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Susikanta Suomessa maaliskuussa 2024
Get PDFMaaliskuussa 2024 Suomessa oli todennäköisimmin yhteensä 62 parin tai perhelauman asuttamaa susireviiriä (90 % todennäköisyysväli: 59–64). Perhelaumojen todennäköisin määrä oli 44 (41–47) ja parin asuttamien reviireiden määrä vastaavasti 18 (14–22). Kokonaan Suomen puolella oli 39 perhelaumaa (36–42) ja 15 paria (12–19). Laumareviireistä viisi (3–6) ja parin reviireistä kaksi (1–4) sijaitsi Suomen itäisen valtakunnanrajan molemmin puolin (ns. rajareviirit).
Suomessa havaittujen perhelaumojen määrä oli maaliskuussa 2024 noin viisi prosenttia suurempi kuin maaliskuussa 2023. Parien määrä puolestaan oli noin viisi prosenttia pienempi kuin vuonna 2023. Verrattaessa kokonaan Suomen puolella liikkuneiden laumojen todennäköisintä määrää vuotta aiempaan arvioon kasvuksi saadaan 11 %, kun taas kokonaan Suomen puolella eläviä pareja on 12 % vähemmän kuin viime vuonna.
Läntisessä Suomessa oli 32 (29–34) perhelauman ja 11 (9–14) parin asuttamaa reviiriä, vastaavasti itäisessä Suomessa arvioitiin olleen 12 (10–14) perhelaumaa ja kuusi (4–9) paria. Poronhoitoalueella, pääosin itäisen valtakunnan rajan tuntumassa liikkuneista susista suurin osa poistettiin talven mittaan. Kevättalvella poronhoitoalueella ei tehty havaintoja lauma- tai parireviireistä.
Suomen susikannan koko on kuluvalla vuosituhannella vaihdellut voimakkaasti. Susikanta kasvoi yhtäjaksoisesti vuosina 2017–2023.
Reviirien statuksen (perhelauma, pari) ja laumojen yksilömäärien arviointiin käytettiin kultakin tarkasteltavalta alueelta kirjattuja havaintoja, tunnettua kuolleisuutta sekä DNA-analyyseja. Lisäksi osassa reviireitä on tehty erillistä maastotyötä.
Vuodenkierrossa susien määrä on pienimmillään maaliskuussa ennen huhti–toukokuussa tapahtuvaa pentujen syntymistä. Susikannan muuttumista maaliskuun jälkeen kuvataan populaatiomallilla, joka perustuu tutkimustietoon suden pentutuotosta ja kuolleisuudesta. Jos kannanhoidollista metsästystä ei ole, susilaumoja ennustetaan olevan vuoden 2024 marraskuussa 30–55 (90 % todennäköisyydellä) ja vuoden 2025 maaliskuussa 27–51.202
Direct high-precision measurement of the mass difference of 77As–77Se related to neutrino mass determination
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A Comprehensive Approach to PROMs in Elective Orthopedic Surgery : Comparing Effect Sizes across Patient Subgroups
Get PDFBackground: There is limited knowledge regarding the comparative patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and effect sizes (ESs) across orthopedic elective surgery. Methods: All patient data between January 2020 and December 2022 were collected, and treatment outcomes assessed as a PROM difference between baseline and one-year follow-up. The cohort was divided into subgroups (hand, elbow, shoulder, spine, hip, knee, and foot/ankle). The PROM ESs were calculated for each patient separately, and patients with ES > 0.5 were considered responders. Results: In total, 7695 patients were operated on. The mean ES across all patient groups was 1.81 (SD 1.41), and the largest ES was observed in shoulder patients and the smallest in hand patients. Overall, shoulder, hip, and knee patients had a larger ES compared to hand, spine, and foot/ankle patients (p < 0.0001). The proportion of positive responders ranged between 91–94% in the knee, shoulder, and hip, and 69–70% in the hand, spine, and foot/ankle subgroups. Conclusions: The ESs are generally high throughout elective orthopedic surgery. However, based on our institutional observations, shoulder, hip, and knee patients experience larger treatment effects compared to hand, spine, and foot/ankle patients, among whom there are also more non-responders. The expected treatment outcomes should be clearly communicated to patients when considering elective surgery. Because of the study limitations, the results should be approached with some caution.202
Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) Skin Extract Prevents Weight Gain and Hyperglycemia in High-Fat Diet-Induced Model of Obesity in Mice
Get PDFThe percentage of obese people is increasing worldwide, causing versatile health problems. Obesity is connected to diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which are preceded by a state called metabolic syndrome. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been reported to decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Berries with a high polyphenol content, including lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.), have also been of interest to possibly prevent obesity-induced metabolic disturbances. In the present study, we prepared an extract from the by-product of a lingonberry juice production process (press cake/pomace) and investigated its metabolic effects in the high-fat diet-induced model of obesity in mice. The lingonberry skin extract partly prevented weight and epididymal fat gain as well as a rise in fasting glucose level in high-fat diet-fed mice. The extract also attenuated high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance as measured by an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). The extract had no effect on the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride or the adipokines adiponectin, leptin, or resistin. The results extend previous data on the beneficial metabolic effects of lingonberry. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind these effects and to develop further health-promoting lingonberry applications.202
Climate change mitigation potential of paludiculture in Finland: greenhouse gas emissions of abandoned organic croplands and peat substitution
Get PDFIntroduction: Rewetting is an option to decrease greenhouse gas emissions of drained peatlands. With continued cultivation of wetland plants (paludiculture), it is possible to provide renewable raw materials. In Finland, peat has been used as a growing media and animal bedding. Since peat availability is decreasing, new materials are needed.
