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Southern Finland (southern + finland)
Selected AbstractsFamily involvement in perioperative nursing of adult patients undergoing emergency surgeryJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2001Eija Paavilainen PhD ,,The purpose of this study was to describe how adult patients undergoing emergency surgery experience family centredness in perioperative nursing practice. The central aim was to generate knowledge to be used while developing the practice, education and management of perioperative nursing. ,,Data were collected using a questionnaire with emergency surgical patients in five regional hospitals in Southern Finland. The number of distributed questionnaires was 132. The response rate was 85% (n=112). ,,The results were mainly described as frequencies and percentages. The open-ended sections of the answers were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings from the open-ended questions were used for deepening and complementing the quantitative description of the results. ,,In the preoperative phase, ascertaining the family situation and informing the family member chosen by the patient were not achieved systematically. Family situation was also rarely examined in the intraoperative and postoperative phases, although it is central to coping after surgery, especially in home care. ,,The results support the view of earlier research about the importance of individuality of patients and their families during the perioperative care process and hence enhance the endeavour to develop nursing based on families' real needs. [source] Multi-scale responses of plant species diversity in semi-natural buffer strips to agricultural landscapesAPPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008Maohua Ma Question: How does agricultural land usage affect plant species diversity in semi-natural buffer strips at multiple scales? Location: Lepsämä River watershed, Nurmijärvi, Southern Finland. Methods: Species diversity indicators included both richness and evenness. Plant communities in buffer strips were surveyed in 29 sampling sites. Using ArcGIS Desktop 9.0 (ArcInfo) and Fragstats 3.3 for GIS analysis, the landscape composition around each sampling site was characterized by seven parameters in square sectors at five scales: 4, 36, 100, 196, and 324ha. For each scale, Principle Component Analysis was used to examine the importance of each structural metric to diversity indicators using multiple regression and other simple analyses. Results: For all but the smallest scales (4 ha), two structural metrics including the diversity of land cover types and percentage of arable land were positively and negatively correlated with species richness, respectively. Both metrics had the highest correlation coefficients for species richness at the second largest scale (196 ha). The density of arable field edges between the fields was the only metric that correlated with species evenness for all scales, which had highest predictive power at the second smallest scale (36 ha). Conclusions: Species richness and evenness of buffer strips had scale-dependent relationships to land use in agricultural ecosystems. The results of this study indicated that species richness depends on the pattern of arable land use at large scales, which may relate to the regional species pool. Meanwhile, species evenness depended on the level of field edge density at small scales, which relates to how the nearby farmland was divided by the edges (e.g. many small-scale fields with high edge density or a few big-scale fields with low edge density). This implies that it is important to manage the biodiversity of buffer strips within a landscape context at multiple scales. [source] Area-Based Refinement for Selection of Reserve Sites with the Benefit-Function ApproachCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007ANNI ARPONEN algoritmo de selección de sitios; persistencia; peso de especies; relaciones especies-área; selección de reservas Abstract:,Optimization of resource use is necessary for efficient conservation planning. Many reserve-selection algorithms aim to identify representative but inexpensive networks, which may lead to selecting small sites due to their lower costs and collectively higher species richness. Nevertheless, larger sites would be preferable regarding species' long-term persistence. An area-based refinement can be used to overcome this problem. We used a reserve-planning framework in which continuous benefit functions valued representation (numbers of populations), and differential species weights were based on a species' local rarity and threatened status. We introduced a refinement based on the species-area relationship that provides relatively higher values for larger sites. We applied the proposed method to rich fen vegetation in southern Finland. The species-area refinement resulted in a network of significantly larger sites with minor trade-offs with representation (numbers of populations). Giving endangered species higher weights ensured that the trade-off occurred mostly between site size and representation of low-priority species. We recommend using a species-area refinement for practical, maximum-coverage conservation planning. Resumen:,La optimización del uso de recursos es necesaria para la planificación eficiente de la conservación. Muchos algoritmos para la selección de reservas tratan de identificar redes representativas pero poco costosas, que pueden conducir a la selección de sitios pequeños debido a sus costos menores y mayor riqueza de especies colectiva. Sin embargo, los sitios grandes serían preferibles para la persistencia de las especies a largo plazo. Para sobreponerse a este problema se