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Plant growth and gene expression changes induced via volatile plant-plant interaction
No full textAgriculture today largely consists of monocultures with pure stands, characterized by high yields but associated with biodiversity loss, pest outbreaks, and reduced resilience to environmental stresses. Increasing plant diversity through cultivar mixtures offers an alternative, promoting ecosystem services, yield stability, and pest management. However, the mechanisms underlying the superior performance of cultivar mixtures remain poorly understood. This thesis investigates volatile-mediated plant-plant interactions among barley cultivars with distinct growth strategies. Using a controlled experiment, we examined how volatiles emitted by one cultivar influenced the growth and gene expression of another receiving cultivar. Results revealed that cultivar-specific volatile cues altered biomass production in receivers, with fast-growing emitters inducing greater growth in slow-growing receivers. Differential expression analysis showed distinct gene expression changes in receivers, suggesting that these changes may underlie the observed growth differences between cultivars. These findings provide insights into the role of volatiles in plant interactions and highlight their potential for optimizing cultivar mixtures in sustainable agriculture. Future research should aim to establish a clear link between specific VOCs, gene expression, and growth responses, while also exploring field-scale applications of these interactions
Barkåkra fjärilsbacke : a design proposal for Ängelholm’s new nature reserve, where people and nature meet
Get PDFDetta arbete utgör ett konceptförslag för Barkåkra fjärilsbacke i Ängelholms kommun. Studien fokuserar på samspelet mellan människan och naturen och undersöker hur en peri-urban ruderatmark, som idag fungerar som lagringsplats, kan bevara biologiska värden och samtidigt omvandlas till
ett attraktivt besöksmål för rekreation och naturpedagogik.
Genom att inhämta relevant litteratur, intervjua pedagoger, inspireras av liknande platser, och analysera Barkåkra fjärilsbackes befintliga förutsättningar har arbetet tagit fram riktlinjer för hur biologisk mångfald kan bevaras och samtidigt tillgängliggöras för allmänheten.
En central del i projektet är att integrera ekologisk kunskap med sociala aspekter och mänskliga behov för att skapa en plats som är både hållbar och upplevelserik. Det föreslagna gestaltningskonceptet innehåller element som främjar pollinatörernas livsmiljöer samtidigt som den erbjuder besökaren möjlighet till vila, reflektion och lärande om naturens processer. Arbetet visar att det är möjligt att skapa en restorativ och kunskapsbildande
miljö där naturen och människan samverkar.
Studien understryker vikten av platsanpassade lösningar, där ekologiska förhållanden och kulturella sammanhang utgör grunden för utformningen. Samtidigt belyser arbetet de utmaningar som finns kring långsiktig förvaltning, växtval och brukarmedverkan. Projektet kan fungera som inspiration för liknande initiativ där naturvård, naturpedagogik och gestaltning möts i ambitionen att skapa levande, tillgängliga och meningsfulla naturområden nära städer.This paper consists of a concept proposal for Barkåkra fjärilsbacke in Ängelholm’s municipality. The study focuses on the interaction between people and nature with the aim of investigating how a peri-urban wasteland, which currently functions as a storage site, can preserve biological values and at the same time be transformed into an attractive destination for recreation and nature pedagogy.
By obtaining relevant literature, interviewing educators, be inspired by similar places and analysing the site’s existing conditions, the paper has developed guidelines for how biodiversity can be preserved and at the same time made accessible to the public.
A central part of the project is to integrate ecological knowledge with social aspects and human needs to create a place that is both sustainable and rich in experiences. The proposed design concept contains elements that promote the habitats of pollinators while offering visitors the opportunity to rest, reflect and learn about natural processes of nature. The paper shows that it is possible to create a restorative environment with nature pedagogic
elements where nature and humans interact.
