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A main goal of ecological and evolutionary biology is understanding and predicting interactions between populations and both abiotic and biotic environments, the spatial and temporal variation of these interactions, and the effects on population dynamics and performance. Trait-based approaches can help to model these interactions and generate a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem functioning. A central tool is the collation of databases that include species trait information. Such centralized databases have been set up for a number of organismal groups but is lacking for one of the most important groups of predators in terrestrial ecosystems – spiders. Here we promote the collation of an open spider traits database, integrated into the global Open Traits Network. We explore the current collation of spider data and cover the logistics of setting up a global database, including which traits to include, the source of data, how to input data, database governance, geographic cover, accessibility, quality control and how to make the database sustainable long-term. Finally, we explore the scope of research questions that could be investigated using a global spider traits database.

Across Africa, the illegal use of poison is triggering a continent-wide scavenger crisis, with vultures suffering the most severe negative consequences. Vultures may die as indirect victims of the conflict between livestock farmers and predators, or they may be directly targeted by poachers with the aim to reduce the role of vultures as sentinels that alert authorities of poaching events. In this study, we provide novel information on vulture mortalities across the commercial farmlands of Namibia. We show that estimated mortalities of vultures due to anthropogenic causes amount to over 800 individuals over the period 2000-2015, which underscores the magnitude of the problem. The highest numbers of vulture deaths were reported from the southern half of the country, with the exception of the areas just south of Etosha National Park, and poisoning was the greatest cause of reported deaths. Aldicarb or carbofuran were the most commonly used poisons, but strychnine is still used by about one farmer out of 10. Poison is typically used by means of distributing poisoned baits in the landscape. Furthermore, willingness to use poison in the future was highest for farmers who own large properties with high livestock numbers, particularly sheep and goats, farmers who purportedly suffered high livestock losses to predators and who have a negative perception towards predators. We discuss the implications of these results and the possible urgent actions that should be implemented in order to address this devastating practice before it will impact vulture populations to irreversible levels.

A bipolar disjunction is an extreme, yet common, biogeographic pattern in non-vascular plants, yet its underlyingmechanisms (vicariance or long-distance dispersal), origin and timing remain poorly understood. Here, combining a large-scale population dataset and multiple dating analyses, we examine the biogeography of four bipolar Polytrichales mosses, common to the Holarctic (temperate and polar Northern Hemisphere regions) and the Antarctic region (Antarctic, sub-Antarctic, southern South America) and other Southern Hemisphere (SH) regions. Our data reveal contrasting patterns, for three species were of Holarctic origin, with subsequent dispersal to the SH, while one, currently a particularly common species in the Holarctic (Polytrichum juniperinum), diversified in the Antarctic region and from here colonized both the Holarctic and other SH regions. Our findings suggest long-distance dispersal as the driver of bipolar disjunctions. We find such inter-hemispheric dispersals are rare, occurring on multi-million-year timescales. High-altitude tropical populations did not act as trans-equatorial 'steppingstones', but rather were derived from later dispersal events. All arrivals to the Antarctic region occurred well before the Last Glacial Maximum and previous glaciations, suggesting that, despite the harsh climate during these past glacial maxima, plants have had a much longer presence in this southern region than previously thought.

The Palaearctic species of the Cheilosia caerulescens group (Diptera: Syrphidae) are revised in this work. The species group belongs to the genus Cheilosia subgenus Taeniocheilosia Oldenberg. One new species is described from north Caucasus, Cheilosia (Taeniocheilosia) circassica sp. n. Cheilosia primulae Hering is established as a junior synonym of Cheilosia laeviventris Loew. Four lectotype designations are made. The species of the Cheilosia caerulescens group are redescribed and illustrated, and a table of diagnostic characters and an identification key to species are provided. MtDNA COI barcodes were generated for several specimens of C. (T.) caerulescens Meigen and other Cheilosia (Taeniocheilosia) and Cheilosia s. str. taxa. Parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses did not place the morphologically similar C. hercyniae Loew in the C. caerulescens group but among other Cheilosia (Taeniocheilosia) taxa. The following eight taxa are included in the Cheilosia (T.) caerulescens group of species: Cheilosia armeniaca Stackelberg, 1960, C. caerulescens caerulescens (Meigen, 1822), C. caerulescens calculosa Skufjin, 1977, C. circassica sp. n., C. herculana Bradescu, 1982, C. kerteszi Szilady, 1938, C. laeviventris Loew, 1857, and C. venosa Loew, 1857.

