Environmental Science

Research activity/research clusters

Environmental research is undertaken by a wide range of disciplines including Botany, Chemistry, Earth & Ocean Sciences, Microbiology, Physics and Zoology and these should be referred to for further detail. Research areas covered specifically by Environmental Science are given below.

Agri-environmental research:-

• Determination of High Nature Value farmland in Ireland. 
• Effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes in delivering biodiversity objectives. 
• Biodiversity of upland farms in relation to differing farming practices.

Biodiversity:-

• Climate change impacts on biodiversity. 
• Ecological investigations of rare or endangered species including the Kerry Slug, Carabus clatratus (ground beetle), the otter. 
• Use of terrestrial invertebrate species (Diptera, Carabidae, Arachnidae) as bioindicators of habitat quality.

Biological control:-

• Investigation of the use of potential biological control of agricultural pests and diseases. 
• Determination of optimum growing conditions of marsh flies (Diptera : Sciomyzidae) for use in the control of mollusc pests. 
• Behavioural studies on the feeding behaviour of biological control agents.

Habitat management:-

• Effects of forestry practices on biodiversity. 
• Sustainable management of protected coastal dune systems impacted by tourism. 
• Grazing effects on upland habitats.

Wetland studies:-

• Development of sustainable management practices for peatlands, fens, flood meadows and turloughs. 
• Impacts of agriculture and urban development on wetland function. 
• Peatland restoration and rehabilitation techniques. 
• Waste management.