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Short-term effects of habitat restoration on brown trout and salmon
Get PDFDuring the 1800´s and 1900´s, Swedish rivers were heavily modified to support log driving, this led to significant decrease of ecological function and integrity in the river systems. In recent time, restoration has become an important tool to recover the ecological status, especially following the acceptance of the EU Water Framework Directive. This study analyses the short-term effects of restoration measures implemented on the ReBorN LIFE project on brown trout and salmon in Lögdeälven. Using electrofishing data from 11 different survey sites dating back to the year 2000 and up until 2024, I analyse trout and salmon densities, before and after restoration using linear mixed models and trend plots. No significant difference were observed between the before- and after period on either salmon or trout. The trends indicate a decline in densities in both species, trout with a negative trend from the start (year 2000), and salmon with a positive trend before restoration but a negative trend after. Several factors may influence the result both in trend and in lack of significance, for example, disease, river broadening, environmental factors, and changes in electrofishing gear. It is possible that the short time-period of post restoration monitoring is not enough to capture the restoration effects. This study points towards the need for long term monitoring, and potentially new assessment methods to accurately study the full effects of restoration on fish populations
Arbetsnöjdhet hos produktionsledare – En fallstudie hos Stora Enso Skog
Get PDFHög personalomsättning som följd av låg arbetsnöjdhet utgör en betydande utmaning inom många branscher, inklusive skogsindustrin. Produktionsledare har en nyckelroll i den operativa verksamheten, men indikationer från bland annat Stora Enso Skog, SLU och Skogforsk tyder på att det finns en hög omsättning inom denna yrkesgrupp. Tidigare forskning visar att arbetsnöjdhet är en avgörande faktor för långsiktig kvarvaro, men det saknas studier som specifikt undersöker produktionsledarens situation i skogsbranschen och deras arbetsnöjdhet. Som ett examensarbete på skogsmästarprogrammet har en studie genomförts som syftar till att öka förståelsen för vilka faktorer som påverkar produktionsledares arbetsnöjdhet. Studien är inriktad på hur de upplever sin yrkesroll samt försöker utreda vilka förbättringsåtgärder som kan hjälpa till att öka produktionsledarnas arbetsnöjdhet, minska personalomsättningen och skapa en mer hållbar arbetssituation.
Studien genomfördes i samarbete med skogsbolaget Stora Enso Skog och bygger på både kvantitativa och kvalitativa data. Två enkätstudier genomfördes – en med nuvarande produktionsledare och en med tidigare produktionsledare. En intervjustudie genomfördes också. De kvantitativa data analyserades med t-test för att identifiera samband mellan arbetsnöjdhet och olika arbetsrelaterade faktorer, medan de kvalitativa svaren analyserades tematiskt. Studien ger insikt i produktionsledares syn på sin arbetsmiljö, arbetsuppgifter, relation till närmaste chef, rollbeskrivning, introduktion, arbetsbelastning och personalomsättning inom rollen.
Resultaten visar att produktionsledare på Stora Enso Skog upplever stress, saknar tid för återhämtning och upplever att arbetstiden inte räcker till – vilket tydligt hänger ihop med låg arbetsnöjdhet. Samtidigt bidrar faktorer som att känna sig uppskattad, ha tydliga arbetsuppgifter och att företagets värderingar överensstämmer med de egna till ökad trivsel. Även om upplevelsen av introduktionen inte gav några signifikanta resultat, lyfts behovet av en tydlig introduktion fram som avgörande. Flera respondenter vittnar om att otydlighet i början av anställningen påverkat deras trivsel negativt. Rollen som produktionsledare beskrivs som meningsfull, med ansvar och kontakt med entreprenörer som positiva delar, men belastas ofta av hög arbetsbörda. För att öka arbetsnöjdheten och öka kvarvaron av produktionsledare behövs riktade åtgärder som redogörs för i form av ett antal konkreta förbättringsförslag.A high turnover rate due to low job satisfaction presents a significant challenge across many industries, including the forestry sector. Production leaders hold a key role in operational activities, but indications from organizations such as Stora Enso Forest, SLU and Skogforsk suggest that the turnover rate is high within this professional group. Previous research shows that job satisfaction is a crucial factor for long-term employee retention, yet there is a lack of studies specifically examining the situation and job satisfaction of production leaders in the forest industry. As a bachelor’s thesis within the forest management program, a study was conducted with the aim to increase the understanding of the factors that influence production leaders’ job satisfaction. The study focuses on how they perceive their professional role and tries to investigate which improvements could help increase job satisfaction, reduce turnover, and create a more sustainable working environment.
