ISSN 1393 – 6670 N A T I O N A L P A R K S A N D W I L D L I F E S ERVICE MONITORING OF SITES AND HABITAT FOR THREE ANNEX II SPECIES OF WHORL SNAIL (VERTIGO) Maria P. Long and John T. Brophy I R I S H W I L D L I F E M ANUAL S 104 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) commissions a range of reports from external contractors to provide scientific evidence and advice to assist it in its duties. The Irish Wildlife Manuals series serves as a record of work carried out or commissioned by NPWS, and is one means by which it disseminates scientific information. Others include scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. The views and recommendations presented in this report are not necessarily those of NPWS and should, therefore, not be attributed to NPWS. Front cover, small photographs from top row: Coastal heath, Howth Head, Co. Dublin, Maurice Eakin; Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, Eddie Dunne, NPWS Image Library; Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia, Brian Nelson; Puffin Fratercula arctica, Mike Brown, NPWS Image Library; Long Range and Upper Lake, Killarney National Park, NPWS Image Library; Limestone pavement, Bricklieve Mountains, Co. Sligo, Andy Bleasdale; Meadow Saffron Colchicum autumnale, Lorcan Scott; Barn Owl Tyto alba, Mike Brown, NPWS Image Library; A deep water fly trap anemone Phelliactis sp., Yvonne Leahy; Violet Crystalwort Riccia huebeneriana, Robert Thompson Main photograph: Vertigo moulinsiana, Maria P. Long Monitoring of sites and habitat for three Annex II species of whorl snail (Vertigo) Version 1.1 Maria P. Long and John T. Brophy Keywords: Vertigo angustior, Vertigo geyeri, Vertigo moulinsiana, Mollusca, Ireland, Article 17, monitoring, site assessment, distribution Citation: Long, M.P. & Brophy, J.T. (2019) Monitoring of sites and habitat for three Annex II species of whorl snail (Vertigo). Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 104. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland The NPWS Project Officer for this report was: Dr Brian Nelson; [email protected] ISSN 1393 – 6670 An tSeirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra 2019 National Parks and Wildlife Service 2019 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, 90 Sráid an Rí Thuaidh, Margadh na Feirme, Baile Átha Cliath 7, D07N7CV Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 90 North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 N7CV Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................................................ii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Site selection .................................................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Introduction to Vertigo species monitoring methodology ........................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Note on terminology ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Summary of monitoring methodology ............................................................................................ 6 2.2.3 Vertigo habitat – general ................................................................................................................. 6 2.2.4 Data collection and storage ............................................................................................................. 7 2.2.5 Digital mapping ............................................................................................................................. 7 2.2.6 Snail sample identification ............................................................................................................. 7 2.3 Monitoring methodology for Vertigo angustior ............................................................................................ 7 2.3.1 Background to the species .............................................................................................................. 7 2.3.2 Survey methodology ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.3 Condition assessment monitoring ..................................................................................................16 2.4 Monitoring methodology for Vertigo geyeri ................................................................................................ 17 2.4.1 Background to the species .............................................................................................................17 2.4.2 Survey methodology .....................................................................................................................18 2.4.3 Condition assessment monitoring ..................................................................................................23 2.5 Monitoring methodology for Vertigo moulinsiana ...................................................................................... 25 2.5.1 Background to the species .............................................................................................................25 2.5.2 Survey methodology .....................................................................................................................25 2.5.3 Condition assessment monitoring ..................................................................................................31 2.6 Data audit .................................................................................................................................................... 32 3 Results .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 3.1 Data deliverables ......................................................................................................................................... 33 3.2 Overview of results ..................................................................................................................................... 33 3.3 Vertigo angustior results ............................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.1 Vertigo angustior results overview ..................................................................................................34 3.3.2 Vertigo angustior habitat area ..........................................................................................................34 3.3.3 Vertigo angustior impacts and activities ...........................................................................................35 3.3.4 Vertigo angustior site-specific conservation assessments ..................................................................40 3.3.5 Management of Vertigo angustior sites ............................................................................................42 3.3.6 Monitoring for Vertigo angustior .....................................................................................................43 3.4 Vertigo geyeri results..................................................................................................................................... 44 3.4.1 Vertigo geyeri results overview .......................................................................................................44 3.4.2 Vertigo geyeri habitat area...............................................................................................................45 3.4.3 Vertigo geyeri impacts and activities ................................................................................................46 3.4.4 Vertigo geyeri site-specific conservation assessments .......................................................................50 3.4.5 Management of Vertigo geyeri sites .................................................................................................52 3.4.6 Monitoring for Vertigo geyeri ..........................................................................................................53 3.5 Vertigo moulinsiana results ........................................................................................................................... 54 3.5.1 Vertigo moulinsiana results overview...............................................................................................54 3.5.2 Vertigo moulinsiana habitat area ...................................................................................................... 54 3.5.3 Vertigo moulinsiana impacts and activities ....................................................................................... 55 3.5.4 Vertigo moulinsiana site-specific conservation assessments .............................................................. 59 3.5.5 Management of Vertigo moulinsiana sites ........................................................................................ 62 3.5.6 Monitoring for Vertigo moulinsiana ................................................................................................