Changing stock of biomass carbon in a boreal forest over 93 years

The growing stock more than doubled from 1.6 to 3.4 million m³ between 1912 and 2005 in forests on an area of 387 km² in southern Finland. The stock expansion continued for 93 years noting interim results, which were available for 1959, 1982, 1994 and 1999. Forested area in the region hardly changed. Carbon sequestration was mainly a result of a long-term recovery from forest degradation, a legacy of land use in the 18th and 19th centuries. Tree demography responded to management change especially of mature stands: Average tree size and stocking density of stands increased. On average the expanding biomass stock sequestered 18 tons C annually per km² (18 g C per m²). In comparison, the emissions of fossil carbon in the region were estimated at 12 tons C per km² (12 g C per m²) on average. However, fossil CO₂ emissions exceeded biomass sequestration in recent decades. The powerful and persistent expansion of the carbon stock was an unintended co-benefit of forestry, which was motivated by the intention to improve timber yield. On the more negative side the change in management introduced clear-cuts, and a loss of diverse elements of the pre-industrial biota.     

Spatial integration of freshwater fish markets in the Northern Baltic Sea area

Freshwater fish species and Baltic salmon (Salmo salar) are important to small-scale fisheries in Finland and Sweden. The formerly local markets for these species have expanded as trade has been opened up to international competition. In this study we use cointegration analysis to test the spatial integration of freshwater fish markets in Finland and between Finland and Sweden. The analysed fish species are salmon, perch (Perca fluviatilis), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), European whitefish (Goregonus lavaretus) and pike (Exos lucius), and the data covers ex-vessel prices from 1993 or 1995 to 2004. We found that the regional prices in Finland were cointegrated. This indicates that the prices are determined on a single market in Finland. Moreover, the study suggests that Finnish and Swedish markets in Baltic salmon, whitefish, pikeperch and perch were partially integrated, while integration of pike markets could not be found. The political implication is that an essential part of the local small-scale fisheries’ operational environment is determined outside the national borders.     

Impact of alpha-cypermethrin on honey bees foraging on spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus) flowers in field conditions

BACKGROUND: Cruciferous oil-bearing crops have gained in importance worldwide. The expansion of the growing area of these crops has caused a proliferation of pests. Exposure to organophosphate, carbamate and pyrethroid insecticides has been associated with bee poisoning in food crops. This study examines the repellent effect of alpha-cypermethrin on the number of foraging honey bees, Apis mellifera L., on fields of spring oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. var. oleifera. RESULTS: The first experiment was conducted on differently sprayed 10 m(2) experimental plots where alpha-cypermethrin was applied at different times. Another experiment was conducted on a 4 ha seed production field divided into two parts: one part was treated with alpha-cypermethrin and the other was not treated with this insecticide. The results show that there was no difference in the number of honey bees between alpha-cypermethrin-treated and untreated patches. The result persisted through three observation years, regardless of varying flower and honey bee densities. CONCLUSION: No repellent effect of the insecticide on honey bees was found even 24 h after spraying. The density of oilseed rape flowers most likely played a major role in choosing the foraging area.     

Circumferential variation of heartwood and stem quality in maritime pine stems

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) is an important timber and pulpwood species covering about 4 million ha in Portugal, Spain and France. This work studied the cross-sectional distribution of heartwood and sapwood along the stem using 3D modelling on 20 trees. The target was to assess the potential of this species for the industrial production of heartwood sawn products. The maritime pine stems were characterized by wide sapwood of 10 cm, in average, and the presence of heartwood at all height levels with constant diameter up to 35 % tree height, decreasing afterwards. In the radial section, the heartwood follows a circumferential-like shape which changes along the stem. Pith eccentricity index values were low and homogeneous regarding to stem and higher for heartwood. Heartwood cross-sectional shape was constant up to 45 % of total height of the tree and more elongated upwards. The constant heartwood diameter, low taper and pith eccentricity index, and an approximate circular shape up to 10 m height indicated these species’ potential to produce solid wood products made out of heartwood.     

