dangered category if casual factors continue to operate. For the moment, at least the Red Data Books are consistent in their approach using the old Rare - Taxa with small populations categories- thus malang comparisons and which are not endangered or evaluations reasonably straightforward vulnerable, but are at risk. It would appear that more work needs to be done on the new categories before they can Indeterminate-species which are any of the be readily applied to the Irish situation- ie. above but there is not enough that of relatively few species compared with information to say which Europe and the rest of the world category is appropriate.

3 1. VASCULAR PLANTS

1.1. Introduction

Vascular plants include the Ptetidophytes Atlantic - 30 species (ferns) and the Spermophytes, or seed- Sub - Atlantic - 12 species bearing(flowering)plants.Thelatter Atlantic- Mediterranean -25 species crompiiseGymnosperms(conifers)and Arctic -Alpine- 16species Angiospemrs -which in tam include the Plants with their northern limit in Iceland- dicots and monocots. - 27species. Disjunctly distributed species- 15

1.2. Native and Introduced Species The latter do not occur in Britain and have a disjunct distribution-these are listed at L2.L Systematlcs and Diversity Appendix II and shown with their nearest station outside Ireland The total numbs of vascular plants in Ireland is taken as 1309 (Scannell andWebb (op.cit) described the Irish vascular Synnott, 1987; Curtis and McGough, 1988)plant flora asimpoverished flora and put which represents and increase of 300 speciesforeword explanations to account for it- as sincethefirstCensusCatalogue wasindeed Praeger had attempted to explain it published in 1972 (Scannell and Synnott).earlier (1950). Man's activities in particular This figure of 1309, which includes nativehave contributed greatly tothe plants and those introductions which areimpoverishment of the flora. For example, ed as being well- established in theforest and woodland clearance throughout d,is based on a reasonably completehistory have led to a depletion inspecies knowledge of the flora numbers.

815 species are regarded as being nativeProbably the most important point to bring (Webb, 1983), though this is thought to be aout here is that the significance of Ireland's conservative figure and that the real nativeflora lies, not in the number of species total is nearer to 1000 (Curtis and McGoughpresent but in their communities - ie. their (1988). ecological groupings. These phyto- sociological associations and their The number of species in Appendix I (tablecharacteristicallyassociatedspeciesare of systematic diversity) whentotalledisdescribed by White and Doyle (1982). The greater than 1309. This discrepancy can bevarious plant communities associated with accounted for by the inclusion in the speciesraised and blanket bogs are particularly figures of some hybrids-for the most partsignificant both in the Irish context and in the the numbers of hybrids in each family iswider european contextSimilarly those shown. associated with the Burren in Co.Clare.

Of the total vascular plants in Ireland aboutIn terms of species diversity, Table1.1. 50% of them are widespread throughoutbelow gives a summary of species numbers Europe.The remaining species make upin each of the main groups of vascular plants. what is considered to be a number of distinctAppendix I.shows a summary of systematic groupsand distributional elements. Thesediversity. are described by Webb (op.cit.)-though some are considered problematic by otherIf one compares the Irish figures with those botanists -are: of Britain, it can be seen that Ireland has 4 almost the same number of fem species as52 species were listed It is understood that Britain., while the flowering plants representthe list for Northern Ireland is also being 87% of the British total. revised. (Furphy, pets. comm 1996).

Table. LL Summary of Vascular Plant A revised Red Data list for plants species is Diversity expected to be published in 1996.

No,g=8 No. Not all species on the Red List can be protected under the Flora Protection Order Pteridophytes 33 78 (RI) or the Wildlife (NI) Order. There is a need for prioritisation. This is done by evaluating how threatened an individual Gymnosperms 3 3 speciesis. There are different levels of Angiosperms 493 1228 threat depending on a variety offactors such as: accessibility, habitat vulnerability- ie. threat from human activities, number of Total number 529 1309 suitable habitats and so on. Species are assigned to categories depending upon the level of threat which they are subject to. In the wider context, Ireland'sfloweringThese categoriesinclude: Endangered, plants account for less then 5% of the knownVulnerable, Rare, Threatened,etc.. All species in the world and only 11% of thoseEndangered species were included on the in Europe as a whole.This belies the factFPO of 1987.s thatmany ofthecommunitiesare ecologically highly significant and despite ab. The wider context. relatively poor flora in terms of species numbers, Ireland has a responsibility for theTable 1.2. showsspecies which occur in uniqueness of its flora in the widest context. Ireland and are listed as ram and threatened in Europe as a whole. All but one of them- Dryopleris aemulaa - is a listed European Red 1.2.2. Conservation and Threats Data Book species. It is so common in Legislation has been discussed in generalTable 12. European tare and threatened terms in the main introduction to the reportspecies which occur in Ireland* above. It has been noted that Under section 21 of the Act there isprovision for a Species ministerial Flora Protection Order, the most recent of which was in 1987when 68 Dryopteris aemula common vascular species were listed Desehwnpsia setaeea P Eriophorwngracile P A revised FloraProtection Order is Honvrarbyn paludosa P expected to be announced shortly and is Hyperiewn condense P understood to have changed littlewith Najalis fle dlis P regards to vascular plants.(Curtis,pers. Spiranthes romanzofana P comm.1996). Appendix X gives the list of Trichomanes specioswnP species for the Flora Protection Order. This appendix will be included in the report only "from Curtis and McGough (op.cit.) when the-Flora Protection Order 1996 has P = protected been announced by the Minister. Ireland that it was deemed unnecessaryto In Northern Ireland listed plants come underinclude in the a Red List Ireland's the protection ofthe Wildlife (N1) Order.responsibility for the other species in The most recent of these was in 1985 whennational and European terms is evident

5 In addition, Ireland has one of theBernconsidered "established" and are included in Convention's(referred tointhe mainthe Census Catalogue (Scannell and Synnott, introduction under international legislation)op. cit). Anna ispecies- Iimwdwa pmadwwn. However this is regarded as a subspecies andThe remaining 540 species are regardedas the Irish Red Data Book (op cit) notes that"usual aliens". These are species include other species such as Hwromrbya paludoaaones found, for example, at ports, on waste and PiTularia globulifera are the mostDanaand on rubbish ti ppss.Species which threatened European species found in Ireland e escaped from cultivation are also - see Table 1.2. above. included in this total.An annotated check list of these iscurrently in preparation in a world context, Stapleton (1996) quotes(Reynolds, pas. comm. 1996). figures from the IUCNIW WF Plant Advisory Group" and states that 1.3.2. Gardenand ArboretumPmts as many as 60,000 plant species, approximately one in five of the world'sa. General total, are estimated to become extinct by the year 2050 if present trends continue".Information on the numbers of species, cultivars, forms etc.is highly dispensed. Applying the 1 in 5 ratio to Ireland's native(Synnott, pers. comm. 1996). However, vascular flora would result in a loss ofsomethere are texts which give an insight into the 31 species in the next fifty years. wide variety of species, cultivate etc. which are in cultivation in Ireland ( Nelson, 1984; Europe has some 11,000 species of vascularand Forest, 1985), plantsofwhich1500areconsidered threatened (Curtis and McGough, op.dt).-Nelson (op.cit.) examines the history of Irish tage of threatened species in Europe isgarden plants including cultivars which have TAt present Irish vascular threatenedbeen bred from plants collected from the species comprise 6% of the native totalwild and those developed from exotic stock (815). However, if the European percentagein Irish gardens-110 species in all. The were applied to Ireland this would dives aIrish Garden Plant Society'sthe journal projected total of threatened speciesasMoorea publishes records of new cultivars >l10. etc. - for example: Nelson (1989).

The main threats to species are habitat- Forrest (1985), in her book "Trees and relatedThese include: total habitatloss,Shrubs Cultivated in Ireland", lists7000 damage,alterationthroughlandusespecies (including varieties and forms)of management changes.constrictionoftrees and shrubs in cultivation inIrish suitable habitat by impinging activities suchgardens and arboretaThis total can be as developments and so on. broken down as follows:

The situation is therefore potentially critical. 70 families of dicots Urgent conservation measures are needed if 3 families of monocots this trend is to be at the very least halted,if 8 families of Gymnosperms (230 species not actually reversed. in 45 genera).

1.3. Others : Allen, Garden Plants Forrest (pers. comm. 1996) believes that the and Commercial- Plant Species total figure now would probably be in the region of 10,000.It should be noted that L3.L Aliens these figures are for woody plants only.

There are approximately 800 taxa of alienThere are no such figures readily available species of vascular plants, of these 300 arefor herbaceaous species. 6 b. Gardens and arboreta Forests are also commercial crops- most apeeiesbeingianvduced Themain Collections were started at different timesoosmneraal species used in Irish forests, from the mid -19th century (Fota andmart of which are intensively managed, Powerscourt) to more recent times. Eachores: garden and arboretum hasrecords of its collection. Sitka Spruce 39% Lodgepole Pine 22% For example, the JFK Arboretum in Co. Norway Spruce 8% Wexford holds records of4,500 taxa Scots Pine 7% including species, varieties, cultivate, down Javanese Larch 3% to provenance level of certain forest species orb eroonifen 8% - about 200 of which are represented in Broadleaves forest plots. (Kelly. pers. comm. 1996). (oak.ash beech) 13%

The role of gardens and arboreta is an*Figures from Thompson, (1995 and pers. important one in the context of conservationcomm. 1996). ofgeneticresourcematerialandin developing new lines. For example daffodilsCommercial and cropspeciesarealso and primulas are currently being bred andincluded in the section on Genetic Resources new cultivant developed in Northern Ireland.below and in Appendix III. c. National Collections 1.4. Genetic Resources.

Inthe currentNational Plant CollectionsThe International Conference and Directory (1996), Ireland is listed as havingProgramme for Plant Genetic Resources three such collections of note. Two of them(ICPPGR)CountryReportforIreland are in theNationalBotanic Gardens(Byrne, 1995) discusses the various issues in (Garrya and Potentilla fruticosa) and thesome detail. Itlistsanumberof thirdisadministered by Fingal Countyrecommendations under the headings of: Council at Malahide Castle (Olearia). The national needs, policies ,legislation and numbers are: training. Thereport concludes that indigenous plant genotypes unique to Ireland Garrya: 4 species and 4 cultivars. may existdue its isolation and westerly location from mainland Europe. It states that Potentilla f tticosa: 60 cultivars. a national programme to co-ordinate plant geneticresource activitieswillbe Olearia 39 species and 9 cultivars. undertaken.

These collections are significant resourcesResearch and development in relation to for genetic material in an internationalgenetic resources for native and crop species context. is carried out by a number of institutions.

1.3.3. Commercial/ Crop Species The ICPPGR report (Byrne,op.cit.) a number of species which are either wild or The climate favours the growth of a widewild relatives of economic plants which are range of crops - grass, cereals and mots,currently threatened in Ireland. These are vegetables and fruit The principal crops arelisted in Appendix III. Some of these are the cereals, potatoes and sugar beet.(Byrne,subject of workcurrently being undertaken 1995). There is a resurgence of interest inby Trinity College, Dublin (Martin, pers. old varieties and breeds, some of which forcomm. 19%;and Martin et al.1995?) as example were known to be resistant topart of a collaborative project between disease (Appendix III). TrinityCollege'sBotanicGardens,the 7 National Botanic Gardens, the NationalICPPGR report (Byre, op.cit) notes that Parks and Wildlife Serviceand the Irishthere ace many other species which were not GeneticresourcesConservationTrust but merit collection. Examples of (KIRCT) - funded by the Heritage Council. these are: Trifolium prtrtarse, Lotus,Vicia and Lath n s. While much of the commercial development researchinvolves"exotic"commercial species some is carried out on indigenousInformation on forest species from Coillte species. Teoranta (Thompson, 1995 and Pilcher et al 1995) gives details of trials on provenances, For example: the in vitro micrnpropogationclones and progeny over a period of 40 of elite indigenous woody species (in thisyears for 14 species of conifer and 7 species case Frad ws excelsior-Ash) by theof broadleaf tree species. Forest seed stands BioResearch Ireland in the Department ofandorchardsarelistedseparatelyin National Agriculture and VeterinaryAppendix IV. Biotechnology Centre (Roche, pers. comm. 1996). 1.5. Conclusions Reserves of genetic resources take a number of forms:seedcollections,germoplasm banks and plant collections.TheseareDespite the small size of the country and the summarisedin Appendix III .This listrelatively low number of vascular plants. should be re&azded more as a guideline thanthat Ireland is of importance in terms of her a definitive list.It is possible that there areflora and plant resources cannot be denied omissions, though care was taken to follow up all leads given regarding source material.The significance of the Irish vascular flora Appendix III does not include the gardenliesin thespecies communities and plant collections referred to at 13.2. above. phytosociologicalgroupingsreferredto above. In the context of species collected from old pasture ecosystems - see Appendix III, The

8 2. BRYOPHYTES

Mosses and Liverworts

2.1. Introduction

Ireland is particularly rich in bryophytesIrish and British bryophyte flora combined owing to its mild wet climate, and relativelynumbers some 1000 species which represents unpolluted atmosphere- a result of ourover 60% of the European flora This is a oceanic climate. Bryophyte communitiesfar higher proportion than for vascular plants grow in almost every habitat and in manyduemainlytotheclimaticelement they playan important role.It is notfavouring (ibid). surprising therefore that they came to the attention of botanists at an early date. Table21.summarisesthebryophyte diversity in Ireland- figures are taken from The historical aspects of bryophyte study inthe Atlas of the Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland arewell documented PraegerIreland (Hill et al. op.dt). Figures in () are (op.cit) and Stewart and Church (1996) allthose given by Praeger in 1950and are give summaries of the development ofshown for comparison. bryophyte study.Hill et al. (1991-1994) in their Atlas of the Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland give a very detailed account of theTable 21. Slam oaf t)i sS vin history, including the individuals involved and their publications from the early days to the present time. Esmilis Genera Sass

Mosses 47 153 533 Systematic recording began in the mid- 1800s. The Moss Exchange Club, founded in (410) 1860, gave the impetus needed to present theLiverworts 40 80 226 known distribution on a vice-county basis. As a result of the years of work, the (190) bryophyte flora of Ireland (and Britain) is T atpal 87 233 759 among the best known in the world indeed (600) " in its Atlantic bryophyte element, it is not only the richest part of the whole continent, but also one of the richest areas of the world"Table 2.2. compares the Irish bryophyte total (Ratcliffe 1968). number of species with those of Britain. Europe and the World. It also shows the Irish bryologists have always been few inpercentage of the Irish bryophyte flora in this number, so that the contribution of visitingwider context bryologists has been very significant. However, this has resulted in somewhatTable 22 Ireland's Bryophyte in context: patchy recording since visitors tend to go to (mosses and liverworts)* the species -rich areas of the western sea- board. This is a recognised problem where Ireland BritainEurope World recording of species relies to a large degree on visiting experts. No. of 759 2.2. Diversity species

% 75% Stewart and Church (op.cit) note that the 9 Table 2.3. compares the separate figures forFossombronia funbriara does not occur on mosses and liverworts for Ireland in a globaltheEuropeanmainland; Plagioclu7a contendand shows the percentage of thebritamdaa is so far only known in Britain known world species which is known toand Ireland,- though it is thought unlikel yy to occur in Ireland. prove endemic in the long run; and Barbula iomaculosa has not been recorded outside Britain and Ireland and appears to be Table 2.3. Mosses and Liverworts - species gemtinely rare. numbers in a global context.8 In addition, fifteen native non-endemic Irish Ireland World % bryophytesareabsent from continental Europe (though3 of them occur in the Mosses 533 8000 Faroes). Of these fifteen, two do not occur in Liverworts226 6000 Britain. Appendix VIIlists these species and their distribution outside Europe. European and world figures in Tables 2.2. and 2.3. are taken from Groombridge (1992).2.4. Conservation and Threats.

The figures cited for Ireland should not beThe Red Data Book of Britain and Ireland regarded as definitive, but should befor Bryophyteslists 46 species of liverwort examined in the knowledge that there hasand 146 species of moss in six categories for beenless recording in some areas thanIreland. These are summarised in Table 2.4. others. in comparison with the British Red List, together with percentages expressed in terms Appendices V and VI give summaries ofof the total bryophyte flora (from Stewart systematic diversity for the mosses andand Church, op.cit). liverworts in Ireland - including orders and families. Table 2.4. Summary table of Red Data Boot Bryophyte Classes.

2.3. Endemics Britain Ireland The following listcomprises those species Liverworts Mosses Liverworts Mosses regarded by Hill (op. cit) as being endemic to Ireland The dates represent when each was originally recorded and / or described isEx 0 16 3 given. () inicates a species new to science. 6 E 7 24 4 Ovstegus lubendcus - 1867 V 18 46 Fissidem cellicus -1958 (1965) R 32 71 Fossontbroniafnibriata - 1967 (1974) K 0 9 1 Anoetangiwn warburgii - 1871 (1978) 57 166 46 Plagioclula britwmiaa - 1979 Total Barbula tornaaulosa- 1981. of bryophyte The published "endemics" list in the Atlasflora 20% 23% of Bryophytes by Hill et al,comprises 19 species-"Irish and British endemics".TheEx - extinct. V - vulnerable. list is described as "motley" by the authorsI- indeterminate R -rare. who regard that such a list will look veryE - endangered.K - insufficiently known different in fifty years time!This view would be endorsed by many botanists! Most northern European countries now have InthelistofIrishspeciesabove,Red Data Books for Bryophytes and in all 10 cases the proportion of the bryophyte which d. Historically Sphagnum was used during is threatened is between 20% and 30% - ie.as war -time (First World War) for dressings for Britain and Ireland (Stewart et al 1995). when there was a lack of cotton, this usage Threats and conservation needs are listed for isre-emerging for cases when chemical each species in the Red Data Book allergyprevents the use ofsterilised dressings. General threats to the bryophyte flora can be summarised as:over-exploitation, damage and/or destruction of habitat, environmental2.6. Conclusions disturbance, pollution,colonisation of bare soils on rocky slopes by scrub (ie. removal ofBryophyte communities and species are availablehabitatsuitableforcolonisingimportant and often very evident components bryophytes.), commercial exploitation etc.. inIrish habitats. For example: in western oceanic woodlands where they form a With regards to the Wildlife Act 1976,significant part of the ground cover and are bryophytes were not included in the listabundant as epiphytes;also inraised and covered by the 1987 Flora Protection Order.blanket bogs where they account for a high However, it is understood that the Draft listproportion of the species present, especially for a 1996 Flora Protection Order Wildlifein terms of cover, and often species numbers Act of 1976), under consideration at time ofalso. They are important colonisers of bare writing, includes 13 mosses and 6 liverwortsgroundfood plantsfor herbivores and -includingtwospeciesofthreatenedinvertebrates andaurce of nesting material European bryophytes, Drepanocladosfor birds. vernoeosis and Peralophydlum ralphsii. Bryophytesarepotentiallyveryuseful Regarding anallIreland context,itisindicatorsastothe longevityand understoodthattheWildlife(Northernmanagement of ecosystems. The presence Ireland) Order 1985 iscurrently beingofcertainspeciescouldindicate,for revised (Furphypers. comm). It is notexample:that the habitat had not been known if any bryophytes will be includeddisturbed for a long period or that there had in the updated list. been recent burning. As such they are very useful tools for the conservationist. 2.5. Economic and social importance Bryophytes area significant element of the The Red Data Book lists many examples ofIrish flora in that they are diverse both in ways in which bryophytes have an economic,their form, numbers of taxa and in the variety commercial or cultural use- afew of whichof habitats in which they occur. are summarised hem Undue emphasis should not be placed on a. For Ireland probably the most obviousspecies numbers, but rather theoverall casesare those offuel (turf and peatcontribution to ecosystems by bryophytes. briquettes),in domestic and commercialTheir importance lies in their abundance use - including power generation; and peatrather necessarily the species richness. moss - both originating from Sphagnum - dominated bogs. Because of their abundance, Ireland has a special responsibility for bryophyte b. In horticulture- in addition to peat moss,communities.In the past Ireland has relied mosses are used in hanging baskets andheavilyontheexpertiseofvisiting floral arrangements. bryologists, but this has resulted in patchy distributions more attributable to where the c.Recent pharmaceuticalstudies havebotanists went rather than necesssarily where indicated that some liverworts producethe bryophytes are- paragraph 2. 1. above. cancer -inhibiting chemicals.

