Northwest Ireland Research Articles

Unlocking the Dynamics of Social Entrepreneurship: An Investigation in Northwest Ireland Research Method Paper

The purpose of this research is to examine the establishment and development of social enterprises and entrepreneurs in Northwest Ireland. Using a multi-method approach which combines qualitative and quantitative methods, the research aims to understand the dynamics, challenges, and motivations behind social entrepreneurship. The research design commences with quantitative data collection and analysis, which subsequently informs and enriches the qualitative phase. In the first phase, the research applies a shallow cases analysis to develop the questions for the subsequent survey and interviews. A self-administered online questionnaire, facilitated through a snowball sampling approach, captures quantitative data. The collaboration with regional development entities bolsters the survey process, aiming to construct a demographic profile of social entrepreneurs. The goal of this phase is to gather information that will help explain and describe the motives and difficulties faced by social entrepreneurs. The second phase unfolds through in-depth interviews, engaging social entrepreneurs and stakeholders, including government departments. The aim is to fully understand the formation and evolution process. To understand what factors, impact on this process and how they overcome these events. The research uses a methodological toolkit that includes theme analysis for qualitative insights and SPSS for quantitative data analysis. This multi-method research contributes to the growing of literature on social entrepreneurship, particularly in regional contexts. The findings extend implications for various stakeholders, including government agencies, higher education institutions, and intermediaries actively involved in supporting and enhancing the impact of social enterprises. Essentially, the research provides a context-specific and comprehensive explanation of how social entrepreneurship has developed in Northwest Ireland. In summary, the research effectively advocates for a nuanced knowledge of the dynamics of social entrepreneurship in regional contexts by capturing the richness and complexity of the subject matter through the well-chosen use of a multi-method approach. The results contribute to scholarly discourse and provide practical insights for those committed to promoting social innovation and bringing about constructive changes in society.

A thin-skinned thrust model for ice-marginal glacitectonic detachment and emplacement of Carboniferous bedrock rafts at Kilcummin Head, NW Ireland

This paper presents the results of a detailed macro- and microscale structural study of the glacitectonised sequence at Kilcummin Head on the western side of Killala Bay, County Mayo, northwest Ireland. The sequence comprises two laterally extensive, thrust-stacked rafts of Carboniferous limestone and mudstone emplaced upon the in situ bedrock of the Ballina Limestone Formation. Restored cross-sections reveal that the glacitectonised sequence has undergone extensive deformation and shortening of 61 %. This accompanied the formation of a prominent thrust-moraine associated with a northward ice advance across Killala Bay during the Midlandian (Devensian). A five-stage model is proposed to describe the deformation. Stage 1 comprises detachment of the rafts, and the majority of the sequence shortening. North-directed transport of the rafts occurred on a major décollement surface located at the base of the rafted sequence, marked by a mudstone-rich glacitectonite. Stage 2 accommodated further shortening via a series of imbricate thrusts leading to the stacking of the bedrock rafts (Stages 3 and 4). Stage 5 saw final stacking of rafts within a prominent thrust-block moraine, followed by the deposition of a sequence of coarse-grained, ice-marginal glacigenic deposits.

Wave energy converter efficiency based on wave transmission and relative capture width performance

A series of quantitative analyses were performed to identify the wave properties and potential, by means of records collected from an offshore buoy in North-West Ireland. Based on the data collected, a series of quantitative analyses was conducted to determine the dominant wind directions and wave properties on an annual basis. In addition, the wave power is computed based on relevant wave heights and periods, and the Pierson-Moskowitz spectral model was used to generate the maximum wave energy spectra for each year. The results show that waves with wave powers of around 100 kW/m were mostly approaching eastward at a rather narrow frequency. In order to compare the relative capture width and the power absorption capacity of three floating structures, the Wave Dragon, Board Net Breakwater, and Cylindrical Floating Breakwater are analyzed. Also outlined is the impact of the transmission coefficient on the effectiveness of wave energy converters (WEC) throughout the energy harvesting process. This was accomplished by fusing information from three distinct field investigations and experimental research with four different wave transmission coefficient models. The results show that as the wave steepness increases, the transmission coefficient decreases and the hydrodynamic performance of wave energy converters increases. Also, it is found that the hydrodynamic efficiency of wave energy converters is higher in summer than in winter, and the Wave Dragon is the most efficient wave energy converter in regard to relative capture width and power absorption.

