habitats hub
habitats hub is our research arm dedicated to boots-on-the-ground scientific research into biodiversity conservation. We collaborate with third level institutes, governmental organizations and NGOs to research and develop best practice in conservation science.
Check out some of our current projects below and sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to keep up to date with new projects and results.
Collaboration: the biodiversity crisis is big enough for everybody, if you want to help restore nature then we want to help you. If you’re a student or researcher and you’d like to collaborate on or support a current or future research project then please do get in touch today, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
current research projects
Rewilding research
Advances in the science of rewilding are creating exciting opportunities for addressing the biodiversity crisis. At Habitats Hub, we’re excited to be collaborating with Dr. Simone Ciuti’s lab, the Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour at University College Dublin (UCD), and with UCD’s Earth Institute to conduct research for the NGO Wild Parks on the evidence of rewilding success across Europe.
Advances in technology are providing exciting opportunities within the field of conservation ecology. We’re collaborating with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and with Dr. Joanne O’Brien and her research students, at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) at the Galway City Campus, to better understand how we can use acoustic monitoring devices to more easily record and monitor wildlife on Irish farmland. Dr. O’Brien’s students are currently analysing data collected here on the reserve in 2022 - hit play on the below to hear a snippet of the kind of recordings they are analysing!
acoustic monitoring research
citizen science research
Citizen science allows everybody to get involved in helping to protect our biodiversity. In collaboration with Dr. Simone Ciuti and his research students at the Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour University College Dublin (UCD), we’re busy developing simple citizen science protocols that will help people to more easily record and monitor wildlife in their communities.
Healthy populations of insects are crucial to life on earth, creating the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems. We’re thrilled to be working with students and researchers from Prof Michael Gormally’s lab at the University of Galway to better understand the diversity and abundance of terrestrial invertebrates across different habitat types on Irish farmland. This research is kindly supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and by the Dr Karzan Sabah D Ahmed Memorial Research Bursary.
terrestrial invertebrate research
bat research
We’re very pleased to report that a passive monitoring survey, kindly carried out by Karen Banks of Greenleaf Ecology, has revealed that six of Ireland’s nine established native species of bat are active on Oysterhaven Biodiversity Reserve. Karen used bat detectors to record (and later analyse) patterns of echolation at three habitat types across the reserve. Results showed that the most frequently recorded species was soprano pipistrelle, followed by common pipistrelle, then Leisler’s bat. Natterer’s bat, Daubenton’s bat and brown long-eared bat were also recorded.
We’ve teamed up with the brilliant coastal lagoonal specialist Dr. Geoff Oliver, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to better understand the rich biodiversity of Oysterhaven Lake and to find ways to enhance its water quality. By working together, we hope not only to better understand this fascinating coastal lagoon, but also to find creative ways to protect its beautiful but fragile fauna and flora for generations to come.
Update: as of Feb 2023, results of our aquatic invertebrate survey are in! Contact us if you’d like to learn more about what lurks in the lake!
aquatic invertebrate research
bird research
We’ve teamed up with the brilliant team at the Cork branch of BirdWatch Ireland to research and monitor the species of bird seen (or more often heard!) on the reserve. We’re using this data to track changes over time as we reinstate habitats and boost biodiversity across the reserve. What we’re learning through this longitudinal research is also informing current and future conservation work.
So far…we’ve recorded 70 species of bird on the reserve!
soil health & carbon research
With support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), we’re researching the impact of our conservation management strategies on the short and longterm health and carbon storage capacity of our soils.