A Novel Tool to Mitigate By-Catch Mortality of Baltic Seals in Coastal Fyke Net Fishery

Developing methods to reduce the incidental catch of non-target species is important, as by-catch mortality poses threats especially to large aquatic predators. We examined the effectiveness of a novel device, a "seal sock", in mitigating the by-catch mortality of seals in coastal fyke net fisheries in the Baltic Sea. The seal sock developed and tested in this study was a cylindrical net attached to the fyke net, allowing the seals access to the surface to breathe while trapped inside fishing gear. The number of dead and live seals caught in fyke nets without a seal sock (years 2008-2010) and with a sock (years 2011-2013) was recorded. The seals caught in fyke nets were mainly juveniles. Of ringed seals (Phoca hispida botnica) both sexes were equally represented, while of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) the ratio was biased (71%) towards males. All the by-caught seals were dead in the fyke nets without a seal sock, whereas 70% of ringed seals and 11% of grey seals survived when the seal sock was used. The seal sock proved to be effective in reducing the by-catch mortality of ringed seals, but did not perform as well with grey seals.201

Patterns of gene flow and selection across multiple species of Acrocephalus warblers: footprints of parallel selection on the Z chromosome

201

Ihmismäisen robotin pään, silmien ja suun liikkeiden kehittäminen

Tiivistelmä. Perinteisesti robotit ovat olleet tärkeässä roolissa muun muassa tehdastyön tehokkuuden kasvattamisessa, mutta viime vuosina robotiikan huomio on keskittynyt yhä enemmän ihmistä muistuttaviin robotteihin eli humanoidirobotteihin, joita voitaisiin käyttää useissa tehtävissä ihmisten korvikkeena. Ihmisen muoto kuitenkin aiheuttaa useita haasteita robotin suunnittelussa, suurimpien joukossa luonnollisilta vaikuttavien liikkeiden toteuttaminen. InMoov-robotin päälle toteutettiin ohjausjärjestelmä, joka parantaa aiemmin toteutettua kasvojen seuraamista yhdistämällä siihen pään liikkeet, ja lisää puhesynteesin perusteella liikkuvan leuan sekä erinäisiä pään eleitä ihmisen ja robotin vuorovaikutuksen parantamiseksi. Järjestelmän suoriutumista testattiin käyttötarkoituksen mukaisessa ympäristössä kahdella erillisellä kerralla, joissa ilmi tulleita havaintoja käytettiin järjestelmän parantamiseen. Lopullinen järjestelmä pystyy kääntämään robotin silmiä sekä päätä ihmismäisesti kohti tunnistettuja kasvoja ja suorittamaan valmiiksi ohjelmoituja pään eleitä, minkä lisäksi siinä on valmius yhdistää leuka liikkumaan ulkoisen ohjelmiston puheen mukaan. Robotin kokoonpano koostuu päästä, kaulasta, torsosta ja olkavarsista.Developing head, eye, and jaw movements of a humanoid robot. Abstract. Traditionally robots have had an important role in making factories more efficient, among other things, but in recent years the field of robotics has been more and more focused on robots that resemble humans, also known as humanoid robots, which could be used in many tasks as replacements for human workers. However, designing such robots poses many challenges, one of the greatest being the difficulty of creating human-like movements. In this work, a control system for the head of an InMoov robot, which improves on its previously implemented face tracking capabilities by adding head movement and implements speech synthesis-based jaw movements along with various head gestures in order to improve human-robot interaction with the robot, was implemented. The system was tested in its intended environment on two separate occasions in order to observe where the system could be improved further. The final system is able to turn the robot’s eyes and head towards detected faces in a human-like fashion and execute pre-programmed head gestures, in addition to which it has the capability to move its jaw according to speech synthesised in an external program. The robot consists of a head, a neck, a torso, and upper arms

Identifying the paths of climate effects on population dynamics: dynamic and multilevel structural equation model around the annual cycle

How environmental factors influence population dynamics in long-distance migrants is complicated by the spatiotemporal diversity of the environment the individuals experience during the annual cycle. The effects of weather on several different aspects of life history have been well studied, but a better understanding is needed on how weather affects population dynamics through the different associated traits. We utilise 77 years of data from pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), to identify the most relevant climate signals associated with population growth rate. The strongest signals on population growth were observed from climate during periods when the birds were not present in the focal location. The population decline was associated with increasing precipitation in the African non-breeding quarters in the autumn (near the arrival of migrants) and with increasing winter temperature along the migration route (before migration). The number of fledglings was associated positively with increasing winter temperature in non-breeding area and negatively with increasing winter temperature in Europe. These possible carry-over effects did not arise via timing of breeding or clutch size but the exact mechanism remains to be revealed in future studies. High population density and low fledgling production were the intrinsic factors reducing the breeding population. We conclude that weather during all seasons has the potential to affect the reproductive success or population growth rate of this species. Our results show how weather can influence the population dynamics of a migratory species through multiple pathways, even at times of the annual cycle when the birds are in a different location than the climate signal.</p

