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The Leptopilina Förster, 1869 of the Western Palearctic, and an updated list of the world species (Hymenoptera, Figitidae, Eucoilinae)
No full textThe genus Leptopilina comprises species of parasitoid wasps that primarily attack early instar larvae of drosophilid species, some of which are well-known agricultural or nuisance pests. To unravel host-parasitoid interactions and to use parasitoids effectively in biological control, the correct taxonomic assignment is of crucial importance. In the course of the German Barcode of Life III: Dark Taxa (GBOL III: DarkTaxa) project, we assembled specimens of all seven species of Leptopilina of the Western Palearctic. Using CO1 barcode sequence analyses and morphological examination allows us to evaluate species limits in an integrative approach, to provide extended species diagnoses as well as an updated key to the species of the Western Palearctic. This work also summarizes current knowledge on Western Palearctic Leptopilina species, including their distribution, population parameters, habitats, flight periods, and hosts. We provide the first country records of three Leptopilina species for Belgium, including the non-native L. japonica, propose two species level synonymies and move one Western Palearctic species out of Leptopilina. Finally, to facilitate taxonomic research on Leptopilina in lesser-known regions, we provide a list of non-Western Palearctic species, including the moving of 13 species into Leptopilina. These changes also result in two new generic synonymies. In conclusion, Western Palearctic Leptopilina can be clearly diagnosed both morphologically and molecularly. Comparable ease of identification and cultivation, as well as the economic interest in potent biological control agents against drosophilid pests make them ideal organisms for basic and applied research
Lessons learned on socio-ecological drivers of innovation uptake by smallholder farmers-a case study in Kenya
No full textSocio-economic and environmental conditions play an important role in driving technological transformation and sustainability. Based on an innovation project conducted in Kenya, this study demonstrates how socio-ecological analyses can facilitate the adoption of agricultural technologies. This project focused on subsurface water retention technology (SWRT), a climate adaptation approach for sandy soils with proven effectiveness under different ecological conditions. Using maize production data to represent local biophysical conditions, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of SWRT to assess its profitability under current conditions and alternative investment scenarios. We also conducted a livelihood survey and stakeholder dialogue to assess what farmers can afford and identify possible enabling factors for technology adoption and sustainability. The CBA results for maize suggest a long-term return on investment, mainly due to high initial investment costs in terms of labour requirements for SWRT installation (about 70% of initial costs) and a need for irrigation during droughts. In simulations of investments, the break-even point varied depending on the specific investment measures taken alongside SWRT adoption. The livelihood survey indicated that farmers possess resources that could cover the initial investment in SWRT on small plots. However, uptake at scale would require a range of enabling factors, including information on suitable crops and the benefits of investment, and incentives from input and service suppliers. The current yields and prices of maize are not enough for the scaling-up of SWRT. Future studies should incorporate cost-benefit information on high-value crops and analyses of how farmers, and input and service suppliers can better share the investment risks
The roles of an urban rooftop garden for the staff of a memory clinic - a qualitative post-occupancy evaluation
No full textThe world is experiencing an acute global shortage of healthcare staff, with health and well-being issues, recruitment and retention difficulties. Strategies with potential to improve staff well-being are therefore receiving increasing attention. Contact with nature in the workplace has been shown to help staff recover, reduce stress levels and increase job satisfaction. Additionally, rooftop gardens have become a trend due to the world's growing urbanization and densification of cities. The aim of the study was therefore to explore the role of an urban rooftop garden for staff at a Memory Clinic, with a specific focus on the physical and health-promoting aspects of the garden. A post-occupancy evaluation (POE) was conducted using qualitative research methodology and focus group interviews, including nine participants (divided into a management - and a staff team) and a total of five interviews. Thematic analysis was used for the transcribed interviews. The evaluation spanned a full year to capture the use, experience and meaning of the rooftop garden in all seasons and possible weather conditions. Three overarching themes and associated sub-themes were identified. The first one, (1) The rooftop garden as a place of Use, promoted both (a) Spontaneous Visits and (b) Organized Activities. The second theme, (2) The rooftop garden as a place to Experience the World Outside, offered (a) Contact with Nature and Surrounding Life and a sense of being (b) Beyond Hospital Walls. The final theme, (3) The rooftop garden as a place of Meaning for Well-Being and Work Life Sustainability, was linked to being either (a) Positive and Rewarding or linked to (b) Temporary wishes and needs for