Belbin’s Team Role Balance and Team Effectiveness in Community Mental Health Teams in an Area of Northwest Ireland: Implications for Leadership

Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) have been introduced as an alternative to hospital-based treatment. Their effectiveness and the factors that may influence it have not yet been fully investigated. According to Belbin’s theory, a team is more effective if its members have diverse roles. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is an association between CMHTs’ effectiveness and Belbin’s team role balance. Participants were members of eight CMHTs. The data collected were demographics (age, gender), discipline, years of experience, and team tenure. Also, the following scales were administered: the Belbin Team Role Self-Perception Inventory (SPI) and team effectiveness scale (TES). One hundred and six members participated. A significant correlation between team role diversity and effectiveness was found. Multilevel analysis showed that role diversity and being a doctor were the only two significant independent predictors of team effectiveness. Belbin’s theory is therefore applicable to CMHTs. The more diverse roles the members of a team have, the better the effectiveness of the team. Given that roles can be modified, team leaders need to be aware of the members’ roles and be able to modify them. Thus, they can increase the effectiveness of their teams.

Coastal boulder movement on a rocky shoreline in northwest Ireland from repeat UAV surveys using Structure from Motion photogrammetry

The degree of boulder mobility in response to coastal storms likely varies spatially and temporally along rocky shorelines, but this is difficult to evaluate from field monitoring of individual boulders alone. Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry can be used to analyse changes in shoreline geomorphology or boulder distributions over time and space from rocky shorelines. This study employs data from repeated Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 along a 1-km stretch of a rocky shoreline in northwest Ireland. SfM techniques were used to generate orthomosaics of the bedrock platform surface from which distributions and transport patterns of boulders were examined. Based on the identification of specific boulders that appear in images from successive time slices, 16–32 % of boulders had remained stationary (had either rotated or flipped on the spot, but experienced no change in boulder position), 18–39 % had moved but less than the calculated Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) value of 23 cm, and 29–66 % of boulders had moved greater than the RMSE value, and <29 m distance in one case. In addition, a significant minority of boulders also appeared or disappeared (3–23 %) between successive time slices, which may reflect their episodic transport to/from the sea or beyond the region of interest. Overall, the results indicate that boulder movement is highly variable over time and space and does not appear to correspond with episodic wave forcing. This is different to previous studies that have described a simple deterministic relationship between boulder movement and singular wave forcing events such as storms. Repeated UAV surveys provide a consistent methodology for understanding rocky shoreline and boulder dynamics, and can offer insight into shoreline sensitivity to regional wave climate operating under more normal or ‘average’ conditions.

Summer dynamics of cyanobacteria in an oligo-mesotrophic temperate lake in Northwest Ireland

Despite the potential adverse consequences they can impart on biotopes, cyanobacteria are an understudied component of lake plankton communities in Ireland. This study, in summer 2019, examined cyanobacterial diversity and associated environmental variables in a lake previously impacted by algal blooms, in north-west Ireland. Vertical profiling showed that photosynthetic pigment concentrations were spatially heterogenous for the majority of the survey. However, water column homogeneity was observed towards the end of the survey, coinciding with increases in pigment concentrations. Sunshine hours, nutrient concentrations and wind speed were stable throughout the survey. Spatial homogeneity in pigments was attributed to an increase in minimal temperatures observed in the water column. PCR-DGGE analysis identified patterns in community composition, indicating a rise in cyanobacterial richness concomitant to increase in temperature and photosynthetic pigments. Band sequencing analysis identified phylotypes similar to the toxigenic species Microcystis sp. These were prominent at the end of the survey and coincided with the presence of the mcyE gene and low levels of microcystins, as indicated by real time PCR and ELISA analyses. The summer background presence of toxigenic cyanobacteria with potential bloom-forming capacity highlights the importance of annual lake cyanotoxin monitoring to inform resource management to protect human and animal health.

