As the semester flies by, the EcoEvo annual Photo Competition draws ever closer!
The 2022/2023 showcasing will be the sixth instalment in the series and if previous years are anything to go by, the judges will have an extremely tough time choosing a winner. Year on year, the bar seems to have risen ever higher so we’re excited to see what you have in store for us!
For those of you in the dark, the EcoEvo Photo Competition is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year for Botany and Zoology, with the winner receiving prestige and respect from the Trinity Natural Sciences cohort. If that isn’t enough for you, the photo that claims first prize also gets to be shown off for year, becoming the new cover photo for the EcoEvo Blog and profile image on all social media pages. This competition gives us all a chance to present the amazing and strange snippets of our research that often miss out on the opportunity to be shared, so send us on whatever you’ve got!
Katrin Schertenleib captured a beautiful moment between two adult Puffins (Fratercula arctic) off the coast of Wexford on the Great Saltee island last year. Currently the poster image for the EcoEvo blog, is it soon to be succeeded by the 2022/23 winner! Clickhere to see the other entries from last year’s Photo Competition
To enter into the competition, all you have to do is send your photo along with a short caption and/or story to the EcoEvo email account (ecoevoblog@gmail.com). Following on from the successful system of previous years, the entries will be anonymized and sent to an unbiased third party to be judged, ensuring that an equal and fair opportunity is given to each and every participant.
Winners From Earlier Competitions
The five previous exhibitions have each produced a fantastic array of photos. With snapshots coming from the corners of Southeast Sulawesi to the Galapagos Islands and even up to high latitudes of the Arctic. Members of Botany and Zoology have brought us to some of the most amazing and beautiful landscapes on Earth.
To see the 2017 Photo Competition entries, clickhere
The winner of the inaugural Photo Competition back in 2017 stole the show with a wandering Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra). This little guy was captured by Alain Finn high up in the Swiss Alps.
To see the 2018 Photo competition entries, click here
Dr Laura Russo was next to snatch first prize in 2018, with the winning snapshot being taken closer to home. This chocolate mining bee (Andrena scotica) found a comfy spot on Laura in the Trinity Botanic Gardens at Darty.
To see the 2019 Photo competition entries, click here
Jenny Bortoluzzi claimed the 2019 win with an incredible photo from her expedition to the high Arctic where she and her team had the once in a lifetime opportunity to see a female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in her natural environment. While stunningly beautiful, this image also strikes a chord – a daunting reminder of the uncertain future of the polar regions.
To see the 2020 Photo competition entries, click here
A male Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) snatched the win in the 2020 showcasing of the Photo Competition, and rightfully so! These tiny birds are notoriously difficult to photograph but Floriane O’Keeffe managed to capture one mid-flight, an impressive feat.
We hope that seeing some of the past winners and runners up strikes ambition within you to photograph everything in the natural world around you. With all that said and done we eagerly await your submissions! Please send them in before the end of December. Winner to be announced in the New Year.
We wish you all the best of luck in the sixth annual EcoEvo Photo Competition!
We can’t thank our editors from the 2021/2022 year enough for their fantastic contribution to the EcoEvo Blog – Lucy Harding, Grace McNicholas and Richa Marwaha. We wish them all the best of luck in their research and hope to hear from them again soon!
The team produced a series of excellent blog posts, including an insight into the evolutionary divergence of Wallacea’s monarch flycatchers, restoration of biodiversity in Irish farmlands and a plethora of scientific podcasts that can be enjoyed by all. While we say goodbye to these three fabulous editors, we would also like to take the time to bid farewell to Prof. Celia Holland who retired this year from the Zoology Department. I believe I speak for everyone in Zoology and Trinity who’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Celia, that she will be a huge loss to the department. She has acted as Head of School, Head of Discipline, Director of Research, Chair of the School of Natural Sciences Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team and received the Provost’s Teaching Award for LIfetime Achievement in 2019. Celia has not only had a huge impact on the college community and the people she met, but has also significantly impacted the global community with her research on the parasitic worm ascaris – one of the major Neglected Tropical Diseases – which infects over a million people world-wide. Her dedication to understanding and investigating this disease has led to her being elected to Membership of the Royal Irish Academy and Fellowship of Trinity, an Invited Expert on the WHO Advisory Panel on Parasitic Diseases and a member of the WHO Guideline Development Group. We would like to wish Celia all the very best in her retirement as she travels the world, sharing her light to everyone fortunate enough to meet her.
We once again give Lucy, Grace and Richa our best and without further ado, let us introduce ourselves as the editorial team for the 2022/2023 year – Luke Quill and Aedín Mc Adams. We’re both thrilled to be a part of this project and are looking forward to bringing you new and exciting content each month from students and researchers alike. So, let’s get started on the introductions!
Luke
Hi everyone, my name is Luke (he/him). I recently started a PhD here in the Botany Department in TCD. A few of you may recognise me as I haven’t ventured too far from this place, having completed my undergrad in Botany last year! My main research interests are fungi and sustainable agriculture. I’m currently working with Professor Carla Harper on the use of mycorrhizal fungi and their associated plants to recover and recycle nutrient runoff from farms. This project is part of the NuReCycle Program which aims to protect the water quality of our vulnerable waterways here in Ireland.
As you might guess, I love hiking and foraging for all kinds of mushrooms so if you’re ever thinking of going for a stroll in the Dublin or Wicklow mountains give me a shout!
Aedín
Hello everyone, my name is Aedín (she/her). I am a first year research masters student in the Buckley Lab. I am currently investigating the efficacy of irrigation on the restoration of fen habitats for the reintroduction of the rare Geyer’s whorl snail Vertigo geyeri. This project is the first IROPI (Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest) project approved in Ireland granted under the Habitats Directive. I completed my undergraduate here in the Zoology Department after first completing a year on the Trinity Access Foundation Course. My passions, which not only lie in conservation and nature, but also in access to education, lead me to volunteering in the mountains of Mexico for 3 months on an ethnobiological farm, rehabilitating the land, an opossum and building upon relationships with the community. I love to experience and learn new things, so I’m very excited to develop my blogging skills and learning about your ideas and research further!
Updates:
Along with the new editors, the EcoEvo blog is in need of a fresh makeover. Do you know what this means?….
The annual EcoEvo photo competition is back!! Some of you may know what this entails, but to our new readers, this is a time for you to show off your photography skills. The photo competition is where you can submit a photo you’ve taken, which will then be voted upon by our readers and will replace the current image on our banner and social media. More information and details will be in our November post, so keep your eyes peeled.
Until then, keep your cameras at the ready, and as always, keep an eye out for each other. With the days getting shorter and darker, we need to remind ourselves to be kind to ourselves and to reach out for support should we need it.
If you have any questions or ideas about a blog, please feel free to get onto us via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email (ecoevoblog@gmail.com).
We’re back with the last instalment of our two-part series showcasing the wonderful world of science podcasts. If the below list isn’t enough for you, don’t forget to check out Part 1 if you missed it!
General Science
This one is pretty self-explanatory! If you want to widen your knowledge of science to new topics, whether to argue with your uncle at Christmas dinner or to ace those pub quizzes you go to every week with your mates, these podcasts are for you!
The Science Hour is a podcast by the BBC World service and is filled with recent science news as well as segments that explore topics asked by listeners that are then dissected by the team. This is a great one for keeping on top of scientific news around the world, but also feels more like a radio show than a podcast. Perfect for long drives or times when you might want something a bit more formal and easy to listen to.
Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time– This podcast is produced by PBS as a compliment to their popular Youtube series “PBS Eons” and delves into everything palaeontology and deep-time. From the history of famous fossils, to questions like “what was the first dinosaur?”. This podcast has only recently started up but is well made with beautiful and immersive audioscapes and is ideal for dinosaur kids who never grew up and those of us who marvel at the sheer breadth of geological time and how we can peer back through it via some old, dusty chunks of rock.
