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"Here and now, by us": Co-production of climate action pathways in forest landscapes
Get PDFClimate change requires locally tailored solutions that consider diverse environmental and cultural contexts. This study situates climate action within Sweden's forest landscapes, exploring how local forest stakeholders prioritize and motivate climate action targets for immediate implementation. By engaging in knowledge co-production processes in local communities, we sought to develop place-based climate action pathways, rooted in stakeholders' visions for their communities' futures. We identified three main climate action pathways: forest-based bioeconomy, localism, and global systemic change. These pathways varied in policy targets, governance directions, focus of change, and preferred economic systems. We found that while the pathways generally aligned with the underlying assumptions of overarching scenario archetypes, their ideological differences regarding governance and policy levels and directions were less distinct. Moreover, despite differing foci and perspectives, forest management strategies were similar in all pathways. The ideological dimensions of the climate action pathways became less visible when considering the management of forests. Our findings underscore the embeddedness of local climate action within broader environmental, social, and political structures, and the challenges of linking local landscape understandings to global environmental processes. While practical, locally specific solutions can transcend ideological debates, they may also obscure necessary ideological and political considerations for effective land use and management strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation
Jordloppor i vårraps - Biologi och motåtgärder
Get PDFJordloppor är besvärliga skadegörare i vårraps. När de gnager på groddplantorna kan det leda till att plantan dör och vid allvarliga angrepp till en förlust av hela beståndet. Under flera decennier betades fröna med insekticider av klassen neonikotinoider som skydd. År 2014 försvann den möjligheten när neonikotinoiderna förbjöds eftersom de misstänktes vara miljöskadliga. Då startade vi forskning kring jordloppornas biologi och möjliga alternativ för att skydda grödan. Här sammanfattar vi det vi har kommit fram till.De viktigaste resultaten• Sex arter av jordloppor var vanliga i vårrapsfält. • Fångster av jordloppor i sugfällor kan förutsäga risken för angrepp.• Risken för angrepp kan minskas genom att undvika att odla vårrapsfält intill varandra från ett år till nästa.• Direktsådd minskar angreppen av jordloppor. • Problemen med jordloppor förvärras snabbt i glesa rapsbestånd. • Tidig sådd ger högre skörd och ofta lägre angrepp av jordloppor.• Kemisk bekämpning mot jordloppor är ekonomiskt motiverad när 10 % av bladytan skadats
Development of a benthic macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index to quantify riverbed substrate condition in Swedish streams
Get PDFHuman activities have degraded riverbed substrate structure via reduced heterogeneity of substrate particle sizes and increased fine sediment loadings. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of substrate quality in river ecosystems, our ability to assess substrate condition effects on biodiversity and functioning of river ecosystems is at present inadequate resulting in discrepancies between the needs of conservation, restoration, and mitigation of running waters, and water management practice. Several macroinvertebrate-based metrics are currently used to assess the impacts of degraded riverbed substrate structure. However, few metrics confer a direct relationship to the functions that substrates provide independent of interacting and potentially confounding factors (e.g. current velocity, excess nutrients and pesticides) or, based solely on presence-absence of taxa so that they may be implemented regardless of the identification method. Data on riverbed substrates and benthic macroinvertebrates was extracted from several databases. Using stream data on riverbed substrates and macroinvertebrates, we developed a macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index (MMI) for riverbed substrate condition (LISSA) to assess impacts of and recovery from substrate degradation using information on measures of traits. The dataset was explored for correlation between measures of traits to riverbed substrate condition. A substrate quality gradient (SQG) was constructed by combining four components of substrate quality in an index where decreasing substrate quality is defined as an increasing percentage of fine sediment and sand and decreasing substrate diversity and evenness. Significantly correlated candidate metrics were chosen using forward stepwise linear regression models against SQG. Five metrics were included in LISSA: one trait state of aquatic stages (egg), two trait states of reproduction (isolated eggs, cemented + clutches, cemented or fixed and clutches, free + asexual reproduction), one trait state of locomotion and substrate relation (crawler + temporarily attached) and the locomotion trait state (% burrowing/boring). LISSA is a promising metric for stream macroinvertebrate assessments of riverbed substrate condition and monitoring impacts and recovery across Sweden and potentially elsewhere