The myrmecophile larva of the dipteran taxon Nothomicrodon Wheeler is rediscovered, almost a century after its original description and unique report. The systematic position of this dipteran has remained enigmatic due to the absence of reared imagos to confirm indentity. We also failed to rear imagos, but we scrutinized entire nests of the Brazilian arboreal dolichoderine ant Azteca chartifex which, combined with morphological and molecular studies, enabled us to establish beyond doubt that Nothomicrodon belongs to the Phoridae (Insecta: Diptera), not the Syrphidae where it was first placed, and that the species we studied is an endoparasitoid of the larvae of A. chartifex, exclusively attacking sexual female (gyne) larvae. Northomicrodon parasitism can exert high fitness costs to a host colony. Our discovery adds one more case to the growing number of phorid taxa known to parasitize ant larvae and suggests that many others remain to be discovered. Our findings and literature review confirm that the Phoridae is the only taxon known that parasitizes both adults and the immature stages of different castes of ants, thus threatening ants on all fronts.

Climate change has become a major threat for biodiversity in recent decades. Waterbirds, in particular, are very responsive to climate change compared to other avian species and have already shown changes in phenology and distribution. Such strong and rapid response of some species to climate change has motivated debate about the effectiveness of the site-safeguard network, as climate change may ultimately push species of conservation concern out of the protected areas. One such network, which aims to protect all European bird species, is the Special Protection Area (SPA), designated under the EU Birds Directive. My thesis overviews the most important environmental factors acting upon Nordic waterbird populations now and in the future. In addition, I studied (i) the spatial changes in wintering abundances of 25 waterbird species in Europe in relation to weather conditions, (ii) the effectiveness of the SPA network delivering climate change adaptation for a protected waterbird species and (iii) the effects of weather conditions and habitat type on the abundance of 17 waterbird species breeding in Finland. Results show differential response of 25 waterbird species (classified into five guilds) to inter-annual variation in weather conditions. The centre of gravity in abundance of dabbling ducks, diving ducks, swans and other waterbird species (non-Anatidae) moved southwestwards in cold winters. On the other hand, only the centre of gravity in abundance of dabbling and diving ducks moved northeastwards in warm, and a priori beneficial, winter weather conditions. In this case, diving ducks responded the fastest. There was no link between the movement of the centre of gravity in abundance of geese with winter weather conditions. These differences in responses to weather conditions are probably related to different food and habitat requirements during winter as well as to life-history traits. Furthermore, while the centre of gravity in abundance of diving ducks showed a st, Ilmastonmuutoksesta on tullut merkittävä uhka luonnon monimuotoisuudelle. Vesilinnuilla on osoitettu ilmaston aiheuttamia muutoksia fenologiassa ja levinneisyydessä, ja ne reagoivat voimakkaammin muuttuvaan ilmastoon kuin monet muut lintulajiryhmät. Nopeat muutokset ovat käynnistäneet keskustelun suojelualueverkoston toimivuudesta ilmaston ja lajien levinneisyysalueiden muuttuessa, sillä ilmastonmuutos voi työntää suojeltavan lajin levinneisyyden suojelualueiden ulkopuolelle. Euroopan Unionin lintudirektiivin perusteella rauhoitetut SPA-alueet (Special Protection Areas) muodostavat merkittävän suojelualueverkoston. Väitöskirjani koostuu neljästä osatyöstä ja näiden yhteenvedosta. Ensimmäinen osatyöni käsittelee tärkeimpiä Pohjoismaiden sorsakantoihin nyt ja tulevaisuudessa vaikuttavia tekijöitä. Loput kolme osatyötäni tarkastelevat (i) vesilintujen talvipopulaatioiden muutoksia Euroopassa 25 vesilintulajilla viime vuosikymmeninä, (ii) EU:n suojelualueverkoston tehokkuutta sopeutua vesilintujen talviaikaisiin levinneisyysmuutoksiin ja (iii) säätekijöiden sekä elinympäristön laadun yhteisvaikutusta 17 vesilintulajin pesimäpopulaatioihin Suomessa. Tulokset osoittavat, että viiteen vesilintukiltaan jaetut 25 vesilintulajia reagoivat eri tavalla talven sääolojen vaihteluun. Puolisukeltaja- ja sukeltajasorsien ja joutsenten talviset runsauden painopisteet siirtyivät kohti lounasta kylminä talvina, mutta keskimääräistä lämpiminä talvina painopiste siirtyi kohti koillista vain puolisukeltaja- ja sukeltajasorsilla. Sukeltajasorsat olivat ainoa ryhmä, jolla talvirunsauden painopiste on siirtynyt kohti koillista viimeisen 25 vuoden aikana. Alueelliset muutokset lajien talvirunsauden muutoksista ja niiden yhteys talven sääoloihin riippunevat lajiryhmien ravinto- ja elinympäristövaatimuksista. Erillinen tarkastelu EU:n lintudirektiivin erityissuojellulla sukeltajasorsalajilla, uivelolla, osoitti, että Pohjois-Euroopassa talvehtivien lintujen osuus koko talvikannasta on kasvanut

The combined effects of climate and land-use change constitute a major threat to global biodiversity. Accurate tools to track changes in biodiversity have been largely called upon in order to address global conservation targets. In response to this, a range of ecological indicators have been developed to measure the state of biodiversity in a changing world. Because of their sensitivity to environmental changes, birds are increasingly used in the construction of multi-species indicators, which represent a powerful tool for decision-makers to assess conservation effectiveness. This work aims to further our understanding of the general state of bird populations in Finland and the underlying ecological processes behind corresponding trends, covering different environments and with a special focus on some of the most threatened ecosystems of northern Europe. Using data on common bird species, the effects of climate change and anthropogenic habitat degradation on bird populations are quantified for different habitat types and seasons of the year. Habitat-specific indicators are also produced to deepen knowledge about large-scale impacts taking place in the environment while allowing an evaluation of the conservation status of bird populations, thus helping target the most critical conservation issues. Although the effects of climate and land-use change on bird populations vary significantly with the habitat type and the life-history traits of the species (e.g. migration strategy), the conservation status of nearly all studied communities is considerably deteriorating in both Finland and its neighbouring Northern European countries. Peatlands and forests are of particular concern, given that intensive management actions are severely impacting the inhabiting bird communities., Ilmastonmuutoksen ja maankäytön tehostumisen yhteisvaikutus uhkaa luonnon monimuotoisuutta maailmanlaajuisesti. Kansainvälisesti sovittujen luonnonsuojelutavoitteiden onnistumisen arvioimista varten tarvitaan luotettavia seurantamenetelmiä. Niinpä monia ekologisia indikaattoreita on kehitetty mittaamaan luonnon monimuotoisuuden tilaa muuttuvassa maailmassa. Linnut reagoivat nopeasti ympäristönmuutoksiin, minkä takia niitä käytetään yleisesti monista lajeista koostuvissa yleisindikaattoreissa, jotka toimivat tehokkaina työkaluina päätöksentekijöille luonnonsuojelun toimivuuden mittaamisessa. Väitöskirjani tarkoituksena oli lisätä ymmärrystä lintukantojemme yleisestä tilasta Suomessa sekä ekologisista prosesseista, jotka selittävät kannanmuutoksia. Mallinsin ilmastonmuutoksen ja lajien elinympäristöjen laadun heikkenemisen vaikutuksia yleisten lintulajien kannanvaihteluihin eri elinympäristöissä ja vuodenaikoina. Laskin myös elinympäristökohtaisia indikaattoreita, joiden avulla voi sekä seurata suuren mittakaavan muutoksia luonnossa että arvioida eri elinympäristöjen lintulajien suojelun tarvetta. Ilmastonmuutoksen ja maankäytön muutosten vaikutukset lintupopulaatioihin vaihtelivat selvästi eri elinympäristöissä ja lajien ominaisuuksien (esim. muuttostrategia) välillä. Silti lähes kaikissa tutkimissani lintulajiyhteisöissä Suomessa ja läheisissä Pohjois-Euroopan maissa lajien uhanalaisuusluokitukset olivat huonontuneet. Erityisesti soiden ja metsien lintujen tilanne on huolestuttava, koska tehometsätalous, soiden ojitus ja turvetuotanto ovat vaikuttaneet negatiivisesti lintuyhteisöihin.

Human actions have led to loss and degradation of wetlands, impairing their suitability as habitat especially for waterbirds. Such negative effects may be mitigated through habitat management. To date scientific evidence regarding the impacts of these actions remains scarce. We studied guild specific abundances of breeding and staging birds in response to habitat management on 15 Finnish wetlands. In this study management actions comprised several means of vegetation removal to thwart overgrowth. Management cost efficiency was assessed by examining the association between site-specific costs and bird abundances. Several bird guilds exhibited positive connections with both habitat management as well as with invested funds. Most importantly, however, red-listed species and species with special conservation concern as outlined by the EU showed positive correlations with management actions, underlining the conservation value of wetland management. The results suggest that grazing was especially efficient in restoring overgrown wetlands. As a whole this study makes it clear that wetland habitat management constitutes a feasible conservation tool. The marked association between invested funds and bird abundance may prove to be a valuable tool for decision makers when balancing costs and impact of conservation measures against one another.

Despite being popular among amateur and professional lepidopterologists and posing great opportunities for evolutionary research, the phylogenetic relationships of tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) are not well resolved. Here we provide the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the subtribe Arctiina with the basic aim of clarifying the phylogenetic position of the Wood Tiger Moth Parasemia plantaginis Hubner, a model species in evolutionary ecology. We sampled 89 species in 52 genera within Arctiina s.l., 11 species of Callimorphina and two outgroup species. We sequenced up to seven nuclear genes (CAD, GAPDH, IDH, MDH, Ef1, RpS5, Wingless) and one mitochondrial gene (COI) including the barcode region (a total of 5915 bp). Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference resulted in a well-resolved phylogenetic hypothesis, consisting of four clades within Arctiina s.s. and a clade comprising spilosomine species in addition to Callimorphina and outgroups. Based on our results, we present a new classification, where we consider the Diacrisia clade, Chelis clade, Apantesis clade, Micrarctia Seitz and Arctia clade as valid genera within Arctiina s.s., whereas Rhyparia Hubner syn.n. and Rhyparioides Butler syn.n. are synonymized with Diacrisia Hubner; Neoarctia Neumoegen & Dyar syn.n., Tancrea Pungeler syn.n., Hyperborea Grum-Grshimailo syn.n., Palearctia Ferguson syn.n., Holoarctia Ferguson syn.n., Sibirarctia Dubatolov syn.n. and Centrarctia Dubatolov syn.n. are synonymized with Chelis Rambur; Grammia Rambur syn.n., Orodemnias Wallengren syn.n., Mimarctia Neumoegen & Dyar syn.n., Notarctia Smith syn.n. and Holarctia Smith syn.n. are synonymized with Apantesis Walker; and Epicallia Hubner syn.n., Eucharia Hubner syn.n., Hyphoraia Hubner syn.n., Parasemia Hubner syn.n., Pericallia Hubner syn.n., Nemeophila Stephens syn.n., Ammobiota Wallengren syn.n., Platarctia Packard syn.n., Chionophila Guenee syn.n., Eupsychoma Grote syn.n., Gonerda Moore syn.n., Platyprepia Dyar syn.n., Pr

We report here the first genome sequence of the white-rot fungus Obba rivulosa (Polyporales, Basidiomycota), a polypore known for its lignin-decomposing ability. The genome is based on the homokaryon 3A-2 originating in Finland. The genome is typical in size and carbohydrate active enzyme (CAZy) content for wood-decomposing basidiomycetes.

Based on a recent expedition, we report 36 moss species and one liverwort species from Kyrgyzstan. Orthotrichum affine Brid. is a new record for the country, and several species are reported as new to various provinces. Many of the species are common in large areas of the Northern Hemisphere, which demonstrates how the bryophyte flora of Kyrgyzstan is still poorly known.

For the first time ever, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Index for habitat types was calculated for an entire country, Finland. The RLIs were based on species threat assessments from 2000 and 2010 and included habitat definitions for all 10,131 species of 12 organism groups. The RLIs were bootstrapped to track statistically significant changes. The RLI changes of species grouped by habitats were negative for all habitat types except for forests and rural biotopes which showed a stable trend. Trends of beetles and true bugs were positive in rural and forest habitats. Other 16 observed trends of species group and habitat combinations were negative. Several trends observed were in accordance with studies focusing on particular taxa and habitats, and drivers for their change. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the RLI as a tool for observing habitat change based on species threat assessment data.

Effective nature conservation in human-dominated landscapes requires a deep understanding of human behaviors, perceptions and values. Human-wildlife conflicts represent relatively well-studied, global-scale conservation challenges. In Africa, vulture populations are collapsing as they fall victim to poison used by livestock farmers to kill predators, but our understanding of the prevalence of this practice is still very poor. We gathered data on the prevalence of poison use in Namibia by means of questionnaires completed by commercial farmers. The data were collected and analyzed with ad-hoc quantitative methods. We quantified prevalence of poison use, determined factors associated with this practice and derived a map of its prevalence. We found that 20% of commercial farmers in Namibia used poison; farmers that owned high numbers of small stock and on large farms, and those who had suffered high livestock losses to predators, were most likely to admit to using poison. We pinpoint areas of high prevalence of reported poison use, which are largely concentrated in the south of the country. Furthermore, we report a generally positive perception of commercial farmers towards vultures, which may indicate future potential to implement bottom-up approaches for vulture conservation. Overall, the findings have important implications for prioritizing efforts to effectively tackle the African vulture crisis and preserve healthy ecosystems for the wellbeing of humans and wildlife. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We explored whether DNA-phylogeny-based and morphology-based genus concepts can be reconciled in the basidiomycete family Phanerochaetaceae. Our results show that macromorphology of fruiting bodies and hymenophore construction do not reflect monophyletic groups. However, by integrating micromorphology and re-defining genera, harmonization of DNA phylogeny and morphological genus concepts is possible in most cases. In the case of one genus (Phlebiopsis), our genetic markers could not resolve genus limits satisfactorily and a clear morphological definition could not be identified. We combine extended species sampling, microscopic studies of fruiting bodies and phylogenetic analyses of ITS, nLSU and rpb1 to revise genus concepts. Three new polypore genera are ascribed to the Phanerochaetaceae: Oxychaete gen. nov. (type Oxyporus cervinogilvus), Phanerina gen. nov. (type Ceriporia mellea), and Riopa (including Ceriporia metamorphosa and Riopa pudens sp. nov.). Phlebiopsis is extended to include Dentocorticium pilatii, further species of Hjortstamia and the monotypic polypore genus Castanoporus. The polypore Ceriporia inflata is combined into Phanerochaete. The identity of the type species of the genus Riopa, R. davidii, has been misinterpreted in the current literature. The species has been included in Ceriporia as a species of its own or placed in synonymy with Ceriporia camaresiana. The effort to properly define R. davidii forced us to study Ceriporia more widely. In the process we identified five closely related Ceriporia species that belong to the true Ceriporia clade (Irpicaceae). We describe those species here, and introduce the Ceriporia pierii group. We also select a lectotype and an epitype for Riopa metamorphosa and neotypes for Sporotrichum aurantiacum and S. aurantium, the type species of the anamorphic genus Sporotrichum, and recommend that teleomorphic Riopa is conserved against it.

Increased deployment of renewable energy can contribute towards mitigating climate change and improving air quality, wealth and development. However, renewable energy technologies are not free of environmental impacts; thus, it is important to identify opportunities and potential threats from the expansion of renewable energy deployment. Currently, there is no cross-national comprehensive analysis linking renewable energy potential simultaneously to socio-economic and political factors and biodiversity priority locations. Here, we quantify the relationship between the fraction of land-based renewable energy (including solar photovoltaic, wind and bioenergy) potential available outside the top biodiversity areas (i.e. outside the highest ranked 30% priority areas for biodiversity conservation) within each country, with selected socio-economic and geopolitical factors as well as biodiversity assets. We do so for two scenarios that identify priority areas for biodiversity conservation alternatively in a globally coordinated manner vs. separately for individual countries. We show that very different opportunities and challenges emerge if the priority areas for biodiversity protection are identified globally or designated nationally. In the former scenario, potential for solar, wind and bioenergy outside the top biodiversity areas is highest in developing countries, in sparsely populated countries and in countries of low biodiversity potential but with high air pollution mortality. Conversely, when priority areas for biodiversity protection are designated nationally, renewable energy potential outside the top biodiversity areas is highest in countries with good governance but also in countries with high biodiversity potential and population density. Overall, these results identify both clear opportunities but also risks that should be considered carefully when making decisions about renewable energy policies.

The effect of habitat management is commonly evaluated by measuring population growth, which does not distinguish changes in reproductive success from changes in survival or the effects of immigration or emigration. Management has rarely been evaluated considering complete life cycle of the target organisms, including also possible negative impacts from management. We evaluated the effectiveness of cattle grazing in the restoration of coastal meadows as a breeding habitat for small and medium-sized ground-nesting birds by examining the size and demography of a southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) breeding population. Using a stochastic renesting model that includes within-season variation in breeding parameters, we evaluated the effect of grazing time and stocking rates on reproduction. The census data indicated that the population was stable when nest trampling was prevented, but detailed demographic models showed that the population on managed meadows was a sink that persisted by attracting immigrants. Even small reductions in reproductive success caused by trampling were detrimental to long-term viability. We suggest that the best management strategy is to postpone grazing to after the 19th of June, which is about three weeks later than what is optimal from the farmer's point of view. The differing results from the two evaluation approaches warn against planning and evaluating management only based on census population size and highlight the need to consider target-specific life history characteristics and demography. Even though grazing management is crucial for creating and maintaining suitable habitats, we found that it was insufficient in maintaining a viable population without additional measures that increase nest success. In the presently studied case and in populations with similar breeding cycles, impacts from nest trampling can be avoided by starting grazing when about 70% of the breeding season has past.

This data release provides COI barcodes for 366 species of parasitic flies (Diptera: Tachinidae), enabling the DNA based identification of the majority of northern European species and a large proportion of Palearctic genera, regardless of the developmental stage. The data will provide a tool for taxonomists and ecologists studying this ecologically important but challenging parasitoid family. A comparison of minimum distances between the nearest neighbors revealed the mean divergence of 5.52% that is approximately the same as observed earlier with comparable sampling in Lepidoptera, but clearly less than in Coleoptera. Full barcode-sharing was observed between 13 species pairs or triplets, equaling to 7.36% of all species. Delimitation based on Barcode Index Number (BIN) system was compared with traditional classification of species and interesting cases of possible species oversplits and cryptic diversity are discussed. Overall, DNA barcodes are effective in separating tachinid species and provide novel insight into the taxonomy of several genera.

Two blue mussel lineages of Pliocene origin, Mytilus edulis (ME) and M. trossulus (MT), co-occur and hybridize in several regions on the shores of the North Atlantic. The two species were distinguished from each other by molecular methods in the 1980s, and a large amount of comparative data on them has been accumulated since that time. However, while ME and MT are now routinely distinguished by various genetic markers, they tend to be overlooked in ecological studies since morphological characters for taxonomic identification have been lacking, and no consistent habitat differences between lineages have been reported. Surveying a recently discovered area of ME and MT co-occurrence in the White Sea and employing a set of allozyme markers for identification, we address the issue whether ME and MT are true biological species with distinct ecological characteristics or just virtual genetic entities with no matching morphological and ecological identities. We find that: (1) in the White Sea, the occurrence of MT is largely concentrated in harbors, in line with observations from other subarctic regions of Europe; (2) mixed populations of ME and MT are always dominated by purebred individuals, animals classified as hybrids constituting only ca. 18%; (3) in terms of shell morphology, 80% of MT bear a distinct uninterrupted dark prismatic strip under the ligament while 97% of ME lack this character; (4) at sites of sympatry MT is more common on algal substrates while ME mostly lives directly on the bottom. This segregation by the substrate may contribute to maintaining reproductive isolation and decreasing competition between taxa. We conclude that while ME and MT are not fully reproductively isolated, they do represent clearly distinguishable biological, ecological and morphological entities in the White Sea. It remains to be documented whether the observed morphological and ecological differences are of a local character, or whether they have simply been overlooked in othe

