Climate change and macrolepidopteran biodiversity in Finland

http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620386/description#descriptionThe northern limit of macrolepidopteran distributions in Finland is usually determined by climatic factors. Food plants probably determine distributions in less than 3% of species. The species richness decreases by 65 species for each degree of latitude northward, i.e. 93 species (12.0% of total) per degree celsius in mean summer temperature. As lepidopteran species are usually good dispersers, any climate warming will promote increases in species richness as southern species shift their ranges northwards. Conversely, the distribution of northern species, comprising 11% of Finnish species, may shrink due to habitat loss from warming climate. Species overwintering as eggs or adults would be expected to bene®t from a rise in winter temperatures. Species overwintering as pupae are most likely to increase the number of generations per year

Vulnerability to pine sawfly damage decreases with site fertility but the opposite is true with Scleroderris canker damage; results from Finnish ICP Forests and NFI data

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The Potential for Bioenergy Crop Production in Baden-Wuerttemberg: An Application of EPIC and GIS to Bioenergy Modeling

Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels are affecting the climate of our planet. In order to abate this climate change, changes have to be made in the systems of energy production. Sustainable use of bioenergy causes no net emissions of CO2 and can also help to reduce the emissions of NOx. The issue has also political relevance, as the European Union has made political commitments to meet 15% of its real primary energy demand using renewable sources by 2010. This study examines the usability of the EPIC model (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methods to estimate the potentials of bioenergy crop production in Baden-Wuerttemberg. The productivity estimates for different areas given by the model are distributed spatially over the study area. Productivities of different species and management options in different areas are compared. Also the use of other suitability aspects (agricultural productivity, production costs) in estimating real potentials is examined. Based on the results, the usability of this methodology on a European scale is discussed

Potential for Timberline Advance in Northern Finland, as Revealed by Monitoring during 1983-99

Seedling density, tree density and basal area of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) were monitored and compared in the timberline areas of northern Finland during the period 1983-99. Rows of 9-12 circular plots were established at 13 localities in four regions: pine-dominated northern and southern regions and spruce-dominated western and eastern regions. Temporal changes were monitored in three altitudinal zones: in the forest, at the coniferous timberline (where forest canopy closure ceases), and at the tree line (where coniferous trees higher than 2 m cease). Pine seedling densities decreased abruptly in the southern region, especially at the timberline, but increased slightly in the northern region. The zone "region" change interaction was significant. The change in spruce seedling densities was small in the forest and timberline zones, but the densities more than doubled at the tree line. Tree density and basal area increased in all the zones and regions. New regeneration and tree establishment during the study period indicate a potential for the tree line to advance. However, there was great heterogeneity in regeneration and seedling establishment among the localities.La densité des semis, la densité des arbres et la surface terrière du pin sylvestre (Pinus sylvestris L.) et de l'épinette de Norvège (Picea abies [L.] Karst) ont fait l'objet d'une étude et d'une comparaison dans des zones situées à la limite de la forêt de la Finlande septentrionale durant la période allant de 1983 à 1999. Des rangées de 9 à 12 parcelles circulaires ont été créées à 13 sites répartis dans 4 zones: les régions septentrionale et méridionale où dominait le pin sylvestre, et les régions occidentale et orientale où dominait l'épinette de Norvège. On a mesuré les changements temporels dans 3 zones d'altitude différente: dans la forêt, à la limite de la forêt de conifères (là où cesse la fermeture du couvert forestier), et à la limite des arbres (là où cessent les conifères de plus de 2 m de haut). La densité de semis du pin sylvestre diminuait brusquement dans la région méridionale, en particulier à la limite de la forêt, mais elle augmentait légèrement dans la région septentrionale. L'interaction zone-région-changement était significative. Le changement dans la densité de semis de l'épinette de Norvège était faible dans la forêt elle-même et dans les zones de la limite de la forêt, mais la densité avait plus que doublé à la limite des arbres. La densité des arbres et la surface terrière augmentaient dans toutes les zones et les régions. Une nouvelle régénération et un nouvel établissement d'arbres durant la période d'étude révèlent que la limite des arbres pourrait progresser. Il y avait toutefois une grande hétérogénéité dans la régénération et dans l'établissement des semis parmi les divers sites

Performance of moth larvae on birch in relation to altitude, climate, host quality and parasitoids

Abstract We studied topographical and year-to-year variation in the performance (pupal weights, survival) and larval parasitism of Epirrita autumnata larvae feeding on mountain birch in northernmost Finland in 1993-1996. We found differences in both food plant quality and parasitism between sites ranging from 80 m to 320 m above sea level. Variation in food plant quality had particularly marked effects on larval survival. The advanced phenology of the birches in relation to the start of the larval period reduced pupal weights. Parasitism rates were different between years and between sites. The clearest site differences were in the proportions of different parasitoid species: Eulophus larvarum was most abundant at the lowest-altitude sites, and Cotesia jucunda at the highest. Differences in the performance of E. autumnata were related to temperature conditions: at higher temperatures, survival and the egg production index were lower, and larval parasitism was higher than at lower temperatures. The higher parasitism at higher temperatures was probably due to greater parasitoid activity during warmer days. In the comparison of different sources of spatial and annual variation in the performance of E. autumnata, the most important factor appeared to be egg mortality related to minimum winter temperature, followed by parasitism and, finally, the variation in food plant quality. If, as predicted, the climate gradually warms up, the effects of warmer summers on the outbreaks of E. autumnata suggest a decrease in outbreak intensity

Viral and Bacterial Pathogens in Bovine Respiratory Disease in Finland

Pathogens causing bovine respiratory tract disease in Finland were investigated. Eighteen cattle herds with bovine respiratory disease were included. Five diseased calves from each farm were chosen for closer examination and tracheobronchial lavage. Blood samples were taken from the calves at the time of the investigation and from 86 calves 3–4 weeks later. In addition, 6–10 blood samples from animals of different ages were collected from each herd, resulting in 169 samples. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to bovine parainfluenza virus-3 (PIV-3), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), bovine adenovirus-3 (BAV-3) and bovine adenovirus-7 (BAV-7). About one third of the samples were also tested for antibodies to bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) with negative results. Bacteria were cultured from lavage fluid and in vitro susceptibility to selected antimicrobials was tested. According to serological findings, PIV-3, BAV-7, BAV-3, BCV and BRSV are common pathogens in Finnish cattle with respiratory problems. A titre rise especially for BAV-7 and BAV-3, the dual growth of Mycoplasma dispar and Pasteurella multocida, were typical findings in diseased calves. Pasteurella sp. strains showed no resistance to tested antimicrobials. Mycoplasma bovis and Mannheimia haemolytica were not found

The role of comptetitors for Chrysomela lapponica, a north Eurasian willow pest, in pioneering a new host plant

The Palaearctic leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica usually feeds upon willows in the northern region of its occurrence. However, in Central Europe, some populations are known that have specialised on birch. In this study, we investigated the significance of other herbivores occurring together on the same host plants as possible exploitative competitors of C. lapponica. Two populations were studied: a population from Finland specialised on the willow Salix borealis, and a population from the Czech Republic, specialised on the birch Betula pubescens. Abundances of folivorous and suctivorous insects on both host plants were recorded at both population sites. The willow leaf beetle Phratora vitellinae was the most abundant herbivorous insect at both study sites on willow. A field study was conducted to examine the effects of P. vitellinae on the performance of C. lapponica. The presence of P. vitellinae larvae on the same twig upon which C. lapponica larvae were feeding did not affect increase of body weight in C. lapponica larvae. Thus, the high resource availability of both willows and birches suggest that interspecific competition is unlikely to be a selection factor driving the evolution of host shift in C. lapponica

Complex responses of global insect pests to climate warming

Although it is well known that insects are sensitive to temperature, how they will be affected by ongoing global warming remains uncertain because these responses are multifaceted and ecologically complex. We reviewed the effects of climate warming on 31 globally important phytophagous (plant-eating) insect pests to determine whether general trends in their responses to warming were detectable. We included four response categories (range expansion, life history, population dynamics, and trophic interactions) in this assessment. For the majority of these species, we identified at least one response to warming that affects the severity of the threat they pose as pests. Among these insect species, 41% showed responses expected to lead to increased pest damage, whereas only 4% exhibited responses consistent with reduced effects; notably, most of these species (55%) demonstrated mixed responses. This means that the severity of a given insect pest may both increase and decrease with ongoing climate warming. Overall, our analysis indicated that anticipating the effects of climate warming on phytophagous insect pests is far from straightforward. Rather, efforts to mitigate the undesirable effects of warming on insect pests must include a better understanding of how individual species will respond, and the complex ecological mechanisms underlying their responses

From a rare inhabitant into a potential pest - status of the nun moth in Finland based on pheromone trapping

Forests are affected by climate change in various ways. This includes abiotic factors such as droughts, but also biotic damage by pest insects. There are numerous examples from cases where pest insects have benefitted from longer growing seasons or from warmer summers. Similarly, new pest insects have been able to expand their range due to climatic conditions that have changed from hostile to tolerable. Such seems to be the case with the nun moth (Lymantria monacha), an important defoliator of coniferous trees in Europe. For centuries, the species has had massive outbreaks across Central-Europe, while it has been a rare inhabitant in Northern Europe. Recently, the nun moth population in Finland has not only expanded in range, but also grown more abundant. This research note describes the results from the first years (2018-2019) of a monitoring program that is being conducted with pheromone traps across central and southern Finland. So far, the northernmost individuals were trapped near the 64 N degrees. However, there were more southern locations where no moths were trapped. The species was present in every trapping site below the latitude of 62 N degrees. More importantly, at some sites the abundance of the nun moth suggested that local forest damage may already occur. Given the current climatic scenarios for Fennoscandia, it is likely that the nun moth populations will continue to grow. which is why systematic surveys on their abundance and range expansions will be topical

Changing climate and outbreaks of forest pest insects in a cold northern country, Finland

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