Natural Sciences

Research Interests

My research in the Plant Ecology lab focuses on sustainable land-use for conservation. Current research is on biodiversity in upland farms in Connemara, focusing on commonages and peatland ecosystems. The hay meadows Shannon callows depend on specific management to maintain plant and invertebrate diversity, which is currently being researched. Climate change is a specific interest and is the focus of an upland study on alpine heath and northern hepatic (liverwort) mats in mountains of the west of Ireland. I also have an interest in species-rich grassland management for biodiversity, salt marsh ecology, woodland structure and biodiversity. I am a member of the  Tropical Biology Association and will be teaching on the field course in Uganda in July 2012.

 

Books

Lysaght, L., Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Gormally, M (2000) Recognising European Pastoral Farming Systems and Understanding their Ecology. European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism and the Heritage Council, Kilkenny, Ireland. [Details]

Carter, R.W.G., Curtis, T.G.F. and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. (1992) Coastal Dunes Geomorphology, Ecology and Management for Consevation. Proceedings of the third European Dune Congress. Galway, Ireland: Balkema, Rotterdam. [Details]

Wyse Jackson, P.S. and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. (1984) The Flora of Inner Dublin Royal Dublin Society Dublin. [Details]

Book Chapters

M Sheehy Skeffington (2013) 'Turloughs -vanishing lakes or vanishing fields?' In: Jebb, M and C. Crowley (eds). Secrets of the Irish Landscape. Cork: Cork University Press. [Details]

Hodd RL and Sheehy Skeffington M (2011) 'Irish oceanic montane heath plant communities and possible impacts of climate change. Pp 490-515' In: Climate Change and Systematics, Systematics Association Special Series. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington M Gormally, M (2009) 'Turloughs: a mosaic of biodiversity and management systems unique to Ireland' In: Krzywinski, K. O’Connell M. and Küster H (eds). Cultural landscapes of Europe, Fields of Demeter, Haunts of Pan. Bremen: Aschenbeck Media. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Gormally M (2009) 'Turloughs: a mosaic of biodiversity and management systems unique to Ireland' In: Krzywinski K. O’Connell M. and Küster H (eds). Cultural landscapes of Europe, Fields of Demeter, Haunts of Pan. Bremen: Aschenbeck Media. [Details]

Nash D, Reynolds S. and Sheehy Skeffington M. (1998) 'Maritime and sub-maritime communities: 4) rocky cliffs 5) boulder clay banks and deeper coastal soils' In: Flora of County Dublin. Dublin: Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington M (1998) 'Maritime and sub-maritime communities:1) mud flats 2) sub-tidal and inter-tidal communities' In: Flora of County Dublin. Dublin: Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington M.J.and O'Connell C (1998) 'Peatlands of Ireland' In: Giller, P (eds). Studies in Irish Limnology; Invited chapter for the Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL) conference. [Details]

 

Peer Reviewed Journals

Hodd, R.L. Bourke, D and Sheehy Skeffington, M (2014) 'Projected Range Contractions of European Protected Oceanic Montane Plant Communities: Focus on Climate Change Impacts Is Essential for Their Future Conservation'. Plos One, 9 (4). [DOI] [Details]

Maher, C, Williams, C, Goramlly M and Sheehy Skeffington M (2014) 'Atlantic floodplain meadows: influence of hydrological gradients 3 and management on sciomyzid (Diptera) assemblages'. Journal Of Insect Conservation, . [DOI] [Details]

Coll, J., Bourke, D., Sweeney, J., Gormally, M., Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2014) 'Potential effect of climate change on the suitable climate space of vulnerable active blanket bog'. Climate Research, . [Details]

Sullivan, CA, Finn JA, Gormally MJ & Sheehy Skeffington M (2013) 'Field Boundary Habitats and their Contribution to the Area of Seminatural Habitats on Lowland Farms In East Galway, Western Ireland'. Biology And Environment: Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy, 113 (2):1-13. [DOI] [Details]

Sullivan, C.A., Bourke, D, Sheehy Skeffington, M, Finn, J.A., Green, S, Kelly, S and Gormally, M.J. (2011) 'Modelling semi-natural habitat area on lowland farms in western Ireland'. Biological Conservation, 144 :1089-1099. [Details]

Coll, J., Bourke, D, Sheehy Skeffington, M., Sweeney, J. and Gormally, M. () (2011) 'Developing a predictive modelling capacity for a climate change-vulnerable blanket bog habitat: Assessing 1961-1990 baseline relationships'. Irish Geography, . 44, (1), - :27-60. [Details]

Moran, J., Gormally, M., Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2011) 'Turlough ground beetle communities: the influence of hydrology and grazing in a complex ecological matrix'. Journal Of Insect Conservation, 16 (1):51-69. [Details]

Ryder, L,de Eyto, E,Gormally, M,Skeffington, MS,Dillane, M,Poole, R (2011) 'RIPARIAN ZONE CREATION IN ESTABLISHED CONIFEROUS FORESTS IN IRISH UPLAND PEAT CATCHMENTS: PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS'. Biology And Environment-Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy, 111B :41-60. [DOI] [Details]

