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CURRENT RESEARCH at the NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS
Phylogeography of Arbutus unedo
Last updated: 12th march 2013
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
The Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) has a predominantly Mediterranean distribution. The Irish
populations are disjunct from the major populations in the Mediterranean, Portugal and Spain. To date we
still do not understand where the populations in Ireland have come from. A project currently underway
has developed molecular markers that are proving useful in distinguishing European populations and may
eventually determine the origins and native status of the Irish populations.
Read more here ...
ForGen – Forest Genetic Resources Research Programme
Last updated: 12th march 2013
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
Philippe Cubry (National Botanic Gardens)
ForGen is a collaborative research programme involving University College Dublin, Coillte,
Teagasc and the National Botanic Gardens. As part of the ForGen programme, we are currently
undertaking a number of studies on the phylogeography and genetic diversity of Irish tree
species. The target species of the study are Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Birch (Betula spp.)
and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The programme will also assess levels of genetic
variation in other native species such as oak. The results hope to provide useful
baseline information to help to improve the forestry sector. As part of the project
the NBG have setup and maintain a National Forest Tree DNAbank, which is a store of
DNA for future research.
Read more here ...
Phylogeography of Arctic Species
Last updated: 12th march 2013
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
Evelyn Gallagher (National Botanic Gardens)
Phylogeography is the study of genetic variation within and among species on a landscape scale.
For plants, phylogeography involves characterising geographic patterns and assessing routes of
migration. Knowing the routes and mechanisms of how plants migrated after the last glacial
maximum is of particular relevance due to the impacts of climate change. Gathering more evidence
about these migrations is crucial to our understanding of how plants will adapt to current and
future climate change. This project looks at the arctic species Saxifraga nivalis.
Read more here ...
Hottentot fig control on Howth Head (Carpobrotus edulis)
Last updated: 10th January 2011
Noeleen Smyth, Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens) & Andy Booth (Conservation Services).
Control and eradication of Hottentot fig from Howth Head. The plant has been present
at the Needles on Howth since 1962 and in the intervening 47 years it has grown into
patches up to 40 metres across – a steady 1 a metre a year. It has often been noted
in the literature that after an initial settling in period an invasive plant species
reproduces at an exponential rate. In addition numerous smaller patches, as well as
its presence on each of the southern headlands (Sutton Dinghy Club, Drumleck Point,
Lion’s Head and Baily Lighthouse), demonstrated that it was actively spreading and
establishing new colonies on Howth.
Read more here ...
Conservation and monitoring of legally protected fern allies in Ireland
Last updated: 10 January 2011
Noeleen Smyth (National Botanic Gardens)
A project to document all known records of clubmosses in Ireland and to visit
a selected number of sites for detailed monitoring and record colony area, shoot
size, habitat description and whether sporing occurs as an indication of population
health. Previously the group have been treated as one unit. However, research to
date has highlighted that each species is responding differently to environmental
pressures with some becoming extremely rare in Ireland.
Read more here ...
Conservation of Abutilon pitcairnense
Last updated: 10 January 2011
Noeleen Smyth (National Botanic Gardens)
Abutilon pitcairnense, a highly attractive yellow-flowered member of the Malvaceae from
the Pacific island of Pitcairn, is currently extinct in the wild. Its former habitat on the
island is under threat from the invasive alien tree Syzygium jambos (Roseapple).
Through combining invasive species control, restoration of native vegetation and the
proposed reintroduction of Abutilon pitcairnense to various parts of the island, a
holistic approach to target species conservation and restoration of its endangered associated
habitat will hopefully be achieved.
Read more here ...
Biogeography of Irish Arctic-Alpine Caryophyllaceae
Last updated: 3 March 2010
Emma Howard-Williams (NUI Maynooth)
Conor Meade (NUI Maynooth)
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens)
A project to determine the postglacial migration routes in Ireland for the species Arenaria ciliata
and Minuartia recurva which will be tested using a comparative phylogeographical analysis including
a range of Caryophyllaceae (Arenaria norvegica, Silene acaulis, Minuartia verna, M. rubella,
M. sedoides and Arenaria serpyllifolia).
Read more here ...
Investigating variation in temperature-related genes in Aspen
Last updated: 19 January 2010
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
Annelies Pletsers (Trinity College Dublin)
Aspen has a wide longitudinal and latitudinal range, and shows variation in bud-burst timing across this range.
This study aims to identify candidate genes related to bud-burst, assessing these for single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs).
Read more here ...
Population genetics and Conservation of Encephalartos equatorialis
Last updated: 12 January 2010
Darach Lupton (National Botanic Gardens)
David Nkwanga (Nature Palace Botanic Gardens, Uganda)
To assess the population genetics and conservation requirements of the endemic Ugandan cycad
Encephalartos equatorialis, in order to to ensure the long-term survival of
the species in its native habitat through practical plant conservation measures.
Read more here ...
Improving the delivery of advice from conservation ecology to REPS
Last updated: 24 July 2009
Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens)
A methodology has been developed to identify areas of high plant diversity in Ireland. Being able to classify farmland as being of High Nature Value, in an objective manner, will allow the distribution of subsidies aimed at environmental protection to be targeted at the most appropriate farms. A preliminary survey has been undertaken for three counties as examples, and an outline of the next steps required to develop a regional or county scale operational model are being developed.
Read more here ...
Conservation status and population genetics of the Kerry Lily
Last updated: 8 January 2009
Darach Lupton (National Botanic Gardens)
The Kerry Lily, Simethis planifolia is a protected species in Ireland, only known
from three locations - two in South-West Kerry and one in West Cork. The Irish populations
are the most northerly in Europe, and the species is protected under the Flora Protection Order.
This project aims to assess the conservation status, and genetic diversity of the species.
Read more here ...
DNA barcodes – Maples
Last updated: 8 January 2009
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
To assess the putative DNA barcode regions for their utility in identifying maples in the living collection at
the National Botanic Gardens.
Read more here ...
Conservation and monitoring of rare and threatened bryophyte species in Ireland.
Last updated: 5 January 2009
Dr. Noeleen Smyth (Supervisor and project manager) Ms. Christina Campbell (PhD. research student)
Develop a monitoring programme for selected bryophyte populations of dune slack, machair, fen and metal rich grassland
species in Ireland; Germination trials of these species; A genetic appraisal of the Irish populations of
Petalophyllum ralfsii, Bryum uliginosum, Paludella squarrosa, Leiocolea rutheana
var. rutheana, Catascopium nigritum, and Ditrichum cornubicum.
Read more here ...
Floating River Vegetation – A Review of the Habitat Description and its Distribution in Ireland.
Last updated: 5 January 2009
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens) Deirdre Lynn (National Parks and Wildlife Service).
Assess the current status of Floating River Vegetation (EU Habitat Code 3260);
Provide a definition of the habitat in an Irish context; Create a living collection for educational and research purposes;
Elaborate on existing keys and field guides for identification of species within the habitat.
Read more here ...
Eradication of Gunnera tinctoria on Clare Island, Co Mayo.
Last updated: 14 January 2009
Cristina Armstrong (National Botanic Gardens) and Deirdre Cunningham (Mayo County Council) with part funding from the Biodiversity Fund, Heritage Council.
A project to control and eradicate Gunnera tinctoria on Clare Island, based on 3 years of field
trials using the herbicide Glyphosate on Achill Island. The distribution of G. tinctoria has been
mapped on Clare Island, to know the exact location of each population to be treated, and during 2008 the first
eradication measures were undertaken.
Read more here ...
A revision of the ant-plant genus Hydnophytum.
Last updated: 8 February 2009
Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens) and Camilla Huxley (Oxford University).
Hydnophytum is the largest of the five genera of 'ant-plants' in the Rubiaceae. These plants are
almost exclusively epiphytic, and develop chambered tubers at the base of their stems, which act as homes
to ants or other creatures - a remarkable symbiotic relationship in which the ant colony gets a home,
and leaves behind detritus that helps to feed the plant.
