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Freshwater Biological Diversity in Ireland

Freshwater Biological Diversity in Ireland. Dr Jim Bowman Programme Manager. Outline of presentation. 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity 2 Protecting Legislation 3 Water Framework Directive 4 The Future. Part 1. 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity

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Freshwater Biological Diversity in Ireland

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  1. Freshwater Biological Diversity in Ireland Dr Jim Bowman Programme Manager

  2. Outline of presentation 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity 2 Protecting Legislation 3 Water Framework Directive 4 The Future

  3. Part 1 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity 2 Protecting Legislation 3 Water Framework Directive 4 The Future

  4. What diversity is there here?

  5. You would be amazed by what you find in there!!

  6. Recording biological diversity in Ireland • Recording information on the overall biological diversity in Ireland has not been done systematically in the past. Diversity maps frequently reflect the distribution of collectors rather than the true distribution of the species being described. • Also such endeavours can reflect the area of expertise of the collector. • The National Biodiversity Data Centre has now commenced this task and has an important Role to play in improving the situation.

  7. Impovrished Flora and Fauna • As a result of Ireland being covered by ice during the period 100000 to 13000 years ago our floral and faunal communities were nearly, if not, completely eliminated. • We are still in a re-colonisation phase and the Flora & Fauna of the country are diminished in comparison with our neighbours. Being an island does not help.

  8. Glaciation – 100,000 to 10,000 years ago During the last ice age the entire country was covered by ice except for possibly a small area in west Limerick and north Kerry. The ice was up to 1,000m thick in places. Warren and Ashley, 1994

  9. The Principal Groups of Aquatic Organisms • Planktonic algae and bacteria • Macrophytes and macro-algae • Zooplankton and invertebrates • Fish • Amphibians • Birds • Mammals All combine to form the Irish aquatic community

  10. How a Freshwater Community Interlinksor A General Aquatic Energy Flow Diagram Man Terrestrial & Aquatic Animals Birds Big Fish Amphibian Little fish Little fish Zooplankton spp. & Invertebrates spp. Algae ssp. Bacteria ssp. Macrophytes ssp. Water (H2O) + Calcium + Carbon + Nutrients (N & P) + trace elements

  11. Role of the species Each species has a specific and critical role to play in the correct functioning of the aquatic community. If even one species is missing the system is not operating effectively. Thus, in order for the aquatic community to function effectively it is necessary to have the full diversity of organisms present.

  12. Freshwater Phytoplankton and Bacteria Occur mostly in lakes. Planktonic forms: 1000+ ??? True plankton: <500 Maumwee: 250 species ~ 40 per sampling occasion Ramor: 51 species ~ 15-20 per sampling occasion Difficulties: Uncertainty with Taxonomy Too few taxonomists

  13. Freshwater macrophytes • Charaphytes: 26 species • Pteridophytes: 5 species • Mosses and Liverworts: 24 species • Angiosperms: 123 species:- • 11 Floating-leaved forms, • 8 Free Floating forms, • 8 Isoetid forms, • 45 Elodeid forms, • 51 Emergent forms

  14. Freshwater Zooplankton Rotifera: 45 species Cladocera: 52 species Copepoda: 30 species Chydorids: 41 species Ostracods: 59 species

  15. Freshwater Invertebrates ~1900 aquatic invertebrates species in Ireland • Ephemeroptera: 33 (48) • Plecoptera: 20 (34) • Trichoptera: 147 (195) • Diptera 929: (1525) • Mollusca 53: (65)

  16. Freshwater Fish Europe: 215 species Britain: 55 Species Ireland: 29 Species Eleven “native” species

  17. Our Eleven “Native” Species *Allis&Twaite shad: local Lamprey: local Salmonids: widespread Arctic Char: local Pollan: local *Smelt: local 3 & 10 spined stickleback *Eel: widespread * More tidal than fresh

  18. Irish Amphibians Three species of amphibian occur in Ireland Rana temporaria Common Frog Very common Bufo calamita Natterjack toad Limited distribution Triturus vulgaris Smooth newt Widespread

  19. Aquatic Birds

  20. Mammals Otter Mink

  21. Introduced new species and invasive alien species Introduced new species • Birds: White-tailed Sea and Golden eagle Invasive alien species • Fish: 18 species –Pike, Roach, Rudd, Dace and so on • Macrophytes: Lagarosiphon major+++ • Invertebrates: Zebra mussel+++ • Mammals: Mink Climate change? • Little egret +++ Most likely a natural extension of their distribution

  22. Aquatic Communities These organisms combine to form communities in our various water categories. These communities are not casual collections of organisms. The community composition will depend on: • The waterbody category –river, lake & estuary • The depth, size and altitude of waterbody • The waterbody hardness • The waterbody background nutrient status Waterbody types

  23. General Observation on freshwater diversity Good Quality Water Degraded Water Good diversity of taxa Reduced diversity Low density of organism within taxa High density of organism (Low number of organisms (High number of organisms per taxa) per taxa). In extreme cases you can have a monoculture (e.g. Proules R.)

  24. Outline of presentation 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity 2 Protecting Legislation 3 Water Framework Directive 4 The Future

  25. Protecting Freshwater Diversity - Legislation Some limited improvement in water quality and species protection was achieved during the 1970’s by the setting of quality objectives through: • Dangerous Substances Directive(76/464/EEC), • Fresh Water Fish Directive(78/659/EEC) • Quality of Shellfish Waters Directive(79/923/EEC) And later • Groundwater Directive (80/68/EC), • IPPC Directive (91/61/EC), • Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive(91/271/EEC ) • Nitrates Directive(91/676/EEC); • Habitats Directive(92/43/EEC) ; • Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive(96/61/EC). However, conspicuous gaps still remained in the legislation enacted to protect Europe’s water and the quality standard approach proved to be inadequate in protecting Community waters.

