Tracking changes in the abundance of our butterflies
ANNUAL REPORT
Eugenie Regan and Stefanie Fleischer | National Biodiversity Data Centre
2010
Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................
1
2010 Results............................................................................................................
2
Volunteers and transect sites in 2010.................................................................
8
Added value of the scheme..............................................................................
12
Plans for 2011 and beyond...............................................................................
13
Mary Foley &
Brian O’Connor
Gráinne Histon
Martin Byrnes
Cian & Ross O’Flaherty
Introduction
The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is a citizen science project which brings together over 140
people across Ireland with the aim of improving the understanding of our butterflies. The scheme
was established by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in 2007 and has been supported by Butterfly
Conservation in the UK and Butterfly Conservation Europe.
Each volunteer undertakes the same walk (1-2km) every week from April to September and counts the
butterflies that they see following a standard methodology. The data is then collated by the National
Biodiversity Data Centre. Although volunteers may not be able to walk their transect each week due to
adverse weather or other factors, most volunteers contribute over 52 hours a year to the scheme. Over
140 volunteers contributed to the scheme in 2010, which equates to 7,280 volunteer hours in total.
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
Figure 1. Number of transects monitored in Ireland since 2007. One site, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, has been
monitored since 1992.
Annual Report 2010 | Page 1
Objectives of the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
•
To maintain and develop a network of transect sites in order to assess and interpret changes in
the abundance and status of Irish butterflies
•
To encourage participation in scientific butterfly monitoring by volunteers
•
To improve our knowledge, awareness and understanding of Irish butterflies
•
To secure and manage good quality and reliable data on Ireland’s butterflies
•
To make this data freely and universally available
•
To facilitate and promote the use of butterfly monitoring data to support Irish and international
policy, in particular biodiversity loss and climate change
2010 Results
A total of 148 transects were
walked in 2010 from all
counties except Louth (See
map). Over 10,700 records
of 33 species were collected
during the season. The greenveined white butterfly was the
most abundant with 13,650
individuals counted (Figure 2).
The next most abundant were
speckled wood, meadow
brown, ringlet and small
tortoiseshell. The most widely
recorded species was the
speckled wood which was
recorded at 134 out of 139
sites (Figure 3).
Ten species are widely
recorded in the Irish Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme. Thirty
three species were recorded
by volunteers this year in
comparison with 2009 where
31 species were recorded
(note: the wood white is
actually two species but
recorded as one by the
Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
volunteers).
The two new species for 2010
are the Essex skipper and
purple hairstreak. Only one
species, the pearl-bordered
fritillary, remains to be
recorded by the Irish Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme.
2009
Map: Growth in the number of transects established for the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme between 2009 and 2010
Annual Report 2010 | 2
2010
peacock 1734
orange tip 2446
others
8431
large white 3314
green-veined
white 13650
common blue 3688
speckled wood
12135
small white 5877
small tortoiseshell
6746
meadow
brown 8706
ringlet 8483
Figure 2. Abundance of butterflies from all transects in 2010.
speckled wood
green-veined white
small white
large white
small tortoiseshell
meadow brown
orange tip
ringlet
peacock
red admiral
common blue
small copper
wood white
silver-washed fritillary
small health
holly blue
wall
painted lady
brimstone
green hairstreak
dingy skipper
small blue
grayling
gatekeeper
marsh fritillary
large heath
dark green fritillary
comma
clouded yellow
purple hairstreak
brown hairstreak
Essex skipper
23
22
20
16
16
15
14
13
12
6
6
4
2
1
134
131
130
126
125
120
117
112
112
110
75
73
67
54
47
41
40
40
Figure 3. The Irish butterfly species and number of sites at which they were recorded during the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
2010 (data is shown for 139 sites).
Annual Report 2010 | Page 3
5,000
Figure 4. Flight period for all
species in 2010 (red line) and
2009 (blue line).
