Straghans Lough ASSI

Straghans Lough is a large, diverse site covering a substantial area of semi-natural vegetation.
Many wetland plant communities occur, with transitions from the open waters of the three loughs, through swamp, to a variety of fen types and wet grasslands.

The presence of other habitats including acid grasslands, dry heath and scrub, enhance the scientific interest of the area.

Size, diversity and the relatively undisturbed nature of the site is reflected in the richness and variation of invertebrate communities recorded.

Many of the fen communities are acidic in character and reflect past patterns of cutting. They are dominated by bottle sedge and marsh cinquefoil, with frequent associated species over a moss carpet of Sphagnum recurvum. Drier areas are characterised by carnation sedge and glaucous sedge, forming a mosaic with the wetter communities.
Notable bryophytes include Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergon stramineum and Sphagnum squarrosum.