News

Past Projects 
 

Quercus has completed more than 100 research projects since its inception during 2003. Each project is listed under the year in which it commenced. You can use the menu to browse each year or use the search box at the top right of this page to search for a specific keyword (for example, a species name e.g. ‘Irish hare’).

Current projects

We currently have 22 active research projects: 

Conservation of the Marsh fritillary butterfly PhD     

A 3 year PhD focusing on the conservation ecology of the Annex II marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia) in Northern Ireland including distribution, abundance, habitat, genetics and parasitism. This project was won under competitive tender from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

Fresh water pearl mussel population restoration   

A 3 year PhD focusing on the biological basis of population supplementation for a globally endangered species; the fresh water pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). This project was won under competitive tender from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

Conservation of Juniper   

National survey of Juniper (Juniperus communis) throughout the Republic of Ireland to determine its distribution, abundance and conservation status. This project was funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Invasive aquatic plants PhD  

A 3 year PhD focusing on mapping the distriubtion of invasive aquatic plants throughout Northern Ireland and determining their means of introduction and spread and the potential impact of climate change. This project was a Natural Heritage Research Partnership (NHRP) project.

Grazing on sand dunes PhD   

Rathlin Seabirds PhD   

A 4 year PhD focusing on the factors contributing to declining populations and reproductive success of guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes on Rathlin Island. This project was a Natural Heritage Research Partnership (NHRP) project.

Lough Neagh diving ducks PhD   

A 4 year PhD focusing on the factors causes of declining tufted Duck, pochard, goldeneye and scaup populations at Lough Neagh; their most important overwintering ground in the British Isles. This project was a Natural Heritage Research Partnership (NHRP) project.

Invasive cordgrass distribution   

A survey of the distribution and cover of alien cordgrass (Spartina anglica) throughout Northern Ireland's intertidal regions including designated sites e.g. Strangford Lough. This project was won under competitive tender from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

Impact of wind farm development on biodiversity 

Assessment of the likely direct and indirect effects of wind farm development on biodiversity including birds, bats and habitats such as peat bog. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project.

Bloody-red shrimp invasion 

Evaulation of the threat to Northern Ireland freshwater biodiversity from the invasion of Hemimysis anomala from the Shannon catchment (ROI). This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project.

Northern mining bee conservation ecology 

Assessment of the distribution, abundance and habitat preference of a rare BAP bee species including examination of intraspecific levels of genetic diversity. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project.

Hen harrier satellite tracking pilot   

A trial of satellite tagging harrier nestlings to quantify dispersal, over-winter survival and identify over-winter roosting sites. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project.

Ecology of the Common gull PhD   

A 5 year part-time PhD studentship looking at the ecology of the common gull Larus canus and the reasons for favourable population trajectories in Northern Ireland. This project is part-funded by the Natural Heritage Research Partnership.

Slipper limpet shell aging   

An test analysis of the shells of slipper limpets Crepidula fornicata recovered from Belfast Lough by cross-section and chemical peeling to determine age. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project.

GPS tagging Irish hare leverets   

A pilot study using a combination of traditional radiotags and innovative miniature GPS tags to track three hand-reared Irish hare leverets after release into the wild. This project is funded directly by Quercus.

Margaritifera cultivation MSc   

An masters degree project looking at the efficacy of ex-situ cultivation of the globally endangered fresh water pearl mussel. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership.

Northern Ireland Irish hare Survey 2010 

Annual survey of Irish hare (Lepus timidius hibernicus) density and abundance throughout Northern Ireland to determine temporal trends in hare population trajectory. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project.

Review of European hare invasion ecology

A review of published literature describing the impact of European hare invasion beyond its native range with specific relevance to Northern Ireland and the native Irish hare. This project is a Natural Heritage Research Partnership project. 
 

Hare coursing in Ireland 

'Intergrating field sports, hare population management and conservation' was a paper published by Quercus in the international journal of mammaology, Acta Theriologica, examining the impact of hare coursing on local hare populations.

National frog survey of Ireland 2010/11 

This project aims to develop a national survey of the common frog (Rana temporaria) in Ireland and was won under competitive tender from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (ROI).