4,800
4,600
2010
4,400
4,200
4,000
2009
3,800
Abundance (Total no. on transects)
3,600
3,400
3,200
3,000
2,800
2,600
2,400
2,200
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
25 Feb - 3 Mar
18 - 24 Mar
1 - 7 Apr
15 - 21 Apr
6 - 12 May 20 - 26 May
3 - 9 Jun
17 - 23 Jun
1 - 7 Jul
15 - 21 Jul
5 - 11 Aug 19 - 25 Aug
2 - 8 Sep
16 - 22 Sep
7 - 13 Oct 21 - 27 Oct
Week Starting
Flight period of all butterflies in 2010
2010 began with a very dry and cold spring while April and May were a little warmer than normal. High
values of around 25°C were recorded by Met Éireann on May 22nd and 23rd. This corresponds with a
peak in butterfly numbers during the week of the 20th to 26th of May (Figure 4). There was high rainfall
at the end of May and beginning of June with a corresponding drop in butterfly numbers.
Temperatures and sunshine totals were above normal throughout much of June, especially at the end
of the month. Butterfly numbers increased during this period and stayed high through until August.
Fiona Farrell
ing
Anthony Picker
Eva Boyle & Christine Maloney
Ann Baskett
Annual Report 2010 | 4
Keeping an eye on the holly blue
In 2009 a sharp decline in holly blue numbers was recorded at a number of monitoring transects. This
butterfly is renowned for fluctuating wildly in numbers, forming a predictable cycle over a few years.
And it appears that its numbers are on the rise again.
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
Figure 5. Holly blue butterfly numbers from the Newbridge Park transect (D01 – John Lovatt).
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
Figure 6. Holly blue butterfly numbers from the Raven Nature Reserve Transect (WX01 – Chris Wilson)
Annual Report 2010 | Page 5
Second generation of wood white
The recent discovery of two wood white species in Ireland has raised many questions about the natural
history of these two species. One question is surrounding the flight of these butterflies and whether
they have two broods or one in Ireland. A second brood has been confirmed for Leptidea sinapis in the
Burren (Brian Nelson pers. comm.) and is suspected but remains to be confirmed for Leptidea reali.
Interestingly, this second brood appears to be a recent occurrence and is presumed to be a response
to climate change similar to that documented for the holly blue. In 2010, some Butterfly Monitoring
Scheme transects recorded second broods for Leptidea reali in late July. This will be monitored closely
in collaboration with national experts.
New sites for marsh fritillary
The marsh fritillary is the only legally protected butterfly in Ireland and is protected under the EU
Habitats Directive. It has a wide but patchy distribution in Ireland and has suffered regional extinction in
some parts of Ireland. Following the workshop in August, Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme volunteers
have monitored and surveyed for marsh fritillary and recorded new sites in a number of counties
including Wicklow where it was thought to be extinct.
Eddie Gilligan
Derek Robinson
Eamonn
& Rodney
Chris Wilson
Cian, Jack & Tommy Griffin
Frank Murphy
Annual Report 2010 | 6
How many transects are needed?
The aim of the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is to track changes in the abundances of Irish
butterflies. To track changes, a minimum number of transects is needed with data for at least 10
years. Statisticians and ecologists have written numerous papers on the subject. They have found
that it varies depending on the species of butterfly and the length of time that it has been monitored.
However, the general rule is that between 25 and 50 transect sites are needed per species over a
20-year period to detect less than 50% changes in the populations.
In 2010, 18 species were recorded at 40 sites or more (Figure 5). While the other 14 species were
recorded at 23 sites or less. Separating the two wood white species, Leptidea sinapis (which occurs in
the Burren) was only recorded at a handful of sites. With the recent publication of the Irish Butterfly
Red List, we can also look at the species that are under threat of extinction and whether the Irish
Butterfly Monitoring Scheme has enough sites to track changes in these species. The eleven species
that are either threatened or near threatened are: pearl-bordered fritillary, small blue, wall, dark green
fritillary, large heath, marsh fritillary, dingy skipper, gatekeeper, grayling, small heath, and wood white
(Leptidea sinapis). Of these, the wall and the small heath are being recorded at 40 and 47 transect
sites, respectively.