Adaptive responses of animals to climate change are most likely insufficient

Biological responses to climate change have been widely documented across taxa and regions, but it remains unclear whether species are maintaining a good match between phenotype and environment, i.e. whether observed trait changes are adaptive. Here we reviewed 10,090 abstracts and extracted data from 71 studies reported in 58 relevant publications, to assess quantitatively whether phenotypic trait changes associated with climate change are adaptive in animals. A meta-analysis focussing on birds, the taxon best represented in our dataset, suggests that global warming has not systematically affected morphological traits, but has advanced phenological traits. We demonstrate that these advances are adaptive for some species, but imperfect as evidenced by the observed consistent selection for earlier timing. Application of a theoretical model indicates that the evolutionary load imposed by incomplete adaptive responses to ongoing climate change may already be threatening the persistence of species

Background studies for the national salmon strategy

TIIVISTELMÄ Tämä selvitys on kooste tutkimuksen keräämistä taustatiedoista, jotka toimitettiin Itämeren aluetta koskevan kansallisen lohistrategian valmistelua varten. Taustatietojen keräämiseen osallistui lukuisia tutkimuksen eri osa-alueiden asiantuntijoita. Lohta on tutkittu enemmän kuin meritaimenta, mutta lohen tutkimustietoja on tietyiltä osin mahdollista soveltaa myös meritaimeneen. Selvitys esittelee lohen ja meritaimenen elinkaaret, lajien elinympäristövaatimukset ja roolit Itämeren ja siihen laskevien jokien ekosysteemeissä. Selvityksessä kuvataan nykyiset lisääntymisjoet ja niiden luonnonkantojen tila. Lisäksi esitellään myös entiset lisääntymisjoet, joista osaan lohen ja meritaimenen lisääntyminen saattaa olla mahdollista palauttaa. Istutustilastojen, saaliin alkuperätietojen ja merkintätulosten pohjalta käsitellään istutusten vaikutuksia. Merkintätulosten ja kalastus- ja saalistietojen avulla kuvataan lohi- ja meritaimenkantojen vaellusalueita ja kalastuksen sekä saaliiden kehitystä. Selvitys kokoaa nykytiedot lohen ja meritaimenen merivaelluksen alkuvaiheen luontaisen kuolevuuden kasvusta, muutoksen mahdollisista syistä sekä muutoksen vaikutuksista kalastukseen ja sen säätelytarpeisiin. Lisäksi esitellään nykytiedot lohen kalastajamääristä, lohen taloudellisesta ja yhteiskunnallisesta merkityksestä sekä virkistysarvosta. Edelleen luodaan katsaus lohenkalastuksen säätelyjärjestelmiin ja lohikantojen hoitoon muualla maailmassa, sekä päätöksenteon pohjaksi tehtäviin kanta-arvioihin. Lisäksi tuodaan esille tarpeellisia toimenpiteitä lohi- ja meritaimenkantojen vahvistamiseksi. Selvityksen keskeisin sisältö on vedetty yhteen lajikohtaisesti aivan raportin lopussa.| SAMMANFATTNING Denna utredning är en sammanställning av bakgrundsfakta som forskningsexperterna samlat in för att användas vid beredningen av den nationella laxstrategin. I faktainsamlingen medverkade många experter inom forskningens olika delområden. Om lax har gjorts fler undersökningar än om havsöring, men forskningsrönen går också att tillämpa på havsöring till vissa delar. I utredningen finns en beskrivning av laxens och havsöringens livscyklar, livsmiljökrav och roller i ekosystemen i Östersjön och de älvar som utmynnar i Östersjön. Utredningen beskriver också de nuvarande lekälvarna och statusen hos de vilda bestånd som lever i dessa älvar. Därtill presenterar utredningen de tidigare lekälvarna av vilka vissa eventuellt kan återställas för lax och havsöring för lek. Effekterna av utplanteringarna ska behandlas utifrån utplanteringsstatistik, fångstens ursprungsuppgifter och märkningsresultat. Med hjälp av märkningsresultaten och informationen om fisket och fångsterna beskriver man lax- och havsöringsbeståndens vandringsområden samt utvecklingen av fisket och fångsterna. Utredningen innehåller aktuell information om ökningen av dödligheten hos havsöring under havsvandringens första tid, om eventuella orsaker till förändringen samt om konsekvenserna av förändringen för fisket och behoven av reglering. I utredningen ingår också information om antalet laxfiskare, laxens ekonomiska och samhälleliga betydelse och rekreationsvärde. I utredningen finns ytterligare en översikt över laxfiskets regleringssystem och förvaltningen av laxbestånden i övriga världen samt över beståndsuppskattningarna som utgör underlag för beslutsfattandet. Vidare presenteras det åtgärder som behövs för att stärka lax- och havsöringsbestånd. I slutet av rapporten finns sammanfattning av utredningens viktigaste innehåll artspecifikt.| SUMMARY This report is a summary of the background information collected from research and submitted for the preparation of the national salmon strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Many experts on the various sectors of research participated in compiling the background information. More research has been done on salmon than on sea trout, but the research results on salmon are in certain respects applicable to sea trout as well. The report presents the life cycles of salmon and sea trout, the habitat requirements of the species and their roles in the ecosystems of the Baltic Sea and the rivers discharging into it. The report describes the rivers where the species reproduce at present and the status of the wild populations in these. In addition, former spawning rivers are presented, some of which could be suitable for restoration of salmon and sea trout populations. The effects of stocking salmon and sea trout juveniles are discussed on the basis of stocking statistics, data on the origin of catches and fish tag recaptures. Tag recaptures and fishing and catch data are used to describe the migration areas of salmon and sea trout populations and trends in fishing and catches. The report provides current information on the increase in the natural mortality of salmon and sea trout in the early stage of sea migration. Possible reasons for the change in the natural mortality are discussed, as well as its impacts on fishing and regulation of fishing. Current knowledge is also given on the numbers of salmon fishers, economic and social significance of salmon and salmon fishing, and the recreational value of salmon. Information is also provided on the regulatory frameworks for salmon fishing and management of salmon populations in other parts of the world as well as population assessments made to serve as the basis for decision-making. In addition, certain measures necessary for strengthening the salmon and sea trout populations are put forward. The main content of the report as regards the individual species is summarised at the end of the report