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicle compactness
Get PDFThe Green Revolution altered the rice panicle by increasing grain numbers per panicle. Here, we perform a genome-wide association study to understand the molecular mechanisms determining the number of grains in a panicle in rice. Panicle image analyses were performed on 158 genetically diverse rice accessions, and GWAS was run using the FarmCPU model with 34,072 single nucleotide polymorphisms to relate genotypic variation to the corresponding phenotypes. Flanking regions of candidate SNPs were separately defined for each chromosome based on LD decay distance to identify putative-associated genes. An RNA-seq data analysis was performed between stem and panicle to emphasize the role of candidate genes in panicle compactness. The results were further confirmed by a PPI network analysis using the putative candidate genes. In total 95 significant SNPs were identified; as close SNPs were considered a QTL that resulted in 56 QTLs across the 12 rice chromosomes. We identified novel candidate genes for panicle compactness traits, such as cytochrome P450, polygalacturonase, glycosyltransferase, MADS-box, WRKY, YABBY, WUSCHEL-related homeobox, protein kinase, lipase, zinc finger transcription factor and protein phosphatase. Haplotype analysis identified haplogroups qNSSBB53, qNSSBB102, qNSSBU3, qNSSBU21, and qLS3 for three traits of NSSBB, NSSBU and LS. An analysis of epistatic interactions among candidate SNPs identified 91 significant SNP-SNP interactions
Leaf drought and heat tolerance are integrated across three temperate biome types
Get PDFLeaf-scale heat and drought tolerance provide direct measures of the ability to withstand environmental stress and can be used to evaluate plant susceptibility to emerging climatic extremes. However, recent droughts increasingly occur with heatwaves, causing plants to withstand two simultaneous environmental stresses. Tolerance of leaf-level processes to heat and drought stress have mostly been studied independently, preventing an understanding of whether tolerance co-occurs for these two environmental stresses. To address this, we measured leaf photosynthetic heat tolerance as the critical temperatures at which photosystem II efficiency starts to decrease (Tcrit) and shows a decrease of 50% (T50) or 95% (T95) in three temperate biomes (desert, oak-pine forest, and mediterranean-type shrubland). We also characterized drought tolerance as the water potential at leaf turgor loss point (pi tlp) and cellular membrane stability in response to simulated drought. We found coordination of heat and drought tolerance through a significant relationship of pi tlp with T50 and Tcrit that varied with season, whereas T95 showed no relation to pi tlp. Species with greater drought tolerance also showed greater membrane stability, implicating membrane leakiness as a potential mechanism of physiological decline during stress. Despite local variation in temperature and precipitation extremes, leaf heat and drought tolerance converged to common cross-biome relationships, providing evidence of interdependence that spanned distinct climates
Understanding the impact of the war on people-nature relationships in Ukraine
Get PDFThis study investigates the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the relationship between people and nature in three settlements in the Kyiv Region that were occupied by Russian forces and later liberated by the Ukrainian Army. Using semi-structured interviews with local inhabitants, we documented the ecosystem services that people relied on before the war and the changes that occurred after deoccupation. The findings reveal a significant reduction in access to essential ecosystem services, exacerbated by new disservices such as flooding and environmental contamination. The study underscores the vital role of cultural ecosystem services, with many respondents expressing deep emotional and spiritual connections to their natural environment. Despite these challenges, private gardens and urban greenspaces have emerged as crucial elements for post-war recovery, fostering reconnection and psychological healing. Post-war restoration strategies should prioritize not only the rehabilitation of ecosystem services but also the restoration of cultural and spiritual ties between people and nature. A forward-looking, community-inclusive approach to ecological restoration will be critical for Ukraine's recovery, supporting both environmental sustainability and human resilience
Tolerance mechanisms and metabolomic profiling of Kosteletzkya pentacarpos in saline environments