Holocene relative sea-level changes in northwest Ireland: An empirical test for glacial isostatic adjustment models

The late-Quaternary relative sea-level (RSL) history of Ireland is complex, positioned at the margins of the former British-Irish Ice Sheet, and subject to the influence of ice unloading and forebulge collapse. Geophysical models of post-glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) provide estimates of the pattern of RSL change since deglaciation which may be tested and validated with empirical data from proxy records. For the region of northwest Ireland, there is a paucity of high-quality RSL data and, therefore, equivocal evidence to support the GIA models that predict a mid to Late-Holocene RSL highstand of between +0.5 and +2 m above present. This study aims to investigate this model-data discrepancy by reconstructing RSL change from a near continuous salt-marsh sequence at Bracky Bridge, Donegal, spanning the last ca. 2500 years. We develop a transfer function model to reconstruct the vertical position of sea level using a regional diatom training set to quantify the indicative meaning and predict the palaeomarsh elevation of the core samples. A chronology is provided by a combination of 14C and 210Pb data, with sample specific ages derived from an age-depth model using a Bayesian framework. Our reconstruction shows ca. 2 m of relative sea-level rise in the past 2500 years. This is not compatible with some previously published sea-level index points from the region, which we re-interpret as freshwater/terrestrial limiting data. These results do not provide any evidence to support a Mid-Holocene RSL highstand above present sea level. Whilst none of the available GIA models replicate the timing and magnitude of the Late-Holocene RSL rise in our reconstruction, those which incorporate a thick and extensive British-Irish Sea Ice Sheet provide the best fit.

Autumn outmigrants in brown trout (Salmo trutta) are not a demographic dead-end.

Genetic identity analysis and PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tagging were used to examine the freshwater return rates and phenotypic characteristics of n=1791 downstream migrating juvenile Salmo trutta in the Burrishoole catchment (northwest Ireland) across the period September 2017 to December 2020. In this system, juveniles out-migrate (move from freshwater into brackish or marine habitats) in every month of the year, with distinct seasonal peaks in spring (March through June; mostly silvered smolts) and autumn (September through December; mostly younger, unsilvered fry or parr). Both types exhibited a sex-bias towards females, which was stronger in spring (78% females) than in autumn outmigrants (67%). Sixty-nine returning fish were matched back to previous juvenile outmigrants and similar return rates were found for spring outmigrants (5.0%), autumn outmigrants (3.3%) and fish that outmigrated outside of spring or autumn (2.8%). Spring and autumn outmigrants returned at similar dates (typically mid to late July) but autumn fish were away for longer (median=612 days; spring outmigrants=104 days). Autumn outmigrants were 25% smaller than spring outmigrants at outmigration and 6% smaller on their return, and within both groups smaller/younger outmigrants spent longer away than larger/older outmigrants. Autumn outmigrants were more likely to return unsilvered as 'slob' trout (84%) than spring outmigrants (31%), suggesting they make greater use of brackish habitats that might be safer, but less productive, than fully marine habitats. However, both types also produced silvered 'sea trout' (≥1+ sea-age), implying neither is locked into a single life-history strategy. Our findings emphasise that autumn outmigrants and the transitional habitats that support their persistence should not be overlooked in salmonid management and conservation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The “mica crisis” in Donegal, Ireland – A case of internal sulfate attack?

In County Donegal, northwest Ireland, thousands of homes built with concrete blocks show an increasing degree of severe structural defects attributed to high mica content in the aggregates. Consequently, the problem is popularly known as the “Mica Crisis”. In this project the concrete blocks of four affected homes are investigated by microstructural and chemical analysis combined with thermodynamic modelling.Apart from mica, the aggregates contain iron sulphides mainly in the form of pyrrhotite. The sulfur content of the aggregates considerably exceeds the limit value defined by the European standard for concrete aggregates (EN 12620). The results of the microstructural analysis coupled with thermodynamic modelling demonstrate that the concrete suffers from internal sulfate attack triggered by pyrrhotite oxidation. The comparison of the results of this investigation with the data collected by chartered engineers on almost hundred damaged homes shows that the four investigated cases are representative of the situation in Donegal.