The Indo-European flyway: Opportunities and constraints reflected by Common Rosefinches breeding across Europe

Aim The configuration of the earth's landmasses influences global weather systems and spatiotemporal resource availability, thereby shaping biogeographical patterns and migratory routes of animals. Here, we aim to identify potential migratory barriers and corridors, as well as general migration strategies within the understudied Indo-European flyway.Location Europe, Central Asia.Major taxon studied Common rosefinches.Methods We used a combination of theoretical optimization modelling and empirical tracking of Common Rosefinches (Carpodacus erythrinus) breeding across a large latitudinal gradient in Europe. First, we identified optimal migration routes driven by wind and resource availability along the Indo-European flyway. Second, we tracked rosefinches from five breeding populations using light-level geolocators. Finally, we compared to what extent empirical tracks overlapped with the modelled optimal routes.ResultsIn autumn, theoretical wind driven migration routes formed a broad-front corridor connecting Europe and the Indian Subcontinent while the theoretical resource driven routes formed a distinct north-south divide. The latter pattern also reflected the rosefinch tracks with all but the most southerly breeding birds making a northern detour towards non-breeding sites in Pakistan and India. In spring, the resource availability model predicted a similar migratory divide, however, the southern route seemed relatively more favourable and closely matched with the optimal wind driven migration routes. Spring tracking data showed larger overlap with the modelled wind driven migration routes compared to the resource driven routes.Main conclusionsOptimal wind and resource driven migration routes along the Indo-European flyway are seasonally specific and to a large extend do not overlap with one another. Under these conditions, migratory birds adopt seasonally distinct migration strategies following energy minimization strategy in autumn, driven by resource availability, and time minimizing strategy in spring, driven by wind conditions. Our optimal migration models can be applied worldwide and used to validate against empirical data to explain large-scale biogeographic pattern of migratory animals.</p

