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2 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 3
conservation concern. A smaller and more workable subset of ‘candidate taxa’ for the FPO was therefore chosen by confining the selection to:• taxa recorded since 1970 that are listed under
European legislation, i.e. Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive;
• taxa listed on the previous Flora (Protection) Order, 1999;
• taxa recorded since 1970 with a status of EN, CR or VU in Ireland (Lockhart et al., 2012a);
• taxa with a status of RE in Lockhart et al. (2012a) but recently re-found, or recorded new to the flora since 2012;
cycle and moving elsewhere. FPO listing would serve little purpose for these plants: their rarity and vulnerability is a result of the overall state of the countryside rather than factors that can be addressed by taxon-specific legal protection. Putting bryophytes on lists of species with statutory legal protection must not stifle field bryology. These days most bryologists are responsible and conservation-aware and collect only as much material as they need to identify a specimen. Indeed, it is often essential to collect material in order to effect a reliable identification. Field bryology is, by and large, not a threat to bryophytes, but quite the reverse: it is a vital part of enhancing our understanding of these plants, and therefore contributes to their conservation. There are only a few taxa that would be severely impacted by irresponsible collecting (e.g. Paludella squarrosa). Habitat damage is by far the more serious threat to most bryophytes, and this can be taken into account when selecting taxa for FPO listing because of the phrase stating that it is not allowed to “wilfully alter, damage, destroy or interfere with the habitat or environment” of any listed taxon. There are currently thought to be c. 838 bryophyte taxa in Ireland, inclusive of three recent additions to the flora (Lophozia perssonii, Dialytrichia mucronata and Entosthodon pulchellus) recorded since the 2012 Red List assessments. The majority of these taxa are thought to be native to Ireland (c. 13 species possibly alien), are common or widespread and are not especially threatened nor of particular
be in possession of any such specimen whether alive or dead or the flowers, roots, seeds, spores or any part, product or derivative thereof”; or to “wilfully alter, damage, destroy or interfere with the habitat or environment” of any of these species.
Choosing candidate taxa for the revised FPOThe purpose of the FPO is to afford legal protection to threatened plants that are considered in need of specific legislation in order to increase their chances of survival. It is thus a listing over and above that of the Red List, which is solely an expression of rarity and threat status. Including taxa on lists of plants that are protected by law is a matter of conservation action, and does not necessarily reflect the status of taxa on the Red List. Nevertheless, those that have been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU) are clearly in danger of disappearing and these taxa were considered in the process of selecting candidates for legal protection. Some taxa that were thought to be Regionally Extinct (RE) in Ireland have recently been rediscovered, and these too were considered as candidates for protection. Many of these extremely rare and threatened taxa are, however, threatened by factors on which FPO listing would have no bearing. Some of them are colonists that crop up unexpectedly in ruderal or temporary habitats before completing their life-
ArticleRevision of the Flora (Protection) Order in the Republic of IrelandNick Hodgetts, Neil Lockhart and Christina Campbell report on new legislation for conservation of bryophytes in Ireland.
Following the publication of the bryophyte
Red List in Rare and Threatened Bryophytes of Ireland (Lockhart et al., 2012a), it is timely to review and revise the bryophyte list on the Flora (Protection) Order (FPO) in the Republic of Ireland. The last FPO, published as a Statutory Instrument in 1999, afforded legal protection to 18 bryophyte species (as well as to 68 vascular plants, one lichen and two stoneworts). Under the Wildlife Acts of 1976 and 2000, it is not permitted, except under licence, to “cut, pick, collect, uproot or otherwise take, injure, damage, or destroy any specimen” of these species; to “purchase, sell, keep for sale, transport for sale or exchange, offer for sale or exchange or
FieldBryology No114 |
vFig. 1 (left): Colourful hepatic mat community, Nephin Mountains, W. Mayo. N. Lockhart
rFig. 2 (above left): Black patches of Cephaloziella nicholsonii at Allihies, W. Cork. L. to R. Declan O’Donnell, Clare Heardman, David Holyoak, Noeleen Smyth, Neil Lockhart. C. Campbell. rFig. 3 (above right): Leiocolea rutheana var. rutheana, a very rare plant of fens in W. Mayo. R. Thompson. rFig. 4 (above): Marchantia polymorpha subsp. montivagans on a boulder in a stream below Glencar Waterfall, Leitrim. N. Lockhart.