The study emphasizes the importance of site-specific solutions, where ecological conditions and cultural contexts form the basis for the design. At the same time, the work highlights the challenges surrounding long-term management, plant selection, and user participation. The project can serve as inspiration for similar initiatives where nature conservation, pedagogy and design meet with the ambition to create vibrant, accessible and meaningful natural areas near cities
nationalparkEntrance area Ar : design proposal to highlight the landscape character in the northern part of Bästeträsk's national park
Get PDFFriluftsliv är en hörnsten inom svensk naturvård och intresset för upplevelser i naturmiljöer har ökat. Det har länge funnits en ambition att förbättra förutsättningarna för friluftsliv men i tillgängliggörandet av naturområden finns ett dilemma i att möjliggöra naturupplevelser och samtidigt bevara höga naturvärden. I Sverige är landets 30 nationalparker de områden som har det starkaste naturskyddet och förutom höga naturvärden har de en viktig funktion som besöksattraktioner samt informations- och kunskapsspridare om vår natur. I nationalparkerna är den unika parkens natur- och landskapskaraktär viktig för upplevelsen av platsen, särskilt vid dess entréer som ofta är utgångspunkt för vistelsen. Samtidigt saknas tydlighet kring både vad som bidrar till en plats karaktär och hur karaktären bör framhävas.
Arbetet syftar till att föreslå en utformning av ett entréområde i norra delen av Bästeträsks nationalpark, där upplevelsen av landskapets framträdande karaktär framhävs och tydliggörs. Bästeträsks nationalpark är belägen på norra Gotland och är en av två nationalparker som är på väg att bildas i Sverige. Då det är en nationalpark som är under bildande och innehåller få befintliga anläggningar för besökare anses det vara ett lämpligt projektområde för arbetet.
Karaktären i området analyseras med inspiration av den brittiska metoden Landscape Character Assessment, som beskriver landskapskaraktär som ett resultat av landskapets naturliga, sociala och kulturella respektive estetiska och perceptuella faktorer. Metoden beskriver även hur olika karaktärer kan representeras geografiskt för att underlätta beslut vid planering och utformning.
Med utgångspunkt i analyserade karaktärer i landskapet och studier av referensprojekt utformas ett förslag för entréområdet, där landskapets karaktär framhävs. Karaktären återspeglas i såväl fysiska tillägg som nyttjande av landskapets befintliga och karaktärsskapande kvaliteter. Tilläggen utformas med inspiration av platsens historiska värden och medför samtidigt nya upplevelsevärden i landskapet som framhäver dess karaktär. Förslaget består även av nya rörelsestråk som sammanbinder viktiga platser och områden med varandra samtidigt som de bidrar till att framhäva landskapets karaktärsdrag.Outdoor recreation is a central part of the Swedish nature conservation and the interest for experiences in nature areas have increased. There has for a long time been an ambition to improve the possibilities for outdoor recreation, however in making nature areas accessible there is a dilemma between enabling nature experiences and preserving high ecological values. In Sweden, the country’s 30 national parks have the highest level of nature protection and they have not only high natural values, but also an important role as visitor attractions and as sources of information and knowledge dissemination about our nature. In the national parks, the unique park’s nature and landscape character is important for the experience, especially at its entrances, which often function as starting points for the visit. However, there is a lack of a clarity regarding both what contributes to a place’s character and how it should be highlighted.
This thesis aims to propose a design for an entrance area in the northern area of Bästeträsks National Park, where the experience of the prominent characters in the landscape is both highlighted and clarified. Bästeträsks National Park is located in the northern part of Gotland and is one of two national parks that is currently being developed in Sweden. As it is a national park that has not yet been established and contains few existing structures for visitors, it is considered a relevant site for the project.
