
Random Sampling
 Measuring Simpson’s Index

Comparing biodiversity of two bog sites
– Creggan Bog and Black Bog

Designations
– ASSI and SAC
Black Bog is thought to be the largest remaining area of undamaged lowland raised bog in Northern Ireland covering an area of around 194Ha (480 acres). The site is especially important for its extensive hummock-hollow complex, high cover of Sphagnum species and largely intact lagg. In the past Black Bog has suffered relatively little burning, and there are consequently some very large Sphagnum hummocks. One species, Sphagnum Fuscum, is probably more abundant here than on any other raised bog in Northern Ireland. Another feature of the bog surface is the occurrence of an unusual plant community with locally high cover of Common Crowberry and large hummocks of Cladonia Lichen. It is designated as an
ASSI, an SAC and as a RAMSAR site. Sampling results are provided for this site as access is restricted.
Creggan Bog at around 9Ha (22 acres), is a small remnant of a once much larger area of lowland raised bog. Much of the original bog area has been planted with Spruce and Pine trees for commercial timber production and part of it has been quarried for its glacial gravel deposits (eskers). Small areas on the margin have also been subject to turf cutting. The remaining area is therefore under great pressure from surrounding development even though the surface of this bog has been largely undisturbed.
The purpose of this study is to carry out vegetation sampling in order to compare the biodiversity of the two areas. Sample data is provided for Black Bog ASSI. Conclusions can then be drawn as to the effect of development and drainage on the plant species present.

Simpson’s Index
Simpson’s Index of Diversity is used in ecology to quantify the biodiversity of a habitat. Factors taken into account when measuring diversity are richness and evenness.

Richness – the total number of plant species present in a community.

Evenness - the relative abundance of the different species.
Placing the Quadrats
Quadrats are placed randomly using a set of randomly generated co-ordinates and a 10m x 10m grid.
Example:
Random co-ordinates for placing quadrats
X Y
8
4
8
8
0
7
4
5
3
1
9
2
8
9
8
2
7
6
5
9
Sourced from RANDOM ORG
– Integer Generator

Plant Species
Bog Moss
Bog Cotton
Ling Heather
Cross-leaved Heath
Purple Moor Grass
Cranberry
Common Crowberry
Lichen
Birch
Pine
Sundew
Arctic Moss
Bog Asphodel
Quadrat Co-ordinates – Cells Show % Plant Cover
( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , ) n(n-1)
Total (N) n
 n(n-1)
N(N-1)
n(n-1)
1 = high diversity
0 = low diversity

Plant Species Quadrat Co-ordinates – Cells Show % Plant Cover
(0,3) (7,7) (6,8) (5,9) (7,0) (2,6) (2,2) (8,7) (7,7) (7,5) n
Bog Moss
Bog Cotton
Ling Heather
Cross-leaved Heath
Purple Moor Grass
100
15
5
40
0
Cranberry 10
Common Crowberry 0
100
15
15
15
0
95
0
100
15
15
30
0
10
0
100
50
20
15
0
0
0
100
30
20
70
0
10
0
100
90
40
10
0
40
0
100
100
40
15
0
10
0
90
100
50
80
0
40
0
100
15
15
15
0
95
0
100
15
5
40
0
30
0
990
445
225
330
0
330
0
Lichen
Birch
Pine
Sundew
Arctic Moss
Bog Asphodel
0
0
0
0
0
60
10
0
0
0
0
5
10
0
0
0
0
40
0
0
0
0
0
15
15
0
0
0
0
50
0
0
0
0
0
40
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
30
50
0
0
0
0
245 n(n-1)
Total (N) 2615
 n(n-1)
N(N-1)
1,506,460
2615 x 2614
n(n-1)
979110
197580
50400
108570
0
108570
0
2450
0
0
0
0
59780
1506460
0.22
0.78
1 = high diversity
0 = low diversity

Plant Species
Bog Moss
Bog Cotton
Ling Heather
Cross-leaved Heath
Purple Moor Grass
Cranberry
Common Crowberry
Lichen
Birch
Pine
Sundew
Bare Ground
Drop from tape to ground (cm) -
Distance Along Transect – Cells Show % Plant Cover
0m 0.5m 1.0m 1.5m 2.0m 2.5m 3.0m 3.5m 4.0m 4.5m 5.0m
- - - - - - - - - -

Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)

A UK Designation

In the last century there has been dramatic loss of certain habitats, particularly wetlands and peatlands throughout the United Kingdom
 In the 1980’s there was public pressure to introduce legislation to prevent the continuing decline of habitats and species

In 1985 legislation, known as the Nature Conservation and Amenity
Lands Order was introduced in Northern Ireland.

The Environment Order 2002 has since updated this legislation. Within this legislation is a requirement that Environment and Heritage Service
(EHS) declare any area of land as n ASSI when the site requires protection because of the plants, animals, geological, physiographical or other features present.

Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) are areas of land that have been identified by scientific survey as being of the highest degree of conservation value.

They have a well defined boundary and by and large remain in private ownership. The underlying philosophy is to achieve conservation by cooperation and in this the part played by landowners is fully recognised and appreciated.
 Most ASSI’s are in private ownership and consent must be obtained from EHS to undertake any operation which could affect the site.

When an ASSI is declared, owners and occupiers receive a list of notifiable operations. These are activities which the Department considers might harm the nature conservation interest of the site. Should a landowner wish to carry out a notifiable operation and the Department judges it to be incompatible with the conservation interest, the
Department may offer to enter into a management agreement, with the possibility of payments on conclusion of the negotiations.

There are currently about
250 designated ASSI’s in Northern Ireland
.
Further information and a map of these can be viewed on the web page: http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/protected_areas_home
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

A European Commission Designation .

The European Commission Directive on the
Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and
Flora (The Habitats Directive) requires Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect some of the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. These SACs together form the European wide network of sites known as Natura
2000.

In 1992 the EU adopted the Habitats Directive , the main aim of which was the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna. A number of habitat types, including alkaline fens, raised bogs and blanket bogs are given priority status within the Directive.

Sites that are proposed for designation in accordance with the Habitats Directive are known as candidate
Special Areas of Conservation or SACs.

Special Areas of Conservation or SACs are designated under European Directive.

Northern Ireland has designated about 50 SACs.
Further information and a map of these can be viewed on the web page: http://www.nienvironment.gov.uk/protected_areas_home