11 3.FUNGI

3.1. Diversity.

Fungi. we one of the largest groups ofsummaries ofthese figures (- in terms of organisms in the wood - second only to thefamiliesand ordersin the case ofthe insects(Hawksworth1990).The exactMyxomycetes). number of fungal species in Ireland, as with the rest of the world is not known. Table 3.1 Summa Of Binglil Diversity In Irthnd.* There have been few attempts to enumerate Genera -SRIGLO fungi in Ireland in the past. The fast was by Adams and Pethybridge (1910) who note thatGaswamyoxes 20 44 there had been many studies on fungi but noHymenamyaces 210 1168 earlier attempt to enumerate themTheyTefiomycetes 29 211 noted that the fungi "embrace by far theAsoomycatina 305 721 largest section of the flora as regards numberMastigomymtina 36 12 Zygamyeacwa 22 83 of species....". Deut omyrwna 320 1017 Myxomycatina 42 190 Table 3.1. shows the breakdown of numbers of fungi in each province.Adams and ita1 984 3555 Pethybridge conclude that the total number of 1464 "probably represents less than half* MUSkett &Maloue(op.cit); Ing& McHugh(op.cit) the fungal flora as nearly 6000 had already been recorded from Great Britain. It will alsoDespite the largely increased number of taxa be notedthatthere was asignificantit is believed that the fungi are still very difference in numbers from each province -under-recorded as a group. Hawksworth presumablyreflectingtheareaswhere(1990) notes than 700 species (globally) studies had been done. were described new to silence each year between 1920 and 1950. Table. 3.1. Fungi In Irish Provtnces* Hawksworth (op.cit) has devised a method 1K C. U. U. Total. of predicting the numbers of fungi present by relating them mathematically and Total: 495 98 11285621464 scientificallyto the number of vascular plants present.Thus his ratio of vascular (*from Adams and Pethybridge, 1910). plants: fungi of 1: 6 can be applied to the Irish florato give an indication as to the likely number of fungi present The most recent attempts to enumerate the fungi have come from Muskett and MaloneIf one takes the vascular species total to be (1978 -1985) who catalogue all - a total of1309 (Curtis and McGough,op.cit) then the 3365 species - with the exception ofthenumber of fungal species in Ireland would be Myxomyceteswhichweresubsequentlyexpected to be in the region of 7800. Which catalogued (Ing and Mitchell1980) andmeans that only 45% of the total fungal taxa revised (Ing and McHugh 1988)-190in Ireland have been recorded to date. species. Table 3.2. gives a summary of fungal diversity based on these sets ofThat there are many taxa to be found can catalogue data. be readily demonstrated. Recent mycological research in University College Dublin on Appendices VIII. and IX show systematic fungiassociatedwithsheep dung has resulted in the isolation of 100 species, of 12 which up to 40 an probably new to Irelandrecent years relating to conservation and (Fuller 1996, personal communication). threats in the wider context of Britain, mope- Similarly Ing and McHugh (op.dt) list 28 species of myxomyoete new to Ireland sinceAmolds (1989) published a Preliminary Red the published catalogue of Ing and MitchellData List of Macrofimgi in the Netherlands (ibid) eight years previously, of which twoandIng(1992 and published a listfor are rare - Crjbaaa mra xroa (rare in W.Britishfungi.TheXI Congressof Europe) and the (very rare)DidennasautenEuropean Mycologists'report "Fungi of and one.- liceairidis is described as new toEurope"includesasignificantsection science. To cite another instance, research inentitled Conservation of European Fungi University College, Galway has found new(Pegler et al 1992). recordsof marine Ascomycetes,Fungi Imperfecti (Cum 1975 and 1995; HegartyIn his paper on the Netherlands Red Data and Cum 1980 and 1982; O'Flynn andList Amolds (op.cit)lists.944 species, Curran 1994). including91extinct and 182directly threatened. He notes that species with a very Under-recording can be attributed to anarrow ecological range are considered as number of factors: more vulnerable than species with a wide a. Some areas are worked more thoroughlyrange. He considers that 75% of these thanothers,particularlybyvisitingbelong to the agarics and lists the causes of mycologists. decline as follows: b. Fungi tend to be recorded when the fruiting bodies are visible, so that the effect i.destruction of habitat; of seasonabilityshould not be under- ii. alteration of habitat,, estimated (Walling1994).Innorthern iii. changes in land management; Europe, for example, there is a iv. effects of agricultural management concentrationof fungalforays in the v. air pollution. autumn. Air pollution appears to be responsible for c. Finally, there are too few experiencedthe decline in ectomycorrhyzal fungLThere field mycologists so that identification isseems to be a consensus that there is a often either not possible or unreliableparticularlystrongdeclineinspecies (Orton 1994). Watlinp (ibid) puts forward adiversity in old grasslands as a result of strong case for education at all levels. habitat. loss and intensification of farming methods(Amolds, op.cit; McHugh 1996 per. To put the Irish fungal flora in context-comm., Fuller, 1996,op.dt.). neighbouring Great Britain has 15000 taxa, compared to a world total to date of 70,000The preliminary Red Data List for Britain (Biodiversity, UK Action Plan). (Ing ibid) lists 583 fungal species which are reasonably well understood taxonomically If one applies the 1:6 ratio in a globaland includes some plant pathogens where the context,a conservative estimate of1.5"status of their hosts puts them at risk". million fungal taxawould be expected (Hawksworthibid). Ireland'sprojectedIng lists the major threats to British fungi as: estimateof 7800speciesrepresentslossof forest (old deciduous) and old flomapproximately0.5% of the global fungalgrassland due to change in farming and forest practices; the development of sites and atmospheric pollution. 3.2. Conservation and Threats. Orton (1994) believes that Ing's Red Data While no Red Data List exists for Irish fungiListispremature and insome ways there have been a number of publications inmisleading as " our status of knowledge is

13 too immature at present to give even a3.4. Conclusions moderately accurate picture". Hestresses that what really matters is the diminution- or"Why is fungal diversity significant? The disappearance of the habitat scant attention fungi have received in the biodiversity debate (so far) is due in most Amolds and de Vries (1992) examined 11cases toa lack of awareness amongst RedDataListsfromEuropewhichbiologists of their significance in evolution, comprised 2984 taxa of macrofungi (2658ecosystemfunction,humanprogress." basidiomycetes and 326 ascomycetes). They(Hawksworth ibid. concluded thatinterpretation of many data was hampered by lack of accurate data onThere isconsiderable dna in the distribution and ecology. They suggested thatliterature as to the significance of fungi in " ...far more work is needed on these andecosystems - particularlythe mycorrhyza. other topics before a reliable picture ofMost woody plants need them to survive threatened fungi in Europe can be given."and most herbs need them tothrive" On the basis of information available to them(Cranbrook, 1994).The ability to switch the general conclusion was that the overallhost may be the key to their survival situation for the mycoflora (fungi) is rapidly(Walling, ibid). This has wide implications deteriorating in large parts of Europe. for plant communities such as woods and forests if their fungal symbiotic partners are 3.3. Economic and Social Importance adversely affected by air pollution. There may be a role in future for fungi as Historically, Ireland is all too aware of theindicatorsof environmental change and devastating socio-economic effects ofthequalitysimilar to the way in which lichens fungalplantpathogen Phvtovhthorahave been used to date. infestans - potato blight - in the last century which caused the Great Famine. Today it isThe situation with regards to fungal diversity probably the only pest species in north westin Ireland is that much work needs to be Europe for which a national meteorologicaldone-lists cannot be regarded as remotely service gives weather warnings of suitablecomplete. As has been shown, the present conditions. known numbers are only a fraction of the total taxa yet to be found. it is appropriate to Other pest species include a wide range ofquote from Adams and Pethybridge (ibid): pathogens which affect animals and plants The fungi have not been neglected,- many (Kavanagh and Brennan, 1993). studies and records...... the actual records are still wanting."