2
4 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 5
seen (1990+);Criterion 4: taxon VU in Ireland, ≤ 10
populations in Republic of Ireland (1970–2012), included on the European Red List and recently seen (1990+);
Criterion 5: taxon re-evaluated (removed from the old FPO or added to the new FPO) using best expert judgement.
Taxa that met any or all of Criteria 1–4 were deemed to be ‘shortlisted’ for the new FPO. Criterion 5 was then used to re-evaluate the candidate list, using best expert judgement, to pick up additional taxa not automatically selected under Criteria 1–4, or to exclude taxa thought unsuitable for FPO listing. Sixteen taxa (all mosses) were excluded from the shortlist using Criterion 5 because they were considered to have either a transient occurrence in Ireland, or exhibited a colonist life strategy, or were overlooked in the past and are therefore probably under-recorded. These included 8 species that were formerly listed on the 1999 FPO: Bryum marratii, Leptobarbula berica, Orthotrichum pallens, O. stramineum, Tetraplodon angustatus, Tortula wilsonii, Weissia longifolia and W. rostellata. Several taxa (8) were added to the new FPO under Criterion 5, largely on the basis that Ireland holds a special responsibility to conserve them. Such species included several hepatic mat and hyperoceanic rarities.
• taxa recorded since 1970 from the Republic of Ireland that are considered threatened at a European or global level, i.e. on the European/global Red List, or Near Threatened or Regionally Threatened in Europe.
The ‘candidate’ list comprised 187 taxa, or 22% of the native flora (51 liverworts/hornworts and 136 mosses), and was thought to contain all taxa that could be in need of legal protection and that might possibly benefit from FPO listing.
Selecting the new (2015) FPO listOnly taxa considered taxonomically robust were included on the FPO. The candidate list was therefore reduced further by removing 6 taxa of uncertain taxonomic status (Andreaea megistospora (Irish material often intermediate between ‘good’ A. megistospora & A. rothii), Didymodon umbrosus, Ditrichum zonatum, Hygroamblystegium humile, Hymenostylium recurvirostrum var. insigne and Pohlia elongata var. greenii). The remaining 181 candidate taxa were then assessed using the following 5 criteria:Criterion 1: taxon listed on Annex II of the EU
Habitats Directive; Criterion 2: taxon listed on the previous Flora
(Protection) Order, 1999;Criterion 3: taxon EN or CR in Ireland (or RE
and recently re-found), ≤ 5 populations in Republic of Ireland (1970–2012) and recently
rFig. 5 (left): Noeleen Smyth and Neil Lockhart searching for Petalophyllum ralfsii at Keadew Point, W. Donegal. C. Campbell. rFig. 6 (right): Marking the locations of Petalophyllum ralfsii, which enjoys a bit of trampling, at Fanore, Clare. C. Campbell.
rClockwise from top left. Fig. 7: Plagiochila carringtonii, Mweelrea, W. Mayo. R. Thompson. Fig. 8: Radula holtii, with a few trumpet shaped perianths, Torc, S. Kerry. N. Lockhart. Fig. 9: Scapania ornithopodioides, Mweelrea, W. Mayo. R. Thompson. Fig. 10: Southbya tophacea, Island Lake, E. Mayo. R. Thompson. Fig. 11: In the mist with Rory Hodd, showing Norbert Schnyder and Christina Campbell a fine population of Scapania nimbosa, Brandon, S. Kerry. N. Lockhart.
6 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 7
lindenbergianus, amongst others, it is nevertheless retained because it ties in with the data used for the 2012 Red List assessments. Further on-going survey work will undoubtedly necessitate revision of both the Red List and the FPO in years to come. The new FPO list includes 65 taxa (7.9% of the native bryophyte flora of Ireland), comprising 25 liverworts (10.6% of the native liverwort flora) and 40 mosses (6.8% of the native moss flora). A high proportion of the CR taxa (56%) and EN taxa (70%) are represented in the list, as might be expected. Nomenclature and taxonomy follows Hill et al. (2008).