Williams, CD. Beltman, B., Moran, J., Sheehy Skeffington, M., and Gormally M J. (2011) 'Empirical support for the possible application of modified Ellenberg indices to the study of environmental gradients on dynamic Irish wetlands-evidence from Skealoghan turlough, County Mayo'. Biology And Environment: Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy, 111B(1) :19--31. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. & Hall, K (2011) 'THE ECOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND INVASIVENESS OF GUNNERA L. SPECIES IN CONNEMARA, WESTERN IRELAND'. Biology And Environment-Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy, 111B :157-175. [DOI] [Details]

Hodd, R. and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2011) 'Mixed northern hepatic mat: a threatened and unique bryophyte community'. Journal Of Bryology, 104 :2-11. [Details]

Sullivan, C.A., Sheehy Skeffington, M, Gormally, M.J and Finn, J.A. (2010) 'The ecological status of grasslands on lowland farmlands in western Ireland and implications for grassland classification and nature value assessment'. Biological Conservation, 143 :1529-1539. [DOI] [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Gormally M. (2009) 'Turloughs: a mosaic of biodiversity and management systems unique to Ireland'. Cultural Landscapes Of Europe, Fields Of Demeter, Haunts Of Pan, . [Details]

Moran, J. Regan, E.C., Visser, M., Gormally, M. and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2008) 'Past and present land management of 12 turloughs in the west of Ireland'. Tearmann (Irish Journal Of Agri-Environmental Research), 6 :83-102. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Scott, N.E., (2008) 'Do turloughs exist in Slovenia?'. Acta Carsologica, 37 (40604):291-306. [Details]

Conaghan J., and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2008) 'The Distribution and Conservation of Eriophorum gracile Koch ex Roth in Ireland'. Watsonia, 27 (3):229-238. [Details]

Moran, J,Kelly, S,Sheehy, SM,Gormally, M (2008) 'The use of GIS techniques to quantify the hydrological regime of a karst wetland (Skealoghan turlough) in Ireland'. Applied Vegetation Science, 11 :25-31. [DOI] [Details]

Moran, J, Sheehy Skeffington, M and Gormally, M. (2008) 'The influence of hydrological regime and grazing management on the plant communities of a karst wetland (Skealoghan turlough) in Ireland'. Applied Vegetation Science, 11 :13-24. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Gormally M. (2007) 'Turloughs: a mosaic of biodiversity and management systems unique to Ireland'. Acta Carsologica, 36 (2):217-222. [Details]

Roden, C., Sheehy Skeffington, M. and D'Arcy, G. (2007) 'Three Oak woods in the valley of the Owendalulleegh river in the Slieve Aughty Hills, South east Galway H15'. Irish Naturalists' Journal, 28 (9):361-371. [Details]

Scott N and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2007) 'Turloughs -Ireland’s vanishing lakes'. British Wildlife, 19 (2):109-117. [Details]

Visser, M, Moran, J, Regan, E, Gormally, M and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2007) 'How users and non-users perceive turlough management under the converging EU agendas of Natura 2000 and CAP in Ireland'. Land Use Policy, 24 :362-373. [Details]

Regan, E.C., Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Gormally, M.J. (2007) 'Wetland plant communities of turloughs in the west of Ireland in relation to environmental factors'. Aquatic Botany, 87 :22-30. [DOI] [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. Moran J., O Connor Á., Regan E., Coxon, C. E., Scott, N. E., and Gormally, M (2006) 'Turloughs - Ireland’s unique wetland habitat'. Biological Conservation, 133 (3):265-290. [Details]

Visser, M,Regan, E,Moran, J,Gormally, M,Skeffington, MS (2006) 'The rise and fall of turlough typologies: A call for a continuum concept'. Wetlands, 26 :745-764. [Details]

Coroi, M., Sheehy Skeffington, M., Giller, P., Gormally, M., Smith, C., O'Donovan, G. (2006) 'Using GIS in the mapping and analysis of landscape and vegetation patterns along streams in southern Ireland'. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 106B (3):287-300. [Details]

O Connor, Á, Bradish, S, Reed, T, Moran, J, Regan, E, Visser, M, Gormally, M & Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2004) 'A comparison of the efficacy of pond-net and box sampling methods in turloughs - Irish ephemeral aquatic systems'. Hydrobiologia, 524 :133-144. [Details]

Coroi, M,Skeffington, MS,Giller, P,Smith, C,Gormally, M,O'Donovan, G (2004) 'Vegetation diversity and stand structure in streamside forests in the south of Ireland'. Forest Ecology And Management, 202 :39-57. [DOI] [Details]

Poole, A,Gormally, A,Skeffington, MS (2003) 'The flora and carabid beetle fauna of a mature and regenerating semi-natural oak woodland in south-east Ireland'. Forest Ecology And Management, 177 :207-220. [DOI] [Details]

