Life on the Edge – Conserving Arctic-alpine plants in Ireland

At Wild Gaia we are currently focussing our efforts on two geographical areas within Ireland: 

Researching the community of Arctic-alpine plant species at Binevenagh Special Area of Conservation / Area of Special Scientific Interest where four specially protected species - Juniper, Purple Saxifrage, Mountain Avens and Moss Campion - grow on the sheer basalt cliffs and crags. This is the only site in Northern Ireland where both Moss Campion and Purple Saxifrage can be found. We will continue to: 

- Use a combination of standard survey techniques alongside a range of novel technology-based solutions to produce a detailed digital, 3-dimensional map for each target plant species; 

- Assess the condition and viability of all accessible plants by measuring the extent of flower production and viable seed set; 

- For insect-pollinated species, to study pollinator ecology using a combination of traditional and technological solutions to determine which pollinator species pollinate each study species; 

- Study seed dispersal studies for each species; 

- Undertake genetic analysis of each species at Binevenagh SAC / ASSI and compare these with known populations elsewhere within Northern Ireland and/or Ireland to determine the degree of compatibility; and 

- Collect vegetative and/or seed samples, under licence, for cultivation within the plant nursery managed by Binevenagh and Lowlands Landscape Partnership. 

Cowberry

Purple Sax

Clubmoss

Mountain Avens

PreviousNext

Researching the community of Arctic-alpine plants in the Mourne Mountains Special Area of Conservation where a number of protected species are found on some of the highest peaks in montane heath, rocky crag and flush habitats including Alpine Clubmoss, Parsley Fern, Juniper, Starry Saxifrage, Dwarf Willow, Cowberry and Stiff Sedge. Our work will focus on the peat-based Arctic-alpine communities growing on Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh, the highest and second-highest peaks in Northern Ireland, and also on the basalt crags at Slieve Muck and the granite crags of Eagle Mountain. At Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh we aim to work in partnership with the National Trust to: 

- Use a combination of standard survey techniques alongside a range of novel technology-based solutions to produce a detailed digital, 3-dimensional map of each Arctic-alpine community; 

- Measure the impacts of sheep grazing and outdoor activities on the viability of each species; 

- Measure the extent of flower production and viable seed set; 

- Study the pollination ecology and seed dispersal ecology of each species; 

- Undertake genetic analysis of each species and compare these with known populations elsewhere within Northern Ireland and/or Ireland to determine the degree of compatibility; and 

- Collect seed material for storage with our partner organisation True Harvest Seeds. 

At Slieve Muck we aim to: 

- Use a combination of standard survey techniques alongside a range of novel technology-based solutions to search for Alpine Saw-wort, a species not recorded since 1979. This species is only known from this location within Northern Ireland; and 

- Assess the viability of reintroducing this Arctic-alpine species at Slieve Muck. 

At Eagle Mountain we aim to: 

- Use a combination of standard survey techniques alongside a range of novel technology-based solutions to search for Mountain Male-fern, a species not recorded since 1979. This species is known only from this single location within Northern Ireland; and 

- Assess the viability of reintroducing this Arctic-alpine species at Eagle Mountain.