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Project title

Past, current and future Interactions between pressures, chemicaL status and bioLogical qUality eleMents for lakes IN two contrAsting instrumented catchmenTs in IrEland (ILLUMINATE)

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

David Taylor

Project Abstract

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) funded ILLUMINATE project demonstrates the benefits of integrating past current and possible future ecological conditions and underpinning factors within a dynamic computer modelling framework. The approach is of direct relevance to the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and therefore to RBD managers and environmental regulators. Three case study catchments were selected as they were relatively rich in high quality ecological climatic and hydromorphological data and because they had contrasting catchment characteristics and pressures: Leane (South West River Basin District (SWRBD)) Burrishoole and Mask (Western River Basin District (WRBD)). The final ILLUMINATE report (Dalton et al. 2010) is available at http://erc.epa.ie.safer/reports.A synthesis of the ILLUMINATE results is outlined in Table (i) in accordance with the three aims of the project: i Establish reference conditions and determine aquatic ecological responses to particular and combined pressures in the three study catchments in the relatively recent past; i Use coupled dynamic ecological pressure-response models in combination with existing and new data to produce and evaluate simulations of past and future scenarios; i Provide informed comment on the i'at riski characterisation of the study lakes. To fulfil the first aim the research relied heavily upon palaeolimnology. Sediment cores were collected from a total of five lakes: Leane Muckross Bunaveela Feeagh and Mask. Radioactive isotopes provided estimates of the time period covered by each sediment core. Chemical and biological evidence for Muckross indicates relatively long-term ecological stability and the persistence of oligotrophic conditions over a centuries-long time-scale. For Leane available evidence indicates nutrient enrichment associated with untreated sewage from the early 1960s which forced a transition to meso-eutrophic conditions. Low nutrient levels prevailed at Feeagh and Bunaveela in the Burrishoole catchment until the onset of mesotrophic conditions associated with afforestation and overgrazing in respectively the mid 1950s and 1980s. Overall the evidence from Mask reveals that nutrient enrichment of the lake began as early as the 19th century. Nutrient enrichment is also evident from the late-1950s and appears to have been associated with increased livestock densities.

Grant Approved

�374,742.30

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Improve our Knowledge on the State of our Water Resources and Pressures

Start Date

28/02/2006

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/09/2009