puede utilizar un refinamiento basado en el área. Utilizamos un marco de referencia para la planificación de reservas en el que las funciones de beneficio continuas valoraron la representación (número de poblaciones), y los pesos diferenciales de las especies se basaron en la rareza local de una especie y en su estatus de amenaza. Introdujimos un refinamiento basado en la relación especies-área que proporciona valores relativamente mayores a los sitios grandes. Aplicamos el método propuesto a la rica vegetación de ciénegas en el sur de Finlandia. El refinamiento de las especies-área resultó en una red de sitios significativamente más grandes con desequilibrios menores en la representación (número de poblaciones). La asignación de valores más altos a las especies en peligro aseguró que el desequilibrio ocurriera principalmente entre el tamaño del sitio y la representación de especies de prioridad baja. Recomendamos la utilización de de un refinamiento de especies-área para una planificación de la conservación de cobertura máxima. [source] Contrasting seasonal dynamics in fleas of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) in FinlandECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2007VOITTO HAUKISALMI Abstract 1.,The seasonal and spatial variation of the adult flea fauna (Siphonaptera) was examined in connection with live-trapping studies of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) in three study areas in southern Finland between 1997 and 2005. 2.,The numerically dominant flea species of the Siberian flying squirrel were Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata octodecimdentata and Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages indages (Ceratophyllidae); the latter being a host specialist of the Siberian flying squirrel. Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata, which also commonly occurs on the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), infected a large proportion of the host population throughout the winter, whereas C. indages occurred predominantly during the summer and autumn, being practically the only flea species in nests during the flying squirrels' breeding season and on juveniles still inhabiting their natal nest. 3.,The use of nest boxes by flying squirrels did not have any positive effects on flea populations, but it may have had a negative impact on T. octodecimdentata. 4.,The potentially vulnerable C. i. indages is a predictable, widespread component in the flea fauna of the Siberian flying squirrel at various spatial scales, and it is likely to occur in most of the permanent flying squirrel populations in Finland. [source] SIMULATING RANGE EXPANSION: MALE SPECIES RECOGNITION AND LOSS OF PREMATING ISOLATION IN DAMSELFLIESEVOLUTION, Issue 1 2010Maren Wellenreuther Prolonged periods of allopatry might result in loss of the ability to discriminate against other formerly sympatric species, and can lead to heterospecific matings and hybridization upon secondary contact. Loss of premating isolation during prolonged allopatry can operate in the opposite direction of reinforcement, but has until now been little explored. We investigated how premating isolation between two closely related damselfly species, Calopteryx splendens and C. virgo, might be affected by the expected future northward range expansion of C. splendens into the allopatric zone of C. virgo in northern Scandinavia. We simulated the expected secondary contact by presenting C. splendens females to C. virgo males in the northern allopatric populations in Finland. Premating isolation toward C. splendens in northern allopatric populations was compared to sympatric populations in southern Finland and southern Sweden. Male courtship responses of C. virgo toward conspecific females showed limited geographic variation, however, courtship attempts toward heterospecific C. splendens females increased significantly from sympatry to allopatry. Our results suggest that allopatric C. virgo males have partly lost their ability to discriminate against heterospecific females. Reduced premating isolation in allopatry might lead to increased heterospecific matings between taxa that are currently expanding and shifting their ranges in response to climate change. [source] Occurrence of Heterobasidion basidiocarps on cull pieces of Norway spruce left on cutting areas and in mature spruce standsFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2007M. M. Müller Summary Fruiting of Heterobasidion on cull pieces and stumps of Norway spruce was investigated in cutting areas and mature spruce stands located in southern Finland. Cull pieces of variable size and showing butt rot were left on three clear-cut areas and in one thinned stand. Additionally, a part of the cull pieces was transported to mature forest sites with closed canopy. During the succeeding 3,4 years the cull pieces were investigated annually for sporocarps of Heterobasidion, and the area of actively sporulating pore layer of each sporocarp was measured. Root bases of spruce stumps in the logging areas were excavated and sporocarps found on the stumps also measured. At the onset of the experiment, Heterobasidion spp. were isolated from 76% of the cull pieces showing butt rot; 85% of the isolates were identified as H. parviporum and 15% as H. annosum s.s. During the following 3,4 years sporocarps were found on 20% of the 1938 cull pieces where Heterobasidion butt rot was initially detected visually. Sporocarp formation was promoted by advancement of butt rot, increasing cull piece diameter and end-to-end ground contact, but restricted by the colonization of the cull piece by Stereum sanguinolentum. Between-site differences were significant but could not be explained by differences in tree cover. At the end of the investigation period the average sporulating area of Heterobasidion sporocarp per metre of cull piece was higher than the average sporulating area per stump at three of four logging sites. Hence, leaving cull pieces containing Heterobasidion butt rot at logging areas in southern Finland can considerably increase local production of Heterobasidion spores. [source] Probability models for pine twisting rust (Melampsora pinitorqua) damage in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in FinlandFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005U. Mattila Summary Factors affecting the probability that pine twisting rust (Melampsora pinitorqua) damage occur in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stand were analysed using the 7th Finnish National Forest Inventory data (NFI7) from southern Finland in 1977,1983. The inventory was based on systematic sampling. The NFI7 data was measured in clusters, each of which consisted of 21 sample plots. In addition to the stand and site characteristics measured for forest management planning purposes, the data included records of damage by pine twisting rust and occurrence of aspens (Populus tremula, the other host plant of the pathogen) in the stands. Two multilevel logit models were developed for predicting the overall probability of pine twisting rust damage and the probability of severe pine twisting rust damage. Site and stand characteristics were used as explanatory variables in the models. Residual variance in the models was studied on the inventory crew, cluster and year levels. The occurrence of aspens and site fertility were the most important factors increasing the probability that pine twisting rust damage will occur in a stand. The damage probability also decreased with increasing effective temperature sum calculated for the location. The overall damage probability was equally high on peatlands and on mineral soil if there were aspens in the stand. If, however, there were no aspens in the stand, the probability of damage was higher on mineral soils than on peatlands. In addition, the overall probability was lower in naturally regenerated stands than in planted or sown stands, and it decreased with increasing mean age of pines. In both models, the residual variance was significant on the both the inventory crew and the cluster levels. Résumé Les facteurs de probabilité d'occurrence d'un dégât de rouille courbeuse (Melampsora pinitorqua) dans un peuplement de Pin sylvestre (Pinus sylvestris) ont été analysés en utilisant les données du 7 Inventaire Forestier National de Finlande (NF17) pour la Finlande du Sud et la période 1977,1983. L'inventaire est basé sur un échantillonnage systématique. Les données de NF17 sont mesurées dans des groupes constitués de 21 placettes. En plus des caractéristiques de la station et du peuplement mesurées à des fins de gestion forestière, les données comprennent des notations de dégâts par la rouille courbeuse et de présence des trembles (hôte alternant de 1'agent pathogène) dans les peuplements. Des modèles logit multiniveaux ont été développés pour prédire la probabilité globale de dégât de rouille courbeuse et la probabilité de dégât sévère. Les caractéristiques de la station et du peuplement ont été utilisées comme variables explicatives dans les modèles. La variance résiduelle des modèles a étéétudiée au niveau de 1'observateur, du groupe de placettes et de 1'année. La présence de trembles et la fertilité de la station sont les facteurs les plus importants d'augmentation de la probabilité de dégât de rouille dans un peuplement. D'autre part, la probabilité de dégât décroît avec la somme des températures effectives calculée pour le site. La probabilité globale de dégât est aussi élevée sur sols de tourbières que sur sols minéraux dans le cas où des trembles sont présents dans le peuplement. En 1'absence de trembles dans le peuplement, la probabilité de dégât est plus importante sur sols minéraux qu'en tourbières. Enfin, la probabilité de dégât est plus faible dans les peuplements régénérés naturellement que dans les peuplements semés ou plantés, et elle décroít avec 1'âge moyen des pins. Pour les deux modèles, la variance résiduelle est significative au niveau observateur et groupe de parcelles. Zusammenfassung Faktoren, die die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Schädigung durch den Kieferndrehrost (Melampsora pinitorqua) in Beständen von Pinus sylvestris beeinflussen, wurden anhand der Daten der 7. Finnischen Nationalen Forstinventur (NF17) aus den Jahren 1977,1983 in Südfinnland untersucht. Die Datenerhebung basierte auf einer systematischen Probenahme. Die NF17 Daten wurden in Clustern erhoben, jedes Cluster bestand aus 21 Probeflächen. Neben den Bestandes- und Standortsmerkmalen, die für die forstliche Planung erhoben wurden, wurden Angaben zum Befall (schwach, stark) mit Kieferndrehrost und zum Vorkommen von Zitter-Pappel (Populus tremula, alternativer Wirt des Pathogens) berücksichtigt. Es wurden zwei Multi Logit - Modelle entwickelt zur Vorhersage der Gesamtwahrscheinlichkeit einer Kieferndrehrost-Schädigung sowie der Wahrscheinlichkeit einer schweren Schädigung durch den Pilz. Die Standorts- und Bestandesmerkmale wurden als erklärende Variablen verwendet. In den Modellen wurde die Restvarianz bezüglich Inventur-Erhebungsgruppe, Cluster und Jahr geprüft. Das Vorkommen von Zitter-Pappel und die Bodenfertilität waren die wichtigsten Faktoren für eine zunehmende Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Kieferndrehrost-Schädigung auf Bestandesebene. Die Schadenswahrscheinlichkeit verringerte sich mit zunehmender Temperatursumme, die für den Standort berechnet wurde. Die