The new Flora (Protection) Order, 2015Table 1 lists the bryophyte taxa now afforded legal protection in the Republic of Ireland under the Flora (Protection) Order, 2015 (Statutory Instrument No. 356 of 2015). The table also shows the criteria used for selection, the threat status in Ireland, and in Europe, the number of populations recorded in the Republic of Ireland (1970–2012) and short comments that support the reasons for selection. Although the number of populations is now somewhat out of date, and does not take account of some significant recent discoveries of additional populations for Hygrohypnum duriusculum and Adelanthus
Taxo
n na
me
Crit
eria
Thre
at
stat
us in
Ir
eland
Thre
at st
atus
in
Eur
ope
Popu
latio
ns
in R
oI
1970
–201
2
Com
men
ts
Live
rwor
tsAc
robo
lbus
wils
onii
4V
UN
T, E
ndem
ic7
Kno
wn o
nly f
rom
Irela
nd, S
cotla
nd, t
he F
aroe
Islan
ds, t
he
Azo
res a
nd M
adeir
a.Ad
elant
hus
linde
nber
gian
us4
VU
VU
10R
are h
epat
ic m
at sp
ecies
, fou
nd el
sewh
ere i
n Eu
rope
onl
y on
Islay
and
Jura
(Sco
tland
). Ba
rbilo
phoz
ia at
lant
ica3
ENLC
1Ve
ry ra
re (s
ingl
e rec
ent l
ocali
ty) a
nd su
scep
tible
to co
llect
ion.
Bazz
ania
pear
sonii
5V
UR
15In
Eur
ope,
know
n on
ly fr
om Ir
eland
and
Scot
land.
Ce
phal
ozia
cras
sifoli
a3
ENR
4K
nown
in E
urop
e onl
y fro
m Ir
eland
, Spa
in, M
adeir
a and
the
Azo
res.
Ceph
aloz
iella
mas
salon
gi4
VU
R6
Very
rare
and
confi
ned
to a
spec
ialist
hab
itat.
Ceph
aloz
iella
nich
olson
ii4
VU
R, E
ndem
ic7
Euro
pean
ende
mic,
kno
wn o
nly f
rom
Irela
nd, E
nglan
d, W
ales
and
Ger
man
y. Ve
ry ra
re an
d co
nfine
d to
a sp
ecial
ist h
abita
t.G
eoca
lyx gr
aveo
lens
3EN
LC4
Very
rare
, and
susc
eptib
le to
colle
ctin
g. N
ot se
en si
nce 1
994.
Gym
nom
itrion
con
cinna
tum
3EN
LC4
Rar
e with
onl
y 4 p
ost-
2000
reco
rds,
all in
W. D
oneg
al.
Gym
nom
itrion
cor
allio
ides
3C
RLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Bulb
in M
ount
ain, E
. Don
egal)
.
Leioc
olea g
illm
anii
2V
ULC
2Tw
o lo
calit
ies (L
ough
Doo
, W. M
ayo
and
Ros
epen
na, W
. D
oneg
al) in
a th
reat
ened
hab
itat.
Leioc
olea r
uthe
ana
2, 3
ENLC
3Ve
ry ra
re (3
pop
ulat
ions
), in
a th
reat
ened
hab
itat a
nd
susc
eptib
le to
colle
ctio
n.Le
jeune
a hib
erni
ca5
NT
R, E
ndem
ic17
Ende
mic
to E
urop
e, kn
own
only
from
Irela
nd, M
adeir
a (R
are)
an
d th
e Azo
res.
Tabl
e 1.
Tax
a on
the
new
Flo
ra (P
rote
ctio
n) O
rder
, 201
5.
Abbr
evia
tions
: RoI
– R
epub
lic o
f Ire
land
; RE
– Re
gion
ally
Ext
inct
; CR
– C
ritic
ally
End
ange
red;
EN
– E
ndan
gere
d; V
U –
Vul
nera
ble;
NT
– N
ear Th
reat
ened
; D
D –
Dat
a D
efici
ent;
LC –
Lea
st C
once
rn (I
UC
N, 2
001)
. R –
Rar
e; R
T –
Reg
iona
lly Th
reat
ened
(EC
CB,
199
5).
rFig. 12 (left): David Holyoak carefully hands a specimen of Bryum uliginosum to Noeleen Smyth for the collection at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. N. Lockhart. rFig. 13 (right): Quadrats and relevés of Bryum uliginosum, Soldier’s Hill, W. Donegal. C. Campbell.
sFig. 14 (left): Campylostelium saxicola, Luke’s Bridge, Sligo. R. Thompson. sFig. 15 (right): Didymodon maximus, Benbulben, Sligo. N. Lockhart.
