1. DOLMANT Development of ecological modelling tools for lake management Speakers: Dr Louise Vaughan & Dr Katrina Macintosh Project Leaders: Dr Yvonne McElarney & Prof Brian Rippey

2. Presentation Overview DOLMANT project aims Programme of work Phytoplankton Zooplankton Future work Questions?

3. DOLMANT Project Aims Integrate biological, hydromorphological and physico- chemical properties of lakes with catchment variables Models will help evaluate the effectiveness of measures adopted in catchments Support effective programmes of measures in line with the Water Framework Directive

4. Chla Metrics e.g. % Cyanobacteria % Chlorophytes.. Ecological State M’Invertebrate Status Zooplankton Status Macrophyte Status Temperature Catchment nutrient loadings… Plus other relevant measured variables..alk, cond, pH etc… Lake TP Lake TN Phytoplankton Status Fish Status

5. Lough Neagh Lower Lough Erne 52 smaller lakes Programme of Work

6. Phytoplankton Golagh Lee Vearty Legane Mourne Scolban

7. Lough Neagh

8. Phytoplankton Metrics Chlorophyll a Percentage Nuisance Cyanobacteria Irish EPA Phytoplankton composition metric Phytoplankton Trophic Index

9. Zooplankton Lough Neagh historic samples Two years; 2005 and 2011 were enumerated in detail. Describe seasonal patterns of density Establish changes between 2005 and 2011 Changes from 1970-1990 data

10. Lough Neagh 2005 TaxaMean (nos L -1 )Median (nos L -1 ) Cyclops spp21.50017.438 Eudiaptomus gracilis9.35610.191 Daphnia hyalina1.6140.679 Daphnia longspina0.1420.057 Daphnia pulex0.014Found in one sample Naupulii1.0470.793 Mysis relicta0.002Found in three samples Leptodora kindtii0.004Found in three samples Bythotrephes longimanus0.008Found in two samples Cyclops spp. most abundant, followed by Eudiaptomus gracilis D. hyalina found between July and October D. longispina found between March and May Bythotrephes longimanus found in July and August Leptodora kindtii from May to August

11. Lough Neagh 2005

12. Lough Neagh 2011 Cyclops spp. most abundant, followed by Eudiaptomus gracilis D. hyalina found between July and December D. longispina not found Bythotrephes longimanus found from July to September Leptodora kindtii in August and October TaxaMean (nos L -1 )Median (nos L -1 ) Cyclops spp41.78944.728 Eudiaptomus gracilis9.2086.568 Daphnia hyalina1.1370.057 Naupulii1.7710.679 Mysis relicta0.003Found in two samples Leptodora kindtii0.0003Found in two samples Bythotrephes longimanus0.007Found in three samples

13. Lough Neagh 2011

14. Lough Neagh 1969 - 2011

15. Future Work Continue enumeration of historic samples from Lough Neagh and Lough Erne Commence fieldwork on 52 small lakes Model causal relations between lake variables using structural equation modeling (SEM) / path analysis Develop practical management tools to assist agencies achieve ecological targets for lakes

16. Project Partners Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) University of Ulster (UU) Trinity College Dublin (TCD) Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)

17. Acknowledgements Chris Gibson Tony Fitzsimons Bob Foy Colm McKenna Kirsty McConnell Phil Dinsmore Louise Davis Hannah Cromie Kevin Gallagher Eugene O’Kane Elaine Hamill Glaucia Hamilton Eugene McDonnell Chris Barry Project partners AFBI staff

18. Questions? Contact details: Dr Katrina Macintosh Email: ka.macintosh@ulster.ac.ukka.macintosh@ulster.ac.uk Dr Louise Vaughan Email: louise.vaughan@afbini.gov.uklouise.vaughan@afbini.gov.uk