Gesamtschadenswahrscheinlichkeit war auf Torf- und Mineralböden gleich hoch, sofern Zitter-Pappeln im Bestand vorkamen. Ohne Zitter-Pappeln war die Schadenswahrscheinlichkeit auf Mineralböden höher. Zudem war die Gesamtschadenswahrscheinlichkeit in natürlich regenerierten Beständen niedriger als in gepflanzten oder gesäten Beständen, und sie nahm mit zunehmendem Durchschnittsalter der Kiefern ab. In beiden Modellen war die Restvarianz auf der Ebene der Inventur-Erhebungsgruppe und der Probecluster signifikant. [source] Effects of temperature and sediment properties on benthic CO2 production in an oligotrophic boreal lakeFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010IRINA BERGSTRÖM Summary 1. Temperature and many other physical and chemical factors affecting CO2 production in lake sediments vary significantly both seasonally and spatially. The effects of temperature and sediment properties on benthic CO2 production were studied in in situ and in vitro experiments in the boreal oligotrophic Lake Pääjärvi, southern Finland. 2. In in situ experiments, temperature of the water overlying the shallow littoral sediment varied seasonally between 0.5 and 15.7 °C, but in deep water (,20 m) the range was only 1.1,6.6 °C. The same exponential model (r2 = 0.70) described the temperature dependence at 1.2, 10 and 20 m depths. At 2.5 and 5 m depths, however, the slopes of the two regression models (r2 = 0.94) were identical but the intercept values were different. Sediment properties (wet, dry, mineral and organic mass) varied seasonally and with depth, but they did not explain a significantly larger proportion of variation in the CO2 output rate than temperature. 3. In in vitro experiments, there was a clear and uniform exponential dependence of CO2 production on temperature, with a 2.7-fold increase per 10 °C temperature rise. The temperature response (slope of regression) was always the same, but the basic value of CO2 production (intercept) varied, indicating that other factors also contributed to the benthic CO2 output rate. 4. The annual CO2 production of the sediment in Lake Pääjärvi averaged 62 g CO2 m,2, the shallow littoral at 0,3 m depth releasing 114 g CO2 m,2 and deep profundal (>15 m) 30 g CO2 m,2. On the whole lake basis, the shallow littoral at 0,3 m depth accounted for 53% and the sediment area in contact with the summer epilimnion (down to a depth c. 10 m) 75% of the estimated total annual CO2 output of the lake sediment, respectively. Of the annual production, 83% was released during the spring and summer. 5. Using the temperature-CO2 production equations and climate change scenarios we estimated that climatic warming might increase littoral benthic CO2 production in summer by nearly 30% from the period 1961,90 to the period 2071,2100. [source] Strontium isotopic characterization of the Palmottu hydrosystem (Finland): water,rock interaction and geochemistry of groundwatersGEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2003Philippe Negrel Abstract The Palmottu hydrosystem is located in a granitic host rock in southern Finland. Along well-defined pathways in the fractured crystalline rock, strontium isotopes are used to trace the degree of water,rock interaction (WRI) and mixing processes in groundwaters. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios range between 0.716910 and 0.735606 in the surface waters and between 0.719991 and 0.750787 in the groundwaters, but are between 0.720 and 0.735 in most of the samples. Moreover, the results show a lack of correlation between the water chemistries determining the classification into different water-types (Na,Cl, Na,SO4, etc.) and the results of the strontium (Sr) contents and Sr isotopic ratios. From a WRI standpoint, this implies that the Sr behaviour is independent of the water chemistry; the occurrence of large 87Sr/86Sr variations is site specific and mainly dependent on the lithology. A model to determine the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of water after interaction with granite was developed. This model is based on the assumption that Sr was derived from three minerals: plagioclase, K-feldspar and biotite. The results of the calculation indicate that around half of the water analysed within the Palmottu hydrosystem can be explained by the weathering of the granites. However, clearly lower 87Sr/86Sr are observed in waters when compared to the calculated 87Sr/86Sr and other sources of Sr, with low 87Sr/86Sr, rather than the calculated granite,water interaction, which may be suspected. When comparing the 87Sr/86Sr and ion ratios (Ca/Na, Mg/Na, Sr/Na, Cl/Na), the scattering of the data can be explained by the presence of four end-members: a brine component (low 87Sr/86Sr and Ca/Na ratios,), a deep granitic component (high 87Sr/86Sr ratios and low Ca/Na ratios,), a subsurface component (intermediate 87Sr/86Sr ratios associated with high Ca/Na ratios,) and a surface end-member:snow and river drainage (low 87Sr/86Sr and low Ca/Na ratios,). These extreme end-members define a series of WRI-mixing line within a rather complex hydrosystem. [source] Lagged effects of North Atlantic Oscillation on spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Homoptera) abundance and survivalGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2006ANTTI HALKKA Abstract The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is a large-scale pattern of climate variability that has been shown to have important ecological effects on a wide spectrum of taxa. Studies on terrestrial invertebrates are, however, lacking. We studied climate-connected causes of changes in population sizes in island populations of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Homoptera). Three populations living in