ABSTRACT Introduction The genus Moerckia Gottsche belongs to the order Pallaviciniales, the phylogeny of which has been insufficiently studied. We re-evaluate the phylogenetic position of M. blyttii and the importance of certain morphological features, and re-emphasise the differences in morphology, ecology and distribution of M. hibernica and M. flotoviana. Methods DNA data from three nucleotide markers, namely ITS1 to ITS2 nrDNA, trnL–F and trnG intron cpDNA, were obtained from specimens of Moerckia species, including the generitype M. hibernica, which had not been sequenced before. Relationships were explored using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Key results In the results of molecular analyses, specimens of Moerckia hibernica from Ireland and Scotland formed a sister clade to that of M. flotoviana, and M. blyttii retained its distinct position basal to both Moerckiaceae and Pallaviciniaceae. This clarifies the phylogenetic position of M. hibernica as well as that of the Pallaviciniales as a whole. The most significant morphological characters to distinguish M. flotoviana from M. hibernica are placement of antheridial scales, width-to-length ratio of thallus segments, and width of midrib; conducting strands are a less important differentiating feature, being present in both species and often weakly developed. The results showed the variability and overlap of some morphological characters. Conclusion The new family Pseudomoerckiaceae and a new monotypic genus, Pseudomoerckia, created to accommodate Moerckia blyttii, are described. Cordaeaceae Mamontov et al. is synonymised with Moerckiaceae K.I.Goebel ex Stotler & Crand.-Stotl. The species status and restricted distribution of M. hibernica are confirmed.

The nature and distribution of political power in Europe during the Neolithic era remains poorly understood1. During this period, many societies began to invest heavily in building monuments, which suggests an increase in social organization. The scale and sophistication of megalithic architecture along the Atlantic seaboard, culminating in the great passage tomb complexes, is particularly impressive2. Although co-operative ideology has often been emphasised as a driver of megalith construction1, the human expenditure required to erect the largest monuments has led some researchers to emphasize hierarchy3—of which the most extreme case is a small elite marshalling the labour of the masses. Here we present evidence that a social stratum of this type was established during the Neolithic period in Ireland. We sampled 44 whole genomes, among which we identify the adult son of a first-degree incestuous union from remains that were discovered within the most elaborate recess of the Newgrange passage tomb. Socially sanctioned matings of this nature are very rare, and are documented almost exclusively among politico-religious elites4—specifically within polygynous and patrilineal royal families that are headed by god-kings5,6. We identify relatives of this individual within two other major complexes of passage tombs 150 km to the west of Newgrange, as well as dietary differences and fine-scale haplotypic structure (which is unprecedented in resolution for a prehistoric population) between passage tomb samples and the larger dataset, which together imply hierarchy. This elite emerged against a backdrop of rapid maritime colonization that displaced a unique Mesolithic isolate population, although we also detected rare Irish hunter-gatherer introgression within the Neolithic population.

European badgers (Meles meles) in medium and high density populations show strong territorial behaviour. Territories in these populations are contiguous, well-marked and often unchanging over many years. However, badgers do not always stay within their territorial boundaries. In our medium-density population, most individual badgers made extra-territorial excursions (ETEs) throughout the year. ETEs were most frequent between April and September and least frequent in December and January (the period of winter lethargy). Male badgers made longer and more frequent ETEs than females (especially between January and March, and in autumn). Breeding females made longer and more frequent ETEs than non-breeding females in November. While these peaks correspond with the main mating seasons, mating activity does not explain ETEs throughout the year. The shorter, but more frequent, ETEs in summer months may serve a monitoring purpose, rather than simply providing additional mating opportunities with badgers from outside the ‘home’ social group. We found that young badgers did not make regular ETEs until the summer of their second year. If badgers could be vaccinated as cubs, this would reduce any potential risk of TB spread during ETEs.

European badgers (Meles meles) are group‐living mustelids implicated in the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) to cattle and act as a wildlife reservoir for the disease. In badgers, only a minority of individuals disperse from their natal social group. However, dispersal may be extremely important for the spread of TB, as dispersers could act as hubs for disease transmission. We monitored a population of 139 wild badgers over 7 years in a medium‐density population (1.8 individuals/km2). GPS tracking collars were applied to 80 different individuals. Of these, we identified 25 dispersers, 14 of which were wearing collars as they dispersed. This allowed us to record the process of dispersal in much greater detail than ever before. We show that dispersal is an extremely complex process, and measurements of straight‐line distance between old and new social groups can severely underestimate how far dispersers travel. Assumptions of straight‐line travel can also underestimate direct and indirect interactions and the potential for disease transmission. For example, one female disperser which eventually settled 1.5 km from her natal territory traveled 308 km and passed through 22 different territories during dispersal. Knowledge of badgers' ranging behavior during dispersal is crucial to understanding the dynamics of TB transmission, and for designing appropriate interventions, such as vaccination.

This case study presents preliminary findings of an extensive offshore reef survey, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Marine Biodiversity Scheme, along Ireland’s Northwest continental margin. The 2017 study focuses on one specific canyon system, and its biological habitats in relation to geomorphic features. The survey is primarily concerned with identifying geogenic and biogenic reefs and associated biological communities. High-definition video footage was acquired using a remotely operated underwater vehicle. We present five separate transects from within a previously undescribed canyon system with little anthropogenic interference. The video data identifies biologically sensitive, reef-forming, cold-water coral species at numerous locations. Typical fauna include anemones, sponges, crustaceans, corals, echinoderms, elasmobranchs, flatfish, and deep-sea fish such as the orange roughy. The findings will contribute to the provision of conservation objectives as established by the Government of Ireland’s National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Little is known of the spatio-temporal occurrence of beaked whales off western Ireland, limiting the ability of Regulators to implement appropriate management and conservation measures. To address this knowledge gap, static acoustic monitoring was carried out using eight fixed bottom-mounted autonomous acoustic recorders: four from May to December 2015 on Ireland’s northern slope and four from March to November 2016 on the western and southern slopes. Recorders ran for 205 to 230 days, resulting in 4.09 TB of data sampled at 250 kHz which could capture beaked whale acoustic signals. Zero-crossing-based automated detectors identified beaked whale clicks. A sample of detections was manually validated to evaluate and optimize detector performance. Analysis confirmed the occurrence of Sowerby’s and Cuvier’s beaked whales and Northern bottlenose whales. Northern bottlenose whale clicks occurred in late summer and autumn, but were too few to allow further analysis. Cuvier’s and Sowerby’s clicks occurred at all stations throughout the monitoring period. There was a significant effect of month and station (latitude) on the mean daily number of click detections for both species. Cuvier’s clicks were more abundant at lower latitudes while Sowerby’s were greater at higher latitudes, particularly in the spring, suggesting a spatial segregation between species, possibly driven by prey preference. Cuvier’s occurrence increased in late autumn 2015 off northwest Porcupine Bank, a region of higher relative occurrence for each species. Seismic airgun shots, with daily sound exposure levels as high as 175 dB re 1 μPa2·s, did not appear to impact the mean daily number of Cuvier’s or Sowerby’s beaked whale click detections. This work provides insight into the significance of Irish waters for beaked whales and highlights the importance of using acoustics for beaked whale monitoring.