Read more here ...
Floras of the Irish Isles
Last updated: 8 February 2009
Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens).
A literature survey of Irish island floras revealed a correlation between the log of the
island’s area to the log of species richness. These island floras conformed to a regression
line, which indicated that with every doubling in area, an Irish island’s floral diversity increases by ca. 3.4 %.
Read more here ...
Kilmacurragh Arboretum Native Meadow Restoration Trials
Last updated: 22 December 2008
Darach Lupton, Seamus O'Brien, Myles Reid, Clare Mullarney and Philip Quested (National Botanic Gardens).
A long term monitoring initiative set up in 2008 to assess the optimal management regime at the
Kilmacurragh Arboretum for the restoration of natural meadows.
Read more here ...
The vascular flora of Lambay
Last updated: 8 February 2009
Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens).
Lambay is an island lying some four kilometres off the east coast of county Dublin.
Two previous publications have dealt with the vascular flora of Lambay, in 1883 and 1907.
The results of this resurvey demonstrate major changes in the vegetation and species.
309 vascular plant taxa are presently recorded as naturalised on Lambay, 78 previously recorded species were not
refound, while 54 taxa have been recorded for the first time.
Read more here ...
Assessing the suitability of commercial seed mixes in the restoration of native, species rich meadows in Ireland
Last updated: 22 December 2008
Darach Lupton (National Botanic Gardens) and Marie Dromey (National Parks and Wildlife Service)
To assess the suitability of commercial wild-flower seed mixes for the long-term development and
restoration of native Irish meadows; The influence of the soil seed bank and local seed rain; Comparison of
genetic diversity within commercial seed suppliers and their wild relatives; develop guidelines regarding
the use of wild flower seeds in habitat restoration in Ireland.
Read more here ...
Phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Nepenthes
Last updated: 8 February 2009
Josef Mullins (Reading University), Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens).
molecular data sets from the chloroplast (trnL – trnF) and nuclear genome (5S-NTS)
were analysed to investigate phylogenetic relationships within the family.
The two gene trees indicated incongruence of a number of taxa (15 taxa). The analysis
suggests a circum-Indian Ocean origin for the genus with a highly conserved and
relictual basal clade, and a recent and rapid expansion from New Guinea westwards into South-East Asia.
There is no evidence for long-distant dispersal in the genus, and species that do not show hybridogenic
orgin are confined to single islands or island grops, whilst taxa of hybrid origin are sometimes remarkably widespread.
Read more here ...
A Field Guide to Pandanus in New Guinea, The Bismark Archipelago and the Solomon Islands
Last updated: 8 February 2009
Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens).
Pandanus or screw-pines are large, palm-like spiny monocots found from tropical Africa, though Asia to the Pacific.
Their taxonomy is still poorly known, and this field guide will provide descriptions and illustrations to the 74 species
known from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Read more here ...
Investigating Rare Willows in Ireland – Remnants of an Arctic Past
Last updated: 8 January 2009
Colin Kelleher (National Botanic Gardens)
To assess the conservation status, ecology, population demographics and genetic diversity of two rare Willow
species found in arctic-alpine habitats in Ireland; Salix herbacea and Salix phylicifolia.
Read more here ...
Conservation and monitoring of Killarney fern (Trichomanes speciosum) in Ireland
Last updated: 22 December 2008
Ms. Emer Ni Dhuill (PhD. research student), Noeleen Smyth (National Botanic Gardens, Supervisor),
Dr. Steve Waldren, (Trinity College Dublin, Supervisor),
Sinead Phelan & Gerry Douglas (Teagasc Research Institute, Malahide Road, Kinsealy, Co. Dublin).
Developing monitoring guidelines relevant for informing reporting structures to the EU under
Article 17 of the Habitats Directive; Developing and maintaining long-term ex-situ conservation
collections of Killarney fern by devising the best method for propagation;
To determine the genetic diversity of all known populations of Killarney fern in Ireland, using DNA
fingerprinting techniques (AFLP).
Read more here ...
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