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Reindeer shape soil methanogenic and methanotrophic communities in subarctic fen peatlands, with a minor impact on methane emissions : A field study
Get PDFLaboratory and field studies with other grazer species suggest that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) grazing on northern peatlands could shape the peat soil microbial communities and lead to higher ecosystem methane (CH4) emissions. We investigated this at two sedge fens in northern Finland, Lompolojänkkä and Halssiaapa, in experiments where reindeer grazing presence or absence was achieved with exclosure fences, and the effects of reindeer droppings were evaluated comparing dropping additions either on peat surface or trampled into the peat to controls with no droppings. Active soil methanogen and methanotroph communities were analyzed by metatranscriptomics. Soil CH4 fluxes were quantified with manual chambers and portable gas analyzer. Reindeer presence and dropping additions were both connected to differences in the soil communities as compared to controls (no presence or no droppings). The responses differed between the two fens. Activity of rumen microbes in peat could not be detected. Structural equation models indicated that the ecosystem CH4 flux in both fens depended on measurement year and sedge leaf area. At Halssiaapa trampled droppings, and at Lompolojänkkä both surface and trampled droppings reduced the sedge leaf area. While at Halssiaapa the dropping effect was not altogether statistically significant, in Lompolojänkkä surface droppings reduced the CH4 flux both directly and through the reduced leaf area. In conclusion, while both reindeer presence and dropping addition were diversely reflected in the active soil communities, reindeer effects on the CH4 flux were indirect and mediated via vegetation. The results contrast our earlier laboratory findings, and i) caution against liberal generalizations from lab studies to field conditions in peatlands, as well as ii) point to a need for rigorous multivariate analyses for deciphering the complex interactions governing the functions of these ecosystems.202
World of Crayfish™: a web platform towards real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens
Get PDFFreshwater crayfish are amongst the largest macroinvertebrates and play a keystone role in the ecosystems they occupy. Understanding the global distribution of these animals is often hindered due to a paucity of distributional data. Additionally, non-native crayfish introductions are becoming more frequent, which can cause severe environmental and economic impacts. Management decisions related to crayfish and their habitats require accurate, up-to-date distribution data and mapping tools. Such data are currently patchily distributed with limited accessibility and are rarely up-to-date. To address these challenges, we developed a versatile e-portal to host distributional data of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens (using Aphanomyces astaci, the causative agent of the crayfish plague, as the most prominent example). Populated with expert data and operating in near real-time, World of Crayfish™ is a living, publicly available database providing worldwide distributional data sourced by experts in the field. The database offers open access to the data through specialized standard geospatial services (Web Map Service, Web Feature Service) enabling users to view, embed, and download customizable outputs for various applications. The platform is designed to support technical enhancements in the future, with the potential to eventually incorporate various additional features. This tool serves as a step forward towards a modern era of conservation planning and management of freshwater biodiversity.202
Public right of access to private land: examples and considerations
No full textPublic right of access, everyman’s or everyone's right, freedom to roam, right of public access to the wilderness and the right to roam are terms used for concepts that give people an independent right of access to forest land and rural areas for recreational or passage purposes. Access is not a self-evident right nor are the practices in different countries resolved alike. In this paper, we review how the public right of access is resolved in different countries, with a focus on cases in Sweden and Finland. We highlight problems that arise when the right of access enables extensive use of the land by the public and may make everyone’s right prone to features related to the tragedy of the commons. We find that the code regarding public access depends largely on cultural, historical, and political differences and thus has no international or unambiguous definition as to what it includes or should include. The concept has worked considerably well throughout time but, as the original reasons for the right have waned and recreational use and demand have increased, the question has been raised whether everyone’s right should be redefined to prevent complications between users and landowners.202
Humala on metka viljeltävä : Luken koeviljelmiltä tulossa kotimaisia kantoja innokkaiden viljelijöiden saataville
No full text202
Mitä mieltä maaseudusta? : Maaseutubarometri 2023
Get PDFMaaseutubarometri 2023 tarjoaa ajantasaista tietoa suhtautumisesta maaseutuun. Se perustuu tilastollisesti edustavaan otokseen suomalaisista.
