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Freshwater Ecology unit

Group leader: Dr T.K. McCarthy

Our limnology research, initially focused on Lough Corrib and other western Irish lakes, has in recent years included studies on the effects of zebra mussels in small lakes in Co Clare and in the lower River Shannon system. Other recent studies have included investigations on benthic invertebrate assemblages of Lough Mask and some coastal lagoon habitats, and the group has also contributed to the New Survey of Clare Island. The limnology team is now actively involved in the EPA-funded Biochange project, and is collaborating with the European Regional Centre for Ecohydology in Lodz, Poland, in this and other studies on Irish lakes.

Selected publications:

Higgins T., Grennan J. and McCarthy T.K. 2008. Effects of recent zebra mussel invasion on water chemistry and phytoplankton production in a small Irish lake. Aquatic Invasions 3: 14-20. [pdf]

Guiry, M.D., John, D., Rindi, F., & McCarthy T.K. (Eds) (2007) The New Survey of Clare Island. Vol. 6, The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

McCormack, S., Nowak, D. & McCarthy, T.K. & O Conner, A. (2006) The aquatic Coleoptera of Inishbofin, Co Galway. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 315-320

Tobin, C.M. & McCarthy, T.K. (2004) The corixid communities of lowland turloughs in the Galway area and Lough Corrib. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27:450–457

McCarthy, T.K. and P. Cullen (2002). Ireland’s changing freshwater habitats: anthropogenic impacts, fishery management problems and ecohydrological perspectives. Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology 2: 143-148 [pdf]

McCarthy, T.K., Barbiero, R., Doherty, Cullen, P., Ashe, P., O’Connell, M., Guiry, M., Sheehy-Skeffington, M., King, M. and O’Connor, B. (2001) Investigation of Eutrophication Processes in the Littoral Zones of Western Irish Lakes. Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford [pdf]

Ashe, P., McCarthy, T.K. and Fahy, S. (2000) The supposed arctic relict Corynocera ambigua Zetterstedt in Ireland (Diptera: Chironomidae), with a review of its ecology and distribution. Vehandlungen Internationale Vereinigung Limnnologie 27:1816-1821

McCarthy, T.K., Barbiero, R., King, R., Doherty, D., O'Connor B and P. Cullen (2000) Water quality monitoring in some larger western Irish lakes. Vehandlungen Internationale Vereinigung Limnnologie 27:1816-1821 [pdf]

Rosell, R.S., C.M. Maguire and McCarthy, T.K. (1999). First reported settlement of zebra mussels in the Erne System, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Biology and Environment 98B: 191-193 [pdf]

McCarthy, T.K. and Fitzgerald, J. (1997) The occurrence of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) an introduced biofouling bivalve in Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 413-416.

Tully, O., McCarthy, T.K & O'Donnell, D. (1991) The ecology of the corixidae (Hemiptera : heteroptera) in the corrib catchment, Ireland. Hydrobiologia 210: 161-169

Costello, M.J., McCarthy, T.K. and O'Farrell, M.M. (1984) The stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Corrib catchment area, Ireland. Annales de limnologie 20: 1-2.

Recent conference presentations:

Higgins, T., Grennan, J. and McCarthy, T.K. 2008. Zebra mussel-induced changes in phytoplankton community structure in a Co. Clare lake. 18 ^th Environ Colloquium, Dundalk Institute of Technology, 1-3 Feb. 2008. (Oral)

Grennan, J., Higgins, T. and McCarthy, T.K. 2008. Characterising the zebra mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha, Pallas) population in Lough Doon, Co. Clare. Environ 2008, Dundalk Institute of Technology, 1-3 Feb. 2008. (Poster) [pdf]

Higgins, T., Grennan, J. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. Impacts of zebra mussel infestation on water quality and algal populations in small Western Irish lakes. The 30 ^th Congress of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology, Montréal, Canada, 12-18 August 2007. (Oral)

Grennan, J., Higgins, T. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. A review of the distribution and ecological impacts of the zebra mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha) in Ireland. Invasive Molluscs Conference, St. Catherine’s College, University of Cambridge, 2 April 2007. The London Malacological Society. (Oral)

Higgins, T., Grennan, J. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. Effects of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on ecological processes in small Western Irish lakes. Invasive Molluscs Conference, St. Catherine’s College, University of Cambridge, 2 April 2007. The London Malacological Society. (Oral)

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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, March 31, 2008