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Research Projects

Pest map graphic of Ireland Online Pest-risk Analysis Modelling
The primary goal of this project is to provide a practical visual tool that communicates scientific evidence to stakeholders involved in Ireland's plant biosecurity policy and pest/pathogen-risk management.
Image of Scots pine tree Adaptation, mitigation and protection strategies to increase resilience of Irish forests to address the impacts of climate change
This research is pillar 3 of the project entitled "Adaptation, mitigation and protection strategies to increase resilience of Irish forests to address the impacts of climate change (ADAPTForRes)". This project will develop optimised surveillance tools for the early detection of fungal forest pests in Ireland.
Image of grassland Delivering food security from grasslands by understanding the link between root microbial networks and resilient agriculture
This project will reveal how plant-microbial biodiversity and productivity in grassland respond to extreme drought and flood.
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Image of a bee on a flower SUSPOLL: Sustainable pollination services in a changing world
This project the response of pollination services to pesticides and climate change. The modelling component of the project looks at the thermodynamics of pollinators as a mechanistic model of pollinator activity.

Past Research Projects

Image of rockpool Modelling the impact and management of marine invasive species (MIMMIS)
This project studies the spread of two target marine invasive species along Ireland's coastline. The project is a combination of larval biophysical modelling and the marine ecology of invasive species.
image of many plant pots The phenology of perennial ryegrass and its potential contribution to grassland carbon sequestration
This project studies the phenology of perenial rye grass pastures in Ireland (primarily the length of the growing season) and the variation in phenology between different varieties of rye grass. Increasing the growing season of perennial rye grass pasture has the potential to increase the ability of Irish grasslands to sequester carbon.
image of reseachers working on grassland Biodiversity, resilience and food security: understanding the role of biodiversity in maintaining food production
This project studies the resilience of grassland production systems and their capacity to resist, recover and adapt to future environmental change, whilst sustainably producing food for a growing global population.
graphic of ChitonPaths Deep-sea larval dispersal and ecosystem connectivity
What is the dispersal capacity of marine larvae in the deep-sea? How are deep-sea ecosystems colonised and from where? We are using oceanographic and genetic data to address such questions.
sea shell and students in background Population Genetics of Collective Dispersal
We are developing population genetic theory that describes collective dispersal, where multiple individuals show similar dispersal pathways. This type of dispersal is seen for marine invertebrate larvae, wind dispersed organisms, and is also applicable to dispersal at a species' range margin.
image of ash tree with blue sky Modelling Airborne Spread of Ash Dieback Disease
This project used a Lagrangian particle tracking model to assess the dispersal potential of ash dieback disease across Ireland.
image of burn box with flame inside Smouldering Fire in Peatlands
We study the propagation of smouldering fire through organic soils (principally peat) using a combination of controlled laboratory experiments and models of smouldering fire.
greater white-toothed shrew Range Expansion of the Greater White-Toothed Shrew in Ireland
The greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) was first discovered in Ireland in 2007. Ever since it has been gradually expanding its distribution. The study uses the greater white-toothed shrew as a model species to study evolutionary processes at an expaning range margin. We are also collaborating with colleagues in Queen's University Belfast (Ian Montgomery, Neil Reid, David Tosh) to quantify the rate at which this shrew is spreading across Ireland and its ecological impact.

Ecological Modelling

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7777 |