Unexplainableis a science show about everything we don’t know. Host Noam Hassenfeld is joined by an array of experts and Vox reporters each week to look at the most fascinating unanswered questions in science and the mind-bending ways scientists are trying to answer them.
Rethink talks – From pandemics to production supply chains: how do we make sense of the complex world we live in? Every month, Rethink Talks brings together the best thinkers and practitioners within resilience thinking and sustainability science, to discuss how we can achieve a sustainable planet that enables well-being for all, and provides you with the latest science on global development.
Further Research needed– A podcast on science from scientists where they ask those seemingly straight forward questions that don’t have such straight forward answers. Each episode takes a tongue in cheek look at current research and research practises whilst lifting the veil on what is scientific truth.
This Week in Virology is a weekly netcast about viruses – the kind that make you sick. Professors Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler and science writer Alan Dove and guests deconstruct viruses, how they cause illness, and dissect the latest research.
Climate crisis, climate justice and climate solutions
The climate crisis is scary and overwhelming, but it need not be hopeless! Here are a few podcasts that have left us feeling motivated and engaged in the search for solutions and understanding of the biggest challenge our planet faces today.
Outrage + Optimism– Face the climate crisis head on, but understand that we have the power to solve this. From former UN Chief Christiana Figueres and the team who brought you the Paris Agreement, this podcast about issues and politics will inform you, inspire you and help you realise that this is the most exciting time in history to be alive.
Hot Take is a holistic, irreverent, honest look at the climate crisis and all the ways media and society are talking—and not talking—about it. Hosted by real-life friends Mary Annaïse Heglar and Amy Westervelt—an essayist and a journalist— Hot Take offers a unique perspective on the issue of climate change.
How to Save The Planet – This podcast series by Friends of the Earth brings you inspiring stories from the frontlines of the climate movement, frank discussion of the issues and solutions at play and takes a look at how anyone can have an impact.
A Matter of Degrees– Join Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson as they tell stories about the powerful forces behind climate change — and the tools we have to fix it. This show is for the climate curious people who know climate change is a problem, but are trying to figure out how to tackle it.
People in Science
Science isn’t just diverse in the topics in covers but also in the people who study them. Here are some podcasts that aim to increase representation and visibility of all scientists or help you find the right career in science.
Sidenote by AsapSCIENCE– From their Youtube channel with 10 Million+ subscribers, each week Greg and Mitch discuss a different science topic and give fun facts they learned while researching for their Youtube videos. Filled with tangents and anecdotes and interspersed with queer references and commentary on the what its like to be a queer person in STEM and Science communication, this casual podcast is great for winding down and relaxing while also geeking out about science in an LGBTQ+ friendly space.
Working Scientist is the Nature Careers podcast and is a regular show featuring advice and information from global industry experts with a strong focus on supporting early career researchers working in academia and other sectors.
Zoology
These podcasts are for those who want to learn more about the wonderful world of animals. Fill your brain with facts from land and sea creatures, big and small.
This Podcast Will Kill You– Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke are disease ecologists and epidemiologists that host this podcast. Each episode they feature a disease or illness, cover its history, biology, and current status. They provide an insight into the complex placement of disease within our ecosystems and why “One Health” approaches that intersect our often overlapping social, economical, and ecological interests can provide for better health outcomes. From the history of vaccines, antibiotic resistance, complex parasite life-cycles, virus evolution, and historical outbreaks that changed the course of human history, this podcast gives a good all rounded view of the role disease plays in the story of life on earth.
The Whole Tooth – Hosted by Dr Isla Hodgson, every episode takes a deep dive into a question sent in by a listener with the help of shark scientists and conservationists from all over the world. How do sharks take naps? Why do sharks glow in the dark? Can great whites REALLY smell blood from miles away? How do I become a marine scientist? This podcast is on a mission to communicate facts, debunk myths, and give you the tooth – and nothing but the truth! – on sharks, rays and everything ocean.
Botany
On the Ledge – Jane Perrone hosts this House plant podcast, and her dulcet tones are perfect for those stressed out because their ficus is dropping its leaves or their peace lily is wilting. While still very accessible, Jane will dip her toes into the plant science behind our favourite house plants, as well as troubleshoot issues from listeners, and interview various plant influencers, botanic garden curators, and plant society presidents. This is a great podcast for those who would like to green their life but feel intimidated by the jungles they see on instagram.
Plant Daddy Podcast – Stephen and Matthew get together to highlight a houseplant, discuss a plant trend, or interview experts on anything and everything related to keeping houseplants. With great attention to detail and accuracy, and highlighting niche plants that may often be overlooked, this podcast is great for those who might already have a bit of experience with keeping a few plants and are ready to delve a little deeper. With each host having their own style and preference for plant care, it is a great listen for those who want to branch out a little and find some cool new planty recommendations!
Completely Arbortrary – Every week on this slightly rambly podcast, two friends chat about a different tree species and what makes it interesting or special. With one host tree-obsessed, and the other coming in without much tree knowledge, this podcast is great for anyone interested in learning more about trees in a fun and casual fashion!
The world is full of really great and educational podcasts, this is by no means a complete list but hopefully you’ll find something you enjoy! Think we’re missing an unmissable podcast or want to let us know what you thought of our recommendations? Drop us a comment on social media! What recommendations would you like to get next?
Thanks again to 4th Year Zoology PhD student Jenny Bortoluzzi & 2nd Year Zoology PhD student Simon Bensonfor putting this list together!
The start of term is here and with it you may be back from field work and starting to commute to campus again, or perhaps you are looking for an escape from those busy term-time work days, or maybe you are already a veteran podcast listener? Either way we’ve got you covered. We asked our PhD researchers what podcasts they like to listen to to stay informed on all topics science, zoology, botany, climate and more! Check their recommendations out below and before you go saying we don’t have a life outside of work, they also gave us their guilty pleasures at the bottom of the post.
This is the first of a two-part series, so be sure to come back next week for even more recommendations!
General Science
This one is pretty self-explanatory! If you want to widen your knowledge of science to new topics, whether to argue with your uncle at Christmas dinner or to ace those pub quizzes you go to every week with your mates, these podcasts are for you!
Stuff you should know is a podcast which educates listeners on a wide variety of topics, often using popular culture as a reference, giving the podcast comedic value. It covers scientific topics from supernovae to rewilding but also history, politics, true crime and more. No need to worry about listening in order, each episode is a standalone!
Science Vs is a pod which takes on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. Wondering whether you should drink detox teas like an insta-celeb, or believe your drunk uncle’s rant about gun control? Science Vs has an ep for that. Episode highlight: “SHARKS!!! Sink Your Teeth in Again” and “Climate Change… the Apocalypse?”
Ologies is a weekly science podcast hosted by Alie Ward. Each week, Ward talks with a different “ologist” from various scientific fields. The show’s tagline is “Ask smart people stupid questions”.
SciShow Tangentsis the lightly competitive knowledge showcase from the geniuses behind the YouTube series SciShow. Every Tuesday, join Hank Green, Ceri Riley, and Sam Schultz as they try to one-up and amaze each other with weird and funny scientific research… while not getting distracted. There will be tangents about video games, music, weird smells, surprisingly deep insights about life, and of course, poop, but it always comes back to the science.
Genetics Unzipped is produced in association with The Genetics Society, and each week they bring you a new episode relating to genomics, genes, and everything related to DNA and/or RNA. Does genetics influence your personality? How can we test sewage for COVID DNA? How can we use ancient DNA to tell us more about modern species (including us)? Covering a broad range of topics and their intersection with genetics, this podcast is great for anyone who thinks genetics is cool, but might not be ready to delve into the nitty-gritty details and dusty old textbooks.
Climate crisis, climate justice and climate solutions
The climate crisis is scary and overwhelming, but it need not be hopeless! Here are a few podcasts that have left us feeling motivated and engaged in the search for solutions and understanding of the biggest challenge our planet faces today.