Revision of the Flora (Protection) Order in the Republic of Ireland
FieldBryology No114 | Nov156
8 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 9
Taxo
n na
me
Crit
eria
Thre
at
stat
us in
Ir
eland
Thre
at st
atus
in
Eur
ope
Popu
latio
ns
in R
oI
1970
–201
2
Com
men
ts
Lejeu
nea m
ando
nii
3EN
R, E
ndem
ic2
Ende
mic
to E
urop
e and
Mac
rone
sia.
Mar
chan
tia po
lymor
pha
subs
p. m
ontiv
agan
s3
ENLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Glen
car W
ater
fall,
Leitr
im).
Mas
tigop
hora
woo
dsii
5N
TR
17In
Eur
ope,
know
n on
ly fr
om Ir
eland
, the
Far
oe Is
lands
and
Scot
land.
Palla
vicin
ia ly
ellii
3EN
R4
Rar
e and
dec
linin
g in
Eur
ope.
Peta
lophy
llum
ralfs
ii1,
2LC
VU
30Ire
land
hold
s lar
gest
know
n wo
rld p
opul
atio
ns.
Plag
iochi
la ca
rrin
gton
ii 3
ENR
, End
emic
2Su
bsp.
carr
ingt
onii
ende
mic
to E
urop
e, fo
und
only
in Ir
eland
, Sc
otlan
d an
d th
e Far
oe Is
lands
.Pl
agioc
hila
heter
ophy
lla
2, 3
ENR
4In
Eur
ope,
know
n on
ly fr
om Ir
eland
, wes
tern
Brit
ain an
d Fr
ance
.R
adul
a holt
ii5
NT
R, E
ndem
ic11
Ende
mic
to E
urop
e, kn
own
only
from
Irela
nd, M
adeir
a, th
e C
anar
y Isla
nds,
the A
zore
s, Po
rtuga
l, Spa
in an
d Sc
otlan
d.
Ricci
a cro
zalsi
i3
ENLC
2A
sout
hern
spec
ies, a
t its
north
ern
limit
in Ir
eland
, with
2
popu
latio
ns in
W. C
ork.
Scap
ania
nim
bosa
3EN
R4
Kno
wn in
Eur
ope o
nly f
rom
Irela
nd, S
cotla
nd an
d N
orwa
y.Sc
apan
ia
orni
thop
odioi
des
5V
ULC
>13
In E
urop
e, fo
und
only
in Ir
eland
, the
Far
oe Is
lands
, Sco
tland
an
d N
orwa
y. So
uthb
ya to
phac
ea3
CR
LC2
Slig
o sit
e is t
he m
ost n
orth
erly
in th
e wor
ld.
Mos
ses
Bartr
amia
halle
riana
3RE
LC1
Sing
le lo
calit
y fou
nd in
201
2 (G
lenda
loug
h, W
icklo
w).
Brac
hydo
ntiu
m tr
ichod
es3
ENR
3Ve
ry ra
re, b
ut co
uld
be o
verlo
oked
. Kno
wn p
opul
atio
ns sh
ould
be
pro
tect
ed.
Bryu
m ca
lophy
llum
2, 3
ENR
4R
are c
oasta
l Bry
um.
Bryu
m in
term
ediu
m3
ENLC
2R
are;
both
pop
ulat
ions
occ
ur w
ith B
ryum
ulig
inosu
m, a
nd o
ne
with
B. w
arne
um.
Bryu
m kn
owlto
nii
3EN
LC1
Sing
le lo
calit
y (Lo
ugh
Car
ra, E
. May
o).
Bryu
m sa
linum
3C
RLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Der
rym
ore I
sland
, S. K
erry
).Br
yum
ulig
inosu
m3
ENRT
3Sp
ecies
dec
linin
g ac
ross
Eur
ope;
Irelan
d's 3
pop
ulat
ions
are o
f in
tern
atio
nal i
mpo
rtanc
e.Br
yum
war
neum
3EN
R4
Rar
e coa
stal B
ryum
.Ca
mpy
lostel
ium
saxi
cola
3EN
R3
Very
rare
, but
coul
d be
ove
rlook
ed. K
nown
pop
ulat
ions
shou
ld
be p
rote
cted
.Ca
toscop
ium
nig
ritum
2N
TLC
13O
ccur
s in
coas
tal f
ens,
mac
hair
and
dune
slac
ks, a
ll ve
ry
thre
aten
ed h
abita
ts in
Irela
nd an
d in
Eur
ope.
