BIOPLAN

Project Title: Implementation of an assessment and monitoring programme for biodiversity in Irish and British forests
Partners: University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Coillte & Forest Research, UK
Duration: 2010 - 2013

Background:
BIOPLAN is the fourth and final project in the PLANFORBIO research programme. It aims to build on the information gathered during the other parts of the PLANFORBIO programme, in particular FORESTBIO. Together with the earlier BIOFOREST project we have generated a unique mass of data on biodiversity in many of the different types of forest in Ireland, in particular Sitka spruce forests, mix forests, including those with broadleaves and semi-natural forests. The BIOPLAN project will optimise outputs from data collected thus far, and assess forest biodiversity at landscape level.

BIOPLAN Researchers:

 Method:

This project comprises a number of research based workpackages on the following subjects:

• Long-term forest biodiversity monitoring
• Forest biodiversity indicators
• Biodiversity index for native woodlands
• Forest connectivity in the Irish landscape
• Large herbivore management
• Climate change impacts on forest biodiversity

Training:
This project has a significant training component including MSc and PhD projects as follows:

• Invertebrate biodiversity in Irish forests. Lauren Fuller, UCC
• Impacts of large herbivores on biodiversity in Irish woodlands. Miles Newman, TCD.
• The importance of brash from felling and thinning activities in Irish plantation forests for fungus gnats (Diptera, Sciaroidea). Rob Deady, UCC

Publications:

• Kelly, D.L., Moore, K. & Coote, L. 2013. Salix x pontederiana Willdenow (S. cinerea Linnaeus x S. purpurea Linnaeus): a hybrid willow confirmed for Ireland. Irish Naturalists' Journal, 33: 59-60.
• Barsoum, N., FUller, L., Reed, K., Bonnet-Lebrun, A.-S. & Leung, F. 2013. Ground-dwelling spider (Aranae) and carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) community assemblages in mixed and monoculture stands of oak (Quercus robur L./Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Forest Ecology and Management, X: X-X.
• Fuller, L., Oxbrough, A., Gittings, T., Irwin, S., Kelly, T.C. & O'Halloran, J. 2013. The response of ground-dwelling spiders (Aranae) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) to afforestation assessed using within-site tracking. Forestry, X:X-X.Oxbrough, A., Irwin, S., Wilson, M.W. & O'Halloran, J. 2013. Mechanisms and predictors of ecological change in managed forests: A selection of papers from the second international conference on biodiversity in forest ecosystems and landcapses. Forest Ecology and Management, X: X-X
• Newman, M. Mitchell, F.J.G. & Kelly, D.K. 2013. Exclusion of large herbivores: Long-term changes within the plant community. Forest Ecology and Management, X: X-X
• Fuller, L., Oxbrough, A., Irwin, S., Kelly, T.C. & O'Halloran, J. 2013. The importance of young plantation forest habitat and forest road-verges for ground-dwelling spider diversity. Biology & Environment, X: X-X
• Irwin, S., Kelly, D.L., Kelly, T.C., Mitchell, F.J.G., Coote, L., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M.W., Martin, R.D., Moore, K.A., Sweeney, O.F., Dietzsch, A. & O'Halloran, J. 2013. Do Irish forests provide habitat for species of conservation concern. Biology & Environment X:X-X
• Deady, R. 2013. Four species of Mycetophilidae (Diptera) new to Ireland. Irish Naturalists' Journal 32 (2): 145-147.
• Graham, C.T., Irwin, S., Wilson, M.W., Gittings, T., Kelly, T.C. & O'Halloran, J. 2013. Tracking the impact of afforestation on bird communities. Irish Forestry, X: X-X
• Coote, L., Dietzsch, A.C., Wilson, M.W., Graham, C.T., Fuller, L., Walsh, A.T., Irwin, S., Kelly, D.L., Mitchell, F.J.G., Kelly, T.C. and O'Halloran, J. 2013. Testing indicators of biodiversity for plantation forests. Ecological Indicators, 32: 107-115.
• Graham, C.T., Wilson, M.W., Irwin, S., Gittings, T.C., Kelly, T.C. and O'Halloran, J. 2012. Bird communities of forest roads: preliminary findings of a long term study. Irish Birds, 9: 367-374.