2005 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Mohill Vocational School, Mohill, Co. Leitrim
Sharon Keegan & �ine Gildea
Bird and mammal diversity in Leitrim's woodlands

The aim of our project was to investigate if:

  • The different types of woodland e.g. coniferous, hardwood or mixed woodland influenced the species found.

  • There was species variation within the different regions of woodland in Co. Leitrim.

  • Species varied at the different stages as the woodland developed into maturity.

Data from field trips to the various woodlands was collected and analyzed. It was established that certain species of both birds and mammals were common to all woodlands e.g.woodcock, pigeon's woodmouse, bank voles etc.

Songbird diversity was lowest in even-aged monoculture plantation without undergrowth and it was highest in semi-natural mixed woodland with thick undergrowth. Bird densities are in general highest in semi-natural woods, lower in spruce plantations and lowest in pine. Mammals are varied in their habitat requirements within woodland. Bank vole, badger, wood mouse and hedgehog require a dense grouse layer. Rabbit and fox colonise newly planted areas and they are edge species in mature plantations, as is the pheasant.

We also established that there was a greater number of woodland birds observed in a woodland whose edge was near a lake/ river shore.

Our fieldwork and investigation for this project were done with help of the County Foresters, Teagasc, Mr. Mc Grath, our Science Teacher, and Brian McCauley (local hunter).


Sharon Keegan and �ine Gildea at the exhibition

Sharon Keegan & �ine Gildea entered their project in the Intermediate Group Section in the Biological and Ecological Sciences Category at the EsatBT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January 2005. They won a Special Award sponsored by COFORD - The National Council for Forest Research & Development. Their teacher was Mr Michael Mc Grath.


This article was sponsored by COFORD The National Council for Forest Research & Development