Did
ymod
on ac
utus
3EN
LC3
All
3 re
cent
reco
rds a
re fr
om co
asta
l dun
e site
s and
pot
entia
lly
thre
aten
ed.
Did
ymod
on m
axim
us5
NT
R>1
4In
Eur
ope,
know
n on
ly fr
om th
e Dar
try M
ount
ains,
Slig
o/Le
itrim
. D
itrich
um co
rnub
icum
3C
REN
, End
emic
1En
dem
ic to
Brit
ain an
d Ire
land;
confi
ned
to a
spec
ialist
ha
bita
t.D
itrich
um li
near
e3
CR
LC1
Sing
le lo
calit
y (A
llihi
es, W
. Cor
k).
Ditr
ichum
plum
bicol
a3
ENN
T, E
ndem
ic4
Ende
mic
to E
urop
e, kn
own
only
from
Irela
nd, B
ritain
and
Ger
man
y; co
nfine
d to
a sp
ecial
ist h
abita
t.En
calyp
ta ci
liata
3C
RLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Galt
ee M
ount
ains,
Lim
erick
).En
calyp
ta rh
aptoc
arpa
3C
RLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Arro
o M
ount
ain, L
eitrim
).En
tosth
odon
m
uhlen
berg
ii 3
RELC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
refo
und
afte
r 160
year
s at G
lanwo
rth, E
. C
ork)
. Ep
hem
erum
coha
eren
s4
VU
CR
7A
rare
spec
ies in
Irela
nd, i
n th
reat
ened
hab
itats
and
liste
d as
C
R in
Eur
ope.
Ephe
mer
um sp
inul
osum
3EN
LC1
Very
rare
, kno
wn el
sewh
ere i
n Eu
rope
onl
y fro
m si
ngle
loca
tions
in N
orth
ern
Irelan
d, S
pain
and
Ger
man
y. Fi
sside
ns ru
fulu
s3
ENLC
2Sp
ecim
en fr
om E
dera
mon
e, E.
Don
egal,
not
ed as
par
tly
inte
rmed
iate w
ith F
. cra
ssipe
s.G
rimm
ia at
rata
3EN
R1
Sing
le lo
calit
y (A
ghla
Mor
e, W
. Don
egal)
.
Revision of the Flora (Protection) Order in the Republic of IrelandRevision of the Flora (Protection) Order in the Republic of Ireland
10 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 11
Taxo
n na
me
Crit
eria
Thre
at
stat
us in
Ir
eland
Thre
at st
atus
in
Eur
ope
Popu
latio
ns
in R
oI
1970
–201
2
Com
men
ts
Ham
atoca
ulis
vern
icosu
s1,
2LC
VU
14Li
sted
on A
nnex
II o
f the
EU
Hab
itats
Dire
ctive
.H
edw
igia
integ
rifoli
a4
VU
R7
Rar
e and
pos
sibly
dec
linin
g.H
ygro
hypn
um
duriu
sculu
m3
CR
LC1
Sing
le lo
calit
y (M
weelr
ea, W
. May
o).
Hyp
num
unc
inul
atum
5N
TRT
, End
emic
11En
dem
ic to
Eur
ope;
restr
icted
to S
W Ir
eland
, cen
tral
Portu
gal, S
. Spa
in, A
zore
s, M
adeir
a and
Can
ary I
sland
s. Ki
aeria
falca
ta3
CR
LC1
Sing
le lo
calit
y (Bi
nnac
ally,
W. D
oneg
al).
Lept
odon
smith
ii3
ENLC
2A
sout
hern
spec
ies o
n th
e edg
e of i
ts ra
nge i
n Ire
land,
usu
ally
an ep
iphy
te, a
lthou
gh fo
und
on th
e wall
s of C
atha
ir C
hom
ain
mon
umen
t, C
lare.
Mees
ia tr
ique
tra3
RELC
1Th
ough
t ext
inct
in Ir
eland
(las
t see
n in
195
7, Be
llaco
rick,
W.
May
o). R
efou
nd in
201
2 in
the O
x Mou
ntain
s, Sl
igo.