Regional socio-economic importance of fisheries in Finland

The total value of Finnish fisheries production in 1997 was almost FIM 2 billion. The bulk of this sum was from processing and wholesaling, but in terms of value added, somewhat more than half was contributed by the primary sector, i.e. fishing and fish farming. In economic terms, fisheries accounted for 0.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 1997 and the relative job creation capacity was 0.15%. This paper examines the structure of Finnish fisheries in terms of production value and employment. It also considers the level of dependency on fisheries and of value added along the production chain. The focus is on concentration of the industry and on input to the economy at the regional level. The concentration of fisheries and regional dependence on fisheries are assessed in absolute and relative terms. Examining employment and value added in these two ways enables the regional nature of fisheries to be shown in greater detail. The input of fisheries to the regional economy is examined by the share of value added and by location quotients. The location quotient compares an area's share of a particular activity with that area's share of some basic or aggregated phenomenon. The location quotient showed that fisheries have importance not only in the coastal area but also inland.     

Comparison of Straw Mulch,Insecticides, Mineral Oil,and Birch Extract for Control of Transmission of Potato virus Y in Seed Potato Crops

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major pathogen of potato and transmitted non-persistently by aphids. Aphis fabae is the main vector of PVY in the High Grade Seed Potato Production Area (HG area) in Finland, where the number of aphids and infection pressure with PVY are rather low, but problems with PVY occur in PVY-susceptible cultivars. The aim of the study was to test straw mulch, mineral oil, birch extract, and insecticides for control of PVY in small-scale field experiments and, additionally, at farm level in growers’ fields in the HG area of Finland. The insecticide esfenvalerate reduced the incidence of PVY in the progeny tubers by 29% in one of the 3 years, whereas other chemical treatments or birch extract had no significant effect on PVY incidence. Spraying foliage with mineral oil (Sunoco 11 E/3) reduced the incidence of PVY in 2 years by 43 to 58%, respectively. Straw mulch spread to the field at the time of plant emergence reduced PVY incidence in all 3 years by 50–70%. At farm level, straw mulch reduced the incidence of PVY in the progeny tubers by 25–47%, respectively, in both years tested; however, combining application of straw mulch and mineral oil did not further reduce incidence of PVY. Successful control of PVY in the HG area of Finland using straw mulch may be explained by transmission of PVY early in the growing season at the time of plant emergence and the relatively low number of vector aphids.     

Using a Chlorophyll Meter to Optimize Nitrogen Fertilizer Application for Intensively-Managed Small-Grain Cereals

Most methods used to estimate N status require collection, processing and analysis of soil and/or plant tissue samples. In this study, leaf chlorophyll content of cereals, determined in the field with a portable chlorophyll meter (Minolta SPAD-502), was used to predict N availability of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), oats ( Avena sativa L.) and rye ( Secale cereale L.). The results indicated that accurate nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations based on chlorophyll content have both environmental and economic advantages. Determination of leaf chlorophyll content with a chlorophyll meter accurately indicated plant N status allowing N fertilizer requirement to be accurately determined and resulting in increased N uptake efficiency. Applying N fertilizer on this basis improved production economics and improved physical input-output ratio during grain yield formation. Using a chlorophyll meter, responsive and non-responsive categories can be determined at the stage of maximum number of florets per ear primordium (Zadoks' GS 37-41) and at pollination (i.e. pollen grains on well-developed stigmatic hairs, GS 52-58).     

Bioenergetic calculation of mercury accumulation in fish

A numerical model was developed for the bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg) in fish. The model is based on the bioenergetic calculation of fish growth, food consumption, respiration, specific dynamic action and waste losses (egestion/excretion) using the program of Hewett and Johnson (1992). Based on the predation and food results obtained, the accumulation of Hg in fish is calculated taking into account the concentrations of methyl mercury (MeHg) in food and water, its intake and accumulation from food and from water, and the removal of Hg from the body. Some species at various levels of food web are considered in the multistep model applications. The model is used to compute the changes of Hg contents in perch (as prey) and pike (as predator) caused by the release of Hg from the bottom sediments when the Kokemäki River in Western Finland was dredged. The model results were not far from the observed results even though the forcing conditions had been described only roughly.     

The structure of mating type,virulence, metalaxyl resistance of Phytophthora infestans in a long-term phenotypic study in distinct location in Eastern Estonia

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans was collected from a region of Eastern Estonia during a period of seven years (2001–07). In...