Säsongsbunden samhällsstruktur hos makroevertebrater i ett vattendrag i Arktis

Arctic ecosystems are amongst the most vulnerable on Earth to ongoing climate change. While the responses to these changes are well studied on land, less is known about how aquatic communities may respond to a warmer arctic. For stream invertebrate communities, predicting such responses requires basic understanding of how and why different taxonomic groups fluctuate throughout the year. However, few studies have assessed the community dynamics of stream macroinvertebrates across seasons in the Arctic. In this project, I asked how macroinvertebrate community structure changes between months and across seasons in a small Arctic stream in northern Sweden. I expected that community change over time would reflect changes in the supply of organic matter (e.g., leaf litter and algae) to dominant consumers. A total of five transects were sampled for macroinvertebrates each month from July to April using Surber sampling. I used descriptive and multivariate analyses to evaluate changes in community structure between months and seasons. Marked differences in community composition were found between the seasons with detritivores (shredders) dominating the autumn months possibly reflecting input of birch litter and high abundances of grazers during and post winter, possibly reflecting primary production early in spring. Expected climate change effects in the Arctic include warmer temperatures and increases in the terrestrial plant productivity. My results suggest that these shifts could cause changes in stream community composition, driven by increases in deciduous litter inputs that promote shredders and/or by increases in primary production during spring that favour grazers and collector-gatherers, which feed on algae

Status of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) : Analysis of the threats and status of the harbour porpoise as well as an evaluation of the willingness to pay for the conservation of porpoises

The aim of this report was to establish what category the harbour porpoise is listed as on the Swedish national redlist as well as analyze what potential sub-criteria the species fulfills besides criteria already established. The aim was also to evaluate the willingness to pay for conservation of the harbour porpoise for the first time and make a comparison of the willingness to pay between geographic places where the harbour porpoise is currently existing and where it is not. The subpopulation of the harbour porpoise in Skagerrak-Kattegat is listed as vulnerable (VU) on the national redlist and the subpopulation in the Baltic sea is listed as critically endangered (CR). Actions and precautions which have been made for conservation and protection of the harbour porpoises in Swedish waters are new Swedish laws and law proposals as well as formations of organizations such as ASCOBANS and further research. The results from the survey showed that the mean of the single time payment sum those questioned were prepared to pay to retain the porpoises at a stable population level was 273 SEK. Geographically the study showed no significant difference in geographic position and where the harbour porpoise exists but showed that the inhabitants of the south-east coast were willing to pay about half the sum, 165 SEK, of the mean sum that the north-east coast were willing to pay, 335 SEK. The results regarding the populations’ conjecture of historical threats and threats nowadays showed a significant difference from reality. Overfishing of prey had the highest amount of answers as a threat both historically and nowadays. Bycatch, which is accepted as todays biggest threat by researchers and organizations, came third place in the results from the survey study with a percentage of 14.5 %

Relapse prevention, do we think alike? : A comparative study regarding concordance between clients and course leaders in relapse preventive treatment

Previous studies have shown that concordance between professionals and clients regarding treatment content, goals and practice in drug-related treatment results in reduced drug use. Concordance also contributes to reduced degree of criminal acts and an increased power of their own life’s. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there was a difference between course leaders and client perceptions about which relapse preventive skills who were of utility in client’s recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. An investigation of differences between course leaders and client perceptions made it possible to estimate concordance in relapse preventive treatment. The empirical study consisted of two questionnaires, one aimed for course leaders in relapse preventive treatment and one aimed for clients who had participated in a relapse preventive course. An independent t-test showed no significant difference between course leaders and clients regarding the total score of the scale. 12 independent t-tests showed significant differences between course leaders and clients regarding 2 of 13 skills, where the course leaders estimated greater utility of the skills to identify automatic thoughts and to decline offers of drugs or alcohol. Results in the present study indicated good concordance between course leaders and clients, as they estimated the utility equivalent in great extent. The conclusion of the present study was an indication of good concordance between course leaders and clients in relapse preventive treatment in Sweden today. Concordance can contribute to a reduction of regional and local differences regarding practise in psychosocial treatment, and encourage a lifestyle in balance for clients. Tidigare studier har visat att samsyn mellan professionella och klienter avseende behandlingsinnehåll, mål och praxis inom drogrelaterad behandling resulterar i reducerat drogbruk. Samsyn bidrar också till en minskad grad av kriminella handlingar, längre tid i behandling och en förhöjd känsla av makt över sitt eget liv. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det finns en skillnad mellan kursledare och klienters uppfattningar om vilka återfallspreventiva färdigheter som är av nytta i klienters återhämtning från alkohol- eller drogmissbruk. I studien deltog 57 kursledare och 61 klienter. Genom att undersöka skillnader mellan kursledare och klienters uppfattningar möjliggjordes en uppskattning av samsyn mellan grupper i återfallspreventiv behandling. Den empiriska undersökningen utgjordes av en enkätundersökning, en enkät anpassad till kursledare i återfallspreventiv behandling och en enkät anpassad till klienter som någon gång deltagit i en kurs i återfallsprevention. Ett oberoende t-test visade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan kursledare och klienter avseende totalpoängen på skalan. Tolv oberoende t-test visade signifikanta skillnader mellan kursledare och klienter avseende 2 av 11 undersökta färdigheter, där kursledare skattade större nytta med färdigheterna att identifiera automatiska tankar och att tacka nej till alkohol eller droger. Slutsatsen är att det finns en indikation på god samsyn mellan kursledare och klienter inom återfallspreventiv behandling i Sverige idag. Resultatet indikerar god samsyn vilket innebär att kursledare lägger fokus på alla färdigheter i återfallsprevention som är av nytta för klienter i deras återhämtning från missbruk eller beroende. Samsyn mellan kursledare och klienter kan bidra till hög kvalité i behandlingen, ett gott behandlingsklimat, främja nykterhet och en livsstil i balans

Family business brand through ”familiness”

De flesta arbetsgivare är familjeföretag och de strävar som alla andra företag efter att bli attraktiva på arbetsmarknaden. Konkurrensen om rätt arbetskraft gör det allt viktigare att utforma ett starkt arbetsgivarvarumärke, vilket kan göras om det skapas inifrån och ut. Företags identitet ska då stämma överens med befintliga och potentiella medarbetares associationer och förväntningar på företaget. Familjeföretag har vissa karaktärsdrag som kan nyttjas för att differentiera och positionera dem som arbetsgivare. Familjens identitet och historia är en följd av dessa och är ett “unikt resurspaket”, vilket kan bidra till ett konkurrenskraftigt arbetsgivarvarumärke.Trots att familjeföretag är en vanlig arbetsgivare och den dominerande organisationsformen, finns det bristande forskning kring hur de arbetar för att bli attraktiva arbetsgivare. Undersökningens syfte är således att skapa större förståelse för hur familjeföretag kan utforma arbetsgivarvarumärken och lyfta olika aktörers perspektiv på det. En fallstudie hos ett familjeföretag, som i uppsatsen benämns som “företag X”, gjorde det möjligt att uppnå syftet. Där genomfördes en triangulering som bestod av intervjuer med ägare och ledare, enkäter till medarbetare och andra datakällor som exempelvis företagets hemsida.I undersökningen har företag X blivit ett exempel på hur familjeföretag kan bli attraktiva arbetsgivare och bidragit till större förståelse för hur familjeföretag kan nyttja sina “unika resurspaket” i den processen. På företag X består det av ägarfamiljens engagemang och involvering, som i sin tur har skapat en identitet, kultur och atmosfär. På så vis skapas en stark överlappning mellan ägarfamiljens och företagets identitet, vilket i förlängningen ligger till grund för företagets arbetsgivarvarumärke. Företag X vill förknippas med trygghet och långsiktighet, det har därför ett stort fokus på att vara en arbetsgivare som medarbetarna är nöjda med och stolta över att tillhöra. Lojala medarbetare och människor i företagets närhet kan då bli ambassadörer, vilket företaget tror är en viktig källa till ett starkt arbetsgivarvarumärke. Företag X vill inte marknadsföra något som det inte står för. I undersökningen framkom att det finns en tydlig överensstämmelse mellan olika aktörers perspektiv på företagets arbetsgivarvarumärke.Family companies are common employers and, like all other companies, they strive to be attractive in the labor market. Competition for the right workforce makes it increasingly important to design a strong employer brand, which can be done if it is created from the inside out. The identity of the company must then be consistent with the associations and expectations of existing and potential employees at the company. Family companies have certain characteristics that can be used to differentiate and position them as employers. The family's identity and history are a consequence of this and are a "unique bundle of resource", which can contribute to a competitive employer brand.Although family businesses are a major employer and the dominant form of organization, there is a lack of research into how they work to become attractive employers. The purpose of the survey is thus to create a greater understanding of how family companies can design employer brands and raise different stakeholders' perspectives on it. A case study of a family business, which in the survey is referred to as “company X”, made it possible to achieve the purpose. There, a triangulation was carried out, which consisted of interviews with owners and managers, employee surveys and other data sources such as the company's website.In the survey, Company X has become an example of how family businesses can become attractive employers and have contributed to a greater understanding of how family businesses can use their "unique bundle of resource" in that process. At Company X, it consists of the owner's family's commitment and involvement, which in turn has created an identity, culture and atmosphere. In this way, a strong overlap is created between the identity of the owner family and the company, which in the long run forms the basis of the company's employer brand. Company X wants to be associated with security and long-term perspective, so it has a great focus on being an employer that employees are happy with and proud to belong to. Loyal employees and people close to the company can then become ambassadors, which the company believes is an important source of a strong employer brand. Company X does not want to market something that it does not stand for. The survey revealed that there is an early agreement between different actors' perspectives on the company's employer brand

Cultural diversity in nursing teams : triggers, team process and contingencies

Introduction: The study explored cultural diversity in nursing teams and the internal and external conditions under which cultural differencesrepresent an asset or a liability for these teams. Methods: A qualitative design with content analysis was employed. In total, 18 interviews were conducted with nurses and assistant nurseswith experience of working in culturally diverse teams in three distinct clinical settings. Results: Three domains emerged in the study analysis: triggers, team process and contingencies. Each one encompassed a number of themesrelated to culturally diverse nursing team processes, triggers of team processes and context-specific contingencies, which represent the complexityof culturally diverse nursing team functioning. Discussion/implications: The study suggests how cultural differences in nursing teams can be managed and further explored from within theteam and by individuals leading those teams, taking into account the disablers and enablers of their functioning

Towards critical white ice conditions in lakes under global warming

The quality of lake ice is of uppermost importance for ice safety and under-ice ecology, but its temporal and spatial variability is largely unknown. Here we conducted a coordinated lake ice quality sampling campaign across the Northern Hemisphere during one of the warmest winters since 1880 and show that lake ice during 2020/2021 commonly consisted of unstable white ice, at times contributing up to 100% to the total ice thickness. We observed that white ice increased over the winter season, becoming thickest and constituting the largest proportion of the ice layer towards the end of the ice cover season when fatal winter drownings occur most often and light limits the growth and reproduction of primary producers. We attribute the dominance of white ice before ice-off to air temperatures varying around the freezing point, a con dition which occurs more frequently during warmer winters. Thus, under continued global warming, the prevalence of white ice is likely to substantially increase during the critical period before ice-off, for which we adjusted com monly used equations for human ice safety and light transmittance through ice

Blooms also like it cold

Abstract Cyanobacterial blooms have substantial direct and indirect negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems including releasing toxins, blocking light needed by other organisms, and depleting oxygen. There is growing concern over the potential for climate change to promote cyanobacterial blooms, as the positive effects of increasing lake surface temperature on cyanobacterial growth are well documented in the literature; however, there is increasing evidence that cyanobacterial blooms are also being initiated and persisting in relatively cold‐water temperatures (< 15°C), including ice‐covered conditions. In this work, we provide evidence of freshwater cold‐water cyanobacterial blooms, review abiotic drivers and physiological adaptations leading to these blooms, offer a typology of these lesser‐studied cold‐water cyanobacterial blooms, and discuss their occurrence under changing climate conditions

The ecological role of permanent ponds in Europe: a review of dietary linkages to terrestrial ecosystems via emerging insects

Permanent ponds are valuable freshwater systems and biodiversity hotspots. They provide diverse ecosystem services (ES), including water quality improvement and supply, food provisioning and biodiversity support. This is despite being under significant pressure from multiple anthropogenic stressors and the impacts of ongoing global change. However, ponds are largely overlooked in management plans and legislation, and ecological research has focused on large freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers or lakes. Protection of ponds is often insufficient or indirectly provided via associated habitats such as wetlands. This phenomenon is likely exacerbated due to lacking a full-scale understanding of the importance of ponds. In this review, we provided a detailed overview of permanent ponds across Europe, including their usages and the biodiversity they support. By discussing the concepts of pondscape and metacommunity theory, we highlighted the importance of connectivity among and between ponds and identified fluxes of emerging insects as another ES of ponds. Those insects are rich in essential nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are delivered through them to the terrestrial environment, however the extent and impact of this ES remains largely unexplored. Several potential stressors, especially related to ongoing global change, which influence pond diversity and integrity were discussed. To conclude this review, we provided our insights on future pond management. Adaptive measures, taking into account the pond system per se within the pondscape, were found to be the most promising to mitigate the loss of natural ponds and restore and conserve natural small water bodies as refuges and diversity hotspots in increasingly urbanized landscapes

The ecological role of permanent ponds in Europe ::a review of dietary linkages to terrestrial ecosystems via emerging insects

Permanent ponds are valuable freshwater systems and biodiversity hotspots. They provide diverse ecosystem services (ES), including water quality improvement and supply, food provisioning and biodiversity support. This is despite being under significant pressure from multiple anthropogenic stressors and the impacts of ongoing global change. However, ponds are largely overlooked in management plans and legislation, and ecological research has focused on large freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers or lakes. Protection of ponds is often insufficient or indirectly provided via associated habitats such as wetlands. This phenomenon is likely exacerbated due to lacking a full-scale understanding of the importance of ponds. In this review, we provided a detailed overview of permanent ponds across Europe, including their usages and the biodiversity they support. By discussing the concepts of pondscape and metacommunity theory, we highlighted the importance of connectivity among and between ponds and identified fluxes of emerging insects as another ES of ponds. Those insects are rich in essential nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are delivered through them to the terrestrial environment, however the extent and impact of this ES remains largely unexplored. Several potential stressors, especially related to ongoing global change, which influence pond diversity and integrity were discussed. To conclude this review, we provided our insights on future pond management. Adaptive measures, taking into account the pond system per se within the pondscape, were found to be the most promising to mitigate the loss of natural ponds and restore and conserve natural small water bodies as refuges and diversity hotspots in increasingly urbanized landscapes