Finding bridges between biodiversity research and ecosystem–based management

Today, it appears safe to say that in principle we know enough to improve management actions, but that existing and new knowledge is not applied to the extent needed. Adaptive policy and ecosystem-based management are considered ways forward for the future. To put things simple: this will require including more of what we know in policy and management and continuously reviewing and updating practices. The BONUS programme with projects bringing into contact integrative teams spanning broad areas of expertise from fundamental science to modellers and policy experts, but also ICES with its integrative working groups, foster a much needed basis for such adaptive management. They point the way towards a more generalised integration of the scientific, conservation, resource management and policy domains. These efforts are much needed and, if continued and expanded, will take us closer to a sustainable future for the Baltic Sea. In this article we give concrete examples based on research by three BONUS projects on how scientific information is integrated into adaptive fisheries management

Baltic Sea genetic biodiversity: Current knowledge relating to conservation management

1. The Baltic Sea has a rare type of brackish water environment which harbours unique genetic lineages of many species. The area is highly influenced by anthropogenic activities and is affected by eutrophication, climate change, habitat modifications, fishing and stocking. Effective genetic management of species in the Baltic Sea is highly warranted in order to maximize their potential for survival, but shortcomings in this respect have been documented. Lack of knowledge is one reason managers give for why they do not regard genetic diversity in management. 2. Here, the current knowledge of population genetic patterns of species in the Baltic Sea is reviewed and summarized with special focus on how the information can be used in management. The extent to which marine protected areas (MPAs) protect genetic diversity is also investigated in a case study of four key species. 3. Sixty‐one species have been studied genetically in the Baltic Sea, but comprehensive genetic information exists for only seven of them. Genetic monitoring shows genetic stability in some species but fluctuations and genetic changes in others. About half of the scientific studies published during the last 6 years provide conservation advice, indicating a high interest in the scientific community for relating results to practical management. 4. Populations in MPAs do not differ genetically from populations outside MPAs, indicating that MPAs in the Baltic Sea do not protect genetic diversity specifically, but that populations in MPAs are a representative subset of populations in the Baltic Sea. 5. Recommendations are provided for cases where genetic information is available but not used in management, particularly for non‐commercial species with important ecosystem function. 6. Improved channels for effective communication between academia and practical management on Baltic Sea genetic biodiversity are needed. A web page that can be used for knowledge transfer is highlighted here.publishedVersio

Eesti pilt Prantsuse trükimeedias

The aim of the present bachelor research consists in identifying the image of Estonia in French printed press. The author tries to follow the development of the image through the past 10 to 15 years and find its basic characteristics of today. Preceeding to the investigation of the image of Estonia, the author presents a brief overview of the social stereotypes in the intercultural communication and explains the meaning and nature of international social space. The theoretical background includes an overview of cooperation development of France and Estonia throughout the viewed time period in historical, political, cultural and economic fields. A short presentation of the French daily Le Monde gives a necessary background knowledge of the empiric material. In order to examine the image of Estonia, the main research questions were: How often and in which focus is Estonia represented in French print media ( a Baltic state, an ex-soviet country, a newly joined European Union member or one of the Nordic countries)? What are the main approaches and annotations to Estonia? The empiric material consits of three different sources: 1) French daily newspaper le Monde from the years 1996, 2001 and 2006. 2) Expert interviews with four specialists in French Estonian bilateral relations. The intreviewees were the media specialist and filmdirector Ilmar Raag, the translator Antoine Chalvin, the correspondent for Le Monde - Antoine Jacob and the previous Ambassador of Estonia in France - Andres Talvik . 3) Media reviews of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the past eight years (2000 – 2007) The research methods for the analysis of these materials included content analysis and unstandardized expert interview methods. The usage of three different sources allowed to capture a more precise image of Estonia in French printed press. The study found out that the representation of estonia in French print media is scarce, but has grown in comparison to the period of 10 to 15 years ago.Estonia is first and foremost regarded as a Baltic state, followed by the image of a new European union member and then as an ex-soviet country. Estonia is not perceived as part of the Nordic countries by the print media of France. These results were compatible with the outcomes of the research papers of Kristel Vaino in 2004 (the image of estonia in Swedish newspapers) and Kerli Kuusk in 2006 (the image of Estonia in Belgium and French dailies). Similarly to these two researches the author concluded that Estonia is mostly categorized as a Baltic country and no real difference is made between all the three Baltic states. The examination of three different empirical sources showed that 10 to 15 years ago Estonia was perceived as a poor and distant ex-soviet country. By teh year 2007 the image had shifted to that of a small EU country with a rapid economic growth and IT development, where most of the problem areas are connected to the Eastern neighbour Russia.http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2450792~S1*es

Monitoring genetic diversity with new indicators applied to an alpine freshwater top predator

Genetic diversity is the basis for population adaptation and long-term survival, yet rarely considered in biodiversity monitoring. One key issue is the need for useful and straightforward indicators of genetic diversity. We monitored genetic diversity over 40 years (1970–2010) in metapopulations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) inhabiting 27 small mountain lakes representing 10 lake systems in central Sweden using >1200 fish per time point. We tested six newly proposed indicators; three were designed for broad, international use in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and are currently applied in several countries. The other three were recently elaborated for national use by a Swedish science- management effort and applied for the first time here. The Swedish indicators use molecular genetic data to monitor genetic diversity within and between populations (indicators ΔH and ΔFST, respectively) and assess the effective population size (Ne- indicator). We identified 29 genetically distinct popula-tions, all retained over time. Twelve of the 27 lakes harboured more than one popula-tion indicating that brown trout biodiversity hidden as cryptic, sympatric populations are more common than recognized. The Ne indicator showed values below the thresh-old (Ne ≤ 500) in 20 populations with five showing Ne< 100. Statistically significant ge-netic diversity reductions occurred in several populations. Metapopulation structure appears to buffer against diversity loss; applying the indicators to metapopulations suggest mostly acceptable rates of change in all but one system. The CBD indicators agreed with the Swedish ones but provided less detail. All these indicators are appro-priate for managers to initiate monitoring of genetic biodiversitypublishedVersio

Raha olulisus subjektiivse heaolu ja õnnetunde mõjutajana 10. klassi õpilaste seas

http://www.ester.ee/record=b4496897*es

Practical application of indicators for genetic diversity in CBD post-2020 global biodiversity framework implementation

Genetic diversity is a key aspect of biological variation for the adaptability and survival of populations of species and must be monitored to assure maintenance. We used data from the Swedish Red List 2020 and from published reviews to apply three indicators for genetic diversity proposed for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We studied a wide range of taxonomic groups, and made more detailed indicator assessments for mammals and herptiles.For indicator 1, the proportion of populations with effective population size Ne > 500, 33% of 22,557 investigated species had a population size estimate that could be used as a proxy for Ne. For herptiles and mammals, 70% and 49% of populations of species, respectively, likely had Ne > 500.Data for evaluation of indicator 2, the proportion of remaining populations or historical range, was available for 20% of all species evaluated for the Red List. Meanwhile, 32% of the herptile and 84% of the mammal populations are maintaining their populations and range.For indicator 3, the number of species or populations in which genetic diversity is monitored using DNA-based methods, there are genetic studies on 3% of all species, and 0.3% are beeing monitored genetically. In contrast, 68% of mammals and 29% of herptiles are studied using DNA, and 8% of mammals and 24% of herptiles are genetically monitored.We conclude that the Red List provides data that are suitable for evaluating the genetic indicators, but the data quality can be improved. We also show that the genetic indicators capture conservation issues of genetic erosion that the Red List misses. There is a synergy in estimating the genetic indicators in parallel with the Red Listing process. We propose that indicator values could be included in national Red Listing as a new category "genetically threatened", based on the genetic indicators

Complex genetic diversity patterns of cryptic, sympatric brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations in tiny mountain lakes

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Charting a course for genetic diversity in the UN Decade of Ocean Science

The health of the world's oceans is intrinsically linked to the biodiversity of the ecosystems they sustain. The importance of protecting and maintaining ocean biodiversity has been affirmed through the setting of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the ocean for society's continuing needs. The decade beginning 2021-2030 has additionally been declared as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This program aims to maximize the benefits of ocean science to the management, conservation, and sustainable development of the marine environment by facilitating communication and cooperation at the science-policy interface. A central principle of the program is the conservation of species and ecosystem components of biodiversity. However, a significant omission from the draft version of the Decade of Ocean Science Implementation Plan is the acknowledgment of the importance of monitoring and maintaining genetic biodiversity within species. In this paper, we emphasize the importance of genetic diversity to adaptive capacity, evolutionary potential, community function, and resilience within populations, as well as highlighting some of the major threats to genetic diversity in the marine environment from direct human impacts and the effects of global climate change. We then highlight the significance of ocean genetic diversity to a diverse range of socioeconomic factors in the marine environment, including marine industries, welfare and leisure pursuits, coastal communities, and wider society. Genetic biodiversity in the ocean, and its monitoring and maintenance, is then discussed with respect to its integral role in the successful realization of the 2030 vision for the Decade of Ocean Science. Finally, we suggest how ocean genetic diversity might be better integrated into biodiversity management practices through the continued interaction between environmental managers and scientists, as well as through key leverage points in industry requirements for Blue Capital financing and social responsibility.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio