Tonnagh Quarry has been declared an ASSI because it supports an important population of the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. This damselfly is only found in a few locations in Northern Ireland and populations have declined by 25% in Ireland over the last decade.
The Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly has very specialist habitat requirements and is associated with shallow, unshaded water with a slow flow over a soft substrate, with sparse and low vegetation. At Tonnagh Quarry, small areas of shallow, open water on the quarry floor provide the specialist habitat conditions that this species requires.
Other dragonfly and damselfly species associated with Tonnagh Quarry include Variable Damselfly, Common Darter, Four-spotted Chaser and Hairy Dragonfly.
Related articles
- ASSI Guidance for Public Bodies/Competent Authorities
- Coastal Areas of Special Scientific Interest
- Conservation Management Plans (CMPs)
- European Marine Sites - Marine Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas
- Introduction to Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) for Northern Ireland’s Special Areas of Conservation
- Marine Conservation Zones
- Marine Protected Areas
- Marine Ramsar sites
- Portrush Coastal Zone
- Special Areas of Conservation
- Special Areas of Conservation for Harbour porpoise
- Special Protection Areas