The study was conducted in collaboration with the forestry company Stora Enso Forest and is based on both quantitative and qualitative data. Two surveys were carried out – one with current production leaders and one with former production leaders. An interview study was also conducted. The quantitative data were analyzed using t-tests to identify correlations between job satisfaction and various work-related factors, while the qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. The study provides insight into production leaders’ views on their work environment, tasks, relationship with their immediate leaders, role description, onboarding, workload and turnover within the role.
The results show that production leaders at Stora Enso Forest experience stress, lack time for recovery, and feel that their working hours are insufficient – factors that are clearly linked to low job satisfaction. At the same time, feeling appreciated, having clearly defined tasks, and sharing values with the company contribute positively to satisfaction. Although the onboarding experience did not yield statistically significant results, the need for a structured introduction is highlighted as crucial. Several participants reported that ambiguity at the start of their employment negatively affected their well-being. The role of production leader is described as meaningful, with responsibility and interaction with the contractors seen as positive aspects, but it is often burdened by a high workload. To increase job satisfaction and retention of production leader, targeted actions are needed, presented in the form of several concrete proposals for improvement
Ekologiskt hållbara trädgårdsgestaltningar
Get PDFDet breda begreppet ekologisk hållbarhet är något många av oss stöter på flera gånger under en vanlig vardagsvecka. Begreppet är väletablerat, känt och använt av många idag. Det har blivit en del av vårt vardagsspråk men vet vi alltid vad det innefattar? Kan det bli något man slänger sig med utan att förstå det både på ett bredare och djupare plan? Under min studietid har jag personligen känt att det lätt hänt att man kommit bort från grundvärderingen; att ekologisk hållbarhet bör vara förutsättningen för trädgårdsdesign. Bara för att vårt arbetsmaterial är växter så betyder inte det per automatik att det är ekologiskt hållbart. Det är en viktig poäng att ta med sig in i sitt yrkesliv som trädgårdsdesigner, vilket denna studie främst riktar sig till. Vi som arbetar med gröna miljöer och dessutom har möjligheten att påverka andra mot mer ekologiskt hållbara val i sina trädgårdar har ett ansvar att representera det gröna i den gröna branschen.
Denna studie omfattar en intervjustudie med ett större bakgrundsavsnitt för en bredare förståelse av de två huvudteman i studien, traditionell design och permakulturdesign och hur dessa inkluderar eller kan inkludera ekologisk hållbarhet. Resultatet och jämförelsen av intervjuerna med de erfarna personerna inom respektive designmetod visar att den personliga tolkningen grundat i den bakgrund och erfarenhet som denne har påverkar designen.
Slutsatsen visar på hur stora skillnader det finns i grundsynen på trädgård med tillhörande arbetsmetoder och att det är detta som kan påverka arbetet med ekologisk hållbarhet.The broad term ecological sustainability is one we use and come across several times during a typical week. The term is well-known and commonly used today. It become a part of our everyday language but do we always know its meaning? Is it at risk for becoming a bussword there the sense of the term is misundestood? During my academic studies, I’ve personally felt how easily it is to lose sight of the core that ecological sustainability should be the foundational principle in garden design. The fact that our working material is plants does not guarantee ecological sustainability. This observation is an important insight for garden designers to take with them into their career, to whom this studie is meant for. We as a group working with green spaces and having the oppotuninty to influense others to make more sustainable choises in their gardens also have a responsibility to represent the true meaning of the green in the green industry.
