Animal Ecology & Conservation

Contact

Dr Colin Lawton

Room 215, Martin Ryan Institute, University of Galway
Phone: 353 91 492335
Email: colin.lawton@universityofgalway.ie

Research Interests

My main research interest is in the field of mammal ecology.  I have worked on a number of squirrel ecology projects, with particular reference to their distribution, red and grey squirrel competition, red squirrel conservation and the management of grey squirrel populations.  My research group, the Animal Ecology and Conservation Unit, has also investigated the use of translocation as a conservation tool for red squirrels, and the interactions between both squirrel species and pine martens.  The urban ecology of mammal populations, the control of pest species, the ecology of invasive species, mammal monitoring techniques and their applications and mammal parasitology are other areas of interest.  The Animal Ecology and Conservation Unit has also conducted projects investigating the biodiversity of tardigrades (or ‘water bears’) in Ireland, frog ecology in coniferous forests and fish passage at hydroelectric power stations.

Current projects

Ecology of urban populations of red squirrels:

This project, conducted by postgraduate student Emma Roberts, aims to investigate population dynamics of urban red squirrel populations in Galway, and model movement and dispersal through the fragmented habitat. This information will help to determine the feasibility of population expansion into other forested areas to the west of the city, and will aid in planning for the future management of the species in Galway. This project also aims to examine the habitat preferences of urban red squirrel populations and determine the effects of anthropogenic activity and urbanization on habitat selection in Galway City. At approximately 11%, Ireland has one of the lowest percentages of forest cover in all of Europe. With an increase in urban areas, it is necessary that we investigate the suitability of urban environments in providing habitat for, and facilitating movement of wildlife.

The ecology of western European hedgehogs in Ireland:

Elaine O’Riordan is undertaking a part-time PhD research project on the ecology of the Western European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus in Ireland. Little research has been done on the hedgehog in Ireland to date and while it is believed to be common and widespread, more information is needed to understand the status of the Irish population. The aim of this project is to investigate the distribution and abundance of hedgehogs in urban and rural habitats in Ireland. A number of methods are being used in the project including: a citizen science recording scheme to record sightings across Ireland; a volunteer survey project using footprint tunnels to examine occupancy in different habitats and; remote encounter modelling using trail cameras to estimate hedgehog density in different environments. The web page for the project is www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com.

Previous projects

Emily Reilly, PhD Awarded 2024

This research followed up on translocations of red squirrel populations into woodlands in the west of Ireland. The original translocations to Connemara, Co. Galway and Ballina, Co Mayo took place in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Two previous PhD candidates had helped to conduct the translocations and investigated the initial success of the conservation work as the populations became established. Emily’s research revisited both populations, with an aim to conduct the long-term monitoring of these populations, assess their overall fitness and track their dispersal from the original translocation sites. She employed various techniques such as hair tubes, live trapping, and citizen science in her research. Early results showed the populations persist in both areas, with the Ballina squirrels in particular found in large numbers in an expanding range. The squirrels in Derryclare had been impacted by habitat loss from clear-felling and a forest fire.

Abderrafea Elbahi, PhD Awarded 2023

As one of the very few protected areas in the south west of Morocco, the Souss Massa National Park (SMNP) is characterized by a high diversity of ecosystems and is qualified as a biodiversity hotspot area within the Mediterranean basin. Reptiles play an important role in the balance of the SMNP ecosystems with respect to food chains, bio-monitors in controlling many pests and as excellent ecological indicators due to their high degree of sensitivity to environment change. However, due to human activities, many reptile species are considered to be threatened and are listed on the Red List by the IUCN. So far, very little work has been done to study the SMNP reptiles and available data on this fauna remain insufficient. This project, aimed to investigate the diversity and the distribution of the SMNP reptiles according to environmental variables and to determine habitat use and ecological requirements for a range of species. In addition, protected exclusion areas were compared with areas of high human activity for the impacts and influence on the reptile community. This project allows us to draw conclusions on which parts of the national park display the highest reptile diversity and require the most conservation efforts.