How to Save a Planet: Climate change. We know. It can feel too overwhelming. But what if there was a show about climate change that left you feeling… energised? One so filled with possibility that you actually wanted to listen? Join journalist Alex Blumberg and a crew of climate nerds, as they bring you smart, inspiring stories about the mess we’re in and how we can get ourselves out of it. How to Save a Planet is a really engaging podcast that focuses on climate solutions and those who are at the heart of them. It challenges preconceptions and makes complex topics understandable and accessible.
Drilled is a true-crime style podcast about climate change. The show was launched in 2017 and is hosted by investigative journalist Amy Westervelt who offers seasons long examinations of the origins of climate denial, workers who are suffering the impacts of climate change, fossil fuel propaganda and much much more.
The Yikes Podcast: There’s a lot to make us Yikes in this world. From the climate crisis to racism to activism and resisting oppressive systems, it can call get a bit overwhelming. The Yikes Podcast is a podcast hosted by two climate justice activists, Mikaela Loach and Josephine Becker, which leans into the Yikes of the world rather than letting it overwhelm us. They breakdown the issues in an accessible and nuanced way to guide us towards action together. Episode highlight: “What is Climate Justice?”
People in Science
Science isn’t just diverse in the topics in covers but also in the people who study them. Here are some podcasts that aim to increase representation and visibility of all scientists or help you find the right career in science.
LGBTQ+ Stem Cast is a podcast that features LGBTQ+ scientists from a variety of different fields in STEM. They discuss their research, upbringing, and how their passion for science started with an aim to expand the voices of LGBTQ+ scientists.
TCDSU Diversity in STEM is a TCDSU campaign aiming to highlight and support the range of backgrounds and identities in STEM. This podcast aims to be a discussion with individuals from under-represented groups about their experiences in STEM, their work and their views on how to make STEM more diverse and accessible.
Zoology
These podcasts are for those who want to learn more about the wonderful world of animals. Fill your brain with facts from land and sea creatures, big and small.
The Critter Shed: Of course, we couldn’t start this section without any other podcast than The Critter Shed, hosted by our very own Collie Ennis, science research associate at Trinity College Dublin. If you like learning about the weird and wonderful side of nature – about things like spider sex, venom-packing frogs, or mind-controlling parasites, and more – then this is the podcast for you!
Sharkpedia: Meghan and Amani are 2 shark researchers exploring sharks and their relatives! Get ready to jump in every-other-week to the world of sharks where Meghan and Amani break down the science with some of the legends in the field.
Botany
In Defense of Plants: Hosted by Matt Candeias, each episode he interviews someone working in research, conservation, or anything else remotely related to plants. This podcast is great for centering our flora for their own sake, rather than the benefit they can provide us as humans. From complex pollination biology involving 3 or more species, to broadscale restoration projects, to paleobotany, plant genomics, and urban ecology. This podcast will give you a great insight on how plants permeate our environment, their ecological significance, evolutionary history and maybe just cure a bit of your plant blindness!
Unearthed: Brought to you by Kew Garden’s botanist and ‘plant geek’ James Wong, Unearthed will take you on journey in this one-of-a kind docuseries looking at the science behind murder, trade, allergens and medicines. Learn about the illegal trafficking of rare species, how we identify dangerous poisons and how plants heal the human body through real-life human stories told through the expertise of Kew’s own scientists and horticulturists.
Our guilty pleasures…
A list of podcasts unrelated to our fields of study but that we enjoy listening to when our brains can’t take anymore serious science talk.
The Shit Show and Culture Vulture: Two podcasts created by the people behind the “Shit You Should Care About” Instagram account which cover current affairs and pop culture phenomena. If the news often feels overwhelming, listen to their kiwi voices to get your weekly rundowns in a balanced way!
Bad People: Murderers. Fraudsters. Internet trolls. This is a podcast about people who do terrible things, and the science of humanity’s dark side.
Imaginary Worlds is a podcast about science fiction, fantasy and other genres of speculative fiction hosted by Eric Molinsky.
You’re wrong about: Sarah is a journalist obsessed with the past. Every week she reconsiders a person or event that’s been miscast in the public imagination.
My Therapist Ghosted Meis the result of Joanne McNally’’s therapist doing just that! It’s often said that friends give the best therapy so Vogue & Joanne have teamed up to do exactly that (alongside a generous helping of laughter as that too is said to be the best form of therapy).
This blog was written by 4th Year Zoology PhD student Jenny Bortoluzzi & 2nd Year Zoology PhD student Simon Benson
How unlikely it is to think that many people who decided to dedicate themselves to a natural sciences-related field wondered at least once about the life of an eighteenth-century naturalist?
Picture Alexander von Humboldt, Charles Darwin or Joseph Banks expeditions, or René Malaise and Gustav Eisen‘s impressive efforts in gathering human specimens and artefacts. How about Roderick Murchinson and his geological surveys around the world, or Hans Sloane, whose collections contributed to the foundation of London’s beloved British Museum? The imaginaries of explorers crossing oceans towards yet unknown territories, observing and sampling specimens never seen before, naming and using them to interpret the world, are striking, to say the least.
Nevertheless, other narratives are growing beside these settled imaginaries. It is increasingly recognised how those exact figures were far from the idea we have of them: solitary geniuses and intrepid explorers, nothing related to the politics and economies of their time. Instead, their journeys would rest on the routes of British imperialism, making use of the slave trade in the case of Sloane,1 or be sponsored by intelligence operations on foreign valuable minerals and local policies such as the case of Murchinson2. Even an important institution such as the Royal Botanic Garden in Kew now acknowledges how the boost that botanical research saw at the time was supported by interests in new profitable plants3. Likewise, it is recognised how the global network of botanic gardens emerged not only to create pleasant green spaces but also to have experimental facilities dedicated to researching those exotic new plants for valuable products. As a matter of fact, the search and cultivation of plants such as the rubber tree, a source of such a profitable material, or the Cinchona tree, from which the compound quinine was isolated and used against malaria by the occupying forces in the tropics, have been central to the expansion of the British empire4. The very same collection of animal, plant and human samples can be considered to be driven by similar dynamics. What was discovered in the colonised territories was taken, shipped to the collectors’ homelands, and then housed in centres that, in turn, expanded to accommodate the increasing flow of materials, being a source of knowledge for the benefit of their host institutions. This colonial dimension of the sciences that study nature remained unaddressed in the mainstream imaginaries, although some already glimpsed it. Like Sir Ronald Ross, a doctor engaged in the fight against malaria in the Sierra Leone colonies, who in 1899 publicly expressed how the success of imperialism in the following century would largely depend on success with the microscope 5.
Much has been written about “how modern sciences were built on a system that exploited millions of people, at the same time justifying and supporting it to an extent that greatly influenced how Western people view other ethnic groups and countries”6. At the same time, others point out that “one should not fall into the prospective error of asking nineteenth-century men to reason with post-colonial categories developed after World War II” 7. Likewise, those who work or are interested in these fields today might easily feel far from this legacy, either because of the time that has passed since that era or because of the desk-based nature of their research. Why think about it then? Wasn’t this a blog just about ecology and evolution?
Yet, systems linked to colonial trauma continue to shape the experience of many ecologists, naturalists, biologists, and even anthropologists, today. At the same time, many narratives are still influenced by worldviews that see the advances in the natural or biological realm as carriers of better health, civilization or culture. The consequences of these processes are tangible. A perspective article in Nature Ecology and Evolution8 speaks of colonialism in the mind first, referring to the way a Western scholar might relate to knowledge. From the simple use of language, as when talking about the Neotropical region (new to whom?), or the overwriting of Latin names, sometimes derived from the names of their European discoverers, to the traditional names by which some species are recognized, often more informative about behaviours or characteristics of that species. It could be through devaluating local knowledge, oral traditions, and artefacts that made it possible to navigate an environment in a surprisingly (for us) detailed way, relegating them to folklore or anecdotes, going so far as to claim scientific discoveries, for example, medical properties of plants, already known and shared by local communities for a long time. Fuelling the idea that any active ingredient or species is only really discovered when it enters Western scientific literature, even if they come from a non-systematic and oral knowledge that a population held for centuries.
Figure from Trisos et al. (2021). Map showing the minimum estimate for each country of the number of bird species for which the Latin binomial name is based on a European person.
Other than the mindset, inequalities are also visible on a very practical level: the scientific subordination of formerly colonised countries to researchers of the so-called Old World, better known as parachute or helicopter science. The role of local scientists has often been reduced as labourers employed in data analysis and collection for Western scientists. Adding to this, there are the issues with accessing that same knowledge produced in the ‘Global North’, either because samples or data are stored in museums or servers far away from the places they were collected, the absence of high-speed internet, the lack of the right networks, visa issues for accessing conferences9, or simply the high costs of publishing or even accessing scientific literature. Other ways in which parachuting occurs are through drawing on the traditional knowledge of these countries, when this is not belittled, cataloguing and publishing information without mentioning the contribution of local curators and experts.
Figure from Asase et al. (2022). Summary of the relationship between the number of authorships (i.e., representation as author or coauthor) on 9935 papers on “ecology” or “conservation” in Web of Science, for 2015–2020 versus per-capita gross domestic product (GDP).
Another important discussion is about climate change mitigation and rewilding projects when benefits that will be experienced globally demand costs to be felt locally, especially when adequate resources and support are not provided, or when measures impose worldviews external to local values and needs. The same article brings the example of a no-fishing zone established in French Polynesia which was detrimental to local fishermen’s needs, thus ending in simply not being respected and ultimately not helping the conservation efforts on the target fish stock. Top-down management of this kind proved itself to be not only erosive for people’s self-determination but also undermines the very objective of the project.
Many of the difficulties in the field of land management and nature conservation stem right from the relationship with local communities: other risks beyond not considering them (as in the case above), is romanticising them, possibly falling into the Western myth of the good savage, or assuming that indigenous people are willing to do what we ask. Rather, it would be important to recognize that like any human community, the local people we encounter during our work as scientists might have legitimate political, cultural and economic aspirations that could differ from our expectations.
Decolonizing the natural sciences is not a trivial matter. It certainly does not mean throwing away all that has been learned so far and starting afresh, making only use of ancient artefacts and indigenous tales. For many, it is a matter of reflecting critically on their profession, on the political context that allowed the development of each one’s work, on the power structures to which science might have contributed, taking dignity away from some bodies more than others. To “take a stand and recognize ourselves as part of the system we wish to describe, rather than as neutral actors, becoming aware of how backgrounds and training influence the questions that are asked, trying to understand how the data is interpreted and how our work might intersect with the power of companies or extractive interests over a place” 8.
Decolonization would not only be a matter of awareness but also make sure that research methods and implications are not in contrast with local values and management. This would certainly restrict researchers’ access or capacity for action, but it would be an important trade-off for all those who repeatedly had to give up their territories or lifestyles.
Discussions like this are indeed taking root. It happens when researchers use local languages alongside the traditional binomial taxonomic system, or initiatives are taken from established institutions, such as the case of the American Ornithological Society and its statement for changing harmful and exclusionary English bird names thoughtfully and proactively for species10. Or like the Biodiversity Heritage Library, now working to make their materials available in languages other than English11, the Pitt Rivers Museum12 and London’s Natural History Museum13, with their projects aimed at sharing the stories of colonialism behind their collections. More and more resources are becoming available for establishing healthy stewardships with indigenous communities14 or addressing parachute science15,16,17, or simply engaging with diverse experiences from diverse scholars18, 19.
On a side note (but not really), it is also worth mentioning the call for an intersectional approach to these challenges. Noticing how an individual’s capacity to contribute to public and scholarly discourse does not only rely on race/ ethnicity, but similar power dynamics might be in place based on gender, nationality, indigeneity, wealth, spirituality, sexuality, parenthood/dependencies and other identities. “An intersectional approach to practising ecology recognizes the multiple barriers and opportunities facing those working together”8.
These discourses might seem marginal to someone working now on their own seemingly unrelated passion project. Nevertheless, reflecting on how plants, animals, environments, and people intersected and influenced each other in different directions is indeed relevant.
Among all, it is the field of ecology and evolution that explores the relationships between living beings and the environment in which they live. Acknowledging diversity, not only in biological terms but also within systems of knowledge, solutions and stories of the people who are part of it – including their gender, ethnicity and nationality – is certainly a way to widen one’s lens on the world.
Figure from Trisos et al. 2021. Actions that support reformulating research questions and processes for a decolonizing ecology. Credit: Keren Cooper (illustrations).
I am a visiting researcher at Trinity College Botanic Garden, working on the establishment of its long-term environmental monitoring program and interested in the human dimension of ecological systems dynamics. I wrote this post from the perspective of a western, female, early career researcher, and by no means do I wish to take ownership of the views of those who experience inequity and discrimination on a daily basis, nor do I believe this offers a complete or global understanding of such a complex problem. Rather, I hope to contribute to mainstreaming such an ongoing struggle, thanks also to the encouragement coming from discussing and comparing with peers.
Trisos, C.H., Auerbach, J. & Katti, M. (2021). Decoloniality and anti-oppressive practices for a more ethical ecology. Nat Ecol Evol 5, 1205–1212. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01460-w
Das, S. & Lowe, M. (2018). Nature Read in Black and White: decolonial approaches to interpreting natural history collections. Journal of Natural Science Collections 6, 4 ‐ 14. https://natsca.org/article/2509
Asase, A., Mzumara-Gawa, T. I., Owino, J. O., Peterson, A. T., & Saupe, E. (2022). Replacing “parachute science” with “global science” in ecology and conservation biology. Conservation Science and Practice, 4( 5), e517. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.517
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An interview with basking shark researcher Haley Dolton
The basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, is the second largest shark in the world and is regularly seen swimming off the coast of Ireland. But how much do we really know about these ocean giants? In this installment of the EcoEvo blog our co-editor, Lucy Harding sat down with PhD candidate and basking shark researcher, Haley Dolton to find out what it’s like studying these enormous sharks.
Lucy: So Haley, what was it about sharks that first got you interested in them?
Haley: I remember first being interested in sharks when I was reading an encyclopedia of animals and I read that sharks were fish! And that kind of blew my mind because of what I knew about sharks, they were more like mammals in my head; really powerful, can birth live young, can be social. So yeah, that really intrigued me. And when I started reading about them (because this was before the Internet!), and learnt more, like that they have these amazing senses, electrical senses, and they’re capable of doing amazing behavioural things, I think that really sparked my interest in sharks.
Three basking sharks swimming together in Irish waters (photo captured by Haley Dolton).
Lucy: What sets basking sharks apart from other large-bodied sharks, for you? Why study them over white sharks for example?
Haley: I know this sounds almost like a throw-away answer but I actually kind of fell into basking shark research, and then I grew to love them! It was the first opportunity that I was given to work in shark research in the Isle of Man, working with Manx Basking Shark Watch, and I just remember the first time I saw one I was like, “Oh my God, what is that?!” and it came right up to the boat, and I remember being shocked by the size of it! Any shark documentaries I’d seen, the only sharks really that were featured years ago were great whites because they’re the most *air quotes* “exciting” shark, but then I saw this basking shark, with the way it swims and what it looks like and I thought “Oh that looks like a great white but it’s massive!”. I think that that really sparked my interest in them.
I learned more about them from being in the field and reading about them, I was trying to figure them out because they didn’t make a lot of sense to me. For example, they feed on zooplankton (so they’re filter feeders) and they’re the second largest shark species capable of undertaking powerful behaviours, but they feed on microscopic prey, all of this got me thinking “How are they doing this?!”. So I got obsessed with how weird they are! Like how are they behaving like they do?! As another example, they aggregate in large numbers, and we don’t really know why!
