27 research outputs found
Drought as an Inciting Mortality Factor in Scots Pine Stands of the Valais, Switzerland
During the 20th century, high mortality rates of Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) have been observed over large areas in the RhĂŽne valley (Valais, Switzerland) and in other dry valleys of the European Alps. In this study, we evaluated drought as a possible inciting factor of Scots pine decline in the Valais. Averaged tree-ring widths, standardized tree-ring series, and estimated annual mortality risks were related to a drought index. Correlations between drought indices and standardized tree-ring series from 11 sites showed a moderate association. Several drought years and drought periods could be detected since 1864 that coincided with decreased growth. Although single, extreme drought years had generally a short-term, reversible effect on tree growth, multi-year drought initiated prolonged growth decreases that increased a tree's long-term risk of death. Tree death occurred generally several years or even decades after the drought. In conclusion, drought has a limiting effect on tree growth and acts as a bottleneck event in triggering Scots pine decline in the Valai
Ennallistettujen soiden tilan seuranta : Kokemuksia vesienpalautuksen seurannasta ja kaukokartoitusmenetelmistÀ
Soiden ennallistamistoimenpiteiden vaikutusten todentaminen edellyttÀÀ seurantaa. TÀssÀ raportissa esittelemme Ennallistettujen soiden tilan seurannan kehittÀminen -hankkeen keskeisimpiÀ tuloksia. Selvitimme hankkeessa, (1) minkÀlaiset hydrologiset, ekologiset ja kaukokartoitusseurantamenetelmÀt ovat toimivia vesienpalautuskohteiden seurannassa ja (2) voidaanko kaukokartoitusaineistojen avulla seurata perinteisen ennallistamisen (ojien tÀyttÀminen ja patoaminen) onnistumista.
Pilotoimme vesienpalautuskohteiden seurantaa kahdeksalla suolla Pohjois-Pohjanmaalla ja Pohjois-Savossa vuosien 2021â2023 aikana. Vesienpalautuksen seurantamenetelmien kehityksestĂ€ keskustelimme myös yhdessĂ€ kokemusasiantuntijoiden kanssa työpajoissa. LisĂ€ksi testasimme satelliittikuvamenetelmien soveltuvuutta mĂ€rkyyden ja kasvillisuuden seurantaan perinteisen ennallistamisen kohteilla.
Vesienpalautusseurannan osalta saimme hyviÀ tuloksia optisten satelliittikuvien sekÀ multispektri- ja lÀmpökameradronekuvien hyödyntÀmisestÀ soiden mÀrkyyden maantieteellisen ja ajallisen vaihtelun mallintamisessa. Sen sijaan perinteisillÀ maastomenetelmillÀ, eli vedenpinnan tason mittauksilla ja kasvillisuusruutuinventoinneilla, saadut tulokset olivat epÀvarmempia. Maastomenetelmien osin epÀonnistunut pilotointi toi kuitenkin arvokasta tietoa seurantakoealojen sijoittelun haasteellisuudesta, seurantoihin soveltuvien kohteiden vÀhÀisyydestÀ ja esimerkiksi vedenpinnan tasoa mittaavien loggereiden laitteisto-ongelmista. Jatkossa vesienpalautuksen vaikutusten todentamiseen tarvittaisiin rimpinevoille suunnattu systemaattinen seurantaverkosto. Perinteisen ennallistamisen kohteilla saimme hyviÀ tuloksia satelliittikuvien kÀytöstÀ soiden vedenpinnan tason muutosten analysoinnissa. Sen sijaan emme saaneet kehitettyÀ toimivia menetelmiÀ kasvillisuusmuutosten tulkintaan.
Tulostemme perusteella etenkin satelliittikuvat voivat tuoda uusia mahdollisuuksia soiden mÀrkyyden muutosten ja ennallistamistoimien vaikutusalueen mallintamiseen. Satelliittikuvia voi hyödyntÀÀ esimerkiksi kohteiden hoitoseurannassa ja soiden ennallistamisen vaikutusalueen mallintamisessa. KaukokartoitusmenetelmÀt eivÀt kuitenkaan voi korvata maastossa tapahtuvaa seurantaa mutta voivat toimia niiden tukena ja pistemÀisten maastohavaintojen ennustamisessa laajemmille alueille
Pests, pesticide use and alternative options in European maize production: current status and future prospects
Political efforts are made in the European Union (EU) to reduce pesticide use and to increase the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM). Within the EU project ENDURE, research priorities on pesticide reduction are defined. Using maize, one of the most important crops in Europe, as a case study, we identified the most serious weeds, arthropod pests, and fungal diseases as well as classes and amounts of pesticides applied. Data for 11 European maize growing regions were collected from databases, publications and expert estimates. Silage maize dominates in northern Europe and grain production in central and southern Europe. Crop rotations range from continuous growing of maize over several years to well-planned rotation systems. Weeds, arthropod pests and fungal diseases cause economic losses in most regions, even though differences exist between northern countries and central and southern Europe. Several weed and arthropod species cause increasing problems, illustrating that the goal of reducing chemical pesticide applications is challenging. Pesticides could potentially be reduced by the choice of varieties including genetically modified hybrids, cultural control including crop rotation, biological control, optimized application techniques for chemicals, and the development of more specific treatments. However, restrictions in the availability of alternative pest control measures, farm organization, and the training and knowledge of farmers need to be overcome before the adoption of environmentally friendly pest control strategies can reduce chemical pesticides in an economically competitive way. The complex of several problems that need to be tackled simultaneously and the link between different control measures demonstrates the need for IPM approaches, where pest control is seen in the context of the cropping system and on a regional scale. Multicriteria assessments and decision support systems combined with pest monitoring programs may help to develop region-specific and sustainable strategies that are harmonized within a EU framework
Evaluation der Ăkomassnahmen: Bereich BiodiversitĂ€t
1993 fĂŒhrte der Bund ökologische Direktzahlungen ein; seit 1999 ist die Erbringung des ökologischen Leistungsnachweises (ĂLN) durch die Landwirtschaftsbetriebe die Voraussetzung zum Bezug von Direktzahlungen. Heute werden 97 % der landwirtschaftlichen NutzflĂ€che nach den Regeln des ĂLN bewirtschaftet.
Die wichtigste Massnahme des ĂLN, welche einen Einfluss auf die BiodiversitĂ€t hat, ist, dass die Betriebe 7 % ihrer landwirtschaftlichen NutzflĂ€che (LN) als ökologische AusgleichsflĂ€chen (öAF) auszuweisen haben (bei Spezialkulturen 3,5 %). Weitere Anforderungen des ĂLN (ausgeglichene NĂ€hrstoffbilanz, geregelte Fruchtfolge, Bodenschutz, gezielter Einsatz von Pflanzenschutzmitteln, tiergerechte Haltung der Nutztiere) können ebenfalls einen Einfluss haben, stehen jedoch weniger im Vordergrund
TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traitsâthe morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plantsâdetermine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traitsâalmost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traitsâthe morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plantsâdetermine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traitsâalmost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access
This article has 730 authors, of which I have only listed the lead author and myself as a representative of University of HelsinkiPlant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.Peer reviewe
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
Drought as an Inciting Mortality Factor in Scots Pine Stands of the Valais, Switzerland
ISSN:1432-9840ISSN:1435-062