Monitoring of Coastal Boulder Movements by Storms and Calculating Volumetric Parameters Using the Volume Differential Method Based on Point Cloud Difference

The measurements of boulder volume and axial length play significant roles in exploring the evolution of coastal boulder deposition, which provides a theoretical framework to examine the hydrodynamics of extreme wave events. At present, the application of structure-from-motion (SfM) to unmanned aerial system (UAS) imagery is one of the most used boulder surveying techniques. However, the monitoring of boulder movement and the accurate measurement of boulder morphometrics are rarely investigated in combination. In this study, UAS surveys were used to monitor moving boulders and measure boulder volumes using the volume differential method based on the differences of dense point clouds. This was undertaken at a site on the rocky shoreline of northwest Ireland in three repeated UAS surveys conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The results from UAS monitoring and mapping of the distribution of 832 moving boulders in the study area over the 3-year period showed that boulders located in different zones of the coast vary significantly in their mobility. The main findings reveal that the theoretical error of the volume, obtained using the volume differential method, was estimated as 1–3.9%, which is much smaller than that of the conventional method of estimating volume using a tape measure.

Extracting foraging behavior from passive acoustic monitoring data to better understand harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) foraging habitat use

AbstractFor odontocetes, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) can be used to differentiate between occurrence and foraging through analysis of click characteristics. Feeding buzzes and navigation/searching echolocation clicks of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) were differentiated within C‐POD data from northwest Ireland between 2009 and 2017. The spatiotemporal distribution of foraging behavior was investigated using generalized additive modelling, at multiple temporal scales. Both the presence/absence of buzzes and foraging intensity (defined by buzz:click ratios) were determined. Feeding buzzes were identified in one third of porpoise positive hours, ranging from 15% in summer, to 40% in autumn, highlighting seasonal variation irrespective of porpoise occurrence. Complex interannual variation in foraging behavior was also shown across the time series. A strong nocturnal peak in foraging intensity was observed. We found increased porpoise foraging with dolphin species detections within the same hour, and a negative impact of construction activities, involving both impulsive and broadband noise. Results highlight the value of long‐term acoustic time series, by quantifying variation, and show that extracting foraging behavior from occurrence data can help to unravel habitat use patterns, responses to disturbance, and seasonal changes in behavior. Understanding when and how a species uses an area can better inform marine spatial planning and help mitigate anthropogenic impacts.

Electronic smart-hub based intervention during COVID-19 in a rural Psychiatry of Old Age service in North-West Ireland

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in services and necessitated innovation to continue care provision to the vulnerable population of older adults with psychiatric needs.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine the experiences of staff and patients using a hands-free electronic smart-hub (eSMART hub) intervention to keep patients connected with psychiatry of old age following COVID-19 restrictions.MethodsA risk stratification register was created of all patients known to the Psychiatry of Old Age service in the North-West of Ireland to identify those at highest risk of relapse. These patients were offered a smart-hub with remote communication and personal assistant technology to be installed into their homes. Smart-hubs were also installed in the team base to facilitate direct device to device communication. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 staff members and 15 patients at 6-12 months following the installation of the smart-hubs.ResultsThe smart-hubs were utilized by the POA team to offer remote interventions over video including clinician reviews, regular contact with key workers and day-hospital based therapeutic interventions such as anxiety management groups and OT led physical exercises. Patients also used the personal assistant aspect of the hub to attend to personal hobbies such as accessing music and radio. Positive feedback related to companionship during isolation and connectivity to services. Negative feedback was mainly related to technology, particularly internet access and narrow scope of communication abilities.ConclusionsElectronic smart-hub devices may offer an acceptable avenue for remote intervention and communication for isolated high-risk older persons.DisclosureThe smart hub devices used in this study were donated by Amazon. However, the company was not involved in any other aspect of the study and the researchers have no significant financial interest, consultancy or other relationship with products, manufactur

Site selection of floating offshore wind through the levelised cost of energy: A case study in Ireland

