Activity 4.1 – Invasive Species
Led by – Sarah Culloty (UCC)
Activity Questions:
  • Current status of alien species – what pathogens do they have?
  • Can we learn from model organisms that have become established?
  • Based on current knowledge can we predict impact?
  • What potential inhibitors/drivers can we identify?
Activity 4.2 – Cockle Health
Led by – Niall McKeown (AU)
Activity Questions:
  • How do other species within the benthic and pelagic community affect cockle health?
  • What species act as reservoirs or vectors for cockle parasites?
  • How do cockle parasite affect trophic interactions?
  • Focus on hyperparasitism and co-infection of helminth and protist parasites within C.edule to better understand their lifecycles and transmission strategies.
  • Compare interactions of cockles and parasites in the Irish Sea with those occuring in other regions of the Atlantic.
Activity 4.3 – Disease connectivity
Led by – Christopher Coates (SU)
Activity Questions:
  • Where are the reservoirs of shellfish diseases in the aquatic environment?
  • Do common shore crabs, Carcinus maenas, harbour pathogens potentially dangerous to crustaceans of commercial interest, e.g. Cancer pagurus
  • Can we ‘track’ pathogens, such as Hematodinium, in the water column (zooplankton) and into the host using eDNA approaches?
Activity 4.4 – Toxins and pathogens under Climate Change
Led by – Nathan King (BU)
Activity Objectives:
  • How do pathogenic bacteria interact with their environment? 
  • What are the emerging pathogens and toxins directly relevant to the Irish Sea system? 
  • How will pathogen communities as well as their pathogenicity change under predicted climatic and local environmental change? 
  • Where are the most at risk areas in the Irish Sea and how will these change in the future?
Translate »