The positive perspective is that many speciesNearly 90 year; on little has changed, as it is of fungi have greatly assisted man in arealised that, in real terms, as regards taxa varietyof ways:baking, brewing, foodnumbers the scale of the fungi as a group is (mushrooms)pharmaceuticals,vitamins,immense.Their importance in ecological, pesticides and degradation and so on. economic and social terms should not be overlooked A wider environmental use of fungi is discussed by Amolds (op.cit.)who notesThere is no central database for fungal thatmacrofungr,appear to be excellentrecords,recordsarecurrentlyheld by potential bioindicators, especially in forestindividuals some of whom send them to the ecosystems, and Fellner (1992) who providesBritish Mycological Society. There is evidenceofthis fromthe formerobviously an urgent need for review, co- Czechoslovakiawhere he has studied theordination and standardisation of fungal effects of air pollution on forest ecosystemsrecording in Ireland. in relation to ectomycon-biza.

14 4.LICHENS

4.1. Introduction

The history of lichenological activity inEurope (Coppins et al. 1996) and shows the Irelandiswell documented by Praegerpercentage of the global figure which is (1950) and Seaward (1984 and 1994). takento be>17,000.Estimates for the global members vary greatlythough it is The earliest list is attributed to Threlkeld inthought that there are probably as many as 1726 who gave 7 species under the name of20,000taxaworld wide (Groombridge, lichen. of which it turned out that only oneop.cit). It should be noted thatinland, was a true lichen - the remainder beingsmall as it is, has 6% of the worlds lichens mosses or liverworts. Praeger comments on-a much higher figure than would be the poverty of the Irish alpine lichen floraexpected in terms of land area. compared with Britain, though concedes that this may in part be due to the lower altitude of Irish mountains also they may not haveTable 4.1. Summary ad fiches diversity: been thoroughly searched. Ireland EEo e Subsequent work has resulted in two Census Catalogues (Seaward 1984 and 1994) and aNo. of 5000 provisional Red DataListforIrelandtan: 1050 1700 (Stewart, 1989). % of world 6% 10% 29% 4.2. Diversity.

Figures for lichen diversity are reasonably up todate. The Census Catalogue of Irish4.3. Conservation and Threats Lichens based on vice-county distribution was published by Seaward in 1994 and listsThe Draft Red Data List for Ireland (Stewart 1050 taxa in 223 genera. The taxa include 4ibid)listspossiblemacrolichenspecies subspecies,13 varieties and 2 forms. Inwhich were selected as follows: addition the Catalogue lists25 taxa of a. species occurring in less than 10 Mat lichenicolous fungi and non lichenised fungi squares - 171 species; in 12 genera. b. species with more records than this, but which have shown a decline of more than 147 taxa were added to the Irish lichen flora 66%- 140species: and and 56 taxa omitted since the previous c. species threatened in Europe but not in Census Catalogue of 1984. Ireland- 34species.

Seaward summarises the records thus: In additionStewart lists564species of microlichenwhich are possible Red Data " 1050 taxa have been recorded from IrelandListspecies.Thesenumbersarenot over the past 300 years, of which less thandefinitive and pre-date the publication of the 10% of the taxa are based on old records;1994 Census Catalogue (Seaward, op.cit). some of these taxa can be presumed extinct since they have not been seen for over aThe Red Data Book for British Lichens - century . Volume 1 (Coppins et a1) is at press at the time of writing this report363 species For the purposes of comparison, Table 4. 1.representing 22% of the current checklist for shows the number of species in Britain and Britain and Irelandare covered inthis

15 publication. Ifthispercentage wereparticularlyaerialnitrogen inputs-are extrapolated to Ireland then one aright expect probably the greatestthreat to the lichen a Red Data list in the order of 231 speciesflora which is considerably less than listed in the earlier Draft Red Data List for Ireland. It islichens have been known to be sensitive to understoodthatonelichenspecies-air pollution for many years and have been Fulgensia fidgets - is to be included in theused extensivelyas bio-indicators for air forthcoming Flora Protection Order. quality.

A separate Red Data Book is to be published for Ireland as Volume 2. of the lichens (Red4.4. Conclusions: Data Books of Britain and Ireland). The projected publication date for this is 1997.With almost 30% of the European taxa, From the figures above it appears that aIreland's lichen flora is quite significant considerable amount of work needs yet to besince the land area is relatively very small. done. It is interesting to note that 34 of the Irish The British Biodiversity Action Plan (1994)species are regarded as threatened in Europe. lists the following habitats as being ofThat lichens are highly sensitive to aerial pamcularavi importance for lichens: broad-pollutants is a well -established fact. This leaved and yew woodland, native pinemay account for the presence of certain woodland, lowland wood pasturesandspeciesingreaterabundancethanin and,calcareousgrasslands,lowlandcontinental Europe where air polluti on levels and,rivers and streams,montane,would generally be far high er.Ireland's upland heath, maritime cliff and slope,geographical position on the north -west shingle above the hi&h tide mark, bouldersfringe of Europealmost certainly has a and rock above the high tide mark, machair,bearing on this. sand dune and limestone pavements. Many of these would apply to the Irish situationSince they are combinations of algae and also. fungi, lichens display properties of both and to some degree conclusions drawn regarding The threat depends greatly upon the habitatthe other two groups would apply to lichens involved. For example mountain and cliffalso. habitats are far less at risk than lowland woodland adjacent to intense agriculture or industry. Pollution from these sources-

16 5. ALGAE

5. 1. Introduction

Algae area vast and diverse group in termsup-dated over a number of years,it is as yet of number, form and habitat, composingunpublished and is on the Internet macro- and micro-algae (including phytoplankton). Adams (1908) notes thatInformation on marine phytoplankton comes Ireland is particularly suited to the growth oflargely as a result of a research on coastal algae, combining climate and a wide varietywaters, often in the context of fisheries and of suitable habitats. aquaculture. As a group they are very important, being responsible for nearly all Both Adams (op.dt), and Praeger (op.dt)the primary production in the sea (Rain et refer to algalrecords dating back toal, 1993) Threlkeld, 1726, and Harvey, in 1836. Marine phytoplankton are regarded as being The status of some groups, for example themore or less ubiquitous in distribution within marine macro-algae-the seaweeds arelarge areas of the sea, for example the reasonably well known but not definitive.temperateNorthAtlanticorEuropean The main problems with systematics occurwaters. Often they occur in such small within the micro-algae whose status in teamsnumbers that they are virtually undetectable, of species diversity is not known. (Ottway,butwhenconditionsaresuitablethe 1996 ,pen. comm.). populationswill develop and grow, often exponentially-hence the algal blooms For the purposes of this report marine andcaused by some species. As a result of this freshwater algae are dealt with separately. theirmeasurableabundance mayvary dramatically. (Ottway. 1996;Roden,1984). They are known to develop characteristic 5.2. Maine Algae patternsinIrishcoastalwaters in the summer. These patterns relate to water 5.2.1. General column stability-thermal stratification in particular - and in certain parts of the coast, Ireland's long coastline with its variety oftidal mixing, and up-wellings. (Roden et al habitats, has long been the subject of studies1987; Raise et al, 1990; Rain etal.1993; of marine algae. McMahon et al, 1995;)

There is reasonably reliable information on the seaweeds with regard to their numbers,5.2.2. Diversity though different sources vary slightly- presumably due totaxonomicchanges.The earliest record of species numbers Detailed information on this is not availablereferred to by Adams (op. cit) is that of 12 at the time of report preparation seaweeds listed by Threlkeld. A summary of Harvey's -1836 - (from Adams, op.cit) In addition to the historical sources noted inand Adam's own figures for marine algae 5. 1. above, and other more localised studiesare shown in Table 5. 1. for comparison with eg. Cullinane (1950), there are two main the recent estimates for Ireland 1979 and recent sources for marine macro-algae in1996 ( Guiry op.cit) and Morton (1994). Ireland. These are Guiiy and Morton. The + and-signs below the 1996 figures Guiry (1996- pas. comm.)hasproducedindicate the changes in numbers since 1979 a checklist of northern European species and(Guity,op.cit).TheCyanophyta,or their distribution, this has been regularlyblue/greenalgaeareincluded here for 17 convenience, though they are not strictly genera have been noted over a ten year regarded as marine species. For this reasonperiod. (McMahon and Silke,1996) they an not included m the totals. Despite the recent mom" work and The dates and initials on the left hand side ofhistorical studies, it is not possible to make a the table indicate the various sources listeddefinitive statement on the status of species here. diversity in marine phytoplankton.

Table 5.1. Marine algae 1836 to 1996 Speciesdiversityrelatingtoalgaein comparativetermsbeyondIrelandis C P R Total` Cy discussed below in paragraph5.4 of this chapter. 1836(H) 28 63 111 202 9 1908(A) 79 120 229 428 31 5.23. Conservation md Threats 1994(M) 83 143 267 493

1979(G) 87 147 246 480 Without an overall idea of the status of 1996(G) 83 147 294 524 26 species diversity in marine algae it is not -4 0 +48 +44 possible to comment an their conservation status. However the main threats to marine algae, in particular the micro algae are Key: C - Chlorophyta (Green) known.. P - Phaeophyta (Brown) R - Rhodophyta(Red) i. Ozone depletion; many species are very Cy - Cyanophyta (Blue/Green) UV sensitive and the levels of ozone does not include the Cyanophyta depletion which are being recorded will inevitably affect some species (Ottway, op.cit). Guiry accounts for the differences in the figures from 1979 and 1996 as follows: ii. Introduction of "exotic species" species probablyinballastwaterwhichis The decrease in the number of Chlorophyta jettisoned when ships take on a cargo. is attributable to taxonomic changes. The 8% There are examples of species moving increase in species of Rhodophyta is largely from one hemisphere to the other (both due to the work done by Guiry's team at directions)andaswith manyother University College, Galway over a period of introductions these have displaced other twenty years and includes at least one or two species. One suchspeciesisthe undescribed species. dinoflagellate Gyrodiniam areolwn, unknown in Europe before 1970, now a In addition to the above, Guiry's checklist dominantorganisminthesummer includes 10 species of Vaucheriawhich plankton off the south and west coasts of might be regarded as marine species since Ireland (and elsewhere in Europe), which they occupy brackish habitats. causes significant mortalities in marine organisms The Fisheries Research Centre of the Marine (Ottway) Institute (Dept of the Marine) regularly check water samples from 50 locations in iii. Pollution: on a regional scale (sea areas Irish coastal waters. This monitoring is done involved- para.5.2.1. above) this is too to detect the presence of toxic or harmful localised to have any real impact on blooms(see 5.2.4. below).All species of micro-algal diversity apart from initial phytoplankton found in these samples are local effects (Ottway). recorded in a data base.