meadows on small Baltic Sea islands were investigated during the years 1970,2005 in Tvärminne archipelago, southern Finland. A separate analysis was done on the effects of NAO and local climate variables on spittlebug survival in 1969,1978, for which survival data existed for two islands. We studied survival at two stages of the life cycle: growth rate from females to next year's instars (probably mostly related to overwintering egg survival), and survival from third instar stage to adult. The latter is connected to mortality caused by desiccation of plants and spittle masses. Higher winter NAO values were consistently associated with smaller population sizes on all three islands. Local climate variables entering the most parsimonious autoregressive models of population abundance were April and May mean temperature, May precipitation, an index of May humidity, and mean temperature of the coldest month of the previous winter. High winter NAO values had a clear negative effect on late instar survival in 1969,1978. Even May,June humidity and mean temperature of the coldest month were associated with late instar survival. The climate variables studied (including NAO) had no effect on the growth rate from females to next year's instars. NAO probably affected the populations primarily in late spring. Cold and snowy winters contribute to later snow melt and greater spring humidity in the meadows. We show that winter NAO has a considerable lagged effect on April and May temperature; even this second lagged effect contributes to differences in humidity. The lagged effect of the winter NAO to spring temperatures covers a large area in northern Europe and has been relatively stationary for 100 years at least in the Baltic area. [source] Determinants of perceived health in families of patients with heart diseaseJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2004Päivi Åstedt-Kurki PhD RN Background., Heart disease is a severe long-term illness, which often requires lifestyle changes and self-care and affects the life of the whole family. Perceived family health is highly complex. It combines people's values and everyday experiences, such as knowledge about their own health, what they do to promote their health, how their life progresses, and how they feel physically and emotionally. Aim., The aim of this paper is to report a study to describe the perceived health of families of patients with heart disease and to ascertain factors related to family health. Methods., Data were collected by questionnaire with a convenience sample of 161 family members of patients receiving treatment on two medical wards of a university hospital in southern Finland. Data were analysed using means and medians and tested by parametric and non-parametric tests. A stepwise regression analysis was also used. Results., The most important predictors of family health were family structural factors, effect of illness symptoms on daily life, and family relationships. The strongest predictor was family structural factors. It was found that the better the family structure and relationships, the better the family health. Similarly, the greater the effect of the illness on the patient's daily life, the worse the family health. Conclusion., The findings suggest that supporting family functioning in the families of people with heart disease is an important challenge for family nursing. [source] Spatial distribution of spawning sites of pikeperch [Sander lucioperca (L.)] in a highly eutrophic clay-turbid lake , implications for managementJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 6 2006H. Lehtonen Summary The spawning sites of pikeperch were mapped using artificial spawning nests in the clay-turbid Lake Tuusulanjärvi in southern Finland to protect the most important spawning areas. Altogether 272 artificial spawning nests were set before actual spawning on potential spawning grounds. The first observations of eggs were made on 26 May at a surface water temperature of 12°C. No new eggs were found after 10 June at water temperature of 16°C. The nests were removed on 18 June when the larvae had already hatched. The study demonstrated that artificial spawning nests could be used to evaluate both duration and spatial dimensions of spawning of pikeperch. [source] The effect of past changes in inter-annual temperature variability on tree distribution limitsJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2010Thomas Giesecke Abstract Aim, The northern limits of temperate broadleaved species in Fennoscanndia are controlled by their requirements for summer warmth for successful regeneration and growth as well as by the detrimental effects of winter cold on plant tissue. However, occurrences of meteorological conditions with detrimental effects on individual species are rare events rather than a reflection of average conditions. We explore the effect of changes in inter-annual temperature variability on the abundances of the tree species Tilia cordata, Quercus robur and Ulmus glabra near their distribution limits using a process-based model of ecosystem dynamics. Location, A site in central Sweden and a site in southern Finland were used as examples for the ecotone between boreal and temperate forests in Fennoscandia. The Finnish site was selected because of the availability of varve-thickness data. Methods, The dynamic vegetation model LPJ-GUESS was run with four scenarios of inter-annual temperature forcing for the last 10,000 years. In one scenario the variability in the thickness of summer and winter varves from the annually laminated lake in Finland was used as a proxy for past inter-annual temperature variability. Two scenarios were devised to explore systematically the effect of stepwise changes in the variance and shape parameter of a probability distribution. All variability scenarios were run both with and without the long-term trend in Holocene temperature change predicted by an atmospheric general circulation model. Results, Directional changes in inter-annual temperature variability have significant effects on simulated tree distribution limits through time. Variations in inter-annual temperature variability alone are shown to alter vegetation composition by magnitudes similar to the magnitude of changes driven by variation in mean temperatures. Main conclusions, The varve data indicate that inter-annual climate variability has changed in the past. The model results show that past changes in species abundance can be explained by changes in the inter-annual variability of climate parameters as well as by mean climate. Because inter-annual climatic variability is predicted to change in the future, this component of climate change should be taken into account both when making projections of future plant distributions and when interpreting vegetation history. [source] Relationships between local population persistence, local abundance and regional occupancy of species: distribution patterns of diatoms in boreal streamsJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 11 2005Janne Soininen Abstract Aims, We have two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between local population persistence, local abundance and regional occupancy of stream diatoms and (2) to characterize the form of the species,occupancy frequency distribution of stream diatoms. Location, Boreal streams in Finland. There were three spatial extents: (1) across ecoregions in Finland, (2) within ecoregions in Finland, and (3) within a single drainage system in southern Finland. Methods, Diatoms were sampled from stones (epilithon), sediment (epipelon) and aquatic plants (epiphyton) in streams using standardized sampling methods. To assess population persistence, diatom sampling was conducted monthly at four stream sites from June to October. The relationships between local population persistence, local abundance and regional occupancy were examined using correlation analyses. Results, There was a significant positive relationship between local persistence and abundance of diatoms in epilithon, epipelon and epiphyton. Furthermore, local abundance and regional occupancy showed a significant positive relationship at multiple spatial extents; that is, across ecoregions, within ecoregions and within a drainage system. The relationships between occupancy and abundance did not differ appreciably among impacted and near pristine-reference sites. The occupancy,frequency distribution was characterized by a large number of satellite species which occurred at only a few sites, whereas core species that occurred at most sites were virtually absent. Main conclusions, The positive relationship between local population persistence and abundance suggested that a high local abundance may prevent local extinction or that high persistence is facilitated by a high local cell density. High local persistence and local abundance may also positively affect the degree of regional occupancy in stream diatoms. The results further showed that anthropogenic effects were probably too weak to bias the relationship between occupancy and abundance, or that the effects have already modified the distribution patterns of stream diatoms. The small number of core species in the species,occupancy frequency distribution suggested that the regional distribution patterns of stream diatoms, or perhaps unicellular microbial organisms in general, may not be fundamentally different from those described previously for multicellular organisms, mainly in terrestrial environments, although average global range sizes may differ sharply between these two broad groups of organisms. [source] Local outbreaks of Operophtera brumata and Operophtera fagata cannot be explained by low vulnerability to pupal predationAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Annette Heisswolf 1One of the unresolved questions in studies on population dynamics of forest Lepidoptera is why some populations at times reach outbreak densities, whereas others never do. Resolving this question is especially challenging if populations of the same species in different areas or of closely-related species in the same area are considered. 2The present study focused on three closely-related geometrid moth species, autumnal Epirrita autumnata, winter Operophtera brumata and northern winter moths Operophtera fagata, in southern Finland. There, winter and northern winter moth populations can reach outbreak densities, whereas autumnal moth densities stay relatively low. 3We tested the hypothesis that a lower vulnerability to pupal predation may explain the observed differences in population dynamics. The results obtained do not support this hypothesis because pupal predation probabilities were not significantly different between the two genera within or without the Operophtera outbreak area or in years with or without a current Operophtera outbreak. 4Overall, pupal predation was even higher in winter and northern winter moths than in autumnal moths. Differences in larval predation and parasitism, as well as in the reproductive capacities of the species, might be other candidates. [source] Quantifying patterns and controls of mire vegetation succession in a southern boreal bog in Finland using partial ordinationsJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007E.