support. Each sub-theme was connected to physical features in the environment, as well as locations (zones) in the garden, which produced results with design significance and potential for practical application and use in planning contexts. The results furthermore show that an outdoor environment such as a rooftop garden can include both salutogenic and pathogenic strategies and therefore be used to both promote health and prevent ill health for staff, that is, provide conditions for optimal support and promotion of health and well-being. Finally, the study highlights urban rooftop gardens as a type of garden with potentially unique, positive and beneficial properties due to its combination of expansive views and urban feel, with calmness, safety, privacy and enhanced seasonal and natural impressions - something that is considered difficult to achieve in an urban hospital garden at ground level
Root cutters: perennial weed control with a low risk of soil erosion and nutrient leaching
No full textIt is essential to reduce pesticide and tillage use in agricultural systems, but better alternatives for controlling perennial weeds are needed. The horizontal and vertical root cutters can fragment the roots and rhizomes of perennial weeds with minimal disturbance to the soil and vegetation cover. However, there is a lack of studies on how the root cutters affect multiple perennial weed species, and their effect on soil and nutrient losses. To fill this gap, three multi-year experiments in plowed systems were conducted in Norway and Sweden to study whether the roots cutters can control multiple perennial weed species as effectively as more intensive tillage methods (Experiments 1-2), without increasing soil and nutrient losses (Experiment 3). Overall, the more intensive tillage methods tested (rotary tiller, disc harrow, stubble harrow) did not provide significantly better perennial weed control than the horizontal root cutter. In Experiment 1, the horizontal root cutter reduced Sonchus arvensis and Elymus repens shoot biomass by 52% and 80%, respectively, compared to an untreated control. In Experiment 2, the horizontal root cutter reduced Cirsium arvense shoot numbers by 71% compared to the untreated control but failed to reduce E. repens. Horizontal root cutter treatment depth (7 vs. 15 cm) did not affect control efficacy. The horizontal root cutter treatment did not increase soil, water or nutrient losses compared to the untreated control, and resulted in 60% less soil and 52% less phosphorous losses than disc harrowing. Treatments with the vertical root cutter had 40% less E. repens and 22% less S. arvensis shoot biomass than treatments without the vertical root cutter. This manuscript is the first to show the true potential of the root cutters in plowed systems in northern Europe and their ability to control of multiple perennial weed species with low risk of soil and nutrient losses
The 2022 drought needs to be a turning point for European drought risk management
No full textThe 2022 European drought has underscored critical deficiencies in European water management. This paper explores these shortcomings and suggests a way forward for European drought risk management. In particular, we focus on four key aspects: the increasing drought risk, its spatial and temporal impacts, current management approaches, and how these differ across Europe. We base our findings on a continent-wide survey of water managers involved in responding to the 2022 drought. The survey collected 481 responses from 30 European countries and contained 19 questions on perceived sectorial impacts and the drought risk management practices implemented by the respondents' organizations. Information from the survey was supported with climate-related data on drought severity as quantified by the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, to offer a comprehensive overview of how extreme historical droughts are managed across Europe. Our findings reveal a consensus on the growing risk of drought, driven by droughts' rising frequency and intensity. While the 2022 event affected most of the continent, our findings show significant regional disparities in management capacity. In many countries - particularly those with agriculture-dominated economies - drought responses remain short-term and reactive, often leading to potentially maladaptive practices. Despite these challenges, we also observe a positive shift, with organizations showing increased awareness and preparedness. Hence, the lessons learnt from the 2022 event may provide an ideal opportunity to mainstream European-wide drought risk management. To seize this opportunity, we advocate for a European Drought Directive, to harmonize and enforce risk management policies across the continent. This directive should promote a systemic, integrated, and long-term risk management perspective. It should also set clear guidelines at the national and sub-national level, and for cross-boundary drought collaboration. This study and its companion paper, "From Crisis to Capacity: Institutional Preparedness and Response During the 2022 European Drought", result from work carried out by the Drought in the Anthropocene network, an initiative of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
Exploring the understanding and integration of nature-based solutions into higher education and TVET: Insights from 7 EU countries
