Aims
Introduction
BLÁTH aims to investigate the effects of the No Mow” initiative on plant-pollinator dynamics and soil biodiversity.
Objectives
Assess flower diversity and phenology across eight UCC campus sites by recording species diversity and abundance under varied management practices.
Assess pollinator diversity and abundance using Flower-Insect-Timed (FIT) counts in patches of different management practices across UCC’s main campus and BEES campus. Investigate the diversity of soil micro-invertebrates in these different patches.
Establish an experimental clover pollinating patch with controlled and outdoor germination to record flowering time, flower abundance, and focusing on the role of clover in supporting pollinators.
Project Impacts
Will provide scientific evidence supporting UCC’s policy to raise awareness of wildlife and biodiversity among the University community.
Will contribute to national biodiversity policy and inform UCC’s sustainability efforts.
BLÁTH project design
As part of the BLÁTH project, this study investigates plant-pollinator interactions within the frame work of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
Using the Flower-Insect-Timed (FIT) counts methodology, we systematically record pollinator activity across four distinct sites within the UCC campus.
To ensure standardised and repeatable observations, we employ a 50cm x 50cm quadrant to define the survey area. The following procedures are followed:
1. Quadrat Placement
- Quadrats are positioned within each site, covering diverse habitat types.
2. Observed Period
- Each session lasts 10 minutes, following the FIT count protocol.
- During this time, observers record all pollinator visits to flowers within the quadrat.
3. Replication for Reliability
- Observations are conducted three times at each location to ensure data accuracy and consistency.
4. Data Collection Framework
- Pollinator activity: Number of pollinator visits per plant.
- Follow visits: Tracking instances where the same pollinator visits multiple flowers within the quadrat.
- Plant diversity: Recording the species of plants present in the quadrat.
- Environmental conditions: Documenting weather parameters during each observation.