The character in the area is analysed with inspiration of the British method Landscape Character Assessment, which describes landscape character as a product of the landscape’s natural, social and cultural as well as aesthetic and perceptual factors. The method also explains how different characters can be represented geographically, in order to facilitate decision decisions regarding planning and design. Based on analysed characters in the landscape and studies of reference projects, a proposal for the entrance area is designed, where the character is highlighted. The character is represented through both physical additions and the use of existing characteristic qualities in the landscape. The additions are designed with inspiration from the area’s historical values and also bring new experience values in the landscape that emphasizes its character. The proposal also consists of new paths which connect important places and areas with each other while also highlighting characteristics in the landscape
Breeding birds in wetlands : the roles of biotic and abiotic drivers
Get PDFPonds and wetlands have a long history of being drained in Sweden. This has mostly been carried out by digging ditches and thus draining the fields to improve productivity of the ground for agriculture and forestry. This has led to a great loss of biodiversity amongst all groups connected to water habitats, Including the loss of bird habitats. These are but a few reasons why we need to protect, restore, and create new wetlands. In order to make better cost-effective decisions regarding wetland creation, it is important to study which aspects of a pond are important for biological diversity. Can a network of restored and recreated wetlands support bird diversity and increase the populations? What aspects are most important for bird diversity? I conducted surveys of birds between the 14th and 17th of April from a set of ponds that were already characterised within the project PuddleJump, taking into account pond properties and the composition of the plant community. First, I explored variations in dissolved oxygen, pH levels, wetland size, and five macrophyte groups among five types of ponds (biodiversity, recreation, phosphorus, water retention and stormwater). Then, I analysed the variation in birds relative to wetland size and three more relevant macrophyte groups. These analyses of abiotic and biotic factors were used to determine the most relevant factors to explain the variation in bird individual abundance, species richness, and pair abundance. Biodiversity ponds were distinctly larger than the other pond categories, while phosphorus retention sites were the smallest. pH and dissolved oxygen did not clearly vary between the categories, but there was considerable variation in macrophyte composition between the pond categories. Pond size, a variable coinciding with the pond categories, was the most important factor to explain bird metrics, where the larger the wetland was, the more species, individuals, pairs and average number of species they locally had. Secondly, submergent vegetation was positively associated with species richness and tended to associate positively with the number of individuals. Lastly, emergent macrophyte cover seemed to positively associate with bird pair abundance. Filamentous algae cover and its correlation with a deficient cover of the other macrophytes and why they are prominent in phosphorus ponds was discussed. Before the conclusion error sources and future questions are presented for future research. In conclusion, size is most important for all bird measures, submerged vegetation is good for bird species richness and individual bird abundance, and emergent vegetation has been shown in this study to be good for only pair abundance.Dammar och våtmarker har en lång historia av dränering i Sverige. Det här har mestadels skett genom grävning av diken för att dränera fält, vilket ökar produktiviteten i jordbruksmark och i skogar. Detta har lett till stora förluster av biodiversitet för alla organismgrupper anslutna till dessa habitat, fåglars habitat inkluderat. Detta är bara några få exempel på varför vi behöver skydda, återskapa och skapa nya våtmarker. För att kunna ta välgrundade ekonomiska beslut kring skapandet av våtmarker, är det viktigt att studera vilka aspekter av våtmarker som är viktiga för att uppnå biologisk diversitet. Kan ett nätverk av återskapade och skapade våtmarker bära upp fågeldiversitet och öka deras populationer? Vilka aspekter är viktigast för fågeldiversitet? Jag genomförde fågelinventeringar mellan den 14:e och den 17:e april på ett antal dammar som redan karaktäriserats inom projektet PuddleJump, som inventerat dammegenskaper och dammarnas växta bestånd. Jag började mitt arbete med att undersöka lösligt syre, pH-värden, dammstorlek, och fem makrofytgrupper inom fem typer av dammar (biodiversitet, rekreation, fosfor, vattenansamling och dagvatten). Efter det analyserade jag variationen av fågelvärden jämfört med dammstorlek och tre relevanta makrofytgrupper. Dessa analyser av abiotiska och biotiska faktorer användes för att komma fram till vilka faktorer som bäst förklarar variationen i fåglars abundans, antal arter och parabundans. Biodiversitetsdammar var tydligt större än de andra dammgrupperna, samtidigt var fosforinsamlingsdammar minst. pH och löst syre hade ingen tydlig variation mellan dammkategorierna, men det fanns stor variation bland makrofytsammansättning mellan dem. Storleken på dammar var starkast faktor till höga fågelvärden, där desto större damm innebar desto fler arter, individer, par och medelvärdet på par. Efter undersökning av abitotiska faktorer och makrofyt grupperna, undersöktes makrofyters korrelation med fågelvärdena. Undervattensvegetation var associerat positivt med antal arter och hade en positiv korrelation med antalet individer. Slutligen verkade det som att övervattensväxters täckning var positivt associerat med fåglars parabundans. Trådformiga algers täckning och deras korrelation med låg täckning av andra makrofytgrupper och varför de finns i stor mängd i fosforinsamlingsdammar diskuterades. Innan slutsatsen diskuterades felkällor och framtida frågor för framtida undersökningar. Sammanfattningsvis, storleken på dammarna är viktigast för samtliga undersökta fågelvärden, undervattensväxter är bra för fåglars artrikedom och fågelabundans, och övervattensväxter har i den här studien visats vara bra för parabundans
Forest edge effect on seedling growth, C/N allocation and fungal associations : a closer look at 3-year-old seedling growth patterns above- and belowground and their mycorrhizal symbionts according to their distance to a forest edge
Get PDFBoreal forest growth is largely limited by nitrogen (N) availability, leading to intense belowground competition among trees. Most boreal tree species form ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses, where fungi enhance nutrient and water uptake in exchange for carbon. Following clearcutting, early-stage ECM fungi—adapted to colonize roots quickly and access mineral N—tend to dominate. As stands mature and nutrients become scarcer, later-stage ECMs capable of acquiring complex organic N forms become more competitive and prevalent.
