Under-the-radar: finding and recording the hidden biodiversity around us

This is one of the festival's Pay What You Can events.

Did you know there are over 100 species of native wild bees across Ireland, with around 30 threatened? Some of these species can be found in Belfast – including the Flat-ridged Nomad Bee, a bee assessed as endangered on the Regional Red List of Irish Bees. There are also more species of non-native flatworm than there are species of native flatworm in Belfast – what does this mean for our native species, where did they come from, and how did they get here?

The biodiversity around us can tell us a lot about the health of our environment. However, it is changing and much of it we do not see.

Though some notable groups like birds and mammals are readily observed, other groups such as insects and invertebrates go unnoticed, under-appreciated, and/or under-the-radar. Many of those species are indicators of ecosystem health and provide ecosystem services (that is, provide benefits to us) – like pollination or decomposition.

How does climate change influence these species? What does agricultural intensification do? Do all non-native species cause noticeable impacts? How do these issues interact? And importantly, how can we know the full impacts if we do not know what is there?

This talk will explore these questions by placing a macro photography lens on some of those under-appreciated species in our local areas to show you them up close. The talk will cover how to find them and why biological recording (taking note of the species around you) is important. It will further show how anyone can begin their journey into biological recording – no matter your background or experience level. This talk will have an element of interaction and group discussion.

Josh Clarke (the event host) is an ecologist with a focus on invertebrates and non-native species, often found with a camera or net in hand in a range of habitats across Ireland. From growing up in urban Belfast not knowing what was really around him, to finding new-to-Ireland species and new site records he has been going on a biological recording journey – meeting others involved from a range of backgrounds along the way.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics