The Dahlias of Kilkee - Seashore Ecology Trip

This marks the first official Seashore Ecology trip of the UL Sustainability Challenge Sustainable Shores project!

As a marine biology enthusiast, I love nothing more than spending my days sifting through rockpools to discover new and exciting creatures. The more often we visit the seashore, the more we can become accustomed to the more common species of marine flora and fauna. A shrimp here, a shore crab there. However, the variance between each individual in certain species can make them look like two completely different creatures.

One of the best ways to get involved in citizen science is to simply grab a phone or camera and start snapping photos.

Dahlia Anemones (Urticina felina) are a common sight in the rocky intertidal zones Ireland, but each one is unique in terms of its color and pattern. Some are bright orange, while others are deep purple or green. They can be spotted with stripes, dots, and a variety of other patterns, making them a joy to find and photograph. The easiest way to tell if you're looking at a Dahlia Anemone is by looking at the tentacles surrounding its mouth. Dahlia anemones have short, stubby tentacles that are usually striped with bands of lighter colours or white.

Whenever I photograph creatures of any kind, I always use my photos to submit records to Ireland's National Citizen Science Portal - the National Biodiversity Data Centre. By contributing my findings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Ireland, I can help scientists and researchers better understand the distribution and abundance of these species.

This brings me to the importance of citizen science in documenting marine biodiversity. Rock pools and other intertidal zones are hotspots of marine life, but despite being a popular holiday destination, they are often overlooked or understudied. Scientists and researchers don't have access to the time or resources needed to record every critter along our coastlines or waterways. However, if everyone took a moment to record what they see the next time they visit a seashore, river or lake, we'd have thousands of new records to work on. By documenting the species that live in these areas, we can gain a better understanding of their populations and help to protect them for future generations.

A Dahlia Anemone (Urticina felina).

One of the best ways to get involved in citizen science is to simply grab a phone or camera and start snapping photos. By photographing the creatures you come across, you can contribute to the National BIodiversity Data Centre and other projects like iNaturalist or SeaSearch Ireland. These projects use photos and other data to track the distribution and abundance of marine species, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts.

So if you're interested in marine life and want to make a difference, don't forget to grab a camera & take note of the species you encounter and contribute your findings to citizen science projects! Who knows what kind of amazing creatures you'll discover, and what impact your photos could have on our understanding of marine biodiversity.

Get Recording:

National Biodiversity Data Centre - https://biodiversityireland.ie/

iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org/

SeaSearch Ireland - https://seasearchireland.ie/