This study consist of interviews and a background section that aims to help build a broader understandment of the two main topics, traditional design and permaculture design and how they include or could include ecological sustainability. The results and comparison of the interviews conducted experienced individuals in each method show that the background of the designer affects how they design.
The conclusion points out big differences in the fundamental views on gardening and the associated working methods. These differences can affect how we work toward ecological sustainability
Social interaktion
Get PDFDenna kandidatuppsats utforskar vikten av offentliga platser och vilka metoder som landskapsarkitekter använder sig av vid skapandet av offentliga miljöer i mångkulturella samhällen för att gynna den social interaktion utifrån Jan Gehls bok Cities for people och Ray Oldenburgs teori The third place. För att förstå hur Gehls och Oldenburgs tankar speglas i offentliga platser har jag valt att göra litteraturstudier på två platser som har ambitionen att gynna social interaktion i offentliga miljöer vilka är Sergels Torg och Superkilen. Resultatet av teoristudien och litteraturstudien blev att visade att det råder det problem med social interaktion i offentliga platser trots att Gehls och Oldenburgs tankar och teorier speglas i Sergels Torg och Superkilen. Detta gav slutsatsen att det finns uteblivna aspekter som Gehl och Oldenburg inte tar upp lika mycket och dessa aspekter är ekonomiska klyftor och erkännande som David Harvey och Setha Low tar upp.This bachelor thesis explores the importance of public spaces and the methods used by landscapearchitects in creating public environments in multicultural socieies to promote social interaction based on Jan Gehl’s book Cities for people and Ray Oldenburg’s theory of.The third place. To understand how Gehl’s and Oldenburg’s ideas are reflected on public spaces, I have chosen to conduct litterature and image studies of two locations aimed at fostering social interaction in public invironments: Sergels Square and Superkilen. Results show that there are still issues with social interaction in public spaces despite the fact that Gehl’s and Oldenburg’s ideas are reflected in both Superkilen and Sergels Square. This led to conclusion that there are missing aspects that Gehl and Oldenburg doesn’t address as much, and these aspects could be economic disparities and recognition, which are discussed by David Harvey and Setha Low
The impact of housing system on tail biting in growing and finishing pigs
Get PDFStress, frustration, näringsbrist och sjukdom är de största riskfaktorerna för att en gris ska utveckla ett negativt beteendemönster som leder till svansbitning. Dessa riskfaktorer förekommer både i inhysning av tillväxtgris och slaktgris. Svansbitning är multifaktoriellt, en kombination av flera olika faktorer kan utlösa beteendet hos grisen. Grisen upplever negativ stress under avvänjningsperioden, vid flytt, sammanslagning i nya gruppkonstellationer, foderbyte, bristfällig berikning, miljö/doft byte, hög beläggningsgrad, vid negativt energi- och näringsintag och vid sjukdomstillstånd. Alla dessa stressfaktorer finns att återse i inhysningssystem för grisar. Inhysning i en spaltbox med bristfällig berikning och okända individer ger upphov till negativ stress, aggression och svansbitningsbeteenden hos grisen. Inhysning i djupströbädd med kända gruppindivider och berikning, ger upphov till trygghet samt lägre aggression- och svansbitnings beteenden. Fodrets sammansättning och konsistens påverkar grisens välfärd, psykologiska och fysiologiska beteenden. Kvalitetsfoder med hög smaklighet för ny avvanda grisar är viktigt för deras mag- och tarmhälsa, blir grisen sjuk ökar stressen och risken för oönskade beteenden. Foder är en viktig faktor i alla inhysnings alternativ, speciellt i system där övriga riskfaktorer är höga. Inhysningssystem har en påverkan på förekomsten av svansbitnings beteenden hos tillväxt- och slaktgris. Dock har vissa system färre riskfaktorer och andra system har högre riskfaktorer. Ett system med låga riskfaktorer för svansbitning är familjeboxsystem på djupströbädd. Ett system med höga riskfaktorer för svansbitning är spaltbox-system med transport och blandning av grisar.Stress, frustration, nutritional deficiencies and disease are the main risk factors for a pig to develop negative behavioral patterns that leads to tail biting. These risk factors are present in housing systems for both growing and finishing pigs. Tail biting is multifactorial, a combination of several factors can