Potential areas for the development of a floating offshore wind farm by means of the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) are studied through a case study in the Republic of Ireland. Eligible locations are ascertained by acknowledging the characteristics of the national maritime landscape – areas reserved for aquaculture, natural parks and areas with intense maritime traffic are excluded. A selection of Irish port facilities that could accommodate the operations of a floating wind farm is also presented and incorporated into the cost model. The LCOE is computed and mapped in the areas identified as eligible using a site-specific approach, taking into account the distance to the coast and to adequate port facilities, water depth and wind climate. Among these, the wind climate and the distance to the coast play the main role in the LCOE, affecting the energy production and the cost of the export cable, respectively. The lowest LCOE values (∼100 €/MWh) occur close to the coast of West and North-west Ireland – off Donegal, Mayo and Kerry. Conversely, the highest values of the LCOE (130 €/MWh) occur further offshore. Areas in the Celtic and, especially, Irish Seas (counties of Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford) present relatively high values of the LCOE (∼120 €/MWh) due to a comparatively weaker resource. Besides, many areas in this region are excluded due to intense maritime traffic. Importantly, the distance to adequate port facilities is found to play a lesser role on the LCOE; therefore, ports requiring less investment for offshore wind operations could be employed despite not being the nearest.

An appreciation: Matthew Alastair Parkes (1961–2020)

An appreciation:Matthew Alastair Parkes (1961–2020) Nigel T. Monaghan, Michael J. Simms, Patrick N. Wyse Jackson, and John Murray Matthew Parkes was a highly respected geologist and good friend to many who knew him. His legacy is his enduring scientific research, published in many popular articles, journals and books. It was important to him that geology was not only thoroughly researched and published for the scientific community, but that it should also be made fully accessible for the general public, particularly for any budding geologist. Once Matthew discovered geology as a teenager, the fascination never waned, and his work covered a wide expanse of geoscience topics across many countries. Click for larger view View full resolution The geologist Matthew was born 8 July 1961 and grew up in Hertfordshire. At school he focused on sciences, culminating with A levels in Geology and Geography in 1981. He worked at the Soil Survey of England and Wales, then studied geology at Sheffield University and was awarded his BSc in 1985. He then came to Ireland to study for his PhD at University College Galway (UCG; now University of Galway) as a recipient of an Anglo-Irish Postgraduate Exchange Scholarship. With typical careful dedication Matthew studied small areas of rocks of Ordovician and Silurian age on the south-eastern margin of the Iapetus Ocean, from Meath to Waterford, under the supervision of David Harper. These island relics with their endemic brachiopod faunas are poorly exposed and it took considerable determination to get decent fossils out of the scrappy outcrops. His good friend in UCG Eamon Doyle, now geologist for the Burren Geopark in County Clare, studied the other side of that ocean, but from the same office. Even before he completed his PhD in 1990, Matthew was working as an Assistant Lecturer and looking after overseas students on summer programmes. A post-doctoral appointment in Trinity College to work on the Irish-Italian EU-funded project 'Silurian ecostratigraphy in Ireland and Sardinia' organised by Charles Holland brought Matthew to Dublin in 1990 where he shared an office with Mike Simms. He was involved in leading student field trips in Ireland and overseas to the Mendip Hills and Devon and Dorset coasts. In 1997 he was awarded a Sylvester-Bradley Award by the Palaeontological Association. [End Page 1] Geologists will appreciate the quality and diversity of Matthew's contributions to our science. He produced well over a hundred publications, many as collaborations with experts in Ordovician rocks in other countries. His output ranged from the Geological Society's correlation of the Ordovician (Fortey et al. 2000), to books on Irish geology county by county and much more besides (see bibliography). Matthew produced high quality papers on Irish Paleozoic faunas that included studies on brachiopods (Parkes 1990; Harper et al. 1990, 2010), trilobites (Parkes and Owen 1994; Owen and Parkes 1996, 2000), Caradoc and Telychian faunas of south east and north west Ireland respectively (Parkes et al. 2017; Parkes 1993), and he also contributed to an assessment of elements of the significant Pennsylvanian Jarrow fauna (Orr et al. 1996). Matthew's publications on the Ordovician and Silurian faunas of Ireland, based on his PhD studies and subsequent research, have provided a significant volume of data that informs our current understanding of Lower Paleozoic geology in this part of the globe. The caver Matthew's time at Galway allowed him to indulge his love of caves and karst landscapes, something he maintained for the rest of his life, and caving led to many great friendships. Exploring Horse Discovery, near Cong, his height proved an advantage. The deep pool just inside was easily negotiated by Matthew (at six feet, seven and a half inches) but, as recalled by Mike Simms, it was a swim for the others in the group. Caving together became a lifelong activity, renewed in Wales when they found themselves working together in Cardiff, and again back in Ireland with Matthew based in Dublin and Mike in Belfast. The coast at Portrane, Dublin, with its Ordovician limestone shelly faunas was a great attraction and featured in Matthew's research. It was also a place where Mike found caves and Matthew discovered palaeokarst features...

An Appreciation: Matthew Alastair Parkes (1961-2020)

AN APPRECIATION: MATTHEW ALASTAIR PARKES (1961–2020) NIGEL T. MONAGHAN, MICHAEL J. SIMMS, PATRICK N. WYSE JACKSON and JOHN MURRAY Matthew Parkes was a highly respected geologist and good friend to many who knew him. His legacy is his enduring scientific research, published in many popular articles, journals and books. It was important to him that geology was not only thoroughly researched and published for the scientific community, but that it should also be made fully accessible for the general public, particularly for any budding geologist. Once Matthew discovered geology as a teenager, the fascination never waned, and his work covered a wide expanse of geoscience topics across many countries. The geologist Matthew was born 8 July 1961 and grew up in Hertfordshire. At school he focused on sciences, culminating with A levels in Geology and Geography in 1981. He worked at the Soil Survey of England and Wales, then studied geology at Sheffield University and was awarded his BSc in 1985. He then came to Ireland to study for his PhD at University College Galway (UCG; now University of Galway) as a recipient of an Anglo-Irish Postgraduate Exchange Scholarship. With typical careful dedication Matthew studied small areas of rocks of Ordovician and Silurian age on the south-eastern margin of the Iapetus Ocean, from Meath to Waterford, under the supervision of David Harper. These island relics with their endemic brachiopod faunas are poorly exposed and it took considerable determination to get decent fossils out of the scrappy outcrops. His good friend in UCG Eamon Doyle, now geologist for the Burren Geopark in County Clare, studied the other side of that ocean, but from the same office. Even before he completed his PhD in 1990, Matthew was working as an Assistant Lecturer and looking after overseas students on summer programmes. A post-doctoral appointment in Trinity College to work on the Irish-Italian EU-funded project ‘Silurian ecostratigraphy in Ireland and Sardinia’ organised by Charles Holland brought Matthew to Dublin in 1990 where he shared an office with Mike Simms. He was involved in leading student field trips in Ireland and overseas to the Mendip Hills and Devon and Dorset coasts. In 1997 he was awarded a Sylvester-Bradley Award by the Palaeontological Association. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences 40 (2022), 1–9 © 2022 Royal Irish Academy 2 Irish Journal of Earth Sciences (2022) Geologists will appreciate the quality and diversity of Matthew’s contributions to our science. He produced well over a hundred publications, many as collaborations with experts in Ordovician rocks in other countries. His output ranged from the Geological Society’s correlation of the Ordovician (Fortey et al. 2000), to books on Irish geology county by county and much more besides (see bibliography ). Matthew produced high quality papers on Irish Paleozoic faunas that included studies on brachiopods (Parkes 1990; Harper et al. 1990, 2010), trilobites (Parkes and Owen 1994; Owen and Parkes 1996, 2000), Caradoc and Telychian faunas of south east and north west Ireland respectively (Parkes et al. 2017; Parkes 1993), and he also contributed to an assessment of elements of the significant Pennsylvanian Jarrow fauna (Orr et al. 1996). Matthew’s publications on the Ordovician and Silurian faunas of Ireland, based on his PhD studies and subsequent research, have provided a significant volume of data that informs our current understanding of Lower Paleozoic geology in this part of the globe. The caver Matthew’s time at Galway allowed him to indulge his love of caves and karst landscapes, something he maintained for the rest of his life, and caving led to many great friendships. Exploring Horse Discovery, near Cong, his height proved an advantage . The deep pool just inside was easily negotiated by Matthew (at six feet, seven and a half inches) but, as recalled by Mike Simms, it was a swim for the others in the group. Caving together became a lifelong activity, renewed in Wales when they found themselves working together in Cardiff, and again back in Ireland with Matthew based in Dublin and Mike in Belfast. The coast at Portrane, Dublin, with its Ordovician limestone shelly faunas was a great attraction and featured in Matthew’s research. It was also a...