(Haley scans the water hoping to spot a shark fin. Photo captured by Dr Nicholas Payne).
We think it’s maybe related to mating or for saving energy, as they swim close to each other, but you know seeing that in the wild, for yourself, it really sparks the ideas in the mind and that set me on the path to studying basking sharks over any other shark species. That’s not to say that I’m not interested in other shark species of course, but more that it was just circumstance which led me to basking shark research in the first place, and then I fell in love with how weird they were!
Lucy: Well, that’s a good point you make in that, for research, you don’t always have to follow a particular species or a particular project. If you more follow opportunities, you never know where they’ll lead you to, and it could lead you into something that interests you more than you realised!
Haley: Yeah, that’s it! When I went to the Isle of Man, I learned loads about research and what areas of research there were. So, for instance, we were doing satellite tagging and collecting DNA samples and this is what I actually wanted to go into at the time, I wanted to use DNA to carry out genetic research of shark species and look at the evolution of traits. And so, I originally started off being interested in that question and then when I saw that they were doing this amazing satellite tagging work, with behavioral and social studies, whether that’s on the human side, so looking at the impact of anthropogenic activity on basking sharks, or whether that’s the social side of the fish themselves, studying how they gather in large numbers! So, that’s where I first got introduced into loads of different scientific areas of research which focused on this one species.
“without knowing enough about your study species, you can’t effectively conserve them”
Lucy: So, are basking sharks an endangered species?
Haley: Yes, basking sharks are an endangered species. They’re endangered globally which means that they’re of ‘conservation concern’. The reason that we’re researching them, particularly in the Payne lab at the minute, is because we don’t really know a lot about what makes them tick.
Aerial view of basking shark feeding off the West coast of Ireland. The gills can be seen fanned open as the animal filter feeds (photo captured by Haley Dolton).
We’re trying to learn more about them because without knowing enough about your study species, you can’t effectively conserve them. To give an example, imagine if someone was trying to conserve me and they saw one day – let’s pick a really bad day – where I’ve gone to the pub for hours, then eaten a pizza, and I haven’t really moved a lot. It might make people think, that’s all I do so let’s give her that all the time! Well, I wouldn’t last very long! I’d have a great time, but I wouldn’t be very healthy.
And that’s why we study these animals, to get as much information as possible to really affect conservation policy and change because these are vulnerable species.
There were massive fishing industries for them, including in Irish waters, and although we no longer have those fisheries, they’re still very vulnerable to being accidentally caught in things like pot lines or in other fisheries related equipment. They are a vulnerable species to lots of kinds of anthropogenic activity, making conservation efforts even more important.
Two basking sharks swim underwater, off the West coast of Ireland (photo captured by Haley Dolton).
Lucy: And you said they are filter feeders and very large, so does that make them a difficult species to study?
Haley: Basking sharks are an unusual study species for sharks, in that we can’t fish for them or attract them to the boat, so we can’t research them in the ways we would with other species where you can do that. So, we’re very dependent on where and when they turn up and whether there’s a good weather window for us to get out and study them, which off the Irish coast is quite rare! So, everything needs to come together to allow us to go out and study them and in reality, I only have around six days to get my tags deployed, which just highlights how difficult they are to study.
Lucy: What does your current research on basking sharks focus on?
Haley: My current research really focuses on getting back to basics of what we know about the general biology of these animals. For example, looking at their anatomy, whether that’s the larger structures or microscopic features. I’m looking at how their anatomy can explain their behavior. So, as I said there’s so much we don’t know about basking sharks.
At the minute, off the Irish coasts, we’re getting hundreds of them in the spring and then later on throughout the summer, and they’re displaying this amazing behavior where they all gather and swirl around each other, which we think might lead to mating, but ultimately we don’t really know why they display this behaviour! So, my research is really focused on trying to explain these behaviors by looking at their anatomy and physiology and what we as scientists, the general public, or policymakers, can do to effectively conserve this species in Irish waters.
“it’s a really exciting time to be part of basking shark research in Irish waters”
This is all going on at an exciting time for basking sharks in Irish waters! Recently it was announced that they’ll hopefully gain protection under the Irish Wildlife Act and there’s been incredible public support for this in Ireland so it’s a really exciting time to be part of basking shark research in Irish waters and to hopefully make a positive change within their conservation.
Lucy: And when you’re out in the field, how do you actually study these animals?
Haley: Well, firstly we work closely with other researchers and the general public who very kindly tell us where and when they see the sharks; we’ve had loads of great sightings (and skippering of boats!) from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) and individuals from different tour operators off the Irish coast like West Cork Charters (Dave Edwards) and Nick Masset (also part of IWDG), whose based near the Blaskets in Dingle, and of course, social media, which tells us where and when sharks have been seen. Then, we’ll scramble to get all our field kit ready and head over to the West Coast!
Normally with shark research we go out to a place where people are already fishing for sharks (for catch and release) or where we’re fishing for them for scientific research and this normally involves attracting them to the boat (with bait) but because we can’t do that with basking sharks, we basically drive the boat up and down the coast slowly, surveying with binoculars to try and spot that characteristic fin sticking out of the water.
The dorsal fin of a basking shark breaking the surface. Three other sharks can be seen finning behind also (photo captured by Haley Dolton).
Lucy: And so, when you do spot a fin, what happens next?
Haley: In basking shark research we actually deploy the biologgers without touching the shark at all (apart from the actual deployment itself). We carefully approach the shark in the boat, deploy the tag, and then we’re off again! This all takes a matter of seconds, so that we’re actually only beside the animal for a couple seconds as we deploy the biologger. Some sharks don’t even react at all, they just carry on swimming or feeding at the surface, which is a good indication they haven’t been disturbed.
I should point out that any research we do on sharks is conducted under license from the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority) ethics board for animal studies, as to not cause stress to the animals.
Haley uses a radio antenna to listen for the radio tag they have attached to a basking shark (photo captured by Scott DeGraw).
Lucy: How is your research going so far? What are your plans going forward for the research?
Haley: The research that is focused on basking shark biology, ecology and behavior has gone really well so far and we’ve found out some really, really interesting things which I’m dying to talk about but I can’t at the moment, but watch this space! There’s lots of cool stuff coming soon!
My research interest has grown from my supervisors, Nick Payne, Andrew Jackson and Jonathan Houghton, supporting my curiosity for this species and a collaboration I made when I first started shark research all those years ago (Jackie and Graham Hall who ran Manx Basking Shark Watch). Now this project is growing and we’ve established new collaborations with some incredible researchers from Oregon State University (Big Fish Lab) and Stanford University, who came over this year for fieldwork. Together, we’re trying to collect and analyse even more data about what the sharks are doing and how they’re behaving. There’s been lots of steep learning curves with doing this research as well, but overall, it’s gone really well and we found out some really cool stuff, which will hopefully come out soon!
“if you do see something, take lots of pictures”
Lucy: That’s great, I can’t wait to see what you’ve found out! Well, for my last question, as a lot of our readers may not necessarily be in the scientific field, is there any way they could get involved in conservation efforts or research to help these threatened sharks?
Haley: Yes! People can get involved by reporting their sightings of any sharks to groups such as the Irish Basking Shark Group and Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and these can feed into scientific research. Also, if you do see something, take lots of pictures because then it’s possible to identify individuals by nicks and cuts on their dorsal fin and this is a great example of a non-invasive way of looking at social behavior or whether sharks are returning year on year to an area, indicating it might be an important area for feeding or breeding or pupping.
You can also get involved with any campaigns that you see going on for the protection of these animals. Support from the public, alongside the work and support from Minister Noonan and TD Jennifer Whitmore is actually what was instrumental in the recent campaign to have the basking shark added to the Irish Wildlife Act; it was a great campaign led by the Irish Basking Shark Group to get basking sharks protection in Irish waters and part of that was a petition that was signed by the general public. It gained incredible support from the public, with I think over 20,000 signatures, which is amazing and hopefully they’ll be protected under Irish law soon.
Haley is a PhD student in Zoology at Trinity College Dublin, and you can find her on Twitter @haleydolton. Haley’s work has been funded by the Irish Research Council, with support from the Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Nick Payne is funded by Science Foundation Ireland.
After a hiatus during which the Symposium had to move online, the annual TCD Botany-Zoology Postgrad Symposium finally made it’s return to an in-person format at the start of June 2022 for its 11th edition. It was a great opportunity to for the departments of Botany and Zoology to come together and hear about the wonderful research that is being carried out around the School of Natural Sciences. For some of us, it was our first time meeting certain people in person after many Zoom calls. The range of research that was showcased spanned from sharks to social media, and detoured through seaweed and the ever present climate change. We were delighted to welcome two guest speakers, Dr Anthony Heijenga from GIA Consultancy and Dr Katie O’Dwyer from the newly rechristened Atlantic Technological University, who brought in their unique perspectives on research.
The organising committee of the 2022 Botany-Zoology Postgraduate Symposium: Niamh Mc Cartan, Floriane O’Keeffe, Kate Harrington, Richa Marwaha and Diego Bianchi.
The Symposium kicked off with the first of our plenary speakers, Dr Anthony Heijenga, who gave us a fascinating insight into what you can do with a biology degree. Between growing plants in space, flying in zero gravity and watching exploding rockets, there was plenty to keep the audience entertained. Anthony also gave us an overview of his work on plants and the challenges of growing plants in space.
Dr Anthony Heijenga presenting his talk entitled “Advanced Life Support Systems”.
After our first plenary speaker, it was on to our student presentations. First in the session was Haley Dolton, a third year PhD student in Dr Nick Payne’s lab, who presented her research on investigating the anatomy and physiology of basking sharks to understand why they behave the way they do.
Following Haley was Romane Guernalec, a masters student and intern in the Botany Department, supervised by Dr Matt Saunders. Romane works on methane fluxes from aerenchymous species (specifically Typha latifolia) in restored peatlands, and presented her plans for her fieldwork in Ireland.
Next up was Marine Valmier, a fourth year PhD student supervised by Dr Matt Saunders, who is looking at the impacts of management and warmer temperatures on the carbon balance of a grassland on peat soil (assessed with Eddy Covariance technique).
Following Marine, we heard from Frank Spellman, who is a second year PhD student in Zoology supervised by Nessa O’Connor. Frank is applying ecological theory to improve the stability of yields of cultivated macroalage, and quantifying the ecological impact.
Haley Dolton, Romane Guernalec, Marine Valmier and Frank Spellman presenting their research.
We then heard from Eamonn Cooper, a first year PhD student in Botany who is supervised by Trevor Hodkinson. Although Eamonn only started two months ago, he gave a great overview of his project which will be looking at the genetic characteristics of plus crop oak and their progeny.
Next up was Aedín Mc Adams, who is doing a research masters in Zoology with Prof Yvonne Buckley. Aedín is assessing the habitat suitable for restoration and reintroduction of Geyer’s Whorl snail 🐌 (Vertigo geyeri) in Lough Talt in the Lough Hoe Bog SAC.
Closing out the Thursday afternoon session was Thibault Durieux, a first year PhD student in Botany supervised by Dr Carla Harper. Thibault spoke to us about the first steps of wood evolution about 400 million years ago and its relationship with past ecosystems.
Eamonn Cooper, Aedín Mc Adams, Thibault Durieux and Mairéad O’Donnell presenting their research.
We were back bright and early on Friday morning for a packed day of talks. First to speak was Mairéad O’Donnell, who is a first year PhD student in Botany supervised by Dr Marcus Collier.
Next up was Floriane O’Keeffe, a third year PhD student in Zoology who is supervised by Dr Pepijn Luijckx. Floriane spoke to us about the effects of parasitism in Daphnia magna, specifically looking at the effects of sequential versus simultaneous co-infections in these animals.
Following Floriane, we heard from Midori Yajima, who is supervised by Prof Jenny McElwain. She spoke to us about how botanic gardens’ potential for climate change research is yet to be fully explored. Trinity College Botanic Garden has a 10+ year environmental monitoring program which aims to contribute to filling this gap, and its year one baseline work is now underway – addressing the what, how, and which species will be protagonists for this long term challenge.
Next up was Elena Zioga, a final year PhD student supervised by Prof Jane Stout. Elena presented her research on characterising systemic pesticide residues in floral resources for bees in Ireland.
We then heard from Grace McNicholas, a first year PhD student supervised by Dr Nick Payne. Grace presented her plans for her PhD project, which will be investigating environmental drivers and habitat suitability of a renowned ocean predator, tuna.
Floriane O’Keeffe, Midori Yajima, Elena Zioga and Grace McNicholas presenting their research.
The final speaker of this session was Bea Jackson, who is supervised by Prof Jenny McElwain and Dr Carla Harper. She is working on using fossil plant trait to aid with reconstruction of atmospheric CO2 concentration during the Devonian period.
After a quick coffee break in the sunshine, we were on the second session of the day. Our first speaker was Andrew Neill, a third year PhD student supervised by Prof Jane Stout, who presented his project discussing how social-media can provide insight into people-nature interactions to better map and assess cultural ecosystem services.
Next up was Kathleen Conroy, who is a first year PhD student supervised by Prof Jane Stout. Her work will enable land managers to make important decisions that will have lasting effects on Irish forests.
We then heard from Clinton Haarlem, a second year PhD student supervised by Dr Andrew Jackson, who gave a talk which was intriguingly entitled “Time is in the eye of the beholder”. Clinton gave an overview of his research investigating what might cause variation in individuals’ “temporal resolution” (the ability to process different rates of change in luminance).
Bea Jackson, Andrew Neill, Kathleen Conroy and Clinton Haarlem presenting their research.
Next to speak was Irene Bottero, a final year Botany PhD student who is supervised by Prof Jane Stout. She explained to us that landscape degradation is one of the main causes of insect pollinators decline, and that preserving landscape diversity and semi-natural habitats (including floral strips and hedgerows) is fundamental to preserve pollinator communities in agricultural contexts.
Our next speaker was Whitney Parker, a first year PhD student supervised by Dr Pepijn Luijckx. She gave an introduction of her PhD, which will investigate the effect of host density and genetic diversity on the spread of infectious diseases, using Daphnia magna as a model organism.
The final speaker of this session was Andrew Torsney, a PhD student in Zoology supervised by Prof Yvonne Buckley. He presented his research on the environmental impacts of visitors at nature-based sites, and explained that visitor demongraphics, site-type and activities determine the occurrence and severity of environmental impacts at these tourist destinations.
Our final session was opened by Simon Benson, a first year PhD student in Zoology, supervised by Dr Nessa O’Connor. He presented his PhD project which will investigate the development of high-value products for economically viable kelp aquaculture using genetic, ecophysiological, and biochemical methods.
Irene Bottero, Whitney Parker, Andrew Torsney and Simon Benson presenting their research.
Next up was Kate Harrington, a first year PhD student supervised by Prof Jane Stout and Prof Fraser Mitchell. Kate is investigating the ecological value and ecosystem services of new native woodlands.
We then heard from Niamh Mc Cartan, a first year PhD student in Zoology who is supervised by Dr Pepijn Luijckx, who presented her project looking at the effect of extreme temperature variation on host-parasite interactions.
Natalia Rodriguez Castenado, supervised by Dr Marcus Collier, then presented her project, entitled Embracing wild and restoring minds: qualitative approaches to urban wild spaces and mental health and well-being in sustainable cities.