trigger the behavior in pigs. Pigs experience stress during the weaning period, relocation, or transport, when merging into new group constellations, feed changes, absence of enrichment, scent changes, at high stocking density, insufficient energy- and nutrient intake and during disease conditions. All these stress factors are present in various housing systems. Housing in a slatted-floor pen with poor or no enrichment and unfamiliar individuals resulted in stress, aggression, and tail- biting behavior. In contrast, housing on a straw bed system with the same group individuals and enrichment provided a sense of security, reduced aggression, and less tail- biting behavior. The composition and consistency of the feed affect the pig’s welfare, as well as it’s psychological and physiological behaviors. High-quality, palatability feed for newly weaned piglets is crucial for maintaining gut health; if a pig becomes ill, stress increases leading to more undesirable behaviors. Feed is thus an important factor in all housing systems- especially in those where other risk factors are at some conclusion. The housing systems influences the incidence of tail-biting behavior in both grower and finisher pigs. Certain housing configurations are associated with reduced risk factors, whereas others present elevated risks. Family pen systems with straw bed system have been identified as environments with lower predisposition for tail biting. In contrast, slatted floor systems involving transport and regrouping of pigs represent high-risk environments, where stressors such as disruption and limited enrichment can contribute to the development of tail-biting behaviour
Enzymatic Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Wastewater using Column System : a Feasibility Study on Silica-Encapsulated Vermiculite matrix as Support for Enzymatic Quaternary Treatment at Kungsängsverket
Get PDFPharmaceutical residues in municipal wastewater represent a persistent environmental challenge, as conventional treatment processes for these types of compounds are insufficient. This study investigates the feasibility and performance of a GOD-HRP cascade reaction, with silica encapsulated vermiculite matrix as support for degradation of pharmaceutical residues in conventionally treated wastewater. Enzyme activity assays confirmed successful immobilization of the enzymes on vermiculite and retained catalytic function following silica encapsulation. The immobilized enzymes composite was incorporated into a laboratory-scale column system and evaluated over three continuous sample periods, for a total time of 9 hours. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of eluates demonstrated that 9 out of 16 targeted pharmaceuticals, including venlafaxine, metoprolol, clarithromycin, bisoprolol, and citalopram, were removed with efficiencies exceeding 95% throughout the whole experiment. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis further confirmed the transformation of organic compounds during enzymatic treatment and revealed excessive H2O2 production in later sampling periods, likely causing partial inactivation of HRP and reduced removal of irbesartan, fexofenadine, and oxazepam. Compounds, such as carbamazepine and lamotrigine, showed minimal removal, which highlights the need for further optimization through multi-enzyme systems or mediator-assisted strategies. Obtained results demonstrate the potential of enzyme immobilization on mineral supports for advanced wastewater treatment. Further long-term testing under realistic operational conditions, scale-up studies are needed to fully evaluate the potential of application of this method as a purification technology. This work contributes to ongoing pilot initiatives at Kungsängsverket and provides insights for the development of sustainable solutions to pharmaceutical pollution in urban water systems
How α- and β-diversity of carabids and ground dwelling spiders differ in clear-cuts and retention patches, 3 decades post-implementation
Get PDFClear-cutting and retention forestry practices have long-lasting ecological impacts, yet their consequences on biodiversity and more specifically on arthropod communities decades after implementation remain poorly understood. This study investigates the differences in ground-dwelling carabid beetle and spider diversity and communities in a Swedish boreal forest, 30 years post-implementation.
Both taxa were sampled using standardized pitfall trapping with an equal division of traps among clear-cuts, retention patches and set asides in the Hälsingland area in central Sweden.
