The Conservation Status of Juniper Formations in Ireland. Cooper, F., Stone, R. E., McEvoy, P., Wilkins, T., & Reid, N. Volume 63 , National Parks and Wildlife Service. ![The Conservation Status of Juniper Formations in Ireland [link]](https://bibbase.org/img/filetypes/link.svg "link")
Paper abstract bibtex 1. This is the first study to make a quantitative assessment of the conservation status of the EU Annex I Habitat 5130 Juniper communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands throughout Ireland based on survey data. 2. A total of 125 locations were found to support juniper but many consisted of isolated small groups or individual shrubs. Following Plantlife (UK) criteria, a 'formation' was taken as any discrete cluster of ≥50 shrubs which was judged the minimum number likely to be capable of recruitment and long-term persistence whilst avoiding inbreeding depression. A total of 51 formations were identified. 3. Formations occurred in a total of 36 x 10km2 squares with a favourable reference range judged to be 68 x 10km2 squares. Whilst this appeared to represent a substantial long-term decline (-74%) this may be spurious as the previously reported range was derived from single species records spanning the period 1800-2005 (NPWS, 2008). Formations were found to cover a total of 47.3km2 within their range. Conversely, this represented a substantial long-term increase (+436%) from that previously reported but again this change is likely to be spurious for similar reasons (NPWS, 2008). Thus, any change in distribution, range and the area covered by the habitat is entirely due to improved knowledge and more accurate data. Consequently, the results of this survey should be taken as a new baseline against which future change can be measured. 4. The total population within formations was estimated at approximately 20,036 individuals. Formations with notably large populations exist at Cruit Island and around Dawros Head (Co. Donegal), with approximately 3,000 and 3,500 shrubs respectively. 5. Intensive grazing pressure significantly reduced recruitment success presumably because small seedlings are more vulnerable to domestic stock than mature shrubs. 6. The age structure of juniper formations remains unknown as various methods of estimating and measuring age indirectly resulted in poor reliability. 7. Juniper was mostly associated with lowland dry calcareous and neutral grassland, exposed calcareous rock, dry siliceous heath, exposed siliceous rock and dry calcareous heath. However, it also occurred on coastal dunes and at higher altitudes. 8. A total of 5 phytosociological groupings were derived from vegetation analysis to describe indicative plant communities characterising juniper scrub throughout Ireland. 9. Following EU guidelines the current conservation status of J. communis formations on heath and dry grasslands was assessed as Unfavourable Inadequate U1 or poor (amber). This is considered to be a baseline assessment as the data supporting the amber assessment submitted in 2007 were based on a desk study of Juniper records. 10. A future monitoring protocol is outlined and site-specific recommendations are made to ensure conservation status remains stable or at sites were the status was determined as poor or bad can be restored. 11. Further research is required to elucidate the importance of habitat quality on the structure of juniper formations and also the impacts of livestock and climate on juniper recruitment.
@book{cooperConservationStatusJuniper2012,
title = {The Conservation Status of Juniper Formations in {{Ireland}}},
author = {Cooper, F. and Stone, R. E. and McEvoy, P. and Wilkins, T. and Reid, N.},
date = {2012},
volume = {63},
publisher = {{National Parks and Wildlife Service}},
location = {{Dublin, Ireland}},
issn = {1393-6670},
url = {http://mfkp.org/INRMM/article/13593317},
abstract = {1. This is the first study to make a quantitative assessment of the conservation status of the EU Annex I Habitat 5130 Juniper communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands throughout Ireland based on survey data. 2. A total of 125 locations were found to support juniper but many consisted of isolated small groups or individual shrubs. Following Plantlife (UK) criteria, a 'formation' was taken as any discrete cluster of ≥50 shrubs which was judged the minimum number likely to be capable of recruitment and long-term persistence whilst avoiding inbreeding depression. A total of 51 formations were identified. 3. Formations occurred in a total of 36 x 10km2 squares with a favourable reference range judged to be 68 x 10km2 squares. Whilst this appeared to represent a substantial long-term decline (-74\%) this may be spurious as the previously reported range was derived from single species records spanning the period 1800-2005 (NPWS, 2008). Formations were found to cover a total of 47.3km2 within their range. Conversely, this represented a substantial long-term increase (+436\%) from that previously reported but again this change is likely to be spurious for similar reasons (NPWS, 2008). Thus, any change in distribution, range and the area covered by the habitat is entirely due to improved knowledge and more accurate data. Consequently, the results of this survey should be taken as a new baseline against which future change can be measured. 4. The total population within formations was estimated at approximately 20,036 individuals. Formations with notably large populations exist at Cruit Island and around Dawros Head (Co. Donegal), with approximately 3,000 and 3,500 shrubs respectively. 5. Intensive grazing pressure significantly reduced recruitment success presumably because small seedlings are more vulnerable to domestic stock than mature shrubs. 6. The age structure of juniper formations remains unknown as various methods of estimating and measuring age indirectly resulted in poor reliability. 7. Juniper was mostly associated with lowland dry calcareous and neutral grassland, exposed calcareous rock, dry siliceous heath, exposed siliceous rock and dry calcareous heath. However, it also occurred on coastal dunes and at higher altitudes. 8. A total of 5 phytosociological groupings were derived from vegetation analysis to describe indicative plant communities characterising juniper scrub throughout Ireland. 9. Following EU guidelines the current conservation status of J. communis formations on heath and dry grasslands was assessed as Unfavourable Inadequate U1 or poor (amber). This is considered to be a baseline assessment as the data supporting the amber assessment submitted in 2007 were based on a desk study of Juniper records. 10. A future monitoring protocol is outlined and site-specific recommendations are made to ensure conservation status remains stable or at sites were the status was determined as poor or bad can be restored. 11. Further research is required to elucidate the importance of habitat quality on the structure of juniper formations and also the impacts of livestock and climate on juniper recruitment.},