No full textNature-Based Solutions (NBS) are increasingly recognised as essential approaches for addressing urban challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social resilience. One of the key factors in the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of NBS is the capacity-building role of education systems, particularly in equipping future professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills. This study explores the current understanding and integration of NBS within higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across seven EU countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria, Lithuania, Greece, and the Czech Republic. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a review of academic and grey literature, expert interviews, and surveys. The study analyses how NBS-related content is embedded in educational curricula and training programs. The literature review reveals existing definitions and criteria for understanding NBS, while empirical findings highlight significant differences in perception, not only between countries but also across institutions. The integration of NBS in curricula remains fragmented, with limited interdisciplinary collaboration and a noticeable gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. However, innovative formats such as Living Labs and co-creation with societal actors show strong potential to support transformative, challenge-based learning. By identifying key barriers and showcasing good practices, this study contributes to the growing discourse on educational innovation in sustainability transitions. It highlights the importance of transdisciplinary approaches and international cooperation in embedding NBS into higher education and TVET systems, and offers recommendations to support effective curriculum development
Status and future perspectives of pink salmon in the Nordic region
No full textPink salmon are native to the North Pacific region but have spread due to introductions in north-west Russia. More than 800 000 pink salmon have been recorded in Nordic countries since 2017. The abundance has massively increased, with 50 times more pink salmon recorded in 2023 than 2017. Norway, including border rivers to Finland, has received the largest numbers, thereafter Greenland and Iceland. The areas with high abundances of pink salmon are expanding. Despite the massive invasion of pink salmon, and the risk of further spread within the Nordic region, the knowledge of impact on native salmonids and ecosystems is still poor, mainly due to lack of research funding. Mitigation efforts have been greatest in northern Norway by removal of pink salmon in rivers. Most of the Nordic countries seem not to have risk analyses or developed management plans to meet a potential increase in abundance of pink salmon
Commodity risk assessment of Acer plants from Ukraine
No full textThe European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High-risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by Acer plants (A. griseum, A. platanoides, A. rubrum, A. saccharum, A. saccharinum, A. tataricum and A. tataricum subsp. ginnala, Acer x freemani) imported from Ukraine as dormant plants: (a) 1-4 years old bare root plants and (b) 1-2 years old plants in pots, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Ukraine. All pests associated with the commodity were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two EU protected zone quarantine pests, i.e. Cryphonectria parasitica, and Entoleuca mammata and one EU-quarantine pest, i.e. Lopholeucaspis japonica fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Ukraine were evaluated taking into account the possible limiting factors. For the selected pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the distribution of the pest in Ukraine, risk mitigation measures acting on the pest and uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with L. japonica being the pest most frequently expected on imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9748 and 10,000 per 10,000 bare root 1-4 years old plants will be free from L. japonica
Forest operations during continuous cover forestry in the Nordics: the need for cost-efficient harvesting solutions like single-machine systems
No full textLow tract size (ha) and harvested volume per hectare (m3 ha-1) decrease the cost-efficiency of today's conventional Nordic harvesting systems, which generally consists of a harvester and a forwarder. Low cost-efficiency is a problem because it reduces forest owners' incentive to harvest wood and manage their forests. Today's conventional harvesting system (two-machine system; TMS) was developed based on rotation forest management. As continuous cover forestry (CCF) grows in the Nordics, it is necessary to develop harvesting solutions that can operate cost-efficiently even when total removal (m3 per tract) is low. Single-machine systems (SMS) require only one machine to do all the harvesting activities; thus, SMS have only one machine-relocation cost per tract, instead of two per tract for TMS. SMS are generally categorized as either harwarders or dual machines, the difference being if the machine processes the logs directly onto the load space or not. In relation to TMS, the relative competitiveness of SMS increases with decreasing tract size, harvested volume per hectare, and/or average extraction distance. Because of site adaptation, CCF, and ever-expanding forest road networks, the trend in Nordic forestry over the last few decades has been that these three factors have been decreasing. CCF mainly entails thinning from above, which generally means the harvesting of large trees. SMS exist today, but almost exclusively as small-sized dual machines that cannot cut large trees. Thus, there is a pronounced need for commercially available SMS that can fell and process large trees