The analysis of alpha-diversity revealed that only abundance patterns and not species richness nor evenness differed significantly with forest treatments. Carabid abundance was highest in set asides, suggesting sensitivity to structural simplification in highly disturbed sites while spider abundance peaked in clear-cuts, likely driven by the dominance of disturbance-tolerant wolf-spiders (Lycosidae).
Beta-diversity analysis showed only minor abundance-based compositional differences and no shift in species presence/absence for carabids, reflecting greater resilience or generalist behaviour. In contrast, spider communities exhibited significant compositional shifts, indicating lasting legacy effects of clear-cutting. Retention patches partially mitigated biodiversity loss, particularly for carabids but failed to restore pre-disturbance community structures when compared to the set asides.
These findings highlight taxon-specific resilience and suggest that while retention forestry offers benefits, it is not a replacement for conservation measures such as set asides. Future research needs to incorporate multi-factorial analysis and long-term monitoring to better inform sustainable forest management strategies
A food policy approach to CKDu in Sri Lanka: : Implementing Food Policy to Address Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Sri Lanka
Get PDFChronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) has emerged as a major health issue in
Sri Lanka, particularly among male agricultural workers in dry-zone districts. This study aimed
to identify key environmental, occupational, and dietary risk factors contributing to the disease.
A mixed-methods approach was used, combining environmental sampling, community surveys,
and stakeholder interviews. Water and soil samples collected from ten CKDu-endemic sites
were analysed for heavy metals. Results indicated frequent exceedance of WHO safety
thresholds for arsenic, cadmium, and lead, especially in Hingurakgoda, Padaviya, and Elahera.
Water and Soil Quality Index scores further confirmed degraded environmental quality linked
to intensive agricultural practices.
Occupational assessments revealed prolonged exposure to high temperatures and inadequate
hydration among farming populations, consistent with clinical records linking heat stress to
kidney damage. Dietary assessments showed heavy dependence on rice cultivated in
contaminated soils and irrigated with polluted water, with limited dietary diversity contributing
to chronic nephrotoxin exposure.
Together, these findings demonstrate that CKDu in the study regions is associated with
combined risks from agrochemical contamination, occupational heat stress, and dietary
vulnerability. The results highlight the need for integrated interventions that address
environmental, occupational, and nutritional drivers of CKDu to safeguard farming
communities in Sri Lanka
The elderly individual’s need for a meaningful nearby environment : a study of how my older relatives perceive and are influenced by their close living environment
Get PDFFöljande uppsats består av en ingående litteraturstudie som ges sällskap av en omfattande
fallstudie med innehåll av personliga intervjuer och en berikande promenad. Litteraturen lyfter
forskning som berör en majoritet av kvantitativa studier. Teorier om livskvalité, miljöpsykologi,
planering och sinnesupplevelser presenteras och slås samman med fler exempel från verkligheten,
för att ge en djupare insikt i hur ålderspensionärers vardagliga närmiljö påverkar dem och deras
enskilda livskvalitet. Resultatet påvisar relationen mellan den genomförda fallstudien och
litteraturen för att senare utvärderas i den avslutande diskussionen. Uppsatsen har bidragit till
ytterligare perspektiv på livskvalitet, pensionärers skilda livsstilar och preferenser. Den har också
lyft fram utevistelsens betydelse för människans välmående och hälsa.The following essay consists of a well-executed literature study accompanied by an extensive case
study containing personal interviews and an enriching walk. The literature highlights research that
concerns most quantitative studies. Theories about quality of life, environmental psychology,
planning, and sensory experiences are presented and combined with more real-life examples to
give a deeper insight into how the elderly’s everyday local environment affects them and their
individual quality of life. The result demonstrates the relationship between the completed case
study and the literature to be later evaluated in the concluding discussion. The essay has
contributed to further perspectives on quality of life, and the elderly’s different lifestyles and
preferences. It has also highlighted the importance of outdoor activities for people's well-being
and health