News
Schoenrock, K.M.*, T. O'Callaghan, R. O'Callaghan, A.M. O'Connor, and D.B. Stengel (in review Limnology and Oceanography). Seasonal diversity of near-shore habitats in Ireland with an emphasis on Laminaria hyperborea forests.

Schoenrock, K.M.*#, A.M. O'Connor#, J. Nieva, S. Mauger, E. Serrão, M. Valero, S.A. Krueger-Hadfield* (in press). Genetic diversity of a marine foundation species, Laminaria hyperborea (Gunnerus) Foslie, along the coast of Ireland. European Journal of Phycology.
#shared first authors

Schoenrock, K.M.*, T. O'Callaghan, R. O'Callaghan, and S.A. Krueger-Hadfield (2019). First record of non-native Laminaria ochroleuca Bachelot de la Pylaie in Ireland found in Béal an Mhuirthead, County Mayo. Marine Biodiversity Records. DOI: 10.1186/s41200-019-0168-3

Winter 2019
Aisha O'Connor presented her research on L. hyperborea genetics at the annual BPS meeting in Oban, Scotland!
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IRC project "Closing the knowledge gap on Irish kelp forest ecology"
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This project aims to describe population structure, productivity, and biodiversity of kelp forests along the west coast of Ireland. Aquatic primary producers like kelp provide essential habitats and ecosystem services for coastal communities. In Ireland very little is known about community dynamics within kelp forests and how the ecophysiology of Irish kelp may influence structure and function of these habitats.

Seasonal observations, collections, and measurements are used to answer these queries about Irish kelp forests. The project has many components described below, and is complemented by surveys in non-kelp habitats done in collaboration with SeaSearch Ireland.

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Biodiversity of kelp forest habitats
Habitats in Co. Galway and Co. Clare are   founded by granite type bedrock and limestone respectively. The kelp forest is dominated by Laminaria hyperborea, but also includes species Laminaria digitata (shallow), Sacchoriza polyschides (summer season), and Sacchrina latissima. At first glance the diversity and abundance of animals unique to the kelp sites , and this fluctuates seasonally. Differences across sites are driven by predominance of anemones and cup corals in Co. Galway, but an abundance of sea urchins and sea stars in Co. Clare. Fish populations, including juveniles, increase densities in the summer season in all kelp forests.

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 Productivity
 L. hyperborea growth is
 measured in kelps at all sites from   March 2017 to sporulation and loss of   the phylloid in late
 winter- spring. We do this by punching   holes in  the base of the apical meristem
​ and measuring extension of the blade.

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Environmental monitoring and seasonal recruitment to kelp forests

Environmental characteristics are monitored using Hobo pendant loggers which record PAR and temperature at 5 min intervals at the base of subsurface of moorings. Fish and invertebrate recruitment is monitored by seasonal collections of SMURF and Tuffy (S.O.S.) artificial settlement habitats (SMURFS: large green net, Tuffy: small blue net).

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