Get PDFKosteletzkya pentacarpos is a halophyte with significant potential for ecological restoration and phytoremediation in saline environments. This study investigated the growth, biochemical responses, metabolomic profiling and seed germination of plants under increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations from 0 to 0.3 M. Several vegetative growth parameters (plant height and root length, among others) along with some reproductive traits (flower and fruit number, seed production and germination rates), were determined. Treatment with high NaCl concentrations provoked a significant inhibition of growth. Germination tests revealed that seeds were affected by the highest salt concentrations tested, starting with 0.15 M NaCl and that seeds from plants exposed to 0.05 M NaCl exhibited higher germination rates than seeds germinated without salt. Significant alterations in ionic balance were detected, including increased sodium and chloride accumulation and potassium retention. The levels of osmolytes (proline and glycine betaine) and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde) increased under salt treatment conditions. A metabolomic profile of K. pentacarpos is presented for the first time, providing key insights into metabolites involved in salinity responses. The metabolomic profiling revealed significant changes in carbohydrates, amino acids, and other metabolites, suggesting metabolic reprogramming to mitigate salinity stress. This study emphasises K. pentacarpos adaptive mechanisms, including osmoprotectant accumulation, ionic regulation and metabolomic adjustments, to tolerate moderate salinity. Understanding these responses is essential for advancing the use of K. pentacarpos in saline agriculture and environmental management
Policyverkstad — Biologisk mångfald i odlingslandskapen
Get PDFSveriges lantbruksuniversitet SLU arbetar sedan 2019 med regeringsuppdraget »Uppdrag landsbygd«, som syftar till att stärka forskningen om Sveriges landsbygder och främja samverkan mellan de aktörer som bedriver forskning och arbetar inom landsbygds- och regional utveckling i Sverige. En del i uppdraget handlar om att bistå landsbygds- och infrastrukturdepartementet med policyrelevant information. I arbetet mot detta har vi inom Uppdrag landsbygd utvecklat så kallade policyverkstäder – workshopserier där forskare möts för att diskutera utpekade teman som är centrala för Sveriges landsbygder och som departementet önskar få inspel kring i arbetet med att ta fram beslutsunderlag till politiken. Syftet med processerna är att identifiera behov av ny policy för att adressera utmaningar och möjligheter för utveckling av svenska landsbygder inom respektive tema. Den här policyverkstaden är ett samarbete mellan Uppdrag landsbygd och centrumbildningen SustAinimal. Den här rapporten är en bearbetad sammanfattning av resultatet från policyverkstaden med temat biologisk mångfald i odlingslandskapen och skildrar de argument som presenterades av forskarna och praktiker som deltog i workshopen
Evaluating Maturity Index IAD for Storability Potential in Mid-Season and Late-Season Apple Cultivars in the Light of Climate Change
Get PDFReducing food losses in apple production is becoming increasingly important, as the effects of climate change constitute a challenge to food production. Improving methods for determining fruit maturity at harvest leading to the longest storability is crucial, thereby facing more unpredictable seasonal weather conditions. In addition, the increasing temperature is affecting common maturity indices differently; thus, present practice may not be valid. In this study, a non-destructive, time-efficient method was used, tentatively indicating maturity. This study was performed during three climate-diverse years, reflecting more irregular climate conditions. Mid- to late-season cultivars 'Frida', 'Ingrid Marie', 'Rubinstar', and 'Elise' were harvested at different pre-determined I-AD (index of absorbance difference) intervals and stored for five months. Correlations between I-AD values at harvest and total losses after storage were found for all cultivars and years, while only a few correlations related to firmness after storage were found. Although a strong effect of year was related to correlations between I-AD and different quality parameters, no noticeably general differences could be found between the exceptionally warm year in comparison to the other investigated years. I-AD, as a maturity index, thus, seems to be resilient to changing temperatures and can be used as a complementary maturity index
"Green" steel investments in the EU: Pie in the sky?
Get PDFThe steel industry accounts for approximately 7%-8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. To address this, several initiatives aim to establish carbon-neutral steel production by replacing coal with hydrogen derived from fossil-free electricity. These projects, however, depend on substantial state subsidies, raising questions about their economic viability, especially under comprehensive carbon policies, such as those outlined in the EU's Fit-for-55 package. Our analysis employs a cost-benefit framework grounded in general equilibrium theory, which explicitly considers the direct and indirect effects of policies on primary and secondary markets, as well as broader economic interdependencies. By integrating the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) into this framework, we provide a rigorous evaluation of the social desirability of hydrogen-based steel production. Our findings, based on a case study of a large-scale plant in northern Sweden, indicate significant social losses, with potentially far-reaching implications for similar projects across the EU. We might see a da capo of the 1970s European steel crisis