New Editor-in-chief for Entomologica Fennica

Entomologica Fennica. 15 March 200

Utilisation of drones in wind measurements: an analysis of wind data gathered with a drone-bound ultrasonic anemometer

In this thesis we try to find the measurement accuracy of our dronebound wind measurement setup and if the quality of the measurements is high enough for operational usage. The thesis goes over the most important theoretical concepts concerning effects of wind in the boundary layer. In the thesis we analyze wind data gathered by a drone-bound anemometer, and introduce a direct method of measuring wind with a UAV. The data includes stationary wind data gathered at height of 30 metres, as well as vertical wind profiles to 500 metres above ground level. The data is compared to reference data from a 30 metre wind mast and automatic radiosoundings. The measurements were conducted in Jokioinen, Finland between the 2nd of September 2022 and 10th of October 2022. Total of 20 measurement flights were conducted, consisting of 14 stationary wind measurements and six wind profile measurements. We found out the stationary wind measurement quality to be comparable with earlier studies. The vertical wind profile measurements were found to be hard to analyze, as the reference measurement was not as compatible as we had hoped for. The difference between automatic radiosoundings and our profile measurements was distinctly greater than the difference between the stationary drone and wind mast measurements. Lastly some optimization and improvements to the measurement arrangement are discussed. The application of these improvements and modifications will be left as future endeavour for some willing individual

The Impacts of Asynchronous Video Reflection on Perceived Learner Social Presence

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation.December 2015. Major: Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Advisor: Charles Miller. 1 computer file (PDF); viii, 119 pages.This dissertation examined how an asynchronous video reflection tool impacted learners’ perception of social presence and their feeling of community in an online learning environment. More than ever before learning in postsecondary education takes place online through computer mediated communication, as almost all colleges and universities offer some of their courses online (Moore & Kearsley, 2012). There are many benefits of online learning (Graham, 2006; Griffiths & Graham, 2009b; Rourke, Anderson, Garrison, & Archer, 2001), but there are problems as well. One of the problems students can have while learning online is the feeling of isolation and the lack social presence with others (Ali & Leeds, 2009; Borup, West, & Graham, 2012; Rovai, 2002). To help mediate this problem, instructors use different online technologies that encourage learners to communicate in a variety of ways, including through video and visual media. There are many video-based tools available and many are newly in development; this study examines one in particular called Flipgrid that can be used by instructors and students to create and share video-based reflections on course content. The purpose of this study is to help online instructors, instructional designers and educational app developers find new ways of enhancing or increasing social presence for their target audience by exploring the following research questions: (1) How does an asynchronous video reflection tool impact students’ perception of social presence in an online class? (2) How does seeing classmates’ video recordings influence students’ feeling of community in an online class? And (3) How does creating video recordings influence students’ feeling of community in an online class? This interpretive case study (Stake, 1995) was informed by the Community of Inquiry framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000) and utilized qualitative methods for data collection and inductive data analysis to understand the phenomenon of social presence and how learners experienced it while using an asynchronous video reflection tool. Data was collected from students from five separate undergraduate courses that took place fully online. Analysis of qualitative surveys, focus group, and individual interviews revealed three themes from the data: familiarization, authenticity, and distractions. Participants expressed that getting to know classmates by seeing and hearing them in an online course was important to them, and authentic videos in which students shared personal stories to support their points of views were highly valued. There were also distracting elements, like privacy concerns and the feeling of being rushed while doing recording, that negatively impacted the experience of recording and watching video reflections. Based on the findings of this study, a refined definition of social presence is proposed

Pitfall trap efficiency: do trap size, collecting fluid and vegetation structure matter?

Apart from experimental design, the selection of pitfall trap size, collecting fluid and habitat type sampled may also influence the capture efficiency of the method. We combined three field studies from two very different geographic areas, in which the efficiency of pitfall traps, using carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is evaluated. First, we showed that ethylene-glycol is a more efficient collecting fluid compared to commercial anti-freeze, paraffin and salt water in collecting beetles in a forest patch in South Africa. Second, we showed that larger traps (90 mm mouth diameter) are more efficient in collecting carabids than small traps (65 mm) in a meadow in Finland. We also showed that for these large traps, commercial vinegar was a better collecting fluid than propylene-glycol, but that for small traps, propylene-glycol was superior to vinegar in collecting carabids. Finally, we showed that the trappability of Pterostichus oblongopunctatus and Carabus hortensis differed in enclosures placed into two different habitat types (a forest and a clear-cut in Finland), while trappability did not differ significantly for two other species (Calathus micropterus and Pterostichus niger) in these habitat types. However, for the two Pterostichus species studied, the catches in traps placed in the centre of the enclosures were slightly higher in the clear-cut, compared to the forest, and catches were higher in enclosures with rich field-layer vegetation, compared to enclosures with poor vegetation. The three studies re-emphasise the uncertainties of using pitfall traps in ecological studies. However, with careful planning and standardisation to help avoid erroneous interpretations, pitfall trapping is an invaluable method for the field ecologist

Suomen geoidimallit ja niiden käyttäminen korkeuden muunnoksissa

Geoidimallien käyttö on viime vuosina lisääntynyt huomattavasti. Kansallisen geoidimallin, tai oikeammin muunnospinnan avulla voidaan GPS:llä mitatut ellipsoidiset korkeudet muuntaa vaaituiksi korkeuksiksi kansallisessa korkeusjärjestelmässä. Tiedotteessa esitellään Suomen alueen geoidimallit ja niiden käyttö. Suomen alueella merkittävimmät globaaliset geoidimallit ovat OSU91A, EGM96 ja GGM02. Alueelliset geoidimallit ovat eurooppalainen EGG97-malli ja Pohjoismaisen geodeettisen komission geoidityöryhmän laskemat mallit NKG89, NKG96 ja NKG2004. Suomen alueen vanhat geoidimallit ovat astrogeodeettinen Bomford 1970 ja painovoimahavaintoihin perustuva FIN95-malli. Nykyisin Suomessa käytössä olevat geoidimallit ovat FIN2000 ja FIN2005N00. FIN2000-malli on muunnospinta jolla EUREF-FIN-koordinaatistossa GPS:llä mitatut ellipsoidiset korkeudet voidaan muuntaa N60-korkeusjärjestelmän mukaisiksi vaaituskorkeuksiksi. FIN2000-malli on laskettu sovittamalla korjauspinta NKG96-geoidimalliin 156 GPS/vaaituspisteiden avulla. Mallin tarkkuus on 3 cm ja suurimmat muunnosvirheet voivat olla 9 cm. FIN2005N00 on uusin valtakunnallinen malli. Tällä muunnospinnalla EUREF-FINkoordinaatistossa GPS:llä mitatut ellipsoidiset korkeudet voidaan muuntaa N2000-korkeusjärjestelmän mukaisiksi vaaituskorkeuksiksi. Mallin pohjana on NKG2004-geoidimalli, johon on laskettu korjauspinta 50 EUVN-DA (European Vertical Reference Network – Densification Act) GPS/vaaituspisteiden avulla. Mallin tarkkuus on 2 cm ja suurimmat muunnosvirheet voivat olla 6 cm. FIN2000- ja FIN2005N00-mallit ovat saatavissa hila-muotoisina EUREF-FIN-koordinaateissa. Hilasta voidaan laskea halutulle pisteelle geoidikorkeus bi-lineaarisella interpolointimenetelmällä. Alueellisilla GPS/vaaituspisteillä voidaan määrittää kansallisesta mallista paikallinen muunnospinta maantieteellisissä EUREF-FIN koordinaateissa tai haluttaessa tasokoordinaateissa.Over the years the use of geoid models has increased considerably. Using a national geoid model, or better said a transformation surface, ellipsoidal heights, as measured by GPS, can be transformed into heights in the national height system, as measured by levelling. This publication gives an overview of the geoid models available for Finland and their use. Global geoid models of importance for Finland are OSU91, EGM96, and GGM02. Important regional models are the European model EGG97 and the Nordic models NKG98, NKG96, and NKG2004 calculated by the working group on geoid determination of the Nordic Geodetic Commission. Old Finnish models are the astro-geodetic geoid model Bomford 1970 and the FIN95 model, which is based on gravity observations. At present, two geoid models are used in Finland: FIN2000 and FIN2005N00. The FIN2000 model is a transformation surface with which ellipsoidal coordinates, measured with GPS in the EUREF-FIN reference frame, can be transformed into leveled coordinates in the N60 height system. The FIN200 model was calculated by fitting a correction surface to the NKG96 model using data of 156 GPS/levelling points. The accuracy of the model is 3 cm and the biggest transformation errors can be 9 cm. The newest model for Finland is FIN2005N00. With this transformation surface ellipsoidal heights, measured with GPS in the EUREF-FIN reference frame, can be transformed into leveled heihts in the N2000 height system. The model is based on the NKG2004 geoid model to which a correction surface was fitted using the data of the 50 EUVN-DA (European Vertical Reference Network – Densification Act) GPS/levelling points. The accuracy of the model is 2 cm and largest transformation errors can be 6 cm. The FIN2000 and FIN2005N00 models are available in grid-formats in EUREF-FIN coordinates. Geoid heights for points can be calculated from the grids using bi-linear interpolation. When local GPS/levelling data is available a local transformation surface can be determined from a national model. This can be done either in EUREF-FIN coordinates or optionally in projected coordinates

Experimental evidence on biodiversity impacts of variable retention forestry, prescribed burning, and deadwood manipulation in Fennoscandia

Intensive forest management has been applied in most Fennoscandian forests for a period of almost one felling rotation. This paradigm has produced even-aged and even-structured forests of different successional stages that cover about 90% of forest land. At the same time, wildfires have been nearly eliminated in most of the Fennoscandian nature. Consequently, hundreds of species are red-listed because of forest management. To support these species, forest management requires improvements. Variable retention forestry and habitat restoration have been suggested to mitigate negative effects of forest management on biodiversity, and these have been practiced to some extent during the past few decades. Here, we review experimental results on the effects of variable retention and two restoration measures (prescribed burning and artificial addition of coarse woody debris) on different species groups in Fennoscandia. Our key findings are as follows: (i) Many species respond positively to felling within a few years, apparently due to released and often ephemeral resources, such as fresh residue and stumps. Species associated with shady conditions are negatively impacted, but any retention supports many of these, and their species composition remains almost unaffected with 50–70% retention of the initial tree volume. (ii) These effects remain detectable for at least 10–30 years or, according to some studies, nearly 100 years, e.g., in polypore fungi. (iii) Initial effects of prescribed burning on most species groups (apart from pyrophiles) are negative, but within 10–15 years post-fire sites begin to support many rare and threatened deadwood-dependent species. Epiphytic lichens, however, remain negatively affected. (iv) Artificial addition of deadwood (mostly high stumps) supports a wide spectrum of deadwood-dependent species, but the species composition differs from that of naturally died trees. (v) Moisture and micro-habitat variation are crucial for forest species at harvested sites, at least in forests dominated by Norway spruce. We conclude that felling method as such is of little importance for threatened forest species, although retention mitigates many negative effects. These species require microclimatic continuity, and maintenance and active increase of legacies, such as deadwood of different qualities (species, downed/standing, snag/log/stump, decay stage), very old trees, and tree species mixtures.202

Puolustusyhteistyö: epävarmuus mahdollisuutena

Since 2010 the significance of defence cooperation has increased in Europe and especially so in the non-aligned Finland. Versatile and intense defence cooperation seems to be what Finland wishes for. The concept, however, is somewhat ambiguous. This article analyses the scope of defence cooperation as well as its economic and security policy benefits for Finland. It also takes a look from a Finnish perspective into three recent initiatives: Framework Nations Concept of Germany, Joint Expeditionary Force of UK and the European Intervention Initiative of France. Through these initiatives, non-aligned nations may position themselves as partners of major powers in a pragmatic and low-key manner. Based on Finnish experience, material benefits and savings of defence cooperation are hard to measure, but in the authors’ view, they are minor in comparison to its security policy implications. While defence cooperation does not give security guarantees for Finland, it can be viewed as an opportunity for military aid in a conflict, thereby raising the threshold for a potential hostile actor

Responses of two Sericoda Kirby, 1837 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) species to forest harvesting, wildfire, and burn severity

Forest fires are among the most important natural disturbances in the boreal region, but fire-initiated succession is increasingly often interrupted by salvage logging, i.e., post-fire removal of burned trees. Unfortunately, very little is known about the ecological effects of this practice. To address this knowledge gap and to examine other factors affecting the abundance of two fire-associated carabid species (Sericoda quadripuntata and S. bembidioides) we conducted three field studies based on pitfall trapping in recent burns in Alberta, Canada. The results suggest that the abundance of both species drastically decreased from the first to the third post-fire year and that fire severity was positively associated with abundance of both species. The combined effects of wildfire and forest harvesting were associated with higher catches of S. quadripunctata, but lower catches of S. bembidioides. We discuss these findings in the contexts of salvage logging and species ecology

Continuous-cover management and attractiveness of managed Scots pine forests

Forest management, characterized in many Northern countries by the predominance of clear cutting and growing even-aged and -sized trees, has simplified the structure of boreal forests. Consequences include alterations in cultural ecosystem services, such as forest attractiveness, i.e., combined aesthetic and recreational values. Continuous-cover forestry might mitigate these effects through the use of selection and gap cutting, but these methods have been little studied, particularly from the attractiveness viewpoint. We used photo surveys to assess Finnish citizens' perceptions of attractiveness of in-stand sceneries of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests logged using different methods. (1) The attractiveness scores, given by respondents, declined steadily from unharvested forest through continuous-cover methods to seed-tree and clear cutting. (2) Respondents with a negative attitude to forest management gave lower scores than respondents with a positive attitude, but the declining slopes of attractiveness against logging intensity were similar. (3) In unharvested and less intensively managed stands, summer photos received higher scores than corresponding winter photos. (4) Background variables (gender, education, living environment, memberships in recreational or nature NGOs, forestry profession and forest ownership) had negligible effects on the scores. We recommend the use of continuous-cover logging methods in settlement and recreational areas.202