From these records 181 species from 63 18 5.2.4. Economic and Sodal Importance 1994).

As primary producers algae are a food sourceThere is no shortage of studieson freshwater for the herbivores of the marine ecosystemsalgae in Ireland, to a large extent by British- so that in temis of the food chain they areofbased scientists. economic importance in the fishery industry, An early attempt to quantify freshwater algal The usage of seaweeds in agriculture (asgroups was made by Adams (op.cit). The fertilizer),asfood,infoodproductssubsequent scientific literature is rich in (Canigeei, agar etc) and for animal fodderpapers, however virtually all the studies have (seaweeds mixed with potatoes) in the past isbeenverylocalised - albeitquite well documented. (Brennan ed., 1950). comprehensive in many cases, for example the Clare Island Survey (West and West Currentlyseaweedsareexperiencinga1912 and John et al. 1990) and the Lough resurgenceinthiscontext, alsoinNeagh (Wood and Smith, 1993 and Gibson. commercially produced food, industrial and1993.) orthey haveconcentrated on health products. specific groups of speciesin particular locations. For example, a series of studies in Unfortunately not all the economic effectsthe 1950s on the phytoplankton in Irish are positive. There have been a number ofloughs (Brook, 1958 Round, 1959; Round references in the preceding paragraphsto theand Brook, 1959;). adverse effects of some noxious species of marine micro-algae/ phytoplankton.SilkeSome of these studies were taxonomically- and Jackson (1993)studied harmful andbased while others were relatedto trophic nuisance algal blooms in Irish coastalwatersstatus of which algae are good indicators and identified a number of species whichare(Ottway, op.cit.). toxic to shellfish and fm fish. For example, mortalities of farmed salmomds, littoral andJohn (1994) notes that the `majority of sub littoralorg in Irish waters havefreshwater algae are of microscopicsize and been attributedtwo GNodiniwn aureolum. Amany are poorlyunderstood pauseof recentlyidentifiedflagellate-probablyuncertainties surrounding what constitutesa Helerosignia akashiwo- first described inspecies. Difficulty in accurately identifying Japan- has been known to cause fish kill onalgae remains one of the principalreasons the west coast of Ireland. for the lack of reliable informationon their occurrence and distribution.."

5.3. Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae The consensus seems to be that the only group of freshwater algae about which we 5.3.1. General know sufficient to commenton diversity and conservationstatus at this time is the Freshwater algae are ubiquitous, occurringCharophyta,the Stoneworts.(personal wherever there is a body of freshwater, largecommunications from: Caffrey; John; Ryan; or small,which is exposed to sunlightWood; Morton,1996;and Whitton per Habitatsincludeponds,lakes,rivers,Morton 1994). The Stoneworts,are streams.ditches, puddles and man-madeprobably the most easily identifiedgetup of habitatssuchascanals,quarrypools,algae which, because of their growth form, drainage channels etc. Their importance lieswereoriginally thought to be types of in their role as primary producers, often the eo only ones present. A checklist of freshwater algae in the British Terrestrial algae which occuron the surfacesIsles as a whole is currently being drawnup of soil,walls and buildingsetc.-arefor the British Freshwater Algal Flora Project probably the least known assemblage (John.(John, 1996). However, Irish recordsare not

19 being distinguished from the others so that,indicators when monitoring water quality- while the checklist will be useful in broadestimates there are peiiups between 700 and terms and in the absence of any until now, it1000 species of desmid m Ireland. cannot be of specific use to Ireland Figures, even conjectured, are not available 5.3.2. Diversity, Conservation and Threatsfor other groups.

The onlycurrentfiguresavailableforImpacts tofreshwater algae include both biodiversiry in freshwater algal groups arethreats and benefits: thoserelatingtotheCharophytesor Stoneworts.The Red DataBookforChanges in water quality: Stoneworts of Britain and Ireland (Stewart and Church ,1992) gives comparative figures pollution (nitrates, phosphates and acid for each category of Red List species in the mm effects); context of the Stonewort floras of both salinity( in the case of those species Britain and Ireland.These figures are shown which prefer brackish water in which the in Table 5.2. below. salinity levels can be critical);

About 400 taxa of Charophyte are recordedHabitat destruction; worldwide, though Stewart and Church note thatthis probably represents no more than ical disturbance : 250 species-presumably allowingfor ging: dredging, boating, water level taxonomic changes and interpretation. changes;

33 Charophyte speciesare known from beneficial: creation of open habitats. Britain and Ireland- 13% of the world's species if one takes the global figure to beSome of the above would have greater 250.Ireland has 25 species given a globalimpact on some groups than others. For percentage of 10%. example,physicaldisturbancesuchas dredging would have longer lasting effects Table. 52. Summary List of RD 8* Staturesonthe Charophytes thansayon phyto- plankton species. Number of species In the case ofsome micro-algal species, Ireland Britain ozone depletion and consequent increases in UVradiationisprobably Extinct 2 2 detrimental Endangered 0 2 (Ottway pers. comm., 1996). Vulnerable 5 7 Rare 3 3 In general conservation terms, and regarding Indeterminate 2 2 freshwater algae other than Charophytes, the Insufficiently comments made by John (op.cit) in his known 0 1 "ProspectusforaPlantConservation Strategy-Freshwater Algae" on the 48% (12 out of 25) of the Irish Stonewort floraissituation in the U.K are equally applicable to in the RD B. the Irish situation and are an appropriate way 57% (17 out of 30) of the British Stonewortto end this section. flora is in the RD B. *Stewart and Church (1992). " The algal floraof freshwater systems remains under described and under sampled, Two stoneworts will be included in theandconsequentlyknowledgeoftheir forthcoming Flora Protection Order. distribution,abundance and conservation status is at an early stage" (John, 1994) With regards to other groups. Ottway (1996) - who regards desmids as a key group as 20 5.4. Conclusions - algae. identified.As John (op.cit) commented: "Difficulty in accurately identifying algae Generally speaking it is not wise to attemptremains one of the principalreasons for the to estimate overall species diversity relatinglackofreliableinformationontheir to algae since our knowledge is limited.Asoccurrence and distribution.." reported above, global figures available for species diversity tend not to differentiateWhat can be said with certainty is that the between marine and freshwater algae whichalgae form alarge group within the plant makes comparisons impossible. kingdom. We have seen above that theyare ecologicallyandeconomicallyavery With this in mind, any attempts tocomparesignificant group- particularly the micro- species numbers in the widercontext isalgae or phytoplankton. unwise with the exception of the twogroups for which then: is more information -theThere appears to be a desperate need for Seaweeds and the Charophytes. Thereasonstudy and the drawing together of records. for this greater knowledge is probablytwo -Ireland needs a central records facility,not fold.They are larger- hence more easilyjust for the algae but othergroups of lower found and for most cases,more readily plants too.

21 6. CONCLUSIONS

Where these have been conclusions to beland area. Table 6.2. below shows the drawn forthe above groups individuallyrelative land areas for Ireland, Britain and these have been included in the text above.Europe. In this case Europe is taken as the The purpose of this section is to foals on theaccepted geographical region-not the overall picture in the context of what hasEuropean Community. been presented so far. The land area of Ireland is less than 36% that One overriding fact appears time and again.of Britain and less then 1% of This is thatthenumber of taxa in Ireland for any given group of plants is low inEurope. Yet in terms of speciesfor the comparison to our neighbours, but in somevarious groups known figures aremuch groups it is clearly rich, eg. bryophytes andhigher - > 75% compared with Britain; and stoneworts. In the case of most taxa it isup to 40+% eg. the bryophytes, in European appreciablylowerthanour immediateterms. neighbours and only a fraction of European totals. (see Table 6.1) below. Table.62. Relative Land Arm - (sq.tms.)

