DOLMANT Development of ecological modelling tools for lake management Speakers: Dr Louise Vaughan & Dr Katrina Macintosh Project Leaders: Dr Yvonne McElarney & Prof Brian Rippey
Jan 15, 2016
DOLMANT Development of ecological modelling
tools for lake managementSpeakers: Dr Louise Vaughan & Dr Katrina Macintosh
Project Leaders: Dr Yvonne McElarney & Prof Brian Rippey
Presentation Overview
• DOLMANT project aims• Programme of work• Phytoplankton• Zooplankton• Future work• Questions?
DOLMANT Project Aims• Integrate biological, hydromorphological and physico-
chemical properties of lakes with catchment variables
• Models will help evaluate the effectiveness of measures adopted in catchments
• Support effective programmes of measures in line with the Water Framework Directive
Chla
Metrics e.g.% Cyanobacteria% Chlorophytes..
Ecological State
M’Invertebrate Status
Zooplankton Status
Macrophyte Status
Temperature
Catchment nutrient loadings…
Plus other relevant measured
variables..alk, cond, pH etc…
Lake TP
Lake TN
PhytoplanktonStatus
Fish Status
• Lough Neagh• Lower Lough Erne• 52 smaller lakes
Programme of Work
Phytoplankton
Golagh
Lee
Vearty
Legane
Mourne
Scolban
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2010
Year
0
5
10
15
20
25
Chlorophyll a
Total Phytoplankton
Blue green
Diatoms
Lough Neagh
Phytoplankton Metrics
• Chlorophyll a
• Percentage Nuisance Cyanobacteria
• Irish EPA Phytoplankton composition metric
• Phytoplankton Trophic Index
Zooplankton• Lough Neagh historic samples• Two years; 2005 and 2011 were enumerated in detail.• Describe seasonal patterns of density• Establish changes between 2005 and 2011• Changes from 1970-1990 data
Lough Neagh 2005Taxa Mean (nos L-1) Median (nos L-1)Cyclops spp 21.500 17.438Eudiaptomus gracilis 9.356 10.191Daphnia hyalina 1.614 0.679Daphnia longspina 0.142 0.057Daphnia pulex 0.014 Found in one sampleNaupulii 1.047 0.793Mysis relicta 0.002 Found in three samplesLeptodora kindtii 0.004 Found in three samplesBythotrephes longimanus 0.008 Found in two samples
• Cyclops spp. most abundant, followed by Eudiaptomus gracilis• D. hyalina found between July and October• D. longispina found between March and May• Bythotrephes longimanus found in July and August• Leptodora kindtii from May to August
Lough Neagh 2005
Lough Neagh 2011
• Cyclops spp. most abundant, followed by Eudiaptomus gracilis• D. hyalina found between July and December• D. longispina not found• Bythotrephes longimanus found from July to September• Leptodora kindtii in August and October
Taxa Mean (nos L-1) Median (nos L-1)Cyclops spp 41.789 44.728Eudiaptomus gracilis 9.208 6.568Daphnia hyalina 1.137 0.057Naupulii 1.771 0.679Mysis relicta 0.003 Found in two samplesLeptodora kindtii 0.0003 Found in two samplesBythotrephes longimanus 0.007 Found in three samples
Lough Neagh 2011
Lough Neagh 1969 - 2011
Future Work
• Continue enumeration of historic samples from Lough Neagh and Lough Erne
• Commence fieldwork on 52 small lakes
• Model causal relations between lake variables using structural equation modeling (SEM) / path analysis
• Develop practical management tools to assist agencies achieve ecological targets for lakes
Project Partners• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
• University of Ulster (UU)
• Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
• Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)
Acknowledgements
• Chris Gibson• Tony Fitzsimons• Bob Foy• Colm McKenna• Kirsty McConnell• Phil Dinsmore• Louise Davis
• Hannah Cromie• Kevin Gallagher• Eugene O’Kane• Elaine Hamill • Glaucia Hamilton• Eugene McDonnell• Chris Barry• Project partners• AFBI staff
Questions?
Contact details:
Dr Katrina MacintoshEmail: [email protected]
Dr Louise VaughanEmail: [email protected]