New free digital book highlights the vital role of Lakes in Ireland
ATU scientist Dr Heather Lally, Dr Emma Gray and Prof Frances Lucy contribute to book chapters
The island of Ireland is home to an extraordinary number of lakes, which serve as both vital ecosystems and significant cultural landmarks. A new open access digital book, Lakes in Ireland – Mirrors of Change, delves into the origins, biodiversity, and environmental challenges facing these bodies of water. Available to the public for free, the book brings together leading experts to present an in-depth exploration of Ireland’s lakes, their history, geography, science and the growing threats they face.
Three academics from Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Dr Heather Lally, Senior Lecturer in Freshwater Biology and Ecology, Dr Emma Gray, Assistant Lecturer in Freshwater Ecology, and Professor Frances Lucy, Director of CERIS, the Centre for Environmental Research Innovation and Sustainability at ATU, contributed towards two book chapters.
Drs Lally and Gray co-wrote Chapter 5 “Biodiversity in Ireland’s Lakes: Nature in balance?” which immerses readers in the dynamic world of biodiversity in Ireland’s lakes. The chapter dives into the trophic dynamics, food webs, and the significance of small ponds. Highlighting species from the micro- to macro-scopic scale underscores the importance of lakes in Ireland for biodiversity and demonstrates how some species are under threat due to habitat loss, disease, catchment modifications and climate change. Dr Lally says: “This book chapter highlights the importance of lakes in Ireland for biodiversity particularly small lakes which can contain rare and threatened species. These species are under threat due to habitat loss catchment modifications and climate change. The inclusion of small lakes to National monitoring programmes would aid conservation efforts by allowing greater understanding of small lake ecosystems and the rare species that inhibit them”.
Professor Frances Lucy lead and co-writer of Chapter 13 “Invasive Aquatic Species: Lake Aliens” which sheds light on the vulnerability of Ireland’s aquatic environments to Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Framed within the EU IAS risk assessment/regulation approach, the chapter traverses the history, geography, and establishment of IAS, explores their spread in Irish lakes, the impacts they pose, and ongoing management efforts. Prof Lucy says: “There are recognised pathways of introduction and spread for IAS in all environments and lakes are particularly vulnerable. There are positive changes we can implement to protect aquatic biodiversity and we all need to get moving on these. The new launched Shared Island project on invasive alien species is a positive driver for the island of Ireland.”
This comprehensive volume covers the geological forces that shaped Ireland's lakes, including the movement of glaciers and the island’s temperate, Atlantic-influenced climate. As outlined in the book's chapters, these lakes have supported human settlement and cultural development for millennia. They continue to play a central role in recreation, amenity, and community activism today.
However, the authors caution that not all is well. While Ireland has been spared the severe droughts and floods afflicting lakes elsewhere in Europe, issues like nutrient over-enrichment, or eutrophication, pose significant threats. Algal blooms, such as the 2023 crisis on Lough Neagh, highlight the dangers of pollution and the urgent need for action. This situation is explored in detail in chapters on the health of lake ecosystems and the specific challenges facing rare lake types such as turloughs and coastal lagoons.
The book also addresses broader environmental concerns, including climate change, invasive species, and hydrological alterations. Irish lakes are warming due to human-induced climate change, and the implications for biodiversity are severe. The experts state that without a concerted effort to mitigate these pressures, the health of lake ecosystems will continue to deteriorate.
This book emphasizes the need for a coordinated, multi-agency approach to lake management. The authors advocate for better regulation, inter-departmental collaboration, and more robust community involvement in the stewardship of these vital water bodies. It also highlights the pressing need for research to address knowledge gaps and inform future policies that protect Irish lakes.
This digital book has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of leading researchers, environmentalists, and government agencies dedicated to protecting Ireland’s natural heritage and is freely available on the Marine Institute’s Open Access Repository here: Lakes in Ireland – Mirrors of Change. It’s hoped that this open access will foster accessibility and encourage environmental education and advocacy. By equipping communities and policymakers alike with knowledge, the authors hope to inspire action that will safeguard Ireland’s lakes for future generations.
The sponsors who made this open access publication possible are the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Culture, Heritage (Ref. SPU G05-2024), the Marine Institute (Ref. NET/24/012), the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Mary Immaculate College (University of Limerick), the Geological Survey, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), the Local Authority Waters Programme, the Loughs Agency, An Foram Uisce, National Federation of Group Water Schemes, Coillte and the Irish Freshwater Sciences Association
