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FISH Conservation Biology unit

Group leader: Dr T.K. McCarthy

The group has been actively involved in researching various species of Ireland’s freshwater and diadromous fish species for many years. The biology of the European eel ( Anguilla anguilla) has been investigated during both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent surveys. The trophic ecology, parasitology, and migratory behaviour of eels are being researched with a view to development of a national plan for conservation of the species. Similar research has also been undertaken on other declining species (such as arctic char Salvelinus alpinus and pollan Coregonus autumnalis).

Recent publications:

McCarthy, T. K. Frankiewicz, P., Cullen, P., Blaszkowski, M., O’Connor, W. and Doherty, D. (2008) Long-term effects of hydropower installations and associated river regulation on River Shannon eel populations: mitigation and management. Hydrobiologia 609:109–124. [pdf]

Cullen, P. and McCarthy, T.K. (2007) Eels ( Anguilla anguilla (L.)) of the lower River Shannon, with particular reference to seasonality in their activity and feeding ecology. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 107B: 87-94. [pdf]

Cullen, P., McCarthy, T.K. and Doherty, D. (2007) The Coomasaharn char, a morphometrically highly specialised form of Salvelinus alpinus in Ireland . Ecology of Freshwater Fish 16: 41-46. [pdf]

Harrod C., Grey J., McCarthy T.K. and Morrissey M. (2006). Combined use of stable isotope and fatty acid analyses reveal almost total segregation by salinity habitats in a coastal population of European eel. 5 ^th International Conference on Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies, Queens University Belfast, 13-18 ^th August 2006 (poster). [pdf]

Arai, T., Kotake, A. and McCarthy, T.K. (2006) Habitat use by the European eel Anguilla anguilla in Irish water. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 67: 569-578. [pdf]

McCarthy, T.K. and Blaszkowski, M. (2006) Pollan Coregonus autumnalis Pallas in Lough Allen and the upper River Shannon. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 269-271.

Harrod, C., Grey, J., McCarthy, T.K. and Morrissey, M. (2005) Stable isotope analyses provide new insights into ecological plasticity in a mixohaline population of European eel. Oecologia 144: 673-683. [pdf]

Doherty, D. and McCarthy, T.K. (2004). Morphometric and meristic character analyses of two Western Irish populations of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.). Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 104B: 75-85. [pdf]

McCarthy, T.K., Doherty, D. and P. Cullen. (2004). Results of gill netting for arctic char Salvelinus alpinus in six Irish lakes. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 396-399.

Doherty, D. and Mc Carthy, T.K. (2004).The ecology and conservation of European smelt ( Osmerus eperlanus L.) from Waterford Estuary, in Southeastern Ireland. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 104B: 125-130. [pdf]

Rosell, R., Harrod, C., Griffiths, D. and McCarthy, T.K. (2004) Conservation of the Irish populations of the pollan Coregonus autumnalis. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 104B: 67-72. [pdf]

Doherty, D., O'Maoiléidigh, N. and McCarthy, T.K. (2004) The biology, ecology and future conservation of twaite shad ( Alosa fallax Lacépède), allis shad ( Alosa alosa L.) and Killarney shad ( Alosa fallax killarnensis Tate Regan) in Ireland. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 104B: 93-102. [pdf]

McCarthy T. K , Frankievich, P., Nowak, D., Grabski, R and Bocian, J.( 2003) Hydroacoustic stock assessment of Arctic char in Coomsaharen Lough, Ireland. Third Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS3), Edinburgh,13-18 July 2003 (Abstract)

Cullen, P. and McCarthy, T.K (2003) Hydrometric and meteorological factors effecting the seaward migration of silver eels ( Anguilla anguilla, L.) in the lower River Shannon. Environmental Biology of Fishes 67: 349-357. [pdf]

Cullen, P. and McCarthy, T.K. (2003) A comparison of two age determination techniques commonly used for eels ( Anguilla anguilla (L.)). Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 301-305.

Harrod, C., Griffiths, D., Rosell, R. and McCarthy, T.K. (2002). Current status of the pollan ( Coregonus autumnalis Pallas 1776) in Ireland. Archiv fur Hydrolbiologie: Special Issue Advances in Limnology 57: 627-638.

Harrod, C., Griffiths, D., McCarthy, T.K. and Rosell, R. (2001) The Irish pollan, Coregonus autumnalis: options for its conservation. Journal of Fish Biology 59: 339-355. [pdf]

Cullen, P. and McCarthy, T.K. (2001) Wildlife bycatch in a commercial eel fishery on the River Shannon, Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 49-56.

Cullen, P. and McCarthy, T.K (2000) The effects of artificial light on the distribution of catches of silver eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), across the Killaloe eel weir in the lower River Shannon. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 100B: 165-169. [ pdf]

McCarthy, T.K. and Cullen, P. (2000) The River Shannon silver eel fisheries: variations in comercial and experimental catch levels. Dana 12: 67-76.

McCarthy, T.K., Cullen, P and O’Connor, W. (1999) The biology and management of River Shannon eel populations. Fisheries Bulletin (Dublin) 17: 9-20.

McGovern, P. and McCarthy, T.K. (1992) Local movements of freshwater eels ( Anguilla anguilla L.), in western Ireland. In G.I. Priede and S.M. Swift (eds), Wildlife telemetry, remote monitoring and tracking of animals, 319-327. Ellis Hornworth Ltd. England.

Recent conference presentations:

F. Egan, McCarthy, T.K. and Cullen, P. (2008) Ireland’s declining eel stocks: Yellow eel population trends in the River Shannon lakes. Environ 2008, Dundalk Institute of Technology, 1-3 Feb. 2008. (Oral)

McCarthy, T. K., Grennan, J., Murray, M. and Doherty, D. (2008) The eel ( Anguilla anguilla) populations of the River Lee system. Environ 2008, Dundalk Institute of Technology, 1-3 Feb. 2008. (Poster) [pdf]

Zoology Department
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Phone: +353 (0)91 492323, Fax: +353 91 750526
E-mail: Zoology Department
This page was last updated Monday, June 30, 2008