Erica De Milio, PhD Awarded 2022

Tardigrades (Phylum Tardigrada) are microscopic animals commonly known as “water bears”. These aquatic animals are found in marine, freshwater and moist terrestrial environments such as moss cushions. Tardigrades have a remarkable ability to survive extreme environmental conditions by entering a state known as cryptobiosis in which normal metabolic functions are suspended. In this state, tardigrades are able to survive and disperse over great distances by wind, rain, or other passive mechanisms and therefore are thought to be cosmopolitan in distribution with no species-specific habitat requirements. This project sought to thoroughly investigate the biodiversity and ecology of tardigrades in Ireland for the first time. Amongst other discoveries was the identification of two new species of tardigrade; Bryodelphax pucapetricolus and Bryodelphax wallacearthuri.

Eamonn Lenihan, PhD Awarded 2021

Within the last 50 years, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has gone from one of the largest freshwater fisheries resources throughout its range to being listed as critically endangered. During their downstream spawning migrations from rivers and lakes to the ocean, silver eels are exposed to considerable interference from in-channel structures and the biomass of eels successfully escaping from European rivers has greatly diminished.

The European Union introduced legislation requiring member states to enable, with a high probability, the escapement to the sea of at least 40% of the silver eel biomass that would exist under pristine conditions. Monitoring compliance with the EU target requires that silver eel population size and the biomass successfully escaping from rivers are calculated annually. These values have traditionally been quantified using fisheries catch data. However, catch data is only considered robust where fishing is constant throughout the migration period. Unfortunately, monitoring the entire migration period is a costly and difficult task. Eamonn Lenihan’s research focused on the development of alternative monitoring protocols to quantify eel migrations involving novel acoustic camera, modelling and sampling approaches. Additional research was conducted to assess the ability of underwater strobe light arrays to guide eels away from hazardous areas in an effort to enhance escapement.

Anne Bateman, PhD Awarded 2018

The global decline of fish stocks can be attributed to factors such as climate change, pollution and over-exploitation. Although hydro-electric power is a renewable energy resource, the construction of dams on river systems has a significant negative affect on fish populations. Impacts of hydropower on migrating fish populations include loss of habitat connectivity and habitat degradation and have contributed to the worldwide decline of many fish species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The aim of this project was to investigate migration behaviour of salmon and eel at Ardnacrusha dam on the River Shannon with a view to mitigating the effects of hydropower installations.

Margaret Flaherty, PhD Awarded 2016

The decline of the native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has been attributed to the spread of the non-native invasive grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) since its introduction at a single site in Co. Longford in 1911. The grey squirrel is also responsible for causing significant economic losses to the forestry industry through its habit of bark stripping. Since its introduction the grey squirrel has spread to the north, east and south but has never established in the west of Ireland, and the river Shannon has delineated the western range of the species distribution. This project aimed to investigate the barrier (if any) which is preventing the spread of the grey squirrel into the west of Ireland. It also aimed to predict the future distribution of grey squirrels, identifying potential dispersal corridors and woodlands vulnerable to invasion. With this knowledge the red squirrel stronghold in the west of Ireland can be protected. This work further supplemented existing squirrel research in the Animal Ecology & Conservation Unit and informed management policies for grey squirrels and conservation strategies for red squirrels in Ireland and other parts of Europe.

Emily Goldstein, PhD Awarded (at UCC) 2014 

The 2007 survey of Irish squirrel populations noted that the invasive grey squirrels have continued to spread to the north, east and south of their previous recorded range. This project aimed to investigate the population dynamics and demographics of grey squirrels at the edge of their invasion frontier. This information was used to model future range expansion of grey squirrels in Ireland. This project linked in with ongoing red and grey squirrel research in the Animal Ecology and Conservation Group and elsewhere in Europe and provided a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of species invasions at the range frontier.

Emma Sheehy, PhD Awarded 2013

Recent anecdotal reports have linked a revival of red squirrel populations and a reduction in the range of grey squirrels, in certain midland counties of Ireland, with the resurgence of the pine marten, suggesting that the pine marten is preying on the introduced grey squirrel to a greater extent than the more nimble red squirrel.  This project aimed to investigate the relationship between the three species, and identify the impact that the pine marten is having on squirrel dynamics in Ireland. A strong negative correlation in the distribution of grey squirrels and pine martens was apparent, with the loss of grey squirrels in an area linked to high densities of pine martens.  Red squirrels quickly re-established in areas from which they had disappeared following the loss of grey squirrels.

