DOLMANT
Development of ecological modelling
tools for lake management
Speakers: Dr Louise Vaughan & Dr Katrina Macintosh
Project Leaders: Dr Yvonne McElarney & Prof Brian Rippey
Presentation Overview
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DOLMANT project aims
Programme of work
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Future work
Questions?
DOLMANT Project Aims
• Integrate biological, hydromorphological and physicochemical 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
Plus other relevant
measured
variables..alk, cond,
pH etc…
Metrics e.g.
% Cyanobacteria
% Chlorophytes..
Lake TP
Catchment nutrient
loadings…
Phytoplankton
Status
Lake TN
Chla
Macrophyte
Status
Temperature
Ecological State
Zooplankton
Status
Fish Status
M’Invertebrate
Status
Programme of Work
• Lough Neagh
• Lower Lough Erne
• 52 smaller lakes
Phytoplankton
Scolban
Golagh
Vearty
Legane
Lee
Mourne
Lough Neagh
Phytoplankton Metrics
• Chlorophyll a
• Percentage Nuisance Cyanobacteria
• Irish EPA Phytoplankton composition metric
• Phytoplankton Trophic Index
Zooplankton
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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 2005
Taxa
Cyclops spp
Eudiaptomus gracilis
Daphnia hyalina
Daphnia longspina
Daphnia pulex
Naupulii
Mysis relicta
Leptodora kindtii
Bythotrephes longimanus
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Mean (nos L-1)
21.500
9.356
1.614
0.142
0.014
1.047
0.002
0.004
0.008
Median (nos L-1)
17.438
10.191
0.679
0.057
Found in one sample
0.793
Found in three samples
Found in three samples
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
Cyclops
Diaptomus gracilis
Daphnia
90.0
Zooplankton (numbers per L)
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Month
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9
10
11
12
Lough Neagh 2011
Taxa
Cyclops spp
Eudiaptomus gracilis
Daphnia hyalina
Naupulii
Mysis relicta
Leptodora kindtii
Bythotrephes longimanus
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Mean (nos L-1)
41.789
9.208
1.137
1.771
0.003
0.0003
0.007
Median (nos L-1)
44.728
6.568
0.057
0.679
Found in two samples
Found in two samples
Found in three samples
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
Lough Neagh 2011
Cyclops
Diaptomus gracilis
Daphnia
90.0
Zooplankton (numbers per L)
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Month
8
9
10
11
12
Lough Neagh 1969 - 2011
Cyclops
Diaptomus gracilis
Daphnia
60.0
Zooplankton nos (nos per L)
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
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
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Chris Gibson
Tony Fitzsimons
Bob Foy
Colm McKenna
Kirsty McConnell
Phil Dinsmore
Louise Davis
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Hannah Cromie
Kevin Gallagher
Eugene O’Kane
Elaine Hamill
Glaucia Hamilton
Eugene McDonnell
Chris Barry
Project partners
AFBI staff
Questions?
Contact details:
Dr Katrina Macintosh
Email: ka.macintosh@ulster.ac.uk
Dr Louise Vaughan
Email: louise.vaughan@afbini.gov.uk