The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme therefore needs to increase the number of transect sites
monitoring the following species:
Species
Period for monitoring
Location/habitats
Pearl-bordered fritillary
May-June
The Burren
Small blue
May-June
Coastal sand dunes
Dark green fritillary
June-September
Coastal heaths and sand dunes
Large heath
June-August
blanket and raised bogs
Marsh fritillary (adult)
May-July
Variety of habitats but mainly .
calcareous grassland, degraded .
bogs, wet heath
Marsh fritillary (larval web)
Same as above
September-October
Dingy skipper
May-August
Variety but need short vegetation .
and shallow soils
Grayling
July-September
Unimproved grasslands, sand .
dunes, dry heaths
Wood white (L. sinapis)
May-August
The Burren and western shores
of Lough Corrib
Brimstone
April-September
Scrub/open woodland
Green hairstreak
April-July
Edges of bog with gorse
Purple hairstreak
July-September
Mature oak trees
Brown hairstreak
July-September
Limestone districts of Galway .
and Clare
The comma, clouded yellow and Essex skipper are not targeted by the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
as they are either new to Ireland or migrant species. The purple hairstreak and brown hairstreak may
need to be monitored by alternative methods such as egg counts.
Single-species transects could be the best option for these targeted species where volunteers only
record during the flight period of the targeted species rather than for the full season from April to
September. A transect for the pearl-bordered fritillary, for example, would be from the beginning of
May to the end of June. The Burren area, in particular, needs more butterfly monitoring transects.
Annual Report 2010 | Page 7
Volunteers and transect sites in 2010
Recorder
Grid ref.
Transect name
Transect code
1
Lynn Daly
W3053
Old Woodland
C01
2
Lynn Daly
W3153
Backgraphs
C02
3
Rodney Daunt
W7557
Gortigrenane
C03
4
Nancy Murphy
W7151
Ballyhullen
C06
5
Clare Heardman
V9256
Glengarriff
C13
6
Carol Fynn
W6769
Tramore River
C15
7
Tony Miller
W1659
Tooreen
C16
8
Ester Burke
W1933
Reneen Woods
C18
9
Tom Kenny
W8298
Fermoy Bridge
C19
C20
10
Ted Cook
W2366
Screachin a Radharc
11
Daragh Smyth
W3544
Letter
C21
12
Pat Doncaster
V8449
O'Sullivan Mile
C22
13
Rayner Weinreich
V9060
Rossnagrena
C23
14
Pat Doncaster
V7725
Barley Cove
C26
15
Jenny Trethryn
X0886
Ballyroe
C27
16
Fearghus McSweeney
W7198
Philips Wood
C28
17
Damaris Lysaght
V9837
Coolcaha
C29
18
Frances Lynch
W6472
Hollymount
C30
19
Abigail Brewer
W3334
Kilkeran
C31
20
Derek Robinson
W6149
Kilnacloona
C32
21
Barry Mahon
W0225
Kilmoon, Sherkin Island
C33
22
Philip O'Donoghue
W7456
Knocknamanagh Minane Bridge
C34
23
Enda Kiernan
W3570
Inchinashinkane
C35
24
Pat Kavanagh
R8718
Galtee Castle
C36
25
Claire McIntyre
V9653
Ardnaturrish Beg
C37
26
Emma Stewart Liberty
M2407
Dangan Gate
CE01
27
Anne Griffin
R3780
Barefield
CE03
28
Donna Smith
R6095
Flagmount
CE04
29
Mary Howard
M1409
Green Rd Murrough
CE05
30
Tina Aughney
N6782
Killyconny Bog
CN02
31
David McDonagh
H3506
Killykeen
CN03
32
Fintan Ryan
S7249
Borris Demesne
CW01
33
John Lovatt
O2449
Newbridge Demesne
D01
34
Brendan Dunleavy
O2621
Shanganagh Park
D02
35
Nigel O'Brien
O2621
Shanganagh Park
D02
36
Susan White/Brendan Dunleavy
O2325
Cabinteely Park
D03
37
Frank Smyth
O2836
Howth Path cliff walk
D07
38
Angela Dakin
O1429
Terenures Bushy Park
D08
39
Michael Kingston
O2722
Killiney Hill Park
D10
40
Pauline Murray
O1228
Dodder Valley Park
D11
41
Susan White
O1526
Marlay Park
D13
42
Margaret Darcy
O1933
Sean Moore Park
D16
43
Malcolm Taylor
O1429
Lower Dodder Rd
D18
44
Roslyn Nicholson
O2523
Killiney Shanganagh
D19
45
Bernard Brady
O1132
Lansdowne Valley Park
D20
46
Catherine Larkin
O2033
Irish Town Nature Park
D21
47
Tony Harnett
O0448
Huntstown Wood Dublin
D22
48
Tom Duignan
O0136
Phoenix Park
D23
Annual Report 2010 | 8
Recorder
Grid ref.
Transect name
Transect code
49
Richard McCafferty
G8395
Glenmacannive
DL02
50
Liz Sheppard
H2399
Carnowen Farm
DL03
51
Leo Solosy
G5977
Cuiscrigh Kilcar
DL04
52
Irene Deisler
B7610
Crucknagerragh
DL05
53
Dermot McNelis
G7078
Bailesalach
DL06
54
Mairi-Elena Crool
C0734
Ards
DL07
55
Mary Burke
M1937
Pollough
G01
56
Elizabeth Gosling
M2926
River Corrib
G02
57
Frank Murphy
M1045
Newvillage Oughterard
G03
G04
58
Ger O'Donnell
L7057
Flynn's Field
59
Rebecca Teesdale
M3522
Rinville Park
G05
60
Cathy Seale
M6931
Cloonahinch Bog
G10
61
Ben Lodge
M2554
Esker Monastery
G11
62
Peter Duffy
M2827
Dangan
G17
63
Sean Gallanagh
M3026
Terryland River
G18
64
Martin & Elizabeth Byrnes
M4103
Garryland Wood
G19
65
Darren Meade
M2827
St Annes Dangan
G20
66
Aideen and Frank Ward
M2523
Knocknacarra-Rusheen
G21
67
Eileen Maguire
M0249
Dooneen
G22
68
Michael O'Connell
L8626
Inis Mor
G23
69
Eric Corbett
M2746
Deerpark
G24
70
Colm McIntyre
M1422
Spiddal East
G25
71
Deirdre Murphy
M2523
Cappagh Park
G26
72
John Walsh
M4909
Limepark
G27
73
Jesmond Harding
N6825
Lullybeg
KE01
74
Lullymore West Bog IPCC
N6926
Lullymore West Bog
KE02
75
Eddie Gilligan
N9936
Louisa Bridge
KE04
76
Roy Thompson
N7516
Pollardstown Fen
KE05
77
Brian Good
S5155
Kilkenny City Canal walk
KK02
78
Lynda Weekes
S5549
Trail Kilkenny Bennettsbridge
KK04
79
Nora Ni Eacha
S5057
Linear Park
KK05
80
Julie O'Halloran
S4144
Aughnacrumpane
KK06
81
Caroline Murphy
S6849
Skeaghvasteen
KK07
82
Michael O'Sullivan
V9981
Knockavota
KY01
83
Niamh Ni Dhuill
Q8809
Gortbrack organic farm
KY04
84
Val McLoughlin
V8490
Carunahone Gortboy
KY06
85
Oonagh Comerford
V7855
Clogherane
KY07
86
Kathryn Freeman
V9586
Westmeadow
KY08
87
Eileen Histon
R5154
Corbally
L01
88
Grainne Histon
R2849
Barrigone
L02
89
Grainne Histon
R2852
Aughinish Island
L03
90
Grainne Buckley
R3523
Clonmore
L04
91
Morgan Murphy
R7425
Ballyfracta
L06
92
Gearoid Jackson
R7651
Dromsally
L07
93
Aine Fenner
N1156
Gurteen bog
LD01
94
Ann Baskett
N1375
Mall Public Park
LD02
95
Rob Wheeldon
G8740
Milltown Wood
LM01
96
Fiona Farrell
G7753
Uragh
LM02
97
Kealin Ireland
H0102
Annaghmaddoo
LM03
98
Fiona Lloyd
G8637
Cloonaquin
LM04
99
Jason Monaghan
N3606
Slieve Bloom Capard
LS01
Annual Report 2010 | Page 9
Recorder
Grid ref.
