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New research dives into the hidden world of horse mussel reefs
New research to map and understand horse mussel reefs in Irish waters through Research Ireland funding.
A new Research Ireland funded research project has been awarded €45,400 to map, model and protect Ireland’s horse mussel reefs, a vital but poorly understood marine habitat.
Led by ATU researcher Paul-Rubén Jeandidier with supervision from Dr José M. Fariñas-Franco and Dr Allan McDevitt, the project ‘Spatial Distribution, Habitat Suitability and Population Connectivity of horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) reef’s‘ will generate the most comprehensive picture yet of this important reef-forming species in Irish waters.
“Modiolus modiolus is a reef-forming marine that plays an important ecological role in supporting biodiversity and water quality”, shares Paul-Rubén Jeandidier, PhD researcher
“However, its distribution in Irish waters remains poorly understood, limiting conservation and marine spatial planning efforts”.
This knowledge gap is becoming increasingly significant due to growing pressures from offshore renewable energy development, bottom-contact fishing and shipping activity.
The project aims to address this by integrating existing distributional data from offshore renewable energy developers, environmental surveys and fisheries reports. Using habitat suitability modelling, the research will generate detailed spatial maps to support conservation planning and Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation.
Fieldwork will include drop-camera and diver video surveys to validate model predictions and assess the wider reef ecosystem. The research will also examine the genetic connectivity between reefs by analysing adult mussels, larvae and environmental DNA samples. This will help scientists understand how populations are linked and how best to protect them across Irish waters and the Irish Sea.
Field validation will support model outputs and improve the ecological accuracy of habitat classification for this species. The findings are expected to inform national and international conservation frameworks, including OSPAR and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, contributing to more coherent marine spatial planning.
The research forms part of Research Ireland’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme, which supports postgraduate researchers to collaborate with partners beyond academia and deliver real-world impact.
Announcing the investment, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said:
“Research Ireland is proud to support 35 PhD students and 3 research master’s students through this year’s Enterprise Partnership Postgraduate Scheme. Each early-career researcher will collaborate with a dedicated enterprise partner to tackle real-world economic and societal challenges”.
Learn more about the Enterprise Partnership Scheme on the Research Ireland website here.
Photo caption: Paul-Rubén Jeandidier, PhD researcher, whose work focuses on mapping and understanding the connectivity of reef-forming marine species in Irish waters.
For media enquiries, contact:
Jorden McMenamin
Communications Officer
Tel: 074 918 6127
E: jorden.mcmenamin@atu.ie