Complex shape of the Palaeoproterozoic Serpovidny refolded mega-sheath fold in northern Fennoscandia revealed by magnetic and structural data

The Serpovidny large-scale synform located in the Arctic zone of the north-eastern Fennoscandian Shield was studied with geological mapping and structural analysis, and its core with a ground detailed magnetic survey. This is a tight to isoclinal mega-sheath fold with the strongly thinned lower limb, almost undeformed upper limb, and the ՙcat's eye՚ core. The innermost rift-related sequence of the fold core is a synformal anticline, whilst limbs are composed of Palaeoproterozoic Keivy Group (metamorphosed redeposited products of mainly deep chemical weathering) and form a syncline. The Serpovidny mega-sheath fold formed during progressive non-coaxial, high strain deformation in simple shear/general shear regimes and a northward thrusting under mid-crustal conditions. This mega-sheath fold evolved from a NNE-verging anticline originated at the base of a nappe transported north-northeastwards from the Palaeoproterozoic Imandra-Varzuga Rift-Belt during the 1.9 Ga Lapland-Kola collisional orogeny. After a thrusting of this nappe onto the Keivy Group, one anticline plunged into these rocks and was transformed into the NNE-closing Serpovidny mega-sheath fold. Its geometric parameters and/or kinematic evolution are close to those of mega-sheath folds in Cretaceous rocks in the Oman Mountains, large-scale synformal anticlines in the Helvetic nappes in the Alps, and a Caledonian nappe in northwest Ireland.

The Waiting Stage, Prolonged Residency in Nursery Habitats by Juveniles of the Predatory Sea Star Marthasterias glacialis.

AbstractGrowth and recruitment of the sea star Marthasterias glacialis was followed over six years in Lough Hyne, southwest Ireland. Juveniles from a 2-mm radius were found on algae at <1-2-m depth following what appeared to be gregarious larval settlement. Data from Lough Hyne and Mulroy Bay (northwest Ireland) indicated that algal habitat serves as a nursery area for juveniles of M. glacialis. Successive size frequency modes of the juveniles at Lough Hyne indicated slow growth over 6 years, to a mean radius of 20 mm. The absence of additional recruitment allowed monitoring of a discrete population. Recruits in the nursery habitat over the six years remained as waiting stage juveniles, a Peter Pan group with delayed maturity subsisting on a diet of epibionts. An initial sharp decline in numbers indicated post-settlement mortality, with subsequent decline likely due to migration to the adjacent shelly habitat, where subadult M. glacialis (30-70-mm radius) lives. In this habitat, M. glacialis preys on small bivalves and eventually joins the adult (maximum radius = 280 mm) population on open sediment, where it feeds on large bivalves. Size frequency distributions of the juveniles and adults showed growth over the six years, with the waiting stage sea stars slowly merging in size with the adult population. It appears that the supply of new individuals into the adult population may take place six or more years following settlement. Strong connectivity between life stage habitats and prolonged recruitment into the adult population may contribute to balanced exploitation of infaunal prey.