Methods: The emissions of the paludiculture system were compared to emissions of the current system based on use of peat. We assumed that abandoned organic croplands were under paludicrop cultivation. Paludicrops were used instead of peat as animal bedding material and growing media. The assessment included an analysis of uncertainties related to the key parameters.
Results: Paludiculture would generate emissions savings of 352,000 tons of CO2 eq in 2050 compared to the peat use system. The emissions savings are mostly generated by land-use emissions reductions. Emissions of peat decay represent 22% of the emissions of the peat use system, whereas emissions of peat extraction are less significant. Emissions of the paludiculture system are mainly caused by paludicrop cultivation, with 300,000 tons of CO2 eq in 2050. Paludiculture mitigates climate change by increasing biogenic carbon sink: 48,000 tons of CO2 eq in 2050.
Discussion: It is highly unlikely that the paludiculture system would generate more emissions than the peat use system. However, peat substitution does not offset emissions of abandoned organic croplands, even under paludicrop cultivation. Therefore, other land-use options, such as afforestation or restoration, could provide more emissions savings even though they do not provide raw materials.202
Carbon and nitrogen-based gas fluxes in subarctic ecosystems under climate warming and increased cloudiness
Get PDFClimate warming is projected to be particularly pronounced in the northern high latitudes coupled with reduced light availability due to increased cloudiness. The changing climate may alter the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and atmospherically reactive trace gases, which can drive important climate feedbacks. We investigated the individual and combined effects of warming and increased cloudiness on methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitric oxide (NO), nitrous acid (HONO) and biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) fluxes in mesocosms from two tundra and one palsa mire ecosystems kept under strict environmental control in climate chambers. We also examined whether and how prevailing soil physiochemical properties and plant species composition affected the fluxes. In control conditions, all sites were net sinks of CH4 and CO2 during both growing seasons except for the palsa site which was a net source of CO2 in the second growing season. Warming enhanced CH4 uptake, mostly observed in the palsa site, and turned the palsa site from a sink to a source of CO2 in the first growing season and increased the CO2 source strength in the second growing season. Warming increased BVOC emissions while increased cloudiness mostly decreased the emissions. The combined treatment of warming and increased cloudiness decreased CH4 uptake, mostly observed in the palsa site, and BVOC emissions. Fluxes of CO2 were linked to availability of soil carbon and organic matter, litter input, soil pH and bulk density, and cover of mosses. Low emissions of N2O, NO, and HONO could mainly be explained by limited availability of mineral nitrogen. Warming-enhanced CH4 uptake and BVOC emissions will provide a negative feedback to climate while enhanced CO2 release from palsa mires will exacerbate global warming. Under combined warming and increased cloudiness, subarctic ecosystems may shift from sinks to sources of CH4, providing a positive feedback to climate. Prevailing soil physiochemical properties and vegetation composition will play a significant role in controlling the fluxes, hence contributing to the overall climate change effects and feedback.202
The effects of hoof health and hoof trimming on farm profitability
Get PDFAnimal diseases pose a significant threat to the global livestock industry, with severe economic consequences. To minimize this impact, farmers employ various preventative measures, with hoof trimming being the most common method for addressing hoof disorders. This study analysed the economic effects of hoof trimming on dairy farms, using a panel dataset containing three years of hoof health data across Finland. This was an observational study that also addressed the issue with unavoidable confounders. To reduce bias, inverse propensity score weighting (IPW) was used, which assigned weights based on the probability density function of treatment frequency. By reweighting the data, this study improved the validity of the causal inference in the presence of confounding unobserved variables. The results of the study indicated that both infectious and non-infectious hoof disorders were notable on dairy farms in Finland. Furthermore, frequency of hoof trimming was influenced by several factors, including hoof health, farm characteristics, and management decisions. The analysis suggested a U-shaped relationship between hoof trimming and farms' profitability. Although the profitability ratio initially decreased, it increased after reaching a hoof trimming level of 97 %. The study highlighted how important systematic and regular hoof trimming is to maintain profitability.202
Assessment of climate change impact and resource-use efficiency of lettuce production in vertical farming and greenhouse production in Finland: a case study
Get PDFPurpose: Our aim in this study was to examine lettuce production in vertical farming or in conventional greenhouse production in Northern European conditions from the perspective of climate change impact and environmental sustainability. Further, the goal was to identify practices and choices that could mitigate adverse effects and increase resource-use efficiency, allowing the development of more sustainable production systems.
Methods: This article provides new information of the environmental impacts of lettuce production in greenhouses and vertical farming in Finland, compared using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The impact categories used were climate change impact, cumulative energy demand, resource use of fossil energy sources, resource use of minerals and metals, land use, and water scarcity. The system boundaries covered the production chains from cradle to farmgate, including inputs in production, as well as direct emissions caused by fertiliser use and the onsite composting of organic waste. The environmental impacts of the two production systems with different energy scenarios were assessed: (1) a greenhouse either with average or renewable energy; and (2) vertical farming either with average or renewable energy and with or without waste heat recovery. The data for vertical farming were based on one Finnish production site and supplementary data for the construction materials. The greenhouse data were based on a previous LCA investigation of average Finnish lettuce production.
Results: The climate change and all other impact categories were lowest for lettuce produced in vertical farming with renewable energy and waste heat recovery. The climate change impact was largest for lettuce produced in greenhouse with average energy use. For energy use and energy resource use, the impacts of vertical farming were lower than greenhouse production, but for mineral and metal use and water scarcity, the impact of vertical farming was higher for average energy use without heat recovery. Direct land and irrigation water use on the production sites in Finnish circumstances represented only a small share of total land-use and water-use impacts on both production methods.
Conclusion: Paying attention to the energy source and heat recovery, the environmental sustainability can be advanced in both vertical and greenhouse production systems.202