Climate change in the Baltic Sea region : a summary

Based on the Baltic Earth Assessment Reports of this thematic issue in Earth System Dynamics and recent peer-reviewed literature, current knowledge of the effects of global warming on past and future changes in climate of the Baltic Sea region is summarised and assessed. The study is an update of the Second Assessment of Climate Change (BACC II) published in 2015 and focuses on the atmosphere, land, cryosphere, ocean, sediments, and the terrestrial and marine biosphere. Based on the summaries of the recent knowledge gained in palaeo-, historical, and future regional climate research, we find that the main conclusions from earlier assessments still remain valid. However, new long-term, homogenous observational records, for example, for Scandinavian glacier inventories, sea-level-driven saltwater inflows, so-called Major Baltic Inflows, and phytoplankton species distribution, and new scenario simulations with improved models, for example, for glaciers, lake ice, and marine food web, have become available. In many cases, uncertainties can now be better estimated than before because more models were included in the ensembles, especially for the Baltic Sea. With the help of coupled models, feedbacks between several components of the Earth system have been studied, and multiple driver studies were performed, e.g. projections of the food web that include fisheries, eutrophication, and climate change. New datasets and projections have led to a revised understanding of changes in some variables such as salinity. Furthermore, it has become evident that natural variability, in particular for the ocean on multidecadal timescales, is greater than previously estimated, challenging our ability to detect observed and projected changes in climate. In this context, the first palaeoclimate simulations regionalised for the Baltic Sea region are instructive. Hence, estimated uncertainties for the projections of many variables increased. In addition to the well-known influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation, it was found that also other low-frequency modes of internal variability, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, have profound effects on the climate of the Baltic Sea region. Challenges were also identified, such as the systematic discrepancy between future cloudiness trends in global and regional models and the difficulty of confidently attributing large observed changes in marine ecosystems to climate change. Finally, we compare our results with other coastal sea assessments, such as the North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment (NOSCCA), and find that the effects of climate change on the Baltic Sea differ from those on the North Sea, since Baltic Sea oceanography and ecosystems are very different from other coastal seas such as the North Sea. While the North Sea dynamics are dominated by tides, the Baltic Sea is characterised by brackish water, a perennial vertical stratification in the southern subbasins, and a seasonal sea ice cover in the northern subbasins.Peer reviewe

Risk Factor Profile in Youth, Genetic Risk, and Adulthood Cognitive Function : The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Introduction: The role of risk factor profile in childhood and adolescence on adulthood cognitive function and whether it differs by genetic risk is still obscure. To bring this evidence, we determined cognitive domain-specific youth risk factor profiles leveraging the childhood/adolescence data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study and examined whether genetic propensity for poor cognitive function modifies the association between the risk profiles and adulthood cognitive function. Methods: From 1980, a population-based cohort of 3,596 children (age 3-18 years) has been repeatedly followed up for 31 years. Computerized cognitive test measuring (1) memory and learning, (2) short-term working memory, (3) reaction time, and (4) information processing was performed for 2,026 participants (age 34-49 years). Cognitive domain-specific youth risk profile scores, including physical and environmental factors, were assessed from the data collected at baseline and categorized into favourable, intermediate, and unfavourable. A polygenic risk score for a poor cognitive function was categorized into low, intermediate, and high risk. Results: At all genetic risk levels, a favourable youth risk factor profile is associated with better learning and memory, short-term working memory, and information processing compared to unfavourable risk profile (e.g., β = 0.501 SD, 95% CI: 0.043-0.959 for memory and learning among participants with high genetic risk). However, no significant interactions were observed between the youth risk factor profile score and genetic propensity for any cognitive domain (p > 0.299 for all). Conclusion: A favourable youth risk factor profile may be beneficial for cognitive function in adulthood, irrespective of genetic propensity for poor cognitive function.Peer reviewe

Risk Factor Profile in Youth, Genetic Risk, and Adulthood Cognitive Function: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

INTRODUCTIONThe role of risk factor profile in childhood and adolescence on adulthood cognitive function and whether it differs by genetic risk is still obscure. To bring this evidence, we determined cognitive domain-specific youth risk factor profiles leveraging the childhood/adolescence data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study and examined whether genetic propensity for poor cognitive function modifies the association between the risk profiles and adulthood cognitive function.METHODSFrom 1980, a population-based cohort of 3,596 children (age 3-18 years) has been repeatedly followed up for 31 years. Computerized cognitive test measuring (1) memory and learning, (2) short-term working memory, (3) reaction time, and (4) information processing was performed for 2,026 participants (age 34-49 years). Cognitive domain-specific youth risk profile scores, including physical and environmental factors, were assessed from the data collected at baseline and categorized into favourable, intermediate, and unfavourable. A polygenic risk score for a poor cognitive function was categorized into low, intermediate, and high risk.RESULTSAt all genetic risk levels, a favourable youth risk factor profile is associated with better learning and memory, short-term working memory, and information processing compared to unfavourable risk profile (e.g., β = 0.501 SD, 95% CI: 0.043-0.959 for memory and learning among participants with high genetic risk). However, no significant interactions were observed between the youth risk factor profile score and genetic propensity for any cognitive domain (p > 0.299 for all).CONCLUSIONA favourable youth risk factor profile may be beneficial for cognitive function in adulthood, irrespective of genetic propensity for poor cognitive function.</p