Table 6.1. Comparative Species Numbers Ireland 82,375

ht (;$.Ec op. wag Britain 230,287

V.sSir 1309 1400 12500 >260.000 (England 130,763) (Scotland 78,762) B yophytea 759 1000 1800 >14,000 (Wales 20,762)

Rebus 1050 1700 5000 >17,000 Europe 10,400,000

Fbngl wbmm >15,000untmwn ?>70,000 Alps >20,000 ?>40,000 So perhaps when comparing numbers of species the land area factor should not be (some forgotten, as this indicates the available area -wall) 25 30 " 440 for habitat types is in turn much lower. In the context of being less than 1% of the land Figures for fungi and algae are probablyarea of Europe, but with a far higher much higher than those shown above and aspercentage of species -relatively to land such itis probably notfair to makearea-Ireland can be seen to have a comparisons. significant role to play in the conservation of species. Throughout the literature there are references to climate, geology, human influences andA factor of course, which is not evident from environmental factors. All are considered tofigures such as these, is the actual area of land available to species and habitats. contribute in some way to the "impoverished" flora of Ireland. The human influence has been the greatest and mostThat some species are at greater risk than wide-ranging: from the early days of forestothers is indisputable.Where figures are clearance,to drainage; land reclamation;available for endangered species they have land and water pollution and so on. been presented in relevant the sections above. It seems that one single fact is generally It is difficult - and even dangerous- tomake overlooked in this debate-that of relative 22 comparisons when numbers are not certain orthe conservation of species and habitats- unknown. For example in the can of thelegislation is eagerly awaited. lichens, where the draft Red Data Book lists predates the latest Census Catalogue and. ifc. There is a strong case for a centrally taken at face value, would indicate ancoordinated approach to the collection and extremely high percentage of endangeredcollation of species recordsfor lower plant species - which is unlikely. For this reasongroups in Ireland.A properly r sounxd noattempthasbeen made todrawcentral records data -base for allplant conclusions of this nature. species is essential if species diversity is to be properly monitored However there are points which are can be made and are generally acknowledged. d. There is a desperate need for expertise in field recording-especially for Irish experts. These can be summarised as follows: Recording in the past has been done by visitorswhotendtoconcentrateon a. Much more work is needed, in particularparticular areas of "botanical interest"- in the lowerplants- fungi, algae and toresulting in patchy distributions eg. for the some extent lichens, before Ireland can makebryophytes. any informed statement as to the status of these groups. (To a much lesser extent theHowever, it must be said that without the bryophytesshould also be included here,input of visiting botanists our state of largely owing to the history of patchyknowledge of the Irish Flora would be much recording). worse than it is at present. b. Ireland must fulfilits obligations at national and international levels regarding

23 7. SOURCES

The author is grateful to the following for their contributionto the study.

Buckley, P.Heritage Policy Unit, Dept of Arts, culture & the GaeltachtDublin 4. Byrne, I. Dept of Agriculture, Dublin 2.

Caffrev, J. Central Fisheries Board, Dublin 9. Connolly, V. Oak Park, Teagasc, Carlow. Curran, P. Dept of Botany, UCG. Curds, T. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin 2. Forrest. M. Dept of Crop Science. Horticulture and Forestry, UC D. Fuller, H. Dept of Botany, U.C.D. Furphy, J. Heritage Unit Dept of the Environment, Northern Ireland. Guiry, M. Dept of Botany, UCG. Haves. A. Irish Seed Saver Association. Hetmerty, M. Dept. of Crop Science, Horticulture and Forestry, UCD. John, D. Dept of Botany, Natural History Museum, London. Kelly, C. J.F.K. Aboretum, Co. Wexford. McHugh, R.D.I.T. College of Catering, Cabal Brngha Stmeet Dublin 1. McMahon, T. Fisheries Research Centre, Marine Institute, Abbotstown. Martin, J. Dept of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin. Mitchell.M.Galway Morton. O. Dept of Botany, Ulster Museum. Belfast O'Keeffe, K. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin 2. Ottway, B. Regional Technical College, Galway. Reynolds, S.Co.Dublin. Roche, T. Dept.of National Agricultural & Veterinary Biotechnology Centre. (BioResearch Ireland) UCD. Roden, C. Galway. Ryan, J. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin 2. Scannell. M. Dublin. Silke, J. Fisheries Research Centre. Marine Institute, Abbotstown. Synnott, D. National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Thompson,D. Coillte Research Laboratory, Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow. Walshe, E. Plant Breeding Station, Dept Agriculture, UCD. Whaley, J. The Irish Marine Data Centre, Marine Institute. Dublin 2. Wood, R.B.. Freshwater Laboratory. University of Ulster.

24 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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29 APPENDIX APPENDIX I.

Vascular Plants: a summary of systematic diversity*.

Family Genoa Species (+= subsp.) PTERIDOPHYTA

Lycopsida Lycopodiaceae 4 4

Selaginellaceae 1 2

Isoetaceae 1 2 Sphenopsida

Equisetaceae 1 8&5hybrids FWcopsida Ophioglossaceae 2 3

Osmundaceae 1 1 Adiantaceae 2 2 Hymenophyllaceae 2 3

Polypodiaceae 1 4 & 3 hybrids

Hypolepidaceae 1 1 Thelyptetidaceae 3 3 Aspleniaceae 3 9 + 3 & 3 hybrid Athyriaceae 4 5 Aspidiaceae 3 11 + 4 & 5 hybrids

Blechnaceae 1 2

Marsileaceae 1 1

Azollaceae 1 1

SPERMATOPHYTA

Gymnospermae

Coniferopsida Conlfetales

Pinaceae I 1

Cupressaceae I 1+2 Taxopsida Taxales

Taxaceae 1

* Source: Scannell and Synnott (1987).

31 Appendix I (cont.). ii. Vascular Plants: a summary of systematicdiversity.

Family Genera Species (+= SPERMATOPHYTA

Anglospermae

Dicotyledones

Salicales

Salicaceae 2 16+5& 20 hybrids Myricales

Myricaceae 1 1 Fagales Betulaceae 2 4 & 2 hybrids Corylaceae 2 2 Fagaceae 3 5 & l hybrid Urticales

Ulmaceae 1 3

Cannabaceae 1 1 Urticaceae 3 4 Polygonales Polygonaceae 6 33 + 1 & 5 hybrids Centrospermae Chenopodiaceae 8 23 + 1 & 2 hybrids Aizoaceae 2 2

Portulacaceae 1 3 +4 Caryophyllaceae 14 42 + 4 & I hybrid Ranales Nymphaceae 2 2 +1

Ceratophyllaceae 1 1 Ranunculaceae 7 28+4

Berberidaceae 1 1 Rhoeadales Papaveraceae subfamily Papaveroideae 4 9 subfamily Fumarioideae 2 8 +2 Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) 34 62 + 2 & 6 hybrids

Resedaceae 1 3 Sarraceniales

Sarraceniaceae 1 1

Dmseraceae 1 3 & I hybrid 32 Appendix 14cont.). ill.Vascular Plants: a summary of systematic diversity.

Family Genera Species (+= subsp.) Angjospetmae

Dkotyledones

Rosales Crassulaoeae 4 10 Saxifragaceae 3 14 & 3 hybrids

Pamassiaceae 1 1

Escalloniaceae 1 1

Grossulariacex 1 3 Rosaceae 20 75 + 4 & 35 hybrids Rubus I mia osp. 78 (Rosa - hybrids 31) L.eguminosae (Fabaceae) 14 50 + 7 & I hybrid Getaniales

Oxalidaceae 1 4 Geramaceae 2 17+2 L.inaceae 2 3 Euphorbiaceae 2 10 & 1 hybrid Rutales

Polygalaceae 1 2 Sapindales

Aceraceae 1 3

Hippocastanaceae 1 1

Balsaminaceae 1 1

Aquifoliaceae 1 1 Celastrales

Celastraceae 1 1 Rhamnales Rhamnaceae 2 2 Malvales

Tiliaceae 1 - & I hybrid Malvaceae 3 5 Thymelaeles

Elaeagnaceae 1 Guttiferales Guttiferae

(Hypericaceae) 1 11+1&Ihybrid

33 Appendix I1cont.).iv. Vascular Plants: a summary of systematic diversity.

Family Genera Species (+ = subsp.) Anglospermae

Diootyledones

Vlolales

Violaceae 1 11+3& 6 hybrids Cistaceae 2 3 Elatinaxae 1 2 Myrtales

Lythraceae 1 2 Onagraceae 4 16 & 13 hybrids Haloragaceae 2 4

Hippuridaceae 1 1 Umbe tales

Comaceae 1 2

Araliaceae 1 Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) 29 43+1 & I hybrid

Eticales Pyrolaceae 3 7 +1 Ericaceae 10 18 & 2 hybrids

Empetraceae 1 1 Prlmulales Primulaceae 6 12 & 1 hybrid Plumbagtnales Plumbaginaceae 2 5 +3 Oleales Oleaceae 2 2 Genttanales Gentianaceae 5 8 Menyanthaceae 2 2 Rubiaceae 5 14 & 1 hybrid Tubitlorae Convolvulaceae 3 6 +1 Boraginaceae 11 16 + 1 & l hybrid

Verbenaceae 1 1

Callitricbaceae 1 7 +2 Labiatae (Lamiaceae) 22 42 + 3 & 8 hybrids 34 Appendix I (punt.). T. Vascular Plants: a summaryof systematic diversity.

Family Genera Sped" (+= subsp.) Angfospesmae

Dicotyledones

Tubtflorae (poet.) Solanaceae 5 8 Buddlvieoeae 1 1 Scrophulariaceae 22 61 + 7 & 5 hybrids Orobanchaceae 1 4 L.entibulariaceae 2 7 & 1 hybrid Plantaginales Plantaginaceae 2 6 Dlpsacales Caprifoliaceae 5 7

Adoxaceae 1 1 Valerianaceae 3 7 Dipsacaceae 3 3 Campanulales Campanulaceae 4 7 Compositae (Asteraceae) 48 2 & 6 hybrids

1 77 microsp. in 11 sections. sub.genera 2 49+11

Monocotyledons

Alismatales Alismataceae 3 4 Butomaceae 1 1 Hydrocharitaceae 4 5 Scheuchzeriaceae 1 1 (extinct) Juncaginaceae 1 2 Potamogetonaceae 3 18 & 11 hybrids

Zosteraceae 1 3

Zannichelliaceae 1 1 Najadaceae 1 1

35 Appendix I (cont.). vi. Vascular Plants. a summary of systematicdiversity.

Family Genus Species( s ) Aae (+ = subsp.) Moaocotyledones

Lillales Liliaceae 7 14+2 Amaryllidaceae 2 1 & 1 hybrid

Lhoscoreaceae 1 1 Pontedetiaceae 1 1 Iridaceae 3 5 Juncales Juncaceae 2 23 & 3 hybrids Eriocauliaceae 1 1 Graminales Giaminae (Poaceae) 45 104 + 13 & 8 hybrids (I generic cross & 4 hybrid spp.]

Spathitlor ae Araceae 3 4 Lemnaceae 2 4 Pandanales Sparganiaceae 1 4 +4 Typhaceae 1 2 Cyperales Cyperaceae 8 77 + 7 & 16 hybrids Orrhidales Orchidaceae 16 30 + 10 & 10 hybrids [ 1 generic cross & 3 hybrid spp.]

36 APPENDIX II

Species which are considered to belong to various biogeographicalgroups.*

Species Nearest Station Minimum outside Ireland disjunction km.

Neotinea maculata Isle of Man 350 N. Spain 1000 Simethis planifolia Brittany 550 Arbutus unedo Brittany 550 W. France 950 Inula salicina Normandy 700 Daboecia cantabrica W. France 900 Saxifrage spathularis N.W.Spain 900 Pinuicula pndiflora W.Spain (Asturias) 950 Saxrfraga hirsuta N. Spain (Asturias) 950 Erica erigena Near Bordeaux 1100 Erica mackaiana N.W.Spain, (E Galicia) 1100 Minuartia recuxva N.E. Portugal 1100 Euphrasia salisburgensis Vosges 1250 Arenaria ciliata Jura 1350 Hypericum canadense Newfoundland 3250 Sisyrhynchium bermudiana Newfoundland 3250

*from Webb ( 1983).

37 APPENDIX III

Summary of Plant Genetic Resources InIreland*

Species/Crop Nature of Resource Inst+rmion/Organisation Notes

Potato Breeders' collection- Teagasc, Oak Park (Salmmamboomm) Germoplasm.

Potato In vivo collection of Dept. Agric., Food & Forestry. old varieties. in Co.Donegal

Wheat Germoplasm UCD, Dept. Agric. Wheat breeding (Tridam aesrtvrm 20,000 linesof programme + inter specific N.W.European & & mte eneric exotic origin. hybrids).

Field Bean Germoplasm Formerly UCD, Dept. Concern Viciafaba of Agric now the State expressed re: Department of future of this Agriculture resource.

Forage species: Germoplasm Teagase, Oak Park collected from No. accessions old pasture Lolium perenne 535 ecosystems. Phleum pretense 27 Lhaylstlomenta 55 Fesarca pntensis 7 Fe=a= arendisaaa 5 Festara rubs

Trifolium mpens 78 Trifolium dubium 2

Making Barley Germoplasm Dept. Agric./Guinness Collection of old varities of Irish origin and breeder's lines.

`Sources: see end of table. 38 Appendix III. (continued): Summary of Plant Genetic Resources in Ireland*

Speciacrop Nature of Resource Iastittctiao/Organisatiem Notes

Fruit -Commercial: UCD. Dept. of Crop Science, collections of: Horticulture and Forestry.

Apples, Pears, Plums. Grapes, Strawberries, Black & Red Currants, Blueberries. Raspberries, Gooseberries, and Hybrid Bevies.

Fruit -Old Varieties UCD. Dept. of Crop Lambe-Clarke

Apples 40 varieties Science.Haticulture Irish Historical & Crop Science/Irish Apple Collection Seed Savers Assoc.

Vegetables and No. of: Irish Seed Savers from catalogue of Garden flowers varieties Association seed available.

Beans

Cabbage 1 Kale Lettuce 4 Maize Melon 2 Onion Peas 2 Potatoes Squash 3 Tomatoes

Herbs 6 spp.

Flowers 6 spp. many vats.

Vegetables and Irish Branch of the Details not Garden flowers Henry Doubleday available. Research Association

Forest Species: Germoplasm Coillte Teo. Germoilasm Conifer 14 species. Collection. Broadleave 7 species. Thousands of provenances, clones and families.

`Sources: see end of table. 39 Appendix III. (continued): Summary of Plant Genetic Resources In Ireland*

SpeciesCrop NatureofResource Irtstitutioo/Organisation Notes

Rare and Threatened seedbank Irish Genetic Resources Threatened Irish Species (common name): ConservarionTnvst/ seed bank. Nat. Botanic Gardens/ + - those species Trinity College, Botanic targeted for +Allium schoenograsum(Chives) Gardens. seed collection +Asparagus off! crasl.s by the IPGRG. subsp.prostratus (Wild Asparagus) +Avenasuigosa (Bristle Oat) These species are +Bromus racemosus (Smooth Brome) wild or wild +Colchicam autumnale (Meadow Saffron) relatives +Crambe maritima (Sea Kale) of economic +Hordeum secalinum (Meadow Barley) plants. +Hyoscyamus niger (Henbane) +Lathyrus japonicas (Sea pea) +Ligustram scoticum (Scot's Lovage) +Lolium temuleatam (Darnel)

Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal Mint) Pyrola media (Intermediate Wintergreen) Pyrola minor (Common Wintergreen) Pyrola rowndifolia (Round-heaved Wintergreen) Potentillafruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) Salviaverbenaca(Wild Sage) Trifolium glomaatum ( Clustered Clover) Trifolium subterraneum) (Subterranean Clover) Vicia Iathyroides (Spring Vetch) Vicia orobus (Wood Bitter Vetch).

Sources: Martin: Walshe; Hennetty; Connolly: Hayes; and Thompson- (1996 -personal communications): Byrne. I. (1995.op.cit.) Thompson. D. (1995 .op.cit)

40 APPENDIX N.

Seed Production Areas - forest species*

Registered Seed Stands

Species No. of Stands Area (ha.)

Sitka Spruce 68 852

Norway Spruce 16 182

Beech 7 48

Scots Pine 24 stands + 2 seed orchards 215

Sessile Oak 14 561

Pedunculate Oak 10 198

Total 1960 ha.

Seed Orchards

Species No. of Orchards Area (ha.)

Lodgepole Pine 4 12.0

Scots Pine 3 5.8

Douglas Fir 1 0.5

Japanese Larch 2 1.5

European Latch 1 2.0

Hybrid Larch 1 1.0

Beech 1 2.0

Total 24.8 ha.

*from Coillte Teo (Thompson, 1995) 41 APPENDIX V.

Mosses : a summary of systematic diversity'.

Family Genera Species

Sphagnopslda Sphagnales

Sphagnaceae 1 28

Andreaeopslda Andteaeales Andreaeaceae 1 4

Bryopsida Polytrichideae Tetraphidales Tetraphidaceae 2 2 Polytrichales Polytachaceae 4 15 Buxaumiideae Buxbaumiales Buxbaumiaceae 1 1

Eubryideae Archldiales Archidiaceae 1 1 Dicmnales Ditrichaceae 4 11 Selageriaceae 3 9 Dicranaceae 11 43

I.eucobryaceae 1 2 Flssldentales Fissidentaceae 2 21 Encalytales Encalytaceae 1 5 Pottlales Pottiaceae 23 82 Grhnmlales Grimmiaceae 4 31 Ptychomitriaceae 3 3 Funariales

Disceliaceae 1 1 Funariaceae 3 7 Ephemeraceae 1 4

Oedipodiaceae 1 1 Splachnaceae 3 5 Schistostegales Schistostegaceae 0 0

42 Appendix V. (cont.).

Mosses : a summary of systematic diversity*.

Family Genera Species

Bryopdda Eubryideae

Btyales Bryaceae 8 59 Mniaceae 4 13 Aulacomniaceae 1 2 Meesiaceae 2 2

Catoscopiaceae 1 1 Barnamiaceae 5 11 Timmiaceae 1 2 Orthotrichales Orthotrichaceae 4 24 Hedwigiaceae 1 2 Isobryales Fontinalaceae 1 2 Climaciaceae 1 1 Cryphaeaceae 1 I Leucodontaceae 3 3 Myuriaceae 1 1 Neckeraceae 3 5

Thanuuaceae I 1 Hookerales Hookeriaceae 2 2 Daltoniaceae 1 1 Thuldiales Theliaceae 1 1 Fabroniaceae 0 0 Leskaceae 2 2 Thuidiaceae 3 9 Hypnobryales Amblystegiaceae 9 37 Brachytheciaceae 10 37 Entodontaceae 2 3 Plagiotheciaceae 4 14 Sematophyllaceae 1 2 Hypnaceae 9 19

*from Hill et al. (1992 & 1994)

43 APPENDIX VI

Liverworts : a summary of systematic diversity*.

Family Genera Species Hepaticae Jungermannildeae Calobryales Haplomitriaceae 1 1 Jungermannlales Lepicoleaceae 1 1 Herbertaceae 1 1 Pseudolepicoleaceae 1 I Trichocoleaceae I 1 Lepidoziaceae 4 10 Calypogeiaceae 1 8 Adelanthaceae 1 2 Cephaloziaceae 5 16 Cephaloziellaccae 1 9

Antheliaceae 1 2 Lophoziaceae 9 28 Jungenn miaceae 3 14 Gymnomitriaceae 2 9 Scapaniaceae 3 20 Geocalycaceae 6 9 Plagiochilaceae 2 10 Amelliaceae I 1

Acrobolbaceae 1 1 Pleuroaaceae I 1 Radulaceae 1 6 Ptilidiaceae 1 2

Porellaceae 1 5 Frullaniaceae 1 5 Jubulaceae 1 1 Lejeunaceae 7 16 Metzgeriales Codoniaceae 2 9 Pelliaceae 1 3 Pallaviciniaceae 2 2 Blasiaceae 1 1 Aneuraceae 3 7 Metzgeriaceae 2 6 Marrbantlldeae Sphaetocarpales Spaerocarpaceae 0 0

* From HiH et al.( 199 1)

44 Appendix VI. (cont.).

Liverworts : a summary of systematic diversity.

