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Project Code [2010-PhD-B-16]
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Project title
Natural resource exploitation and global change ? the need for improved sustainable management to protect biodiversity
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)
Lead Applicant
Dagmar Stengel
Project Abstract
Field measurements suggest that A. nodosum productivity exhibits strong seasonal fluctuations and spatialvariability within and between shores. Biomass estimations in September 2008 revealed the presence of higheststanding crop at Cashel before the harvesting event. By the time of the second estimation in July 2009, biomassat Letterard remained stable but decreased at Finavarra. Our results suggest that biomass is to be very variableand were dependent on local environmental conditions so that averaged and extrapolated data should be treatedwith caution. Assessment of vegetation cover suggested that A. nodosum represented 50 % of vegetation coverwithin the Ascophyllum beds. Productivity estimates under different environmental conditions showed that tipsfrom the harvested site at Cashel grew generally faster than tips from the two other sites. Plants from all fieldsites exhibited only small effects on NO3-enrichment and responses to UV-radiation very negligible.Photosynthesis measurements and carbon uptake estimates under controlled conditions demonstrated thattemperature increases in summer periods lead to large increases in photosynthesis and hence primary productionas the temperature decreased in winter, productivity decreased. Preliminary assessment of harvesting effectsindicated that standing crop did not recover over 12 months of regrowth. Plants at this site exhibited the highestbiomass of all field sites before harvesting, but vegetation cover and biomass were significantly reduced and theare now included a large area of substrate free of algae. By October 2009, one year after harvesting,Ascophyllum nearly reached the percentage cover previously measured before the harvesting event, but the plantcoverage was sparse and biomass was still significantly reduced.
Grant Approved
�49,200.00
Research Hub
Natural Environment
Research Theme
Sectoral Impacts on Biodiversity
Initial Projected Completion Date
01/10/2011