keywords = {*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-13593317,ireland,juniperus-spp}
}
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This is the first study to make a quantitative assessment of the conservation status of the EU Annex I Habitat 5130 Juniper communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands throughout Ireland based on survey data. 2. A total of 125 locations were found to support juniper but many consisted of isolated small groups or individual shrubs. Following Plantlife (UK) criteria, a 'formation' was taken as any discrete cluster of ≥50 shrubs which was judged the minimum number likely to be capable of recruitment and long-term persistence whilst avoiding inbreeding depression. A total of 51 formations were identified. 3. Formations occurred in a total of 36 x 10km2 squares with a favourable reference range judged to be 68 x 10km2 squares. Whilst this appeared to represent a substantial long-term decline (-74%) this may be spurious as the previously reported range was derived from single species records spanning the period 1800-2005 (NPWS, 2008). Formations were found to cover a total of 47.3km2 within their range. Conversely, this represented a substantial long-term increase (+436%) from that previously reported but again this change is likely to be spurious for similar reasons (NPWS, 2008). Thus, any change in distribution, range and the area covered by the habitat is entirely due to improved knowledge and more accurate data. Consequently, the results of this survey should be taken as a new baseline against which future change can be measured. 4. The total population within formations was estimated at approximately 20,036 individuals. Formations with notably large populations exist at Cruit Island and around Dawros Head (Co. Donegal), with approximately 3,000 and 3,500 shrubs respectively. 5. Intensive grazing pressure significantly reduced recruitment success presumably because small seedlings are more vulnerable to domestic stock than mature shrubs. 6. The age structure of juniper formations remains unknown as various methods of estimating and measuring age indirectly resulted in poor reliability. 7. Juniper was mostly associated with lowland dry calcareous and neutral grassland, exposed calcareous rock, dry siliceous heath, exposed siliceous rock and dry calcareous heath. However, it also occurred on coastal dunes and at higher altitudes. 8. A total of 5 phytosociological groupings were derived from vegetation analysis to describe indicative plant communities characterising juniper scrub throughout Ireland. 9. Following EU guidelines the current conservation status of J. communis formations on heath and dry grasslands was assessed as Unfavourable Inadequate U1 or poor (amber). This is considered to be a baseline assessment as the data supporting the amber assessment submitted in 2007 were based on a desk study of Juniper records. 10. A future monitoring protocol is outlined and site-specific recommendations are made to ensure conservation status remains stable or at sites were the status was determined as poor or bad can be restored. 11. Further research is required to elucidate the importance of habitat quality on the structure of juniper formations and also the impacts of livestock and climate on juniper recruitment.","keywords":"*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-13593317,ireland,juniperus-spp","bibtex":"@book{cooperConservationStatusJuniper2012,\n title = {The Conservation Status of Juniper Formations in {{Ireland}}},\n author = {Cooper, F. and Stone, R. E. and McEvoy, P. and Wilkins, T. and Reid, N.},\n date = {2012},\n volume = {63},\n publisher = {{National Parks and Wildlife Service}},\n location = {{Dublin, Ireland}},\n issn = {1393-6670},\n url = {http://mfkp.org/INRMM/article/13593317},\n abstract = {1. This is the first study to make a quantitative assessment of the conservation status of the EU Annex I Habitat 5130 Juniper communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands throughout Ireland based on survey data. 2. A total of 125 locations were found to support juniper but many consisted of isolated small groups or individual shrubs. Following Plantlife (UK) criteria, a 'formation' was taken as any discrete cluster of ≥50 shrubs which was judged the minimum number likely to be capable of recruitment and long-term persistence whilst avoiding inbreeding depression. A total of 51 formations were identified. 3. Formations occurred in a total of 36 x 10km2 squares with a favourable reference range judged to be 68 x 10km2 squares. Whilst this appeared to represent a substantial long-term decline (-74\\%) this may be spurious as the previously reported range was derived from single species records spanning the period 1800-2005 (NPWS, 2008). Formations were found to cover a total of 47.3km2 within their range. Conversely, this represented a substantial long-term increase (+436\\%) from that previously reported but again this change is likely to be spurious for similar reasons (NPWS, 2008). Thus, any change in distribution, range and the area covered by the habitat is entirely due to improved knowledge and more accurate data. Consequently, the results of this survey should be taken as a new baseline against which future change can be measured. 4. The total population within formations was estimated at approximately 20,036 individuals. Formations with notably large populations exist at Cruit Island and around Dawros Head (Co. Donegal), with approximately 3,000 and 3,500 shrubs respectively. 5. Intensive grazing pressure significantly reduced recruitment success presumably because small seedlings are more vulnerable to domestic stock than mature shrubs. 6. The age structure of juniper formations remains unknown as various methods of estimating and measuring age indirectly resulted in poor reliability. 7. Juniper was mostly associated with lowland dry calcareous and neutral grassland, exposed calcareous rock, dry siliceous heath, exposed siliceous rock and dry calcareous heath. However, it also occurred on coastal dunes and at higher altitudes. 8. A total of 5 phytosociological groupings were derived from vegetation analysis to describe indicative plant communities characterising juniper scrub throughout Ireland. 9. Following EU guidelines the current conservation status of J. communis formations on heath and dry grasslands was assessed as Unfavourable Inadequate U1 or poor (amber). This is considered to be a baseline assessment as the data supporting the amber assessment submitted in 2007 were based on a desk study of Juniper records. 10. 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