Musical Chairs on Temperate Reefs: Species Turnover and Replacement Within Functional Groups Explain Regional Diversity Variation in Assemblages Associated With Honeycomb Worms

Reef-building species are recognized as having an important ecological role and as generally enhancing the diversity of benthic organisms in marine habitats. However, although these ecosystem engineers have a facilitating role for some species, they may exclude or compete with others. The honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus, 1767) is an important foundation species, commonly found from northwest Ireland to northern Mauritania, whose reef structures increase the physical complexity of the marine benthos, supporting high levels of biodiversity. Local patterns and regional differences in taxonomic and functional diversity were examined in honeycomb worm reefs from 10 sites along the northeastern Atlantic to explore variation in diversity across biogeographic regions and the potential effects of environmental drivers. While taxonomic composition varied across the study sites, levels of diversity remained relatively constant along the European coast. Assemblages showed high levels of species turnover compared to differences in richness, which varied primarily in response to sea surface temperatures and sediment content, the latter suggesting that local characteristics of the reef had a greater effect on community composition than the density of the engineering species. In contrast, the functional composition of assemblages was similar regardless of taxonomic composition or biogeography, with five functional groups being observed in all sites and only small differences in abundance in these groups being detected. Functional groups represented primarily filter-feeders and deposit-feeders, with the notable absence of herbivores, indicating that the reefs may act as biological filters for some species from the local pool of organisms. Redundancy was observed within functional groups that may indicate that honeycomb worm reefs can offer similar niche properties to its associated assemblages across varying environmental conditions. These results highlight the advantages of comparing taxonomic and functional metrics, which allow identification of a number of ecological processes that structure marine communities.

Patient and staff satisfaction with remote psychiatry assessments using mobile tablets in long-stay facilities in rural north-west Ireland

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has required services to evolve quickly to continue routine care and telemedicine has been rapidly implemented to facilitate this. Older persons are at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19 and it is essential that their exposure to COVID-19 is minimized.ObjectivesOur aim was to assess staff and patient satisfaction with remote psychiatric assessments using mobile tablets in long-stay facilities.MethodsRemote clinics using Skype video on mobile tablets were conducted with patients in long-stay facilities attending psychiatry in rural North-West Ireland between April and July 2020. At each review, a satisfaction survey was administered to the patient, their keyworker and the clinician. The patient/keyworker survey instrument had four yes/no statements and the clinician survey had four statements with 5-point likert scale responses (1=very low to 5=very high). Open feedback was also obtained for thematic analysis. Descriptive analyses were completed using SPSS software.Results23 patients (mean age 80.9yrs) were assessed in 10 long-stay facilities. All patients were agreeable to participating in video consultation although only 13 patients were able to respond to survey due to cognitive impairment. There was a 92.3% positive patient response (12/13) and 95.7% positive keyworker response (N=22/23) for all statements. The mean score on the assessor response ranged from 3.43 to 4.04 with the lowest rate for quality of transmission. The main themes identified were related to the quality of connection and sensory difficulties.ConclusionsVideo consultations using mobile tablets offer an acceptable form of remote psychiatry assessment for older persons in long-stay facilities.

Investigating the ecology of the Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) within the wider bumblebee community in North-West Ireland

Bumblebees are a key pollinator group globally which have declined over time. However, while some species remain common others are rare and have declined at a sharper rate. The Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus Morawitz) is classified as ‘Endangered’ on the Irish Red List, and ‘Vulnerable’ at European level. We aimed to investigate the ecology of B. distinguendus within the wider bumblebee community in its only remaining Irish population to inform conservation management. Eight true bumblebee species were recorded in total in four habitat types surveyed, with highest species richness in species-rich grassland and highest abundance in urban habitats. Highest numbers of B. distinguendus were found in two designated nature reserves. However, outside these reserves the species was only found in three of twelve sites surveyed in both species-rich and coastal grassland habitats. B. distinguendus is a late emerging species in this region with a foraging preference for Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra). Availability of key forage species was lowest when numbers of B. distinguendus were highest, potentially limiting survival of this species. Some smaller suitable habitats in urban areas and roadside verges were not used by the species, which suggests potential issues with habitat connectivity, patch size and/or availability of nesting and hibernation sites. Based on our findings, we suggest that existing species-rich and coastal grassland sites should be conserved, and other areas restored, for B. distinguendus in Ireland. Conservation management should focus on delaying cutting grasslands until late September, winter grazing of stock and reducing pesticides and fertilisers with the aim of increasing forage availability in late season, and ensuring that suitable habitats are connected in the landscape to allow adequate habitat area as well as movement and dispersal of the species to new areas.