  26. A New Approach The European Commission encouraged by the European Parliament and Council of Environment Ministers and acknowledging the increasing concerns of its citizens about water quality, commenced a process of widespread consultation on water matters. This process culminated with the proposal for a Water Framework Directive (WFD), which was adopted in 2000, to establish a legal framework to protect and restore water quality.

  27. Outline of presentation 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity 2 Protecting Legislation 3 Water Framework Directive 4 The Future

  28. What is different about the Water Framework Directive? • EU Directives in the past have required the achievement of chemical standards in surface waters that were calculated to ensure that a healthy fauna and flora was sustained in our surface waters. • The Water Framework Directive has now put the emphasis on clearly demonstrating the presence of a healthy fauna and flora in these waters.

  29. Is it important? The most significant piece of legislation to date or that we are likely to see in our lifetime dealing with water quality and quantity.

  30. Surface freshwaters Estuaries & Coastal waters Groundwater What is the Water Framwork Directive It is a Framework for the protection of the chemistry, biology and natural form of: all surface and groundwaters and dependent waterbodies.

  31. Objective of the Directive • Prevent deterioration of and to protect “high status” where it exists. • Restore the status of bodies of water with the aim of achieving good surface water status and good groundwater status by 2015*. • No deterioration in existing biological/ecological, physico-chemical and hydromorphological status. *There are provisions for derrogations and deferred objectives

  32. Ecoregions

  33. The Strategic Process Mapping of River Basin Districts in GIS Format Characterisation of water bodies Mapping of water bodies Listing of pressures Detailed risks that may cause failure to meet objectives by 2015 Economic analysis of water use Data Gathering Monitoring programme Implement monitoring programme Establish chemical standards and Biological classification systems Determine Water Body Status Linking Set Objectives & Measures for Water bodies Management Plans Actions & Planning Implementing Plans ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES

  34. Status Assessment Surface Waters Large amounts of Chemical and Biological data gathered. Ecological StatusChemical Status Biology Phytoplankton List of 41 Chemicals Macrophytes Invertebrates Fish Physico-Chemistry Nutrients Oxygen & Temp Acidification Relevant Pollutants Other pollutants Hydromorphology Continuity Hydrology Morphology

  35. BIOLOGICAL Element Descriptor (parameter) Biological ElementElement Descriptors Phytoplankton: Composition + Abundance + Biomass (3) Macrophytes/ Phytobenthos: Composition + Abundance (2) Invertebrates: Composition + Abundance (2) Fish: Composition + Abundance +Age structure (3)

  36. Reference Conditions The highest quality unimpacted sites for each waterbody type in each water category, where there are no pressure influences, have been chosen and their biology examined. These sites are referred to as being in Reference condition. The status of waterbodies in the monitoring programme will be determined by expressing deviation from the particular Reference condition for that waterbody

  37. Biological Classification EQR close to 1 No or very minor deviation from undisturbed conditions High status or reference conditions (RC) Slight deviation from RC Good status Moderate status Moderate deviation from RC Poor status Bad status EQR close to 0

  38. Pass WFD Fail WFD Ecological Status for Surface Waters

  39. Objective The objective of the WFD is to achieve good or high status biological communities. Means achieving a high level of biological diversity Preservation of the aquatic community is the preservation of its biological diversity

  40. Outline of presentation 1 Overview of freshwater biological diversity 2 Protecting Legislation 3 Water Framework Directive 4 The Future

  41. Future Actions Making the FirstRiver Basin Management Plans Purpose: to meet objectives of WFD Who is doing it: Local Authorities and Public Authorities Draft plans completed 2008 Final plan to be ready Autumn 2009 Implement in period 2009 - 2015

  42. Climate Change Prediction: increased temperature, wetter winters, drier summers and more extreme weather events. • Response is species dependent and complex • Opportunities for invasive species may increase. • Many ecological systems may suffer increased stresses in heat waves. • Vulnerability of native species, e.g. Arctic char, smelt and salmon, and Atlantic salmon. • There is evidence of mismatches or asynchrony between plants, birds and insects.

  43. Strictly Enforced • The strategy that will implement the Directive has milestones and dates for achieving them. • If we fail the EU Commission will imediately initiate legal action against the Member State. Actions have already commenced against some states. But most importantly • If we fail it will be a great opportunity lost to protect our aquatic biology in a meaningful way.

  44. The end Thanks

  45. Ecological Status Classification Process

  46. Incorporates existing legislation • The Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC); • The Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) ; • The Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) as amended by Directive (98/83/EC); • The Major Accidents (Seveso) Directive (96/82/EC); • The Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC); • The Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC); • The Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC); • The Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC); • The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC); • The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) ; • The Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive (96/61/EC).

  47. River Basin Districts (RBD) • RBD comprises of the river catchments lying within specified Hydrometric Areas and lakes, estuaries & coastal waters and groundwaters associated with all these areas. • An International River Basin District (IRBD) is the combined RBD areas in the State & in Northern Ireland. • The island of Ireland has been divided into 8 RBDs • 4 entirely in the Republic, • 3 IRBDs, and • 1 entirely in Northern Ireland. • e.g. The SERBD comprises HAs 11-17 • Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Suir. • It involves 13 relevant LAs.

  48. Involving the Public EU Commission putting great emphasis on: • Public participation • Public consultation • Transparency

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