This thesis examines the growth, nitrogen allocation, and ECM fungal community composition of 3-year-old pine (Pinus sylvestris) and spruce (Picea abies) seedlings along a distance gradient from a mature forest edge into a 7-year-old clearcut in northern Sweden.
Seedlings increased in height, dry weight, and N uptake with distance from the forest edge, with a distinct growth threshold observed between 4 and 8 meters.
Seedlings surrounded by a root exclusion barrier were generally larger and unaffected by distance, suggesting that belowground competition for nitrogen strongly limits early seedling growth. Simultaneously, the ECM fungal community composition shifted along the same gradient: early-stage ECMs were more abundant on the clearcut, while late-stage ECMs were more abundant closer to or within the forest.
These findings underscore the influence of spatial gradients and root competition on both seedling performance and ECM community structure, with implications for forest regeneration and the management of edge effects in boreal silviculture
From Obligation to Opportunity : the challenges and opportunities of adapting to the CSRD
Get PDFThe Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) represents a significant regulatory shift in sustainability reporting, mandating more comprehensive and standardized disclosures from a wide range of companies. This study aims to provide valuable insights for companies preparing to report under the CSRD in the future, assisting them in optimizing their reporting processes. Additionally, it explores how companies have conducted their DMA, and the challenges and opportunities encountered during the reporting process.
This study employs a qualitative research method, involving a multiple case study of three companies that have reported under the CSRD, along with a sustainability consultancy that assists companies in preparing their CSRD reports. Furthermore, it examines how this relates to the theoretical framework of the study, which encompasses the theory of dynamic capabilities and the concepts of sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring.
The findings suggest that companies approach the reporting process differently based on their prior sustainability maturity, with the most advanced company able to repurpose existing materials, while those less experienced need to create new internal roles and engage external consultants from the ground up. The lack of standardized methods for assessing double materiality, coupled with a scarcity of reports for benchmarking, posed challenges for most companies in this study. The reporting process prompted most companies to recognize the strategic value of embedding sustainability into core business functions and reinforced the importance of ongoing reporting, despite the Omnibus initiative providing regulatory relief to two out of three companies examined.
This study offers practical insights for companies reporting under the CSRD and practitioners engaged in double materiality assessments. A unique aspect of this research is its exploration of the Omnibus initiative and companies' responses to the resulting regulatory relief
Building a city in the forest : a green infrastructure plan and principles for integrating existing woodlands and enhancing the natural character in Bergsbrunna, Uppsala
Get PDFI takt med ökande urbanisering och klimatförändringar ställs nya krav på hur våra städer planeras i relation till naturvärden. Detta examensarbete undersöker hur befintliga skogliga karaktärer och upplevelsevärden kan användas som en resurs i utvecklingen av den nya stadsdelen Bergsbrunna, inom projektet för de Sydöstra stadsdelarna i Uppsala, där omfattande stadsutbyggnad planeras i ett område med höga naturvärden. Genom att ta fram en platsförankrat grönstrukturplan med strategier för utveckling och bevarande av naturvärden utforskas hur skogen kan bli en bärande struktur i en hållbar stadsdel där mänskliga behov och naturens villkor samspelar.
