scholarly journals How to know about waters? Finnish traditional knowledge related to waters and implications for management reforms

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-718
Author(s):  
Tero Mustonen ◽  
Noora Huusari
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Boreal Ecosystems ◽  
Depth Of Knowledge ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Eastern Finland

Abstract Finnish lakes, rivers, the Baltic and wetlands–our aquatic ecosystems–are surveyed, assessed and studied using natural sciences and ecological data. We argue that this approach is leaving out a key repository of information–the traditional knowledge of waters. By reviewing aspects, qualities and depth of knowledge across Finland from mid-boreal ecosystems in Eastern Finland to large Saimaa lake system to Western Finnish lakes we demonstrate a potentially reformative approach to aquatic assessments. Cultural indicators, baseline data from oral histories, linguistic diversity and behaviour of species on lakes based on traditional knowledge observations have the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of ecosystem health. Of special importance are the spawning locations of fish known through traditional knowledge, but often ignored by science-based assessments.

scholarly journals Baltic States in NATO: Results of the Decade

2014 ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
V. V. Vorotnikov
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Elites ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Open Door Policy ◽  
Baltic States ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
The Baltic

In the post-Soviet period participation in NATO was one of the major goals of euro-atlantic integration for the Baltic states. Political leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have considered participation in the alliance as an important element of euro-atlantic solidarity which allows small - from all viewpoints - states claim decision-making over global issues. This satisfies demands of the political elites and victimized public consciousness for more security, makes it possible for elites to consider their states as bulwark against Russia. Throughout the whole decade, such reasoning has been reflected in doctrines and speeches of Baltic politicians. After joining NATO, the Baltic states became the most active supporters of a deeper integration in the military area and "open door" policy. They have continued reforming their armed forces and renovating military infrastructure. They have acquired "specialization" within NATO by establishing centers of excellence. In terms of euro-atlantic solidarity, the participation in the International Security Assistance Force in Afganistan has become the most important international project for the Baltic states. However, only Estonia managed to mount their defence expenses to the level of 2% GDP. During the „Ukranian crisis" the issue of Baltic membership in NATO acquired special importance. Confrontational rhetoric and appeals to "Russian threat" in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, on the one hand, make it possible for their political leaders to constantly demonstrate their importance in the eyes of Western partners and demand more activity of the alliance and, on the other hand, make ground for the political elites to consolidate the electorate, by that ensuring that the right-wing conservative forces remain in power.

Wise use: using ecological models to understand and manage aquatic ecosystems

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca E. Lester
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Models ◽  
Ecological Modelling ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Response Models ◽  
Ecological Response ◽  
Recommendations For Action ◽  
Ongoing Development

Using ecological-response models to understand and improve management of aquatic ecosystems is increasingly common. However, there are many questions about reliability and utility that can make the use of ecological modelling fraught. One critical question is how ecological-response models translate to what happens in practice. Many models purport to improve management by simulating ecological response to changing conditions. This suggests that tangible benefits (e.g. increased biodiversity) should flow when recommendations for action are implemented. But testing these links is rare and there are implications if those links are tenuous. One problem leading to a lack of congruence between models and reality can be a lack of ecological data for the system being modelled. Incomplete understanding, erroneous assumptions about drivers or degree of variability, and uncritical use of expert opinion can all result in models that may be more likely to mislead than inform. Explicit validation of models, sensitivity testing and ongoing development of novel solutions to deal with incomplete data can all assist. So, wise and critical use of ecological models provides one mechanism to increase our ability to quantify adverse effects on, and project future trajectories of, aquatic ecosystems.

scholarly journals Protecting Traditional Knowledge through Biocultural Community Protocols in Madagascar: Do Not Forget the “B” in BCP

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10255
Author(s):  
Manohisoa Rakotondrabe ◽  
Fabien Girard
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Access And Benefit Sharing ◽  
Social Conventions ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Ethnographic Studies ◽  
Wide Range

As in many other countries in the south, the traditional knowledge (TK) of local communities in Madagascar is facing extinction. Biocultural community protocols (BCP), introduced in Madagascar following the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol (2010) and defined by the Mo’otz Kuxtal Voluntary Guidelines as “a wide range of expressions, articulations, rules and practices produced by communities to indicate how they wish to engage in negotiations with stakeholders”, holds out hopes for TK protection. By analysing two pilot BCPs in Madagascar, one established around the Motrobe (Cinnamosma fragrans) with a view to strengthening the existing value chain (BCP in Mariarano and Betsako) and the second initially established around plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (BCP of the farmers in Analavory), this study aims to assess the place and value ascribed to TK in the overall BCP development process and to analyse whether or not the process has helped to strengthen and revitalise TK at the community level. The ethnographic studies show commonalities in both BCP, in particular their main focus on access and benefit-sharing mechanisms, this against the backdrop of an economic model which stresses the importance of financial and institutional incentives; and conversely, a relative disregard for what relates to the biocultural dimension of TK. Local taboos (fady) as well as traditional dina (social conventions), which have long allowed for the regulation of access to common resources/TK, are scarcely mentioned. Based on these findings, we conclude that in order to revitalise TK, the process of developing BCPs should recognise and give special importance to TK, considering it as a biocultural whole, bound together with the territory, local customs, and biological resources; or else, TK is likely to remain a commodity to be valued economically, or a component like any other.

