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Fauna

 

The zoological and other fauna studies in the original Clare Island Survey yielded quite dramatic results. 5269 fauna species (including fish) were identified. However the vast majority of these were microscopic:The animals, birds and fish, which make up the average island-goer's experience, comprise only 404 species. Of these, about 120 are terrestrial, though again, most are invertebrate animals.

 Moving west from Europe, to Britain, to Ireland, there is a drastic dimunition of species of flora and fauna. An off-shore island only reduces that already reduced pool. Praeger's findings of 413 species of plants is compared to 815 for that of the entire island of Ireland, 1172 for Britain, 3500 for France. The reduction is similar for animal groups.

  • Species native to Britain 32
  • Species native to Ireland 14
  • Species native to Clare Island 10

Similar short falls are recorded amongthe reptiles (Ireland 1; Britain 4) and the amphibians (Ireland 2; Britain 6).

Two species of mammals, the rabbit and hare were introduced to the island in 1902 for sport and have during this century so successfully colonized the island as to be competing with sheep for grazing. In fact in some parts of the island, rabbits constitute a real problem, having no natural predator nor exposure to disease.

As part of the New Survey of Clare Island, zoological work has been carriedout on:

  • Reptiles
  • Rodents
  • Bats
  • Fresh-water invertebrates

 

for more information please contact us or RIA.

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