Moran, J, Gormally, M J and Sheehy Skeffington, M (2003) 'Records of Panagaeus crux-major (Linnaeus) and Pterostichus aterrimus (Herbst) recorded on turloughs in Counties Clare and Mayo'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 27 (8):309-311. [Details]

Ní Bhriain, B., Gormally, M and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (2003) 'Changes in land use practices at two turloughs, on the east Burren limestones, Co. Galway, with reference to nature conservation'. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 103B :169-176. [Details]

Ni Bhriain, B,Skeffington, MS,Gormally, M (2002) 'Conservation implications of land use practices on the plant and carabid beetle communities of two turloughs in Co. Galway, Ireland'. Biological Conservation, 105 :81-92. [DOI] [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington M.and Curtis T.G.F. (2000) 'The Atlantic element in Irish salt marshes'. Biodiversty: the Irish dimension, :179-196. [Details]

Curtis, TGF,Skeffington, MJS (1998) 'The salt marshes of Ireland: An inventory and account of their geographical variation'. Biology And Environment-Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy, 98B :87-104. [Details]

Dyos, H., Proctor, J. and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J (1991) 'Notes on the vegetation of the Dawros and other ultrabasic outcrops in Connemara'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 23 (10):415-419. [Details]

Brodie, J. and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. (1990) 'Inishbofin - a resurvey of the flora'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 23 (8):293-298. [Details]

Lockhart, N.D., O’Connell, M., Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Van Doorslaer, L. (1989) 'Scraw (schwingmoor) plant communities at Loch an Chorcail, Carna, Co.Galway'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 23 (4):125-134. [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M.J and Jeffrey, D.W. (1988) 'Response of Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd. and Plantago maritima L. from an Irish salt marsh to nitrogen and salinity'. New Phytologist, 110 :395-408. [Details]

Scott, N.E. and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. (1987) 'A new record for Oenanthe pimpinelloides L. in Ireland'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 22 (8):351-353. [Details]

SKEFFINGTON, MJS,JEFFREY, DW (1985) 'GROWTH-PERFORMANCE OF AN INLAND POPULATION OF PLANTAGO-MARITIMA IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN AND SALINITY'. Vegetatio, 61 :265-272. [Details]

O'Connell, M and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. (1985) 'Botanical notes from three sites in East Mayo and Sligo'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 21 (9):419-420. [Details]

Other Journals

Hodd, R L, Sheehy Skeffington M (2011) 'Mixed northern hepatic mat: a threatened and unique bryophyte community' Field Bryology 104 :2-11. [Details]

 

Published Reports

Coll, J., Bourke D., Gormally M., Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Sweeney, J. (2013) Winners and Losers: Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity in Ireland. EPA, Dublin. [Details]

                     

Conference Paper

Sullivan, C., Sheehy Skeffington, M., Gormally, M., Finn, J. and Kelly, S. (2007) Identifying High Nature Value Grassland in the West of Ireland. High Value Grassland: providing biodiversity, a clean environment and premium products. University of Keele, Stafforshire: Conference Paper [Details]

                                             

Media

Sheehy Skeffington M (2006) Organic fruit and vegetable growing as a national policy: the Cuban story. Energy Bulletin / FEASTA. Media [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington, M. and Gormally, M. (2005) Turloughs, west of Ireland. Seven web pages in Cultbase, Cultural Landscape Database for Europe. Atlantic central. Media [Details]

       

Other Item

Conaghan J., and Sheehy Skeffington, M. (in press). The Distribution and Conservation of Eriophorum gracile Koch ex Roth in Ireland. Watsonia. Other Item [Details]

Sheehy Skeffington M, Morales, H. and Ferguson, B. G. (2008) Lessons from two contrasting organic growing systems -Chiapas, Mexico and Cuba. Developments Futures eBook; Proceedings of conference at 24th & 25th November, 2007.; Development Education Network (DERN), NUI Galway & Irish Aid. NUI, Galway: Other Item [Details]

Chollett, D, Ferguson, B, Furusawa, K, Furusawa, M, Hollis, S., Hollis, A, Kent, A., Sheehy Skeffington, M., Sugai, M, Rosset, P, and Martinez-Torres, M.E. (2006) The Cuban Agroecological Transformation: from Necessity to a Way of Life. Report of the Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture Research and fact-Finding Delegation to Cuba, May 4-12 2006 Organized by Desarrollo Alternativo, AC, Mexico. Other Item [Details]

         

Presentation

Marshall SA, Piggott CO, Sheehy-Skeffington M, Popper ZA, Tuohy MG. (2006) Biochemical analysis of aqueous extracts of two hedgerow fruits Rubus fruticosus agg. and Prunus spinosa. Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (Galway). Presentation [Details]

       

Non Published Reports

Ferguson, B, Hollis, S., Sheehy Skeffington, M., Kent, A., Furusawa, K, and Ikeda, M, (2006) Agroecological transition in Cuba: From a necessity to a way of life. Report to Desarollo Alternativo on Research on Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture Delegation to Cuba. Non Published Reports [Details]