Family Genera Species

Hepadcae Marchandales Targioniaceae 1 1 Lunulariaceae 1 1 Weisnerellaceae 1 1 Conocephalaceae 1 1 Aytoniaceae 1 1 Marchantiaceae 2 2 Ricciaceae 2 8 Anthocerotae Anthocerotales Anthocerotaceae 2 3

45 APPENDIX VII

Bryophytes which occur In Ireland but are absent from continental Europe.

species: Extra-European dlats ibudon. a. Macaroneslan element:

Acrobolbus wtisonii(h) Azores, Madeira. 4ema lam sip. moorei (h) Azores, Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verde Islands L. hibernica (h) IrL Azores, Marietta, Canaries. Camp)iopusshmvii (m) Azores, Caribbean Islands. A wiwnhodutettii (m) Azores, Madeira, Canaries. b. Oceanic subalpine element:

Bazumla pearsonii (h) Western N. America, Japan, Thailand }Tmalaya, Sri Lanka. Mastiglornorpha woodsii (h)t West am NAmerica, China, Himalaya. Plagioghila amrbngtoni(h)t Him alaya (ssp. lobudw asis) Gwmrostomwninsigne (m) Western N. America. Leptodontiwn reaavifoliwn (m) Wetsren N. America c. Miscellaneous species:

Adelwzthus lbtenbergiwws (h)IrL Tropical and southern Africa C. and S. America, Antarctic. Metzgeria leptoneura (h)' Widespread in the tropics and southern hemisphere. Radula whda (h) Eastern N. America. Barbula marmta (m) Irl. Canada (N.W.Territories. Bartranidula wilsonii (m) N.,C. and S. America, China, Fernando Po.

{fey.. (h) = liverwort (m) = moss. Id. = species is absent from Britain. * - occurs in theFaroes.

Source: Hill et. al. ( 1992)

46 Appendix VIII

Fungi

A summary of systematic diversity - excluding the Myxomycetes.*

Families Genera Species

Gastromycetes 12 20 44

Hymenomyoetes 40 210 1168

Teliomycetes 5 29 211

Ascomycotlna 305 721

Mastlgomycotina (Zoospotic fungi) 36 121

Zygomycotina 22 83

Deuteromycotlna 320 1017

942 3365

* taken from Muskett and Malone (1978- 1985)

47 APPENDIX IX Fungi

Irish Myxomycetes : a summary of systematic diversity.

Family Genera Species

Aa asiomycetes

Acrasiales Actasiaceae (1)1 (1)1

Ceratiomyxomycetes

Certiomyxales

Ceratiomyxaceae (1)1 (1)1

Myxomycetes

Echinostelales

Echinosteliaceae (1)1 (4)5 Clasterdermataceae (1)1 (2)2 Liceales Liceaceae (1)1 (8)18 Reticulariaceae (4)4 (7)8 Cribrariaceae (1)1 (11)12 Ttichiales Dianemaceae (2)2 (2)3 Trichiaceae (8)8 (31)32

Stemonitales Stemonitaceae (12)12 (34)39

Physarales Physamceae (6)6 (41)46 Didymiaceae (4)4 (21)24

Nos. in () = those listed by Ing. & Mitchell1980. Others = Ing &McHugh 1988

48 Alo Elatine Dryas Draba Crambe Cirsium Cicuta Carex Carex Carex Carex Carex Carduus Allium Ajuga Adoxa Acinos Eleochans Colchicum Centaurea Cardamine Cardamine Callitriche Astragalus Asplenium Asplenium Asparagus Artemesia Arenaria Anthemis Alchemilla SPECIES Deschampsia Dactvlorhiza Centaureum Centaureum divisa Campanula pecurus A&rostemma incana Cryptogramma virosa Cephalanthera Cardaminopsis Calamagrostis = elongata nutans xCalamagrostis Artbrocnemum P pan octapetala paucitlora ciliata arvensis hydropiper cyanus magellamca depauperata amara truncata arvensis alpine pyramidalis ula setacea autumnale helenioides littorale impatiens stncta danicus billottn officinalis maritima polifolia aequalis githago moschatellina Protected: crispa pulchellum petnea trachelium epigejos perenne schoenoprasum ('act traunsteineri longifolia septenttionale R= for Red: Proposed R P FNI R P FNI P R P PNI F R P NIP R NIP PNI R R P R P P R P R PNI P P P P P P F P R FNI P P R R R PNI P STATUS F= publication Red Pxinct until Ri Nlonly only? Declining only only only only Extinct Extinct only Frequent? titer Data LA Note: the List APPENDIX Lohum Kickxia Juncus Inula Hydrilla Festuca Erica Limosella Lepidotis Lathynis Hottonia Hordeum Geranium Geranium Geranium Galeopsis Frangula Euphorbia Erigeron Equisetum Equisetum Epipactis Epipactis Epilobium SPECIES Scarce Ligusticum Lamiastnim Hypochaeris Hypericum Hypericum Hordelymus Hiemchloe Hammarbya Groenlandia Filipendula Eriophorum vagans Minister's * salicina Hyoscyamus acer ciliaris (from: iaminima elatine Helianthemum Helianthemum Gymnocarprum Gymnocarpium alms mackaiana species X peplis x palustris palustris temulentum aquatica inundata Lathynisjaponicus compressus glabra niger verticillata secalinum odorata dense vulgaris heterphylla gracile moorei pretense palustris Curbs scoticum hirsutum canadense canum paludosa sylvaticam purpureum angustifolia phyllanthes aLsinifolium (K) galeobdolon europaeus rotundifolium are dryopteris announcement). nummularium roberdanum not 1996) R P NI R NI NI P R P R P NI P p R P NI P NI NI P R P P M P NI R R P NI R R P NI R P P R R NI P STATUS included. 49 only only only only ExRI only Extinct M-medRI only APPENDIX X Proposed Red Data List * (from: curds 1996) (*not for publication until after the Minister's amnounoement). P = Protected: R = Red: F = Frequent? Note.Scarce species (K) are not included.

SPECIES STATUS SPECIES STATUS

Lotus subbiflorus P Rumex matitimms R Matthiola sinuata R Extinct Ruppia spiralis F declining Melampynrm sylvaticum P m r= Ri Salix phylicifolia R Mentha pulegium P NI RI Salvia v etbeoaca R Mertensia maritima P Sanguisorba officinalis P Minuartia recurva P Sausserea alpina P Misopates orontium P Saxifraga aizoides P NI Monotropa hypopitys P NI Saxifrga gtanulata P Najas flexilis P Saxifraga hartii P. Neottia nidus- avis P NI Saxifraga hirculus P NI RI Oenanthe pimpinelloides P Saxifraga mvalis P Omalotheca sylvatica P Saxifraga oppositifolia P NI Ophtys apifera P NI Scandix pecten-veneris R Extinct Orchis mono P Scheutzeria palustris R Extinct Omithopus perpusillus P Scilla vema F declining Orobanche hederae P Scirpus triqueter P Orobanche rapum-genistae R Scleranthus annuus P Orthilia secunda P Scrophularia umbrosa R Otanthus maritimus P Serratulatinctora R Extinct Papaver hybridum P Sibthorpia europaea R Parapholis strigosa F decliningSilene acaulis P Parentucellia viscosa F decliningSimethis planifolia P Pilularia globifera P NI RI Sisyrindrium bemiudiana P NI Poa alpina R Spiranthes romanzoffiana P NI RI Poa palustris R Stachys officinalis P NI RI Polygonum maritimum P Extinct ?Stellariapalustris F declining Polygonum viviparum P Teesdalia nudicaulis P NI only Polystichum lonchitis P NI Thelypteris palustris F declining Potentilla fntticosa R Trichomanes speciosum P NI RI Primula veris F NI Trifolium glomeratum P Pnmus padus R Trifolium subterraneum P Pseudorchis albida P Trollius europaeus P NI RI Puccinellia fasciculata P Tuberaria guttata R Pyrola media R Vicia lathymides R Pvrola rotundifolia maritima P Vicia orobus P v.tmatend Ranunculus fluitans P NI only Vicia sylvatica F declining Ranunculus triparntus P Viola hirta P Rorippa islandica R Viola lactea P Rubes chamaemonrs P NI only Viola persicifolia P

50 APPENDIX XI

STUDY BRIEF

for The review of the status of species diversityin Ireland.

Purpose: is to report on the biological and conservation statusof the Irish flora in preparation for the drafting of the Biodiversity ActionPlan.

1. Inventory of biological diversity (at genetic,population, species levels on a taxonomic basis;

2. Assessment of the current status (abundance,distribution, range) of taxa in Ireland and of their significancein national and international terms;

3. Identification of threats to their conservation status;

4. Where possible, the association of speciesltaxawith habitats /ecosystems;

The study will be based on current information andwill involve discussions with relevant experts in Ireland and a review of relevantliterature.

The study will review species and geneticdiversity in terrestrial,freshwater and marine ecosystems and covers all taxa.

51