Catherine Waters, PhD Awarded 2012

Red squirrel numbers in Ireland have been in decline since the early part of last century; this can mainly be attributed to the introduction of the grey squirrel in 1911.  The translocation of squirrels to two separate sites in the west of Ireland was attempted to expand the distribution of the red squirrel and to try and conserve their numbers from dropping any further.  This project's main aim was to monitor the post release stage of those translocations at Derryclare woodland, Connemara, Co. Galway and Belleek wood, Ballina Co. Mayo and examine how the squirrels adapt to their new habitats and use the resources available to them.  This information was used to derive best practice techniques for monitoring translocated populations, and detailed the establishment and spread of the new populations.

Niamh Quinn, Phd awarded 2010

Activities, such as grazing by farm animals, can greatly affect grassland habitats, and therefore have an impact upon the wildlife that depends on that habitat.  Pygmy shrews are an important species in Ireland as they are listed as protected under the Bern Convention (Appendix III).  Wood mice are common to most Irish habitats and are not protected, but are vital members of the mammal community.  This project investigated the impact of hill sheep activity on wood mice and pygmy shrew population dynamics and diet on the Teagasc Hill Sheep Farm, Leenane, Co. Mayo. 

Conall Hawkins, PHD Awarded 2010

This research focused on aspects of the ecology of American mink  in Ireland. The American mink is a semi-aquatic Mustelid (member of the weasel family). Mink in Ireland are an invasive alien species introduced for fur-farming purposes in the 1950’s; descendants of escapees are now found feral throughout the country. Mink are considered by many to be a pest, because of damage to fisheries, poultry and native wildlife. The damage caused by mink to economic interests in Ireland was examined, along with the methods used to control mink populations and the effectiveness of those measures.

Peter Stuart, PHD awarded 2010

This project aimed to investigate the role of carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis.  Bovine neosporosis is a disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan, Neospora caninum, which infects a wide variety of mammals, but primarily dogs and cattle.  Neospora can cause abortions in cattle and has been found in up to 90% of cattle in some herds.  Therefore an improved understanding of its modes of transmission, so that preventative methods of its spread can be put in place, is required.  The prevalence of bovine neosporosis in the Irish population of American mink ( Mustela vison), fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and badger ( Meles meles) was assessed. Otter ( Lutra lutra) and stoat ( Mustela erminea) were also examined, where samples were available.  The presence of Neospora in brain (using PCR techniques), faeces (using microscopic examination and PCR techniques) and blood (using ELISA tests) samples from these animals was examined. 

Reilly Dibner, MSc awarded 2010

Amphibians are excellent indicators of ecosystem health and currently face extinction and decline worldwide.  Ireland’s only frog, the European common frog ( Rana temporaria), is threatened by habitat loss throughout the country.  Alongside pesticide use, water pollution, and urban development, forestry is one pressure that could endanger the frog.  There is, however, a distinct lack of information detailing how frogs respond to forest planting and clear-felling in Ireland, and how the species copes in a fragmented landscape of bogs and conifer forest.  The National Parks and Wildlife service funded this study of frog activity in unplanted peat bogs, clear-felled forests, and standing conifer plantations to assess differences in breeding patterns and development success.

Alan Poole, PhD awarded 2007

Translocation is the deliberate movement of wild individuals or populations in order to establish a viable, free-ranging population in the wild.  This project aimed to expand the current distribution of red squirrels in Ireland, by translocating a number of individuals into a woodland in Connemara, uninhabited by squirrels (red or grey).  Care was taken to follow the IUCN guidelines throughout, and so the source population was fully assessed before any animals were removed, squirrels were moved, under licence, to enclosures within the target site and a post-translocation monitoring was carried out in both the source and target sites.  The resulting translocation was a success with good recovery in the source population, better than expected survival over the first winter in the target site, and evidence of breeding the following spring.  The behaviour of newly translocated individuals in setting up new home ranges was assessed.  Models were developed predicting the success of future translocations and investigating the minimum requirements of a translocated population.