Transect name
Transect code
100
Juliet Wiley
N5315
Derryounce Lake
LS02
101
Sean Mullins
S4495
Abbeyleix
LS03
102
Clare Coffey
S4282
Abbeyleix Killamuck
LS04
103
Ian Fox
N8342
Ardrums Great
MH01
104
Eoin McGreal
L8382
Carriganard Ballycashin
MO01
105
Bryony Williams
L9975
Keelcuil
MO03
106
Anthony Pickering
M1695
Bellanierin
MO04
107
Mags Flaherty
F8009
Ballycroy Nat. Park
MO05
108
Bernard Brewer
N3229
Durrow Wood
OY01
109
James Candon
G8103
Boyle Canal
RN03
110
Kevin Deering
G6144
Cosy Corner
S01
111
Eugene McGettrick
G8413
Creevagh
S02
112
John Fogarty
S1449
Grallagh Knocknanuss
T03
113
Malcolm Tanner
R9840
Ballynaclough Bridge
T07
114
Malcolm Tanner
R9548
Carrow
T08
115
Edmund Foyle
S1420
Knocklofty
T09
116
Tony Hayes
S4021
Carrick-on-Suir River Walk
T12
117
Thomas & Florence Land
R8461
Barnsdale
T13
118
Eileen McGrath
R9582
Woodville Bog
T15
119
Rachel Vaughan/Brendan Sheehan
R9887
Cloughjordan
T16
120
Finbar Ryan
S0046
Cappamurra
T17
121
Finbar Ryan
S0145
Ballymore
T18
122
Stefanie Fleischer
S6406
Keiloge
W02
123
Denis Cullen
S5808
Carriganard
W03
124
Marie Power
S5705
Kilbride
W09
125
Philip Duggan
X2692
Abbeyside to Ballin road
W10
126
Mary Niblett
S2513
Glenamore Knockanafrin
W13
127
Denise Keating
S6311
Riverside Walk Maypark
W14
128
Audrey Richards
S6210
Williamstown
W15
129
Scott & Evelyn Simons
X2398
Currabaha
W16
130
Lesley Whiteside
N4651
Baltrasna Bridge
WH02
131
Sam Connolly
O2904
Sea Road
WW01
132
Christian Osthoff
T2589
Carrigmore
WW03
WW04
133
Ian Edwards
T1096
Glendalough
134
Knocksink Wood Education Centre
O2117
Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve
WW06
135
Gillian Stewart
T1379
Knocksink Wood
WW07
136
Cathy Kelly
O2717
Bray Head
WW08
137
John Rossiter
S9490
Keadeen
WW09
138
Chris Wilson
T1126
Raven Nature Reserve
WX01
139
Maja Gawlikowska
T1957
Woodland 2
WX03
140
Tomasz Babiarz
T2055
Woodland 1
WX04
141
Deirdre Toomey
T0623
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
WX05
142
Maeve Kenny
T0657
Boley
WX06
143
Monica van Harpen
S9435
Garr
WX07
144
Nigel O'Brien
S7416
Killesk
WX08
145
Mary Foley
S9209
Dunmacormack
WX09
146
Mary Foley
T0221
Coolcotts
WX10
Annual Report 2010 | 10
Tony Miller
Aoife Foley
Eugene McGettick
Frank and Shane Ward
Jason Monaghan
well
Heather Both
Kealin Ireland
or
ian O’Conn
Mary and Br
Lauren Minion
Tina Aughney
Mary Howard
Peter Brittain
ly
Sam Connol
Stefanie Fl
eischer
Stephen, Lily Kate
and Oisin McCormick
Annual Report 2010 | Page 11
Added value of the scheme
A high-profile project
Not only are butterflies important indicators of environmental change but they also fulfill a vital
role as flagship species; engaging the public, local communities, and the media in biodiversity
conservation. In 2010 the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme was given coverage on RTE Radio
1’s Morning Ireland, RTE’s Six One News, the Irish Times, RTE Radio One’s Mooney Show, the Irish
Examiner, and numerous local radio stations.