Arbetet bygger på ett kvalitativt och tvärmetodiskt angreppssätt där teori, platsanalys och deltagarbaserade processer kombineras. Metoden inkluderar litteraturöversikt, fältbesök samt deltagande i deltagarbaserade processer utifrån forskningsgruppen Landpaths som kombineras med visuell bearbetning utifrån analyser av Uppsala kommuns strukturförslag. Utifrån analys av ekologiska, rumsliga och upplevelsemässiga värden i det studerade området formuleras strategier som knyter an till teorier om upplevda sensoriska dimensioner och utformning av urbana skogslandskap med fokus på en naturintegrerad stadsutveckling.
Resultatet visar att en grönstrukturplan kan fungera som verktyg för att överbrygga skillnaden mellan visioner och genomförande, genom att konkretisera strategier för hur skogens kvaliteter kan översättas till rumsliga strategier. Särskilt betonas viken av att bevara naturlig karaktär, skapa sammanhängande kopplingar mellan stad och natur samt utveckla öppna och rekreativa miljöer som svarar mot invånarnas behov. Arbetet lyfter även vikten av att dessa värden identifieras och kartläggs i tidiga planeringsskeden för att minska målkonflikter mellan exploatering och bevarande.
Slutsatsen är att naturens roll bör beaktas som en integrerad del av stadens struktur för att främja ett mer hållbart sätt att planera våra städer utifrån gröna visioner och hållbarhetsmål. Arbetet syftar till att inspirera hur landskapsarkitekter och planerare kan bidra till att skapa städer som inte bara är gröna, utan också hållbara och levande utifrån en grönstrukturplan som bygger på platsens befintliga karaktärer.As urbanization and climate change increase, new demands are being placed on how our cities are planned in relation to natural values. This master’s thesis explores how existing forest characteristics and experiential values can be used as a resource in the development project of Bergsbrunna, part of the Southeast Urban Development Project in Uppsala, where extensive urban expansion is planned in an area with high natural values. By developing a site-specific green infrastructure plan with principles for the development and preservation of natural values, the study investigates how the forest can become a central structure in a sustainable urban district where human needs and ecological conditions are integrated.
The thesis is based on a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach that combines theory, site analysis and participatory processes. The method includes a literature review, field visits and participation in participatory research led by the Landpaths research group, complemented by visual analysis of Uppsala Municipality’s structural planning proposals. Based on the analysis of ecological, spatial and experiential values in the studied area, strategies are formulated drawing on theories of perceived sensory dimensions (PSD) and urban woodland landscape design, focusing on nature-integrated urban development.
The results show that the green infrastructure plan can function as a tool for bridging the gap between vision and implementation by concretizing strategies for how woodland qualities can be translated into spatial design. It particularly emphasizes the importance of preserving natural character, creating coherent connections between city and nature, and developing open and recreational environments that meet the needs of residents. The study also highlights the importance of identifying and mapping these values early in the planning process to reduce conflicts between urban development and nature conservation.
The conclusion is that nature should be seen as an integrated part of the city’s structure to support a more sustainable way of planning based on green visionaries and sustainability goals. The study aims to inspire how landscape architects and planners can contribute to creating cities that are not only green but also resilient and vibrant, using a green infrastructure plan rooted in the site’s existing character
Evaluating the impact of vital gluten on the protein molecular size distribution, loaf volume and dough rheology of vital gluten wheat flour blends
Get PDFThe breadmaking quality of wheat is generally attributed to its gluten proteins, which form the viscoelastic, gas-retaining network of wheat flour dough. The composition of gluten proteins, in particular protein molecular size distribution, is known to influence the rheological properties and baking quality of wheat flour. Vital gluten (VG) is a gluten protein concentrate that is added to wheat flour to improve dough and bread characteristics. However, VG is currently sold with limited quality specifications, including information regarding its protein composition. The aim of this project was to (1) investigate how the gluten protein molecular size distribution, loaf volume and dough rheological properties are affected in VG wheat flour blends by the addition of different VGs to wheat flour, and (2) compare chromatographic and rheological methods for describing VG quality in an industrial setting. Twelve wheat flour blends with 4% (w/w) of commercial VG were produced and evaluated in terms of protein molecular size distribution, loaf volume, and rheological properties using SE-HPLC, baking tests and empirical rheological methods, respectively. In the baking tests, both tin pan loaves and free-form loaves were produced. The VG wheat flour blends yielded varying loaf volumes, which could be attributed to differences in protein molecular size distribution and rheological properties. Free-form loaf volume was significantly correlated to the percentage of unextractable polymeric protein (%UPP) and dough strength, whereas tin pan loaf volume was significantly correlated with dough extensibility. While the alveograph test yielded significant correlations to free-form loaf volume, extensograph parameters were significantly correlated to the volume of both loaf types. In conclusion, the extensograph test may be suitable for VG quality control within the cereal and baking industries
Köttförlust och miljöpåverkan : en studie av köttbearbetningsindustrin i Sri Lanka (2014- 2024)
Get PDFThe global challenge of food loss and waste (FLW) continues to undermine environmental sustainability and food security, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Meat loss is crucial among food categories because it is relatively less economically viable and poses a significant burden. In Sri Lanka, processed meat products, especially sausages and meatballs, form a major share of the meat industry, However, little is known about the extent of meat loss during the processing stage or its environmental implications.
