Experiences in the Protection of the Large Predators in Finland

During the nineteenth century, the large predators of Finland- wolf, bear, lynx, and wolverine- were exterminated in the southern and western regions of the country. There were almost no lynx by the late 1950s, but a protection order issued in 1968 has resulted in a steady increase in their number, to about 300 by 1980. There was a breeding population of wolverines until the late 1960s, but in the 1970s, most were killed by snowmobiles, and only 10-30 are now thought to inhabit the frontiers between Finland and the USSR, and Finland and Norway. Bears, in the 1970s, tended to immigrate into Finland from the east; currently, the population is about 300. Since 1980, the wolf population has also expanded because of movements from the east and, in Finland, their current total is about 100. However, movement from other countries cannot be used as a long-term solution to maintaining and increasing the numbers of large predators in Finland, since predator populations in these countries cannot be expected to expand sufficiently to compel large-scale migrations. Rather, the maintenance of stable predator populations in Finland must depend on their adaptation to relatively settled areas and acceptance by local populations. The wolf and lynx have shown considerable adaptation; the wolverine and bear have not. Also, hostile attitudes toward predators like wolves, based largely on fairy tales and overblown news items, must continue to change, and change rapidly, if these animals are to be preserved

Experiences in the Protection of the Large Predators in Finland

During the nineteenth century, the large predators of Finland- wolf, bear, lynx, and wolverine- were exterminated in the southern and western regions of the country. There were almost no lynx by late 1950. However, a protection order issued in 1968 resulted in a steady increase in their number, to about 300 by 1980. A breeding wolverine population existed until the late 1960s. In the 1970s, most were killed by snowmobiles. It is now thought only 10-30 inhabit the frontiers between Finland and the USSR and Finland and Norway. Bears, in the 1970s, tended to immigrate to Finland from the east; currently, the population is about 300. Since 1980, the wolf population has expanded because of movements from the east. In Finland, their current total is about 100. However, movement from other countries cannot be used as a long-term solution to maintaining and increasing the number of large predators in Finland since predator populations in these countries cannot be expected to expand sufficiently to compel large-scale migrations. Instead, the maintenance of stable predator populations in Finland must depend on their adaptation to relatively settled areas and acceptance by local populations. The wolf and lynx have shown considerable adaptation; the wolverine and bear have not. Also, hostile attitudes toward predators like wolves, mainly based on fairy tales and overblown news items, must continue to change, and change rapidly, if these animals are to be preserved

Mobility, population size and life time pattern of Carabus glabratus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) under extreme northern forest conditions.

The study was carried out in the Vaniotunturi fell area (67°44'N, 29°37 'E) under northern taiga forest conditions. The habitat, a Pinus heath is extremely poor and monotonous. Altogether 196 pitfall traps 10 metres apart (Ø 8.5 cm, height 10.3 cm, with a lid 5 cm above the trap) arranged in a quadrat were used in 1991, and the same field with an additional40 traps placed one trap at each end of a two-metre wall was used from 1992 to 1994. The individuals of Carabus glabratus were marked with a small label cut off from a traffic sign sticker in 1991 and 1992. Only these captured and marked ones were recorded in the following years. In 1994 the trapping was done by killing the beetles. 524 individuals were marked. Males dominated in both years. The recapture proportion was significantly higher for the beetles marked in 1992 than for those of the previous year. The marked beetles were recaptured within four days on average. The estimated maximal population size in 1991 was 1400 individuals, occurring at the beginning of July, while in 1992 it was 3000 exx., in the middle of June. About 15% of the beetles marked in 1991 were caught at least once during the year of marking. Two years after marking, the proportion of recaptures decreased to 2%, but one male marked in 1991 was still captured in 1994

Phenology and habitats of Carabus glabrafus Paykull (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in NE Finland

476 individuals of Carabus glabratus were collected in the years 1989-90 with pit-fall traps in the Väniötunturi fell terrain in NE Finland. The catch in 1990 was about twice as great as in the previous year. The tertiary sex ratio was even. The main habitat was Scots pine forest 370 m a.s.l., but the species also occurred in abundance in the mountain birch forest zone, in spruce forest, on a Nardus stricta sloping fen and on the shore of Lake Kuutsjärvi, whereas the treeless summit of the fell was almost totally avoided. The main activity period was at the end of June and the beginning of July, the males occurring over a shorter period. Daily catches closely followed the temperature curves

Changes in nitrogen content and isotopic composition in subarctic Empetrum nigrum seeds in the period 1976–2010

Peer reviewe

Current temporal trends in moth abundance are counter to predicted effects of climate change in an assemblage of subarctic forest moths

Changes in climate are influencing the distribution and abundance of the world's biota, with significant consequences for biological diversity and ecosystem processes. Recent work has raised concern that populations of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) may be particularly susceptible to population declines under environmental change. Moreover, effects of climate change may be especially pronounced in high latitude ecosystems. Here, we examine population dynamics in an assemblage of subarctic forest moths in Finnish Lapland to assess current trajectories of population change. Moth counts were made continuously over a period of 32 years using light traps. From 456 species recorded, 80 were sufficiently abundant for detailed analyses of their population dynamics. Climate records indicated rapid increases in temperature and winter precipitation at our study site during the sampling period. However, 90% of moth populations were stable (57%) or increasing (33%) over the same period of study. Nonetheless, current population trends do not appear to reflect positive responses to climate change. Rather, time‐series models illustrated that the per capita rates of change of moth species were more frequently associated negatively than positively with climate change variables, even as their populations were increasing. For example, the per capita rates of change of 35% of microlepidoptera were associated negatively with climate change variables. Moth life‐history traits were not generally strong predictors of current population change or associations with climate change variables. However, 60% of moth species that fed as larvae on resources other than living vascular plants (e.g. litter, lichen, mosses) were associated negatively with climate change variables in time‐series models, suggesting that such species may be particularly vulnerable to climate change. Overall, populations of subarctic forest moths in Finland are performing better than expected, and their populations appear buffered at present from potential deleterious effects of climate change by other ecological forces.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106856/1/gcb12529.pd

Treatment and Prognosis of Radiation-Associated Breast Angiosarcoma in a Nationwide Population

Background Radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast (RAASB) is an aggressive malignancy that is increasing in incidence. Only a few previous population-based studies have reported the results of RAASB treatment. Methods A search for RAASB patients was carried out in the Finnish Cancer Registry, and treatment data were collected to identify prognostic factors for survival. Results Overall, 50 RAASB patients were identified. The median follow-up time was 5.4 years (range 0.4-15.6), and the 5-year overall survival rate was 69%. Forty-seven (94%) patients were operated on with curative intent. Among these patients, the 5-year local recurrence-free survival, distant recurrence-free survival, and overall survival rates were 62%, 75%, and 74%, respectively. A larger planned surgical margin was associated with improved survival. Conclusions We found that the majority of RAASB patients were eligible for radical surgical management in this population-based analysis. With radical surgery, the prognosis is relatively good.Peer reviewe