Our final student speaker of the Symposium was Katrin Schertenleib, a final year PhD student in Zoology supervised by Dr Nessa O’Connor. Katrin explained how Bayesian Belief Networks function, and how we can use them to assess the ecological status of Dublin Bay.
She closed her talk by reiterating to the audience how important climate change mitigation measures are, especially in such uncertain times.
Kate Harrington, Niamh Mc Cartan, Natalia Rodriguez Castenado and Katrin Schertenleib presenting their research.
Finally, Dr Katie O’Dwyer closed the Symposium with the second of our plenary talks, giving us an overview of her journey in research and her work on parasite ecology. It was a great end to a busy couple of days filled with a wide range of talks.
Dr Katie O’Dwyer presenting her talk entitled “The how, what and why of parasite ecology, and some lessons learned along the way”.
Finally, it was time for prizes, presented by our plenary speakers!
And the winners were…
Niamh Mc Cartan for best five minute talk, Katrin Schertenleib for second place ten minute talk, Elena Zioga for best ten minute talk and Elena Zioga once again for the audience choice.
Elena Zioga, Katrin Schertenleib and Niamh Mc Cartan receiving their prizes.
After corralling our attendees to the stairs for a group photo, we released them for celebrations in the Pav. Congratulations to all our presenters and a special congratulations to the winners!
Blog written by Floriane O’Keeffe
Updatesfrom EcoEvo Editors:
We just wanted to say another huge thank you to the committee members for putting on such a friendly and supportive event! And congratulations to all the speakers, with a special mention to the winners!
Finally, a quick reminder that if you have any EcoEvo news, research updates, or think pieces you’d like to write about, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you and share your piece on the blog!
The wildflower meadow outside the front gates of Trinity College Dublin.
In February 2020, a Trinity Green Campus poll was held amongst Trinity College Dublin (TCD) staff and students to convert the lawns of Front Gate into a wildflower meadow. Of the 13,850 people who voted, 12,496 voted in favour, a 90% majority. This was the largest number of participants that Trinity Green Campus had ever had, likely due to the extensive communications regarding the campaign, with features being included on local, national, and international news channels. The project has been deemed a success with support from both the public and TCD community and it continues to flourish outside the historic Front Gate of TCD. The TCD wildflower meadow is one of many similar “rewilding” projects that are currently being undertaken to increase biodiversity in urban and rural spaces but why are they such a popular rewilding choice? And how can we ensure their success?
Let’s take it that any project, ecological or otherwise, can be deemed successful if it has fulfilled the goals that it set out to achieve. The majority of rewilding and restoration projects aim to introduce species to an ecosystem as a way of restoring ecosystem functions and re-establishing natural processes that existed previously. In the case of wildflower meadows, the species being introduced are herbaceous plants and the ecosystem functions that they aim to restore usually relate to pollination or biodiversity, although this is not always the case. Even the broadest generalisation of the aims of wildflower meadows lacks clarity on the type of ecosystem functions that are expected to be restored. This is due to the aims of any restoration effort being dependent on the social and cultural views of the people carrying out or interacting with the project. Therefore, each individual wildflower meadow project must define the unique aims pertaining to it before a decision can be made on its success.
The two most documented spatial differences are between North America and Europe. In North America, the landscapes that were present before European colonisers have long been idolised and perpetuated as the “perfect wilderness,” with many attempts being made to conserve and restore these ecosystem types. As such, projects which aim to restore pre-colonisation landscapes are often deemed to be successful and are well received by the public. Large wildflower meadows that are re-planted in areas that previously were inhabited by similar species and vegetative communities are also deemed successful and serve as a reminder of the great prairies and grasslands of 1500’s North America. However, when urban wildflower meadows are planted many North Americans question whether it is truly restoration, since there were no previous wildflower meadows present here which can be said to be restored. Therefore, if the aim of this example is to be an act of restoration or rewilding the project is unable to be successful.
Contrasting to this, European rewilding does not explicitly try to recreate a single period, owing to the long established agricultural and industrial disturbance that has been occurring in the area since ~7000 B.C.. Therefore, the matter of projects emulating an exact period does not cause the same obstacles to success that are seen in North America. Instead, a range of dates are replicated, from Pleistocene to pre-industrial. There is a much lesser demand for projects on the large scales seen in North America, with the reintroduction of large carnivores causing public outcry. When concerning wildflower meadows, small pockets of pre-existing meadows or similar habitats are still naturally established in Europe, such as hedgerows and agricultural wildflower meadows. Thus, it is easier for people to view wildflower meadows projects as restoration.
Education also plays a key role in the success of wildflower meadows. Some studies have shown that the public perceives nature as consisting of trees and forested areas, and so projects that remove trees, even for positive environmental reasons, are perceived negatively. Other studies, however, have shown contrasting results, recording preferences towards annuals over larger trees or fruit plants. Interestingly, this same study also recorded that 54% of participants did not know what wildflowers were. This indicates that asking the public whether they prefer wildflowers over trees may not give accurate data as the responders are much more familiar with one subject over the other. Where images were shown, participants revealed a preference for wildflower meadows over images of herbaceous and formal bedding styles. The degree to which they preferred wildflower meadows over other bedding styles increased with an increase of plant species richness. This is a positive sign for those who wish to use wildflower meadows to restore pollinator and biodiversity functions, as it suggests that there should be public support of the projects if the public are adequately informed on wildflower meadows.
The TCD wildflower meadow project had clear goals, aiming to demonstrate that grass lawns were not the only option for planting in a formal setting. By prioritising the goal of informing the public on the project aims, TCD reduced arguments that may have otherwise arisen over the success of the project. Notably, before the project began, the idea was put to a vote by the staff and students at the college. As mentioned previously, the poll was hugely successful likely due to the amount of publicity it received. In order to combat any doubt surrounding the use of non-native species, information was provided about the reasoning for including non-native species and why they would be beneficial to the project, for example, the increased pollination potential of the site and the aesthetic benefits of the species chosen. The clear communication regarding the project appears to have ensured the wildflower meadows success. The public support for a wildflower project in the heart of the capital city centre could also in part be due to the site being in Europe. Alternatively, the public support could be due to the project being planted shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been hypothesised to have increased public appreciation for green spaces. Many of the questions posed remain unanswered due to the modernity of the topic and rapidly shifting public opinions. As developments occur, both academically and publicly, more light will be shed on the success of wildflower meadows and how projects can be best implemented. However, for now, debates on the topic should be encouraged and the public should be involved in the conversation. Wildflower meadows have a huge potential to educate people about their environment and can be implemented on many scales, being made suitable to whichever environment is present. The people managing these projects should consider the ecological and social environment within which they work and make efforts to adapt to the unique environment in which they may find themselves. There is plentiful research into the social dynamics of rewilding and restoration projects and so it can be concluded that the issue lies with project managers and a potential lack of consideration of the social factors at hand.
Aoife is a final year Environmental Sciences student at Trinity College Dublin who recently completed her undergraduate thesis with Dr Piggott and Dr Penk. She is interested in urban rewilding and quantitative ecology and hopes to work in these areas in the future.
When Melissa Jeuken was appointed to her new job as a shepherd to a 25-strong flock of old Irish goats on Howth Head last September, the news caught national and international attention. A rare breed of feral goats was being employed in an innovative attempt to keep the heather in check to curtail wildfires at the Dublin beauty spot, a natural solution to an increasingly destructive environmental problem. Utilising ecosystem processes such as grazing livestock to restore biodiversity is second nature to Melissa who grew up on her father Harry Jeuken’s farm in Lough Avalla, Co. Clare. Burren farmers such as the Jeukens have for many years used the seasonal movement of grazing animals to maintain the landscape’s rich grasslands, whose range of wildflowers from orchids to gentians gives this special area of conservation its unique floral diversity. Over 300 Burren farmers are now paid directly to protect biodiversity under such results-based payment schemes (RBPS).
