Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the twenty-first century

© 2017, The Author(s). During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision-makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia’s role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large-scale water withdrawals, land use, and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that integrated assessment models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Contrasting and congruent patterns of genetic structuring in two Microtus vole species using museum specimens

The common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the field vole (Microtus agrestis) are morphologically similar species but are ecological distinctive and differ in the details of their evolutionary history as revealed by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The aim of this study is to describe patterns of genetic variability using microsatellite markers in populations of the common and field vole in Poland using museum specimens, to assess the degree of congruence with mtDNA variation and thereby determine the factors that influence current patterns of gene flow. We genotyped 190 individuals of the common vole at 11 loci and 190 individuals of the field vole at 13 loci. Overall differentiation based on F ST was higher for the common vole than in the field vole. We detected a significant isolation by distance pattern for both species. Bayesian analysis in STRUCTURE identified Eastern and Western geographic groups in Poland based on microsatellites for both species. The location of river barriers is likely to be the main factor in these partitions. The eastern-western subdivision with microsatellites does not coincide with the distribution of mtDNA lineages for either species. Unlike previous studies in the common and field vole elsewhere in Europe, we found no evidence of reproductive isolation between the mtDNA lineages of these species at their contact zones in Poland. This study highlights the different roles of evolutionary history and landscape in shaping contemporary genetic structure in voles in Poland

Sucrose metabolism during somatic and zygotic embryogeneses in Norway spruce : content of soluble saccharides and localisation of key enzyme activities

Changes in soluble carbohydrate compounds and their amounts were analysed during the somatic embryo maturation and seed development of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The data were correlated to the localisation of key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism (invertase, EC 3.2.1.26; sucrose synthase, EC 2.4.1.13; phosphoglucomutase, EC 5.4.2.2). The decrease in total carbohydrate content as well as the accumulation of sucrose in later stages was a common feature in both systems. At the beginning of somatic embryo maturation the activity of sucrose synthase was low, and it gradually increased during development. At the final cotyledonary stage the SuSy localisation in somatic embryos resembled the pattern observed in cotyledonary stage zygotic embryos. Activity of invertase (pH 6.0) was detected in the early stages of somatic embryo development. Afterwards the activity decreased to almost undetectable levels in mature cotyledonary embryos. Very low invertase activity was detected during the period of seed development studied. The activity of phosphoglucomutase was high throughout the whole process of maturation in both zygotic and somatic embryos. The results are discussed in respect to the transition of developing embryos from metabolic to storage sink and the possible signalling potential of the changes

A revised checklist of Cooperia nematodes (Trichostrogyloidea), common parasites of wild and domestic ruminants

This review updates the current knowledge on the taxonomy of intestinal nematodes of the genus Cooperia parasitizing in wild and domestic ruminants. The emphasis is put on revision of 19 valid species belonging to the genus. This analysis focuses on main features of the genus Cooperia, including its geographic occurrence and the life cycle details. The most widespread congeners are Cooperia curticei, C. oncophora, C. pectinata, and C. punctata, having nearly worldwide distribution. The fifth species, referred by electronic databases from the European territory as Cooperia asamatiSpiridonov, 1985, is unveiled here originally as nomen nudum

Comparing carbohydrate status during norway spruce seed development and somatic embryo formation

The carbohydrate status of developing seeds of Picea abies was examined in order to provide a frame of reference for the evaluation of changes in carbohydrate content in maturing somatic embryos of the same species. Samples were taken at weekly intervals from 12 May 1998 (estimated time of pollination) until 20 October 1998. The total non-structural carbohydrate content was high (≈150-180μg mg-1 dry weight) at the time of the first samples and the carbohydrate spectrum consisted of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and pinitol. A dramatic decrease in carbohydrate content took place from June 6 onwards, that was accompanied by changes in carbohydrate partitioning to favor sucrose over hexoses and the disappearance of pinitol. Raffinose and stachyose were first detected on July 28, and their content gradually increased thereafter. Isolated embryos and remaining megagametophytes were analyzed starting with September 1. Carbohydrate content was higher in isolated zygotic embryo than in the rest of the seed, with a slowly increasing fraction of raffinose and stachyose. Comparisons of presented data with the results of our previous study of somatic embryo carbohydrate status (Lipavská et al., 2000) revealed the following common features: (1) a decrease in total carbohydrate content and (2) an increase in sucrose:hexose ratios in developing seeds and embryonal suspensor mass. Marked differences were observed in carbohydrate spectra: (1) somatic embryo development was not accompanied by pinitol accumulation in any phase; (2) mature zygotic embryos, in contrast to mature somatic embryos, contained raffinose and stachyose. These observations will provide a solid basis for improvement of protocols for somatic embryogenesis in Picea