Maaseutuun suhtaudutaan edelleen hyvin myönteisesti. Vastaajista 62 prosentille se toi mieleen hyvän elämän joko erittäin paljon tai paljon, hieman useammalle kuin edellisessä barometrissa. Maaseutuun liitettiin myös luonto, viihtyisä ympäristö, ympäristöystävällinen elämäntapa ja stressittömyys.
Luonto on maaseutua ja kaupunkia ihmisten mielikuvissa erottava tekijä. Maaseudun kytkös maatalousmaisemaan vaikuttaa hieman heikentyneen, samalla kun luontoyhteys maaseutumielikuvaa määrittävänä tekijänä on vahvistunut.
Suomalaisista 27 prosenttia asuu maaseudulla ja 73 prosenttia kaupungeissa. Barometrissa 37 prosenttia (kaikki suomalaiset) ilmoittautuu kaupunkilaisiksi, 37 prosenttia kertoo olevansa sekä kaupunkilainen että maalainen, ja 24 prosenttia pitää itseään maalaisena.
Maaseudulle keskittyy erityisesti vapaa-aikaan ja kausityöhön liittyvää monipaikkaista asumista. Kaupungeissa opiskeluun, perhesyihin, parisuhteeseen ja työhön (muu kuin kausityö) kytkeytyvä monipaikkainen asuminen on yleisempää kuin maaseudulla.
Peruspalveluiden saatavuuden toteutumisen koettiin heikentyneen kaikilla aluetyypeillä, eniten kaupungin läheisellä maaseudulla ja ydinmaaseudulla. Ongelmallista on, että tärkeimmiksi koetut hyvän elämän elementit eivät ole niitä, joiden koetaan toteutuvan elämässä.
Useimmat vastaajat arvioivat maaseudun merkityksen lisääntyvän tulevaisuudessa. Kolmasosalle maaseutu on silloin todennäköisesti paikka, jossa omistetaan maata, metsää tai rakennuksia. Yhä useampi arvioi työskentelevänsä osittain tai pääasiassa maaseudulla.
”Syrjäisiä” alueita ei haluta ajaa alas, mutta suhtautuminen on hivenen kiristynyt. Yhdyskuntarakenteen tiivistämistä ja haja-asutusalueille rakentamisen rajoittamista vastustetaan. Kriittisin ongelma on tiestön kunto. Kiinnostus etäyrittäjyyteen tai monipaikkaiseen yrittäjyyteen maaseudulla on vähentynyt 13 prosenttiyksikköä edellisestä barometrista. Maaseudun talouden mahdollisuudet liitetään (luonnon)resursseihin, ei innovatiivisuuteen tai osaamiseen.202
Improving single-step genomic prediction reliabilities for clinical mastitis in Nordic Red dairy cattle and Jersey by applying marker-specific weights
No full text202
Drivers of soil health across European Union : Data from the literature review
No full textSoil health in Europe has reached a critical point: it is estimated that 60-70% of European soils are unhealthy. Changes in land use, its intensity and the quality of management have significant impacts on soil health and soil related ecosystem services. A systems analysis of soil health dynamics requires an understanding of the drivers inducing changes in land use and management. The DPSIR framework was adapted to the context of soil health in the European Union (EU) and used as an analytical framework for identifying the drivers for soil health. A scoping literature review, divided in four parts based on different land use types (urban and industrial, agriculture, forest, and nature), was conducted using the PRISMA protocol. The identified drivers across all land uses have been adjusted and standardised in in-person and online workshops. This metadata set presents the typology of drivers sorted according to the EU soil mission's soil health objectives, land use type, and location. The literature review was conducted as part of SOLO (Soils for Europe), a EU´s Horizon Europe funded project and the dataset will support the co creation and knowledge developing platforms (think tanks) for each EU soil mission objectives.202