scholarly journals Genomic and Seasonal Variations among Aquatic Phages Infecting the Baltic Sea Gammaproteobacterium Rheinheimera sp. Strain BAL341

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Nilsson ◽  
K. Li ◽  
J. Fridlund ◽  
S. Šulčius ◽  
C. Bunse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Host System ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Metabolic Genes ◽  
The Baltic

ABSTRACT Knowledge in aquatic virology has been greatly improved by culture-independent methods, yet there is still a critical need for isolating novel phages to identify the large proportion of “unknowns” that dominate metagenomes and for detailed analyses of phage-host interactions. Here, 54 phages infecting Rheinheimera sp. strain BAL341 (Gammaproteobacteria) were isolated from Baltic Sea seawater and characterized through genome content analysis and comparative genomics. The phages showed a myovirus-like morphology and belonged to a novel genus, for which we propose the name Barbavirus. All phages had similar genome sizes and numbers of genes (80 to 84 kb; 134 to 145 genes), and based on average nucleotide identity and genome BLAST distance phylogeny, the phages were divided into five species. The phages possessed several genes involved in metabolic processes and host signaling, such as genes encoding ribonucleotide reductase and thymidylate synthase, phoH, and mazG. One species had additional metabolic genes involved in pyridine nucleotide salvage, possibly providing a fitness advantage by further increasing the phages’ replication efficiency. Recruitment of viral metagenomic reads (25 Baltic Sea viral metagenomes from 2012 to 2015) to the phage genomes showed pronounced seasonal variations, with increased relative abundances of barba phages in August and September synchronized with peaks in host abundances, as shown by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Overall, this study provides detailed information regarding genetic diversity, phage-host interactions, and temporal dynamics of an ecologically important aquatic phage-host system. IMPORTANCE Phages are important in aquatic ecosystems as they influence their microbial hosts through lysis, gene transfer, transcriptional regulation, and expression of phage metabolic genes. Still, there is limited knowledge of how phages interact with their hosts, especially at fine scales. Here, a Rheinheimera phage-host system constituting highly similar phages infecting one host strain is presented. This relatively limited diversity has previously been seen only when smaller numbers of phages have been isolated and points toward ecological constraints affecting the Rheinheimera phage diversity. The variation of metabolic genes among the species points toward various fitness advantages, opening up possibilities for future hypothesis testing. Phage-host dynamics monitored over several years point toward recurring “kill-the-winner” oscillations and an ecological niche fulfilled by this system in the Baltic Sea. Identifying and quantifying ecological dynamics of such phage-host model systems in situ allow us to understand and study the influence of phages on aquatic ecosystems.

scholarly journals Japanese Application of Bioassays for Environmental Management

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 537-541
Author(s):  
Takashi Kusui
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Ecotoxicological Assessment ◽  
Complex Liquids ◽  
Toxicological Data ◽  
Two Factors

The increasing number of existing and new chemicals demands ecotoxicological data as well as toxicological data for pre- and postmarketing risk assessments. Although human health has been the major concern in Japanese environmental management, ecosystem health is becoming the big issue as the need for preserving the diversity of ecosystems has been recognized. This recognition is changing the regulatory framework in Japan, resulting in new actions toward establishment of water-quality standards for aquatic organisms and ecotoxicological assessment of existing chemicals. At the same time, the need to assess complex liquids that contain several kinds of chemicals is increasing. The ecotoxicological study of Japanese effluents shows that the present chemical-specific standards are not enough to protect aquatic ecosystems. These two factors encourage the application of ecotoxicological tests as well as the toxicological data.

scholarly journals Multiyear variations in High Arctic river temperatures in response to climate variability

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Bolduc ◽  
Scott F. Lamoureux
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
River System ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Small Rivers ◽  
Wide Range

Water temperature measurements (2004–2016) from two small rivers in the High Arctic were analyzed to determine the effects of climate variability on thermal regime and the sensitivity to climate change. The East and West rivers (unofficial names) drain similar watersheds (11.6 and 8.0 km2, respectively) and are located at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory (CBAWO), Melville Island, Canada (74°55′N, 109°35′W). Differences in seasonal timing of river temperatures were evident when comparing the coldest and warmest years of the study period, and across different discharge conditions. Snowmelt runoff is characterized by uniformly cold water (∼0–1 °C) over a wide range of discharge conditions, followed by warming water temperatures during flow recession. The rivers showed varying sensitivity to mid-summer air temperature conditions in a given year, with warmer years indicating high correlation (r2 = 0.794–0.929), whereas colder years showed reduced correlation (r2 = 0.368–0.778). River temperatures reached levels which are reported to negatively affect fish and other cold-water aquatic species (>18 °C) with greater frequency and duration during the warmest years. These results provide a basis to further enhance prediction of river thermal conditions to assess ecosystem health in a river system and to refine insights into the effects of climate change on High Arctic aquatic ecosystems.

scholarly journals Transfer of the Neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) in the Agro–Aqua Cycle

Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sea-Yong Kim ◽  
Sara Rydberg
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Protein Amino Acid ◽  
Blue Mussels ◽  
Eye Tissues ◽  
The Baltic

The neurotoxic non-protein amino acid β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is connected to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. BMAA has been shown to accumulate in aquatic ecosystems, and filter-feeding molluscs seem particularly susceptible to BMAA accumulation. The blue mussels farmed along the Swedish coastline in the Baltic Sea are, due to their small size, exclusively used to produce feed for chicken and fish in the agro–aqua cycle. We have investigated the possible biotransfer of BMAA from mussels, via mussel-based feed, into chickens. Chickens were divided into two groups, the control and the treatment. BMAA was extracted from the muscle, liver, brain, and eye tissues in both chicken groups; a UPLC-MS/MS method was subsequently used to quantify BMAA. The results indicate detectable concentrations of BMAA in both chicken groups. However, the BMAA concentration in chicken was 5.65 times higher in the treatment group than the control group, with the highest concentration found in muscle tissue extracted from the treatment group chickens. These data suggest that there is a BMAA transfer route within the agro-aqua cycle, so further investigation is recommended before using mussel-based feed in the chicken industry.

scholarly journals The Baltic Sea Virome: Diversity and Transcriptional Activity of DNA and RNA Viruses

mSystems ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Zeigler Allen ◽  
John P. McCrow ◽  
Karolina Ininbergs ◽  
Christopher L. Dupont ◽  
Jonathan H. Badger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Marker Gene ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Single Marker ◽  
The Baltic

ABSTRACT Inferred virus-host relationships, community structures of ubiquitous ecologically relevant groups, and identification of transcriptionally active populations have been achieved with our Baltic Sea study. Further, these data, highlighting the transcriptional activity of viruses, represent one of the more powerful uses of omics concerning ecosystem health. The use of omics-related data to assess ecosystem health holds great promise for rapid and relatively inexpensive determination of perturbations and risk, explicitly with regard to viral assemblages, as no single marker gene is suitable for widespread taxonomic coverage. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data were generated from size-fractionated samples from 11 sites within the Baltic Sea and adjacent marine waters of Kattegat and freshwater Lake Torneträsk in order to investigate the diversity, distribution, and transcriptional activity of virioplankton. Such a transect, spanning a salinity gradient from freshwater to the open sea, facilitated a broad genome-enabled investigation of natural as well as impacted aspects of Baltic Sea viral communities. Taxonomic signatures representative of phages within the widely distributed order Caudovirales were identified with enrichments in lesser-known families such as Podoviridae and Siphoviridae. The distribution of phage reported to infect diverse and ubiquitous heterotrophic bacteria (SAR11 clades) and cyanobacteria (Synechococcus sp.) displayed population-level shifts in diversity. Samples from higher-salinity conditions (>14 practical salinity units [PSU]) had increased abundances of viruses for picoeukaryotes, i.e., Ostreococcus. These data, combined with host diversity estimates, suggest viral modulation of diversity on the whole-community scale, as well as in specific prokaryotic and eukaryotic lineages. RNA libraries revealed single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and RNA viral populations throughout the Baltic Sea, with ssDNA phage highly represented in Lake Torneträsk. Further, our data suggest relatively high transcriptional activity of fish viruses within diverse families known to have broad host ranges, such as Nodoviridae (RNA), Iridoviridae (DNA), and predicted zoonotic viruses that can cause ecological and economic damage as well as impact human health. IMPORTANCE Inferred virus-host relationships, community structures of ubiquitous ecologically relevant groups, and identification of transcriptionally active populations have been achieved with our Baltic Sea study. Further, these data, highlighting the transcriptional activity of viruses, represent one of the more powerful uses of omics concerning ecosystem health. The use of omics-related data to assess ecosystem health holds great promise for rapid and relatively inexpensive determination of perturbations and risk, explicitly with regard to viral assemblages, as no single marker gene is suitable for widespread taxonomic coverage.

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