The European Environment Agency has adopted the butterfly monitoring scheme as an
internationally agreed indicator to measure Europe’s progress towards its target of halting biodiversity
loss by 2010 (European Environment Agency 2009). Two reports have been published recently
directly in relation to this and include Irish data:
Van Swaay, C.A.M. et al. (2010) The impact of climate change on butterfly communities 1990-2009.
Report VS2010.025, Butterfly Conservation Europe & De Vlinderstichting, Wageningen.
Van Swaay, C.A.M. et al. 2010. The European Butterfly Indicator for Grassland species 1990-2009.
Report VS2010.010, De Vlinderstichting, Wageningen.
The two new species for 2010 are the Essex skipper and purple hairstreak. Only one species, the
pearl-bordered fritillary, remains to be recorded by the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.
Supporting conservation initiatives
Two of the objectives of this scheme are to improve the knowledge, awareness and understanding
of Irish butterflies and facilitate the use of the data to support Irish policy. To this end, the National
Biodiversity Data Centre in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the
Northern Ireland Environment Agency produced the Red List of Irish Butterflies (Regan et al., 2010).
Six of our 33 resident and regular migrant species are under threat of extinction according to the Red
List with another five species near threatened. Those species assessed as under threat of extinction
are: Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Blue, Wall, Dark Green Fritillary, Large Heath and Marsh Fritillary.
The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme contributed data directly to the Red List and will aim to
develop the network of transect sites to cover those species under threat of extinction.
Supporting legal obligations
The Marsh Fritillary butterfly is an Annex II species under the EU Habitats Directive. A recent
conservation assessment of this species (Regan et al., 2010) found the species to be under threat
of extinction in Ireland. It is therefore critical that this species is monitored. The Irish Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme has been training volunteers in monitoring marsh fritillary using larval web
counts. This data has been collated by the Data Centre and sent back to the National Parks and
Wildlife Service. Volunteers also monitor adult Marsh Fritillary butterflies during the standard transect
methodology and this data is also fed in to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Irish Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme will continue to support the monitoring and protection of the Marsh Fritillary.
Annual Report 2010 | 12
Figure 7. The Irish Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme contributed
to national and international
publications in 2010, including
Ireland Red List No. 4: Butterflies,
The European Butterfly Indicator for
Grassland Species: 1990-2009, and
The Impact of Climate Change on
butterfly communities 1990-2009.
Plans for 2011 and beyond
•
•
•
•
Maintain and develop a network of over 100 monitoring transects across the country
Establish at least 20 single-species monitoring transects for each of the rarer and protected species,
including the marsh fritillary, pearl-bordered fritillary, brown hairstreak, large heath, and small blue
Feed data into national butterfly conservation initiatives as well as biodiversity assessments
(including red lists)
Feed data into European initiatives, including the European Grassland Butterfly Indicator and the
European Butterfly Climate Change Indicator
Key tasks and timescale for 2011
•
•
•
•
Launch of new Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme website (January 2011)
Analysis of 2010 results and publication of annual 2010 annual report (February 2011)
Field meeting (May 2011)
Collation and digitising of data (September – December 2011)
Deliverables/outputs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Figure 8.Irish Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme Marsh
Fritillary workshop in August
2010 at Lullymore bog,
Co. Kildare.
Annual monitoring of all resident butterfly species
Annual monitoring of marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in the Republic of Ireland
Training (workshops and seminars)
Data management system
Annual report
Five-year report on changes in butterfly and moth abundance
Peer-reviewed publications
Contribution to European reports
Acknowledgements
Our thanks go to all the volunteers without whom this scheme would not be possible. Their time
and effort, together with photos, cards and letters sent to us, are much appreciated.
We would also like to thank Bob Aldwell, Catherine Bertrand, Ken Bond, Tom Brereton, Nicola Foley,
Martina Kovacova, Maurice Hughes, Dearbhala Ledwidge, Richard McCafferty, Oisín Meagher, Ian
Middlebrook, David Nash, Elaine O’Riordan, Mary Toomey, Chris van Swaay, and Chris Wilson for
their advice and input to the scheme. Within the Data Centre there has been fantastic support of the
scheme thanks to Liam Lysaght, Maria Walsh and Barry O’Neill. The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
is financed by the Heritage Council.
Dedication
We dedicate this annual report to Audrey Richards, one of our team of enthusiastic volunteers, who
passed away this February. Audrey’s connections with Lepidoptera go back to her childhood. She was
born on Vernon Avenue, Dublin which was named after the Vernons of Clontarf who were the first
in the British Isles to discover the rare moth, the white prominent, in 1880. Audrey joined the Irish
Butterfly Monitoring Scheme in 2010 and monitored in the Williamstown area of Waterford.
References
Regan, E.C., Nelson, B., Aldwell, B., Bertrand, C., Bond, K., Harding, J., Nash, D., Nixon, D., Wilson, C.J. 2010. Ireland Red List No. 4 – Butterflies. National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland.
Van Swaay, C.A.M., Harpke, A., Fontaine, B., Stefanescu, C., Roy, D., Maes, D., Kühn, E., Õunap, E., Regan, E., Švitra, G., Heliölä, J., Settele, J., Warren, M.S., Plattner, M., Kuussaari, M.,
Cornish, N., Feldmann, R., Julliard, R., Verovnik, R., Roth, T. & Brereton, T. 2010. The impact of climate change on butterfly communities 1990-2009. Report VS2010.025, Butterfly
Conservation Europe & De Vlinderstichting, Wageningen.
Van Swaay, C.A.M., Van Strien, A.J., Harpke, A., Fontaine, B., Stefanescu, C., Roy, D., Maes, D., Kühn, E., Õunap, E., Regan, E., Švitra, G., Heliölä, J., Settele, J., Warren, M.S., Plattner, M.,
Kuussaari, M., Cornish, N., Garcia Pereira, P., Leopold, P., Feldmann, R., Jullard, R., Verovnik, R., Popov, S., Brereton, T., Gmelig Meyling, A., Collins, S. 2010. The European Butterfly Indicator
for Grassland species 1990-2009. Report VS2010.010, De Vlinderstichting, Wageningen.
Annual Report 2010 | Page 13
Pearl-bordered fritillary (Oisin Meagher)
Beechfield House,
If you are interested in getting involved
WIT West Campus,
in the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme,
Carriganore, Waterford.
Please contact
Tel. 051 306 240
Stefanie Fleischer
Email:[email protected]
([email protected])
Web: www. biodiversityireland.ie
or Eugenie Regan
([email protected])
The National Biodiversity Data Centre is an Initiative of the Heritage Council and is operated under a service level agreement
by Compass Informatics. The Centre is funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.