Following accession to the EEC in 1973, the modernisation of Ireland’s agriculture sector led to increased intensification and environmental problems – more agricultural pollution from run-off and fertilizer, erosion of upland areas from over-grazing and habitat loss from land-use change. The mid-1990s saw agri-environmental schemes such as REPS attempt to address the growing imbalance between intensification and environmental issues. In areas with unique landscape features such as the Burren, however, the one-size-fits-all approach of REPS was found wanting, with a lack of buy-in from local farmers who felt the Burren’s unique set of needs were excluded. This led to one of the first RBPS in Ireland in 2004, the Burren LIFE programme, funded under a European Union scheme for climate action and the environment. There are now at least 8 other RBPS, whose efforts to conserve species range from the corncrake and hen harrier in the northwest and mid-west to the pearl mussel in the south. The majority of schemes are located in the west as a larger proportion of high nature value (HNV) farms are found there.
RBPS come under the general umbrella of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), of which there are hundreds globally, and are viewed as an important component of farmland biodiversity conservation not least because they directly involve farm owners in the protection of important ecosystems. However, a criticism of early agri-environmental schemes such as REPS was that payments to farmers were not yielding biodiversity results. So are RBPS any different?
There are accepted pros and cons to the results indicators used in scorecards indicating ecological integrity in RBPS. The indicators have worked well in the Burren, where scores have risen for fields assessed and this has directly led to improvements in the conservation of species-rich grasslands. The presence of nests is an indicator of the conservation of farmland birds, and this is seen as a beneficial element of the scheme as it raises awareness of biodiversity among farmers and builds ownership. However, the presence of a nest does not guarantee chicks will fledge successfully. Therefore, the conservation outcome for any particular results indicator may not always be transparent, causing challenges when it comes to assessing the biodiversity impact.
Indeed, annual survey results for hen harrier reveal a 25% decline in the bird’s six habitat ranges since being designated within a Special Protection Area, with the burning of heathland and land-use change to forestry and windfarms the chief causes of the decline. On the other hand, changes in farmland practices such as delayed mowing initiated through Corncrake LIFE may be producing, in the absence of scientific studies, at least anecdotal increases in corncrake numbers.
With a third of Ireland’s farmland definable as HNV, the potential exists for RBPS expansion. HNV areas also include half of the country’s Natura 2000 sites, meaning efforts to increase the uptake of RBPS would also assist with the management of designated sites. However, there is a need to develop reliable indicators to assess improvements in farmland biodiversity and the mechanism may not exist within existing RBPS to achieve this.
The principles underpinning RBPS – locally-led, farmer-centred, results-based, adaptable – make them attractive for wider agricultural adoption only if more flexible structures are introduced in national and international policies. Environmental NGO reaction to the latest round of Common Agricultural Policy strategic planning has been unequivocal on the ongoing biodiversity challenges, with BirdWatch Ireland asserting that only between 2 and 5% of the €9.8 billion Irish CAP budget will be spent on ‘effective measures for biodiversity’ and that targeting of actions on HNV farmland, in particular is required. And these concerns seem justified. A 2020 study of the effects of increased afforestation found 13 of 44 birds of conservation concern had over 80% of their habitats afforested, resulting in a shift in avian community composition there.
RBPS are locally-led, multi-stakeholder conservation interventions which work from the bottom-up and include local communities in decision-making. They are an important, albeit currently marginal, element of the EU’s strategy to conserve biodiversity in agriculture. Being a relatively recent development, their contribution to restoring biodiversity has yet to be adequately quantified on an EU-wide scale. That they are producing initial positive results in certain locations may help avert further extinctions brought about by Ireland’s ensuing biodiversity crisis. However, with most Irish farming taking place outside HNV areas, the effect of RBPS on restoring biodiversity may be limited nationally, and many farmers could still find themselves choosing between continued intensification and abandonment as a result of current EU agricultural policies.
Traditionally, Irish agriculture has been extensively managed; large hedgerows, semi-natural grasslands, wetland habitats, and low-input arable systems supported a complex assemblage of farmland biodiversity. Agricultural intensification on the back of ill-informed government subsidies has resulted in large scale habitat destruction and degradation. Agriculture is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss in Ireland. One in five species in Ireland is threatened with extinction, demonstrating the severity of the situation. Solving this issue is critical.
Agri-environment schemes
The interconnectedness of agriculture and nature has been recognized on a European scale. Since 1994 it has been compulsory for all EU member states to provide an agri-environment scheme, in which farmers receive payments to support the restoration and maintenance of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. This led to the introduction of Ireland’s first agri-environment scheme- the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS). Like the majority of agri-environment schemes in Europe, REPS was designed as an action-based scheme. Within such schemes, farmers are paid to complete generic tasks with little importance placed on actual results. This action-based system has continued in subsequent nationwide schemes, including Ireland’s current scheme, GLAS. Despite major investment in action-based schemes within the EU, farmland biodiversity continues to decline, creating questions regarding the suitability of this approach.
An alternative approach to agri-environment schemes is a results-based payment system. This is an output-based system in which farmers are paid for the results they produce. This differs from the input-orientated system of an action-based approach, which focuses on the actions performed. In Ireland, the results-based approach was first implemented through locally-led agri-environment schemes, which have been used to address local problems with context-appropriate solutions. These schemes, such as The BRIDE project in the River Bride catchment and The Burren LIFE Programme in Co. Clare does not conform to the broad-stroke approach of previous nationwide schemes and has been found to be extremely effective in enhancing farmland biodiversity.
The influence of locally-led schemes, coupled with a push from the EU towards results-based agri-environment schemes to provide greater cost-effectiveness, has resulted in the creation of Ireland’s first nationwide results-based agri-environment scheme, aptly named Results-Based Environment-Agri Pilot Project (REAP). REAP will trial the use of a results-based payment in achieving biodiversity outcomes and will directly influence the implementation of this system on a larger scale in the Irish Rural Development Plan 2023. Will results-based schemes prove to be the silver bullet in solving Ireland’s biodiversity loss?
Questioning results-based schemes
Before tearing up the current script and implementing a full-scale results-based payment scheme, the advantages and disadvantages of this system must be understood. There are advantages of results-based schemes that address some of the problems associated with action-based schemes. A results-based scheme makes a clear link between biodiversity outcomes and payments. Furthermore, it does not specify the action in which this result must be obtained, allowing farmers to integrate the production of the desired outcome into their existing management practices. This freedom facilitates adaptability and allows farmers to draw on their existing wealth of local knowledge and skill, which is essential in integrating the importance of biodiversity into long-term farming practices. A results-based system is cost-effective, as it incentivizes farmers to select only the biodiversity outcomes on the land in which it can be achieved and to strive for improvement year on year.
Although results-based schemes are mostly depicted in a positive light, there are disadvantages that should be made clear. Result-based schemes are limited to circumstances in which the relationship between agricultural practice and biodiversity outcome is established and can be represented by indicators. The freedom of farmers to innovate in these schemes is greatly influenced by advisory support, without which farmers may not have the ability to achieve the desired outcomes. It is important to note that a results-based approach carries a financial risk to farmers, as the desired outcomes can be influenced by factors outside of the control of farmers. In addition, results-based payment schemes carry a high initial cost, requiring an adaption of the management system, advisory support, training, and repeated monitoring of results.
Future of payment schemes
A result-based payment approach cannot be perceived as a silver bullet given its drawbacks. However, the business-as-usual approach is not an option. Instead, a results-based approach would represent a positive step in restoring Irish farmland biodiversity, which is achievable in previous locally-led results-based schemes. To mitigate the financial risk to participants, a hybrid results-based system that incorporates action payments could be implemented. The targeted actions within a hybrid approach can complement the results-based payments. The key to success with any payment scheme, results-based or otherwise, is farmer participation. These schemes are not obligatory for farmers, and so the unwillingness of farmers to properly engage will cause the programme to fail. Creating a results-based agri-environment scheme that works for farmers as well as biodiversity will be the key to success.
