Did you know that many of Ireland’s freshwater habitats remain underexplored? From groundwater-fed springs to temporary streams, seeps and turloughs, these overlooked environments may support unique and poorly understood communities of aquatic life.
A recent webinar hosted by the Biological Recording Company and led by IFSA Committee member Dr Helen Barber-James (National Museums NI) highlighted how traditional surveys often focus on more obvious habitats, potentially missing important biodiversity in these specialised systems. Using Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) as indicators, new research is helping to reveal these hidden ecological patterns and fill critical knowledge gaps. With Ireland home to over 12,000 lakes and extensive river networks, expanding our understanding of these lesser-studied habitats is essential for effective conservation and management.
This webinar examined the distributional gaps and discussed the species found in some of Ireland’s specialised aquatic habitats, based on recent surveys carried out at various locations across Ireland.