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Project Code [2019-W-MS-45]
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Project title
Biological Tools to Measure the Impact of Flow on Ecology in Irish Rivers
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT)
Project Abstract
Because of the likely detrimental impacts of climate change on Ireland�s aquatic environments over the coming decades, particularly in relation to how alterations in flow could impact on aquatic biota, there is an urgent need to improve our understanding of the relationship between flow and ecology in Irish rivers. An increasing number of biomonitoring tools are being developed to measure the impacts of alterations in flow on different groups of aquatic organisms, including macroinvertebrates, fish and macrophytes. However, there has been no real investigation of the relationship between flow and ecology in Irish rivers. The main objectives of this proposal are to use historical and current data from Irish rivers to: (i) test a range of macroinvertebrate flow indices, and develop an appropriate index for use in Irish river monitoring programmes; (ii) test a range of fish flow metrics to develop an appropriate index for Ireland, and investigate the use of statistical modelling to determine optimal flow conditions for sensitive fish species; (iii) investigate the relationship between macrophytes and flow, and develop a macrophyte flow index for use in Irish monitoring programmes; (iv) provide recommendations on the most appropriate use of biological flow indices in future Irish river monitoring programmes
Grant Approved
�349,676.16
Research Theme
Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options
Initial Projected Completion Date
01/03/2023