The Ecology of the Rocky Shores of Sherkin Island

A Twenty-Year Perspective

By Gillian Bishop

Invitation to the launch of the book (The Book cover looks the same)

Details of the Invite and of the Launch; with brief summary of the Book and work of Sherkin Island Marine centre,

Personalised, autographed title page of my copy of the Book. signed by:
the author, Dr. Gillian Bishop;
the environmental scientist, seashore authority, and long time associate of Sherkin Island Marine Station, invited to speak at the meeting and to launch the book, Dr. Genifer M. Baker;
and the dynamic visionary Director of Sherkin Island Marine Station, Mr. Matt Murphy.

The 200+ "Bods" ie. Young Biologists and students that did the transects over the 20 years and contributers over 25 years. I was a recorder for approximately threemonths in 1978.

The "Bods of 1978"; with subsequent history (for as far as is known by me, in each case)

Pat Leahy: B.Sc. University College Cork; later M.Sc. University College Galway. Went to U.S.A. to do PH.D.
Mark Norman: B.A. Mod. (Zoology) Trinity College Dublin; later Managed Kilkieran Oyster Co-op. Carna Co. Galway for a number of years.
Barbara Magennis: 3rd year Zoology student Trinity College Dublin; later obtained B.A. Mod. (Zoology) Trinity College Dublin; Research assistant at University College Galway for a number of years, then at Trinity College Dublin.
Bill Crowe: 3rd year Zoology student Trinity College Dublin; later obtained B.A. Mod. (Zoology) Trinity College Dublin; obtained PH.D. (Marine Zoology) at University College Galway for a number of years, then at Trinity College.
Joan Lennon: 3rd year Botany student Trinity College Dublin; later obtained B.A. Mod. (Zoology) Trinity College Dublin.
In the photograph of the final year (4th year) class 1978/79 Zoology Students from Trinity College Dublin:
Barbara Magennis, is sitting in the second last row, second from the right; she also appears in the bottom right photograph, on the seashore.
Bill Crowe, is sitting in the first row, furthest to the left; one step back from the 3 students to the right of him (as seen by the viewer).
Joan Lennon appears in the bottom left photograph, among the long grasses and reeds.

As well as doing the transects, general laboratory and library work, and looking after the outdoor persuits children, Barbara Magennis and Bill Crowe, each did the outdoor practical sampling work for their 4th year Thesis (often diving together).
Barbara Magennis studied the feeding habbits of the white Spiny Starfish, Marthasterias glacialis.
Bill Crowe, did a littoral and sub-littoral survey of the Flora and Fauna of of Horseshoe Harbour (by day and by night), using for both, wide scale searches and intensively studied laid line transects. In addition infaunal species were studied from suction samples, along with sediment analysis from cores taken while diving. He also studied a 'red tide' dianoflagellate bloom that occurred in the region. Taxonomic competence had been gained previously from the invaluable advise of expert scientists that had visited earlier in the summer, from the university at Mennai Bridge in Wales. This help is gratefully acknowledged.
see CV of Dr. Bill Crowe : for the titles of Bill Crowe's Horseshoe Harbour project for his Degree Thesis, wile working at Sherkin Island; for his Ph.D. work undertaken in Kinsale Harbour, while at University College Galway; and for all later research and work: