A molecular-based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Resources published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.To associate specimens identified by molecular characters to other biological knowledge, we need reference sequences annotated by Linnaean taxonomy. In this study, we (1) report the creation of a comprehensive reference library of DNA barcodes for the arthropods of an entire country (Finland), (2) publish this library, and (3) deliver a new identification tool for insects and spiders, as based on this resource. The reference library contains mtDNA COI barcodes for 11,275 (43%) of 26,437 arthropod species known from Finland, including 10,811 (45%) of 23,956 insect species. To quantify the improvement in identification accuracy enabled by the current reference library, we ran 1000 Finnish insect and spider species through the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) identification engine. Of these, 91% were correctly assigned to a unique species when compared to the new reference library alone, 85% were correctly identified when compared to BOLD with the new material included, and 75% with the new material excluded. To capitalize on this resource, we used the new reference material to train a probabilistic taxonomic assignment tool, FinPROTAX, scoring high success. For the full-length barcode region, the accuracy of taxonomic assignments at the level of classes, orders, families, subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species reached 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.4%, 96.8%, and 88.5%, respectively. The FinBOL arthropod reference library and FinPROTAX are available through the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (www.laji.fi) at https://laji.fi/en/theme/protax. Overall, the FinBOL investment represents a massive capacity-transfer from the taxonomic community of Finland to all sectors of society.Peer reviewe

Phytotoxic persistence of chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, flurochloridone and metribuzin in Finnish soils

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Torjunta-ainepäästöistä noin puolet syyssateiden aikana

vokKirjasto Aj-

Torjunta-aineiden säilyminen ja liikkeet peltomaassa sekä kulkeutuminen vesistöihin; suomalaisten osuus yhteiseurooppalaisessa tutkimuksessa COST66

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Business environment and strategies of woodworking companies in Northwest Russia – results from a pilot study in Leningrad and Vologda regions

Political and economic development in Russia and other Eastern European countries have been the major driving force of the changing European markets for wood products since the early 1990s. However, very little is known about the organizational structure, strategic orientation and future goals of woodworking firms in Russia. Theoretically, an increasing body of literature emphasises the strategic choices of core competencies/capabilities based on resources, and the combination of these with firm-level strategies. This study examines the issue in the case of 18 small/medium-sized wood industry companies in the emerging markets of Northwest Russia using thematic structured interviews. The interviewed Russian woodworking firms emphasised closeness to the markets, good logistic connections and large market size as the main sources of competitive advantage. Therefore, other than raw material based issues appear to provide competitive advantage or disadvantage to the Northwest Russian woodworking companies. High taxation, corruption and lack of capital strongly characterized the problems in their business environment. In the future, these companies wanted to change from commodity products towards more specialised products and focus more on export markets in Europe than the domestic markets. If the results are more generalizable, competition on the European markets for wood products will intensify, extending also to the markets for higher value added wood products

Phytotoxic persistence and microbiological effects of flurochloridone in Finnish soils

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Business environment and strategies of wood industry companies in Leningrad and Vologda regions results from a pilot study

Published jointly with Pellervo Economic Research InstituteThis pilot study examines resources and capabilities and their utilisation to support business and marketing strategies in the case of small/medium-sized wood industry companies in the Leningrad and Vologda regions. An increasing body of literature emphasises the strategic choices of core competencies/capabilities based on resources and the combination of these with marketing strategies. Both competencies and capabilities need to be aligned to the business environment where the company operates. The realisation of the potential that resources and capabilities provide as actual competitive advantages was studied based on managers perceptions on their companies market position. Furthermore, the competitive advantages at the market place were analysed against the competitive environment where the companies operate, and their decisions of the current and future geographical location. The data consists of personal interviews of managers in 12 wood industry case companies operating in Leningrad region and 6 companies in Vologda region. The interviews were conducted between May 2005 and January 2006.The interviewed managers of Russian woodworking companies emphasised closeness to the markets, good logistic connections and large market size as the main sources of their competitive advantage. Forest resources and availability of wood raw material or price of wood raw material were not considered as particularly significant sources of competitive advantage. The overall reliability, good image and reputation of the company and its qualified and skilled personnel were the most important factors in which the interviewed managers of case companies estimated to be in the best competitive position against their rivals. In profit margins, in market share, and in networking with other companies producing similar products, the respondents perceived to be in the weakest competitive position in comparison to their competitors. High taxation, corruption and lack of capital strongly characterised the problems present in their business environment. In the future, these case companies wanted to change from commodity products towards more specialised products, and focus more on export markets in Europe than the domestic markets. If the results are more generalisable, competition in the European markets for wood products will intensify, extending also to the markets for higher value added wood products

Torjunta-ainepäästöt hietamailla todennäköisiä

Ilmestyy Maaseudun Tulevaisuuden liitteenävokKirjasto Aj-