Irish Biodiversity threatened

Bumblebee

Bumblebees live in small colonies and make their nest underground. They assist with the pollination of fruit and flowers. Unlike bees, they do not make enough honey for the colony to survive the winter. Only the queen lives through the cold weather.

Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Bumblebee
Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Bumblebee

Bumblebees live in small colonies and make their nest underground. They assist with the pollination of fruit and flowers. Unlike bees, they do not make enough honey for the colony to survive the winter. Only the queen lives through the cold weather.

Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
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Ireland has introduced some measures to help halt the loss of biodiversity.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has set out a long-term vision for Ireland’s environment to 2021 in the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021.

Ireland's changing climate has also resulted in the decreasing incidence of edge-of-range-species including Dunlin (an Arctic breeding wading bird) and the Arctic Char (a salmonoid fish hanging on in some mountain lakes here). In the past 30 years a major downturn has taken place, so much so that 29 different bird species and 120 species of flowering plants are in serious decline. For example, the Pearl Mussel is facing an uncertain future because of polluted rivers.

The latest legislation governing biodiversity can be found here.

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most threatened species of owl in Ireland and has recently been ‘Red-listed’ in the ‘Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland’. They are generally seen only at dusk or at night when they hunt a variety of small mammals such as Field Mice, House Mice,Bank Voles and Brown Rats. They are threatened in Ireland by; a loss of nesting sites, less rough grassland habitat, being hit by cars and trains, drowning in water troughs, increased use of pesticides and poisoning from pesticide contaminated prey.

Copyright Mike Brown
Barn Owl
Copyright Mike Brown

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most threatened species of owl in Ireland and has recently been ‘Red-listed’ in the ‘Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland’. They are generally seen only at dusk or at night when they hunt a variety of small mammals such as Field Mice, House Mice,Bank Voles and Brown Rats. They are threatened in Ireland by; a loss of nesting sites, less rough grassland habitat, being hit by cars and trains, drowning in water troughs, increased use of pesticides and poisoning from pesticide contaminated prey.

Copyright Mike Brown
Enlarge image

Changes in habitats are also affecting bumblebees. Grasslands in particular support an enormous variety of species. Changes in farming practice and the increasing use of pesticides are having a negative effect on biodiversity.

Native species that have become extinct over the past 30 years include:

  • The Corn Bunting
  • The Corncock

Species that are under serious threat include:

  • The Pearl Mussel
  • Six species of bumblebee
  • The Barn Owl
  • The Golden Plover
  • Waxcap (fungi)
  • Marsh Fritillary Butterfly
  • Green-winged orchid
  • Irish lady tresses
  • Corncrake

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