-S. Tuittila Abstract Question: How do we distinguish between concurrent allogenic and autogenic forcings behind changing patterns in plant community structures during mire development? Location: Lakkasuo raised bog, southern Finland. Methods: Two radiometrically dated peat profiles were studied using high resolution plant macrofossil analysis. A combination of partial direct and indirect gradient analyses (CCA and DCA) was applied to quantify the role of different drivers of vegetation changes. Results: Autogenic hydroseral succession explained 16% of the compositional variation in the vegetation. Disturbance successions initiated by fire explained 15% of the variation in the hummock, but only 9% in the wetter lawn. The early post-disturbance successional stages were characterized by Eriophorum vaginatum. After partialling out the effects of peat depth and time since fire, a moisture gradient explained 29% of variation in the hummock core and 26% in the lawn. The analyses also indicated alternation between species with a similar niche. This interaction gradient explained 26% and 31% of the compositional variation in the hummock and lawn, respectively. The similar order of species replacement from both cores supported the existence of general directional succession in mire vegetation, both during the mire development and after fire events. The autogenic succession was slow and gradual while the disturbance successions were episodic and fast. Conclusion: Our results support the paradigm of the complex nature of mire vegetation dynamics where several interlinked agents have simultaneous effects. The approach of combining partial ordinations developed here appeared to be a useful tool to assess the role of different environmental factors in controlling the vegetation succession. [source] Consequences of forest fragmentation for polyporous fungi at two spatial scalesOIKOS, Issue 2 2006R. Penttilä Greatly reduced area of old-growth forests and the very low amount of dead wood in managed forests in northern Europe have caused a marked decline in the populations of saproxylic species. It is less clear at which spatial and temporal scales these adverse changes are taking place, and more information is needed to reliably predict which species are especially sensitive to loss and fragmentation of habitat. Here we compare species richness, incidence of occurrence in forest fragments, and abundance of polyporous fungal species and species groups between two regions in Finland with contrasting histories of forestry and a marked difference in the amount and spatial configuration of old-growth forests. We also analyse the consequences of increasing loss of connectivity on the presence and abundance of polypores in a study region with a documented short-term history of old-growth fragmentation. Our results show that the species number, incidence of occurrence, and abundance of especially the rare, threatened, and near-threatened species are much lower in the old-growth fragments in Häme in southern Finland in comparison with Kuhmo in eastern Finland, most probably because of the longer history of intensive forestry in Häme. Among the rare species, the species that show the greatest difference between the two regions (at the scale of 500 km) also tended to respond most strongly to the more recent forest fragmentation within the study region in Kuhmo (at the scale of 50 km). Polypores associated with spruce seem to be more strongly affected by forestry than species associated with pine, possibly reflecting the differences in the natural dynamics of spruce-dominated and pine-dominated forests. [source] Albumin-Coated Tympanostomy Tubes: Prospective, Double-Blind Clinical Study,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 11 2004Teemu J. Kinnari MD Abstract Objectives: Coating an implant with albumin prevents adhesion of proteins, bacteria, and platelets and thus may lead to its improved and prolonged function. Previously, we have demonstrated the inhibition of binding of fibronectin, one of the most adhesive glycoproteins, on human serum albumin (HSA)-coated tympanostomy tubes and the durability of this binding inhibition in a 8-month trial. We have also demonstrated that the HSA coating inhibits the binding of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to titanium plates. This prospective study evaluated the effect of albumin coating on tympanostomy tube sequelae and on the outcome of tympanostomized patients. Study Design: Double-blind, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Methods: Two otolaryngological centers in southern Finland enrolled 179 pediatric patients. Number of tube occlusions and otorrhea and tube ventilation time in the ears with HSA-coated titanium tympanostomy tubes were compared with the contralateral ear with its uncoated, otherwise identical titanium tube during a 9-month follow-up period. Results: In HSA-coated tubes, average ventilation time was slightly longer and the number of early tube occlusions significantly less (P < .05). Moreover, in patients with perioperative bleeding, the coating prolonged average ventilation time of tympanostomy tubes significantly (P < .05). Conclusions: HSA coating reduces early tube occlusions by preventing adherence of blood and secretion. [source] Tree regeneration before and after restoration treatments in managed boreal Picea abies standsAPPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009M. De Chantal Abstract Questions: What are the short-term effects of restoration treatments, including fire and/or partial cutting with dead wood creation, on seedling density and distribution among microsites, and do they differ between upland and paludified biotopes? Location: Mature managed Picea abies -dominated stands in southern Finland. Methods: The restoration treatments consisted of four levels of cutting, with and without fire: uncut, low-CWD (partial cutting leaving 50 m3 ha,1 of standing retention trees and 5 m3 ha,1 of down retention trees, DRT), intermediate-CWD (as previous but with 30 m3 ha,1 of DRT), and high-CWD (as previous but with 60 m3 ha,1 of DRT). Results: The cutting treatment alone did not affect seedling density. Fire had an immediate effect, both by itself in upland biotopes (decreasing effect on P. abies density) and in combination with cutting in paludified biotopes (increasing effect on Betula spp. density). The density of other deciduous species (Sorbus aucuparia, Populus tremula, and Salix spp.) was not affected. Before treatments, seedlings grew predominantly on level ground and mounds. After treatments, more Betula, but fewer P. abies and other deciduous species, grew on these microsites. More Betula and other deciduous species grew next to CWD and under a fallen crown; more P. abies grew under a fallen crown in unburned stands. Conclusion: The post-treatment tree seedling density and distribution among microsites can be affected by restoration treatments. However, knowledge of local site characteristics and their interaction with different restoration treatments is needed to achieve the goals set for restoration at the stand and landscape levels. [source] Biogeography meets conservation: the genetic structure of the endangered lycaenid butterfly Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 1 2010JAN CHRISTIAN HABEL Cold-adapted species are thought to have had their largest distribution ranges in central Europe during the glacial periods. Postglacial warming caused severe range shifts of such taxa into higher latitudes and altitudes. We selected the boreomontane butterfly Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) as an example to demonstrate the genetic effects of range changes, and to document the recent status of highly fragmented remnant populations. We analysed five polymorphic microsatellite loci in 1059 individuals sampled at 50 different localities scattered over the European distribution area of the species. Genetic differentiation was strong among the mountain ranges of western Europe, but we did not detect similarly distinct genetic groups following a geographical pattern in the more eastern areas. The Fennoscandian populations form a separate genetic group, and provide evidence for a colonization from southern Finland via northern Scandinavia to south-central Sweden. Species distribution modelling suggests a large extension of the spatial distribution during the last glacial maximum, but highlights strong retractions to a few mountain areas under current conditions. These findings, combined with our genetic data, suggest a more or less continuous distribution of L. helle throughout central Europe at the end of the last ice age. As a consequence of postglacial warming, the species retreated northwards to Fennoscandia and escaped increasing temperatures through altitudinal shifts. Therefore, the species is today restricted to population remnants located at the mountain tops of western Europe, genetically isolated from each other, and evolved into genetically unique entities. Rising temperatures and advancing habitat destruction threaten this wealth of biodiversity. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101, 155,168. [source] 10Be dating of Younger Dryas Salpausselkä I formation in FinlandBOREAS, Issue 4 2000SILVIO TSCHUDI Boulders of the Younger Dryas Salpausselkä I (Ss I) formation west of Lahti, southern Finland, were sampled for surface exposure dating. The 10Be concentrations, determined by accelerator mass spectrometry, yield minimum exposure ages of 11 930 ± 950, 11 220 ± 890, 11 050 ± 910 and 11 540 ± 990 years, using recently published production rates scaled for latitude and elevation. This includes a correction to the production rate resulting from postglacial uplift of the Fennoscandian lithosphere (i.e. changing elevation) during the time of exposure. The error-weighted mean exposure age of 11 420 ± 470 years of the analysed boulders agrees with previous varve dates of Ss I, which range from 11 680 to 11 430 calendar years BP. However, erosion has to be taken into account as a process affecting rock surfaces and therefore influencing exposure ages. Available information suggests an erosion rate of 5 mm/kyr, which increases the error-weighted mean exposure age to a value of 11 610 ± 470 years. Within the errors, the formation of Ss I in the Vesala area west of Lahti falls into the Younger Dryas time bracket, as defined by the GRIP and GISP 2 ice core (Greenland). [source] Increasing prevalence of multiple sclerosis in FinlandACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2001M-L. Sumelahti Objectives , To follow-up the prevalence trends of MS from 1983 to 1993 in western and southern Finland. MS epidemiology has been previously followed from 1964 to 1978 in these regions. The updated prevalences were correlated with incidence trends in the same period. Methods, Age-adjusted and age-specific MS prevalence rates were calculated for cases classified by Poser's criteria. Results, In the western health-care districts, Seinäjoki and Vaasa, prevalences in 1993 were 202/105 and 111/105. In the southern district Uusimaa the respective figure was 108/105. In Seinäjoki a significant 1.7-fold increase was found in 1993 as compared to 1983, mainly due to increased incidence. In Uusimaa a significant 1.2-fold increase in prevalence was found in the presence of stable incidence. In Vaasa prevalence was stable, although incidence was declining. Conclusion, The prevalence of MS is increasing in Seinäjoki and Uusimaa but not in Vaasa. Both the prevalence and incidence in Seinäjoki are now among the highest reported. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||