This study estimated the extent of processed meat loss during the processing stage in Sri Lanka's processing sector and its associated carbon footprint. Data was collected from seven industry facilities over eleven years period (2014 to 2024) through structured data requests on production volumes and product wastages during processing stages, supported by secondary literature. Results indicated an average meat loss of 2,400,000kg annually, 10.3% of production volume. Fluctuations were observed in meat loss percentages within the range from 9.9% to 11% during 11 years. Calculations were made to estimate the carbon footprint based on the Sri Lankan-specific emission factor of 0.3 kg CO₂e per kilogram of chicken meat, which reflects the emission only up to the raw meat availability stage. A 60% minimum meat content assumption, derived from SLS 1218:2001 for comminuted meat products, was applied to estimate the actual meat lost. The estimated carbon emissions from processing-stage losses in 2024 amounted to approximately 550 tonnes CO₂e, highlighting a significant environmental burden. This value excludes emissions from further processing activities and thus represents a conservative estimate. Nevertheless, it remains within the range of total emissions reported in international lifecycle studies of poultry products.
This study provides a baseline for understanding processing-stage meat loss and its environmental implications in Sri Lanka. It highlights the need for standardized data collection and integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools tailored to Sri Lanka’s context to improve accuracy and facilitate cross-sector comparisons. These insights can also guide future interventions aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing resource efficiency through industry automation, cold chain improvements, and employee training in Sri Lanka’s meat processing industry
Betydelsen av träning av slaktgrisar i vågstallar
Get PDFThe interest in sorter scale systems for growing/fattening pigs has increased
during the last years among Swedish pig farmers. In these systems up to 500 pigs
are held in each group and in most cases the pen layout forces pigs to pass
automatic sorter scale for access the feeding area. The pigs’ weight is monitored
for every entry to the feeding area. Except for automatic training program
provided by the sorter scale manufacturer, pigs can either be manually trained or
the farmer can rely up on the pig’s own ability to navigate the system. However, if
pigs are not able to find the feed there is a high risk of decreased production as
well as reduced animal welfare. The domestic pig has a well-developed cognitive
ability and has proved to being able to navigate mazes as well as relocate feed.
There is a lack of knowledge if there is a need for manual training in the sorting
scale system. This study’s first aim is to compare trained and untrained pigs in
sorter scale systems. This part was compiled using data from a farm with
individual Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) for the pigs. The second part
compares the pen design when manual trained pigs soon after moved to the
growing/fattening pigs’ stables. For this part three farms were visited within two
weeks after the pigs were moved to the sorter scale system, the pigs were
manually trained by two observers. Results shows that the manual training didn’t
have a large impact on gate passages, weight gain, final weight or rearing days.
Some differences could be seen when comparing gilts and barrows. However,
depending on pen design the effectiveness of the manual training differs
significantly. Building a funnel-shaped entrance to the sorter scale facilitates the
manual training. And building a wall with the possibility to close gates in the
middle of the resting area could also be beneficial. Even if the manual training
would be considered non crucial the design could have an impact on how easy it
is to handle individual pigs for other reasons than training