Mees
ia u
ligin
osa3
ENLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Ros
epen
na, W
. Don
egal)
.M
olend
oa w
arbu
rgii
4V
UR
, End
emic
2En
dem
ic to
Eur
ope,
very
rare
in Ir
eland
.M
yure
lla ju
lacea
3EN
LC2
Two
loca
lities
(Bul
bin
Mou
ntain
, E. D
oneg
al an
d G
leniff
, Sl
igo)
.O
edip
odiu
m
griffi
thia
num
3C
RLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Mwe
elrea
, W. M
ayo)
.
Orth
otric
hum
spru
cei2,
4V
UR
7O
ccur
s in
alluv
ial w
oods
, a th
reat
ened
hab
itat.
Palu
della
squa
rrosa
2, 3
CR
LC1
Sing
le lo
calit
y (W
. May
o).
Pohl
ia an
dalu
sica
3EN
LC5
Spec
ialist
min
e-sp
oil s
pecie
s.Pt
ilium
crist
a-ca
stren
sis5
CR
LC1
Not
seen
sinc
e 198
7 (M
weelr
ea, W
. May
o). A
n at
tract
ive
spec
ies, s
usce
ptib
le to
colle
ctio
n an
d m
ight
yet b
e ref
ound
.Sc
lerop
odiu
m to
ureti
i3
ENLC
3A
coas
tal g
rass
land
spec
ies, r
are a
nd p
ossib
ly d
eclin
ing;
th
reat
ened
hab
itat.
Torte
lla in
clina
ta2
ENLC
1Si
ngle
loca
lity (
Kee
l, W. M
ayo)
. Not
seen
sinc
e 198
7 bu
t m
ight
be r
efou
nd w
ith fu
rther
surv
ey w
ork.
Ulot
a coa
rctat
a3
CR
RT1
A ve
ry ra
re ep
iphy
te o
f will
ow an
d ha
zel, t
houg
ht to
be
decli
ning
in E
urop
e.
Analysis and ConclusionsThe purpose of listing taxa on the FPO is different from that of including taxa on Red Lists. There are striking differences between the attributes of the two. A much higher proportion of the FPO taxa are oceanic (c. 40% of FPO taxa vs. c. 22% of Red List taxa), reflecting the importance of taking measures to protect those taxa for which Ireland has an international responsibility. Over 9% of the FPO taxa are metallophytes, compared with just over 3% on the Red List. This small group of species is one that is clearly circumscribed by a habitat that is highly restricted and threatened, and therefore very suitable for protection through the FPO. The same applies to taxa of coastal dune systems (c. 11% of FPO taxa vs. c. 5% of Red List taxa) and, to a lesser extent, fens (c. 9% vs. c. 5%). On the other hand, plants of habitats that are not so well-defined or as easily protected by legislation are not so suitable for the FPO, and this is reflected in the proportions of FPO taxa vs. Red List taxa: c. 14% vs. c. 22% of upland saxicolous taxa; c. 3% vs. c. 11% of bare ground taxa, etc. Another interesting difference is that a much lower proportion of the taxa of calcareous soil and mud wall tops are on the FPO list than are on the Red List (c. 2% vs. c. 4%). This is because most of the habitat has disappeared and a high proportion of the taxa are considered
Regionally Extinct. It is also instructive to compare the life strategies (During, 1992) of the FPO taxa with those of the Red List as a whole. A high proportion of the FPO taxa are classified as perennial stayers (c. 41% vs. c. 23% on the Red List and c. 19% on the Irish list as a whole). This is entirely appropriate, as perennial stayers are much more likely to benefit from FPO listing than shuttle species, colonists or fugitives. They are much more vulnerable to habitat damage and collecting because, by definition, they are less mobile, less likely to recolonise from outside and less likely to survive as a spore bank. They are often specialists of highly restricted and unusual habitats. Conversely, there is a lower proportion of colonists on the FPO list than on the Red List as a whole (c. 12% vs. c. 15 %). The list of 65 bryophyte taxa (7.9% of the native flora) included on the FPO is broadly comparable to the equivalent proportion of vascular plants (68 species, or 6.8% of the native flora) currently protected in the Republic of Ireland. The majority of the FPO bryophyte populations (85%) are included within candidate Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas or proposed Natural Heritage Areas, but FPO listing will lend added protection to them and focus particular attention to their specific conservation requirements.
rFig. 16 (left): A vulnerable habitat on lead mine-spoil for Ditrichum plumbicola at Glendassan, Wicklow. N. Lockhart. rFig. 17 (right): PhD research by Christina Campbell on the ecology of Hamatocaulis vernicosus, here at a lowland habitat at Lough Mask, W. Galway. C. Campbell.
Revision of the Flora (Protection) Order in the Republic of Ireland
12 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 13
European Committee for the Conservation of Bryophytes (ECCB) (ed.) (1995). Red Data Book of European bryophytes. Trondheim: European Committee for the Conservation of Bryophytes.
Flora (Protection) Order, 2015. Statutory Instrument No. 356 of 2015. Dublin: Stationery Office.
Hill, M.O., Blackstock, T.H., Long, D.G. & Rothero, G.P. (2008). A checklist and census catalogue of British and Irish bryophytes, updated 2008. Middlewich, Cheshire: British Bryological Society.
IUCN (2001). IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 3.1. Gland: International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
IUCN (2010). Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 8.1 (August 2010). Gland: International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Lockhart, N., Hodgetts, N. & Holyoak, D. (2012a). Rare and Threatened Bryophytes of Ireland. Belfast: National Museums Northern Ireland Publication No. 028.
Lockhart, N., Hodgetts, N. & Holyoak, D. (2012b). Ireland Red List No.8: Bryophytes. Dublin, Ireland: National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Nick Hodgetts, 15 Earlish, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9XL. e [email protected] Lockhart, National Parks and Wildlife Service, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. e [email protected] Campbell, Montana, The Ward, Co. Dublin. e [email protected]
It will be necessary to review the FPO from time to time. Taxa are occasionally discovered new to the Irish flora through survey efforts, and sometimes taxa are added or removed from the checklist through taxonomic revisions. Molecular data from DNA barcoding would be desirable to assess levels of genetic variation within and between populations of species with taxonomic uncertainties. On-going monitoring will be required to assess the status and health of FPO populations. A full reassessment of the Red List should be undertaken in 2020, in line with IUCN guidance (IUCN, 2010; Lockhart et al., 2012b). A further revision of the FPO should then follow as the natural outcome.
AcknowledgementsThis revision of the FPO bryophyte schedule was circulated for comment and the authors wish to thank the following for their contributions: Dr Andy Bleasdale, Dr Joanne Denyer, Dr Maurice Eakin, Dr Rory Hodd, Dr David Holyoak, Dr Matthew Jebb, Dr Daniel Kelly, Dr Naomi Kingston, Dr Melinda Lyons, Dr Noeleen Smyth, Mr Donal Synnott, Dr Michael Wyse Jackson and members of the Conservation and Recording Committee of the British Bryological Society.
References
During, H.J. (1992). Ecological classifications of bryophytes and lichens. In: J.W. Bates & A.M. Farmer (eds) Bryophytes and lichens in a changing environment. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
rFig. 18 (left): The only known extant locality of Meesia triquetra in Ireland, Ox Mountains, Sligo. N. Lockhart. rFig. 19 (right): The beautiful stems of Paludella squarrosa, W. Mayo. N. Lockhart.
In June of 2015 whilst engaged on some surveying on Dersingham Bog National Nature Reserve, which lies some 8 km to the
north of King's Lynn in Norfolk, UK (TF670285), we noticed an odd looking sapling pine (Pinus sylvatica). Closer examination showed it had a surface coating, or sleeve, of Sphagnum fragments (Fig. 1), over and through which a multitude of ants were moving. It seemed fairly obvious that this surface coating had been created by the ants themselves. A similar, but smaller, structure was also noted around the base of a nearby birch sapling. A photograph was posted on Bryonet ([email protected]), to see whether this phenomenon had been noticed elsewhere. Although several replies were received none of them reported similar structures; however, Janice Glime suggested several interesting hypotheses as to what might be occurring. These prompted us to contact Doreen Wells, who is the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society recorder for ants. She requested some specimens for identification and these were subsequently named as Lasius platythorax Seifert. This species, according to the Bees, Wasps and Ant Recording Scheme website (www.bwars.org) typically nests, not in soil, but in
Ants, and their use of Sphagnum & other mosses
rFig. 1: A Sphagnum rich sleeve on a sapling pine. R. Stevenson.
Moss ‘sleeves’, ants and aphid farms... what is happening among the saplings of Dersingham Bog? Robin Stevenson and Julia Masson investigate.
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