To find out ability of fourteen basidiomycetes and four ascomycetes strains to grow in the presence of synthetic colour dyes and to degrade them, fungi were cultivated on the malt agar plates containing 0.5 g kg-1 dye, either Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Remazol Brilliant Yellow GL, Remazol Brilliant Orange 3 R, Reactive Blue 4, Remazol Brilliant Red F3B or Reactive Black 5. Fungi representing basidiomycetes were Phlebia radiata (FBCC 43), Tremella encephala (FBCC 1145), Dichomitus squalens (FBCC 312), Physisporinus rivulosus (syn. Obba rivulosa, FBCC 939), Cerrena unicolor (FBCC 387), Pleurotus abieticola (FBCC 517), Phanerochaete velutina (FBCC 941), Agrocybe praecox (FBCC 476), Trametes pubescens (FBCC 735), Pleurotus ostreatus (FBCC 498), Fomitopsis pinicola (FBCC 18), Postia placenta (= syn. Rhodonia placenta, FBCC 112), Gloeophyllum trabeum (FBCC 328) and Piptoporus betulinus (FBCC 1191). Ascomycetes belonged to genera Alternaria (HAMBI 3289), Epicoccum (HAMBI 3291), Fusarium (HAMBI 3292) or Chaetomium (HAMBI 3291). The growth rate of P. rivulosus belonged to three highest among the 14 tested basidiomycetes with five dyes, but not in the case of Remazol Brilliant Red F3B containing plates. The growth rate of A. praecox belonged to three lowest among the 14 tested basidiomycetes on Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Remazol Brilliant Yellow GL, Remazol Brilliant Red F3B, Reactive Black 5 and malt agar. The growth rate of Chaetomium sp. was the highest among the four ascomycetes on all tested plates. Decolorization was seen with 7 basidiomycetous strains on Remazol Brilliant Blue R, with 7 basidiomycetes on Remazol Brilliant Orange 3 R, with 8 basidiomycetes on Reactive Blue 4 and 11 basidiomycetes on Reactive Black 5 containing plates. T. encephala did not decolorize any of the tested six dyes. Epicoccum sp. and Chaetomium sp. decolorized Reactive Black 5 dye containing plates. None of the fourteen basidiomycetous or four ascomycetes were able to degrade all the tested six

The voluntary non-monetary approach to conservation refers to actions that citizens or organizations could voluntarily implement in their area of influence without the incentive of monetary compensations. To be effectively implemented by untrained actors, actions should be clearly defined, straightforward to implement and not require specific scientific knowledge. The costs of actions should also be sufficiently affordable to be widely applied without monetary incentives. A voluntary non-monetary approach has so far not been clearly described as a distinct group of tools for nature conservation. Here we review the scarce scientific literature on the topic. To illustrate the applicability of a voluntary non-monetary approach to conservation, we then investigate its potential for farmland conservation. We considered a list of 119 actions available from “conservation-evidence”, a source of systematically collected evidence on effectiveness of conservation actions. Among 119 actions, 95 could be scored for feasibility of implementation, costs, and existence of evidence in UK, Spain and Finland. Sixteen to seventeen actions were potentially suitable for implementation by a voluntary non-monetary approach. This implies that the voluntary non-monetary approach could be widely applicable across many countries and environments. It is our hope that this study will represent a clarion call for conservation scientists to clearly recognize the voluntary non-monetary approach, its characteristics, and its potential for addressing conservation issues on private land. Adoption of such voluntary measures may be more dependent on encouragement (‘nudging’) than on the usual coercive or financial emphasis (‘shoving’).

A multitude of studies confirm that species have changed their distribution ranges towards higher elevations and towards the poles, as has been predicted by climate change forecasts. However, there is large interspecific variation in the velocity of range shifts. From a conservation perspective, it is important to understand which factors explain variation in the speed and the extent of range shifts, as these might be related to the species' extinction risk. Here, we study shifts in the mean latitude of occurrence, as weighted by population density, in different groups of landbirds using 40 years of line transect data from Finland. Our results show that the velocity of such density shifts differed among migration strategies and increased with decreasing body size of species, while breeding habitat had no influence. The slower velocity of large species could be related to their longer generation time and lower per capita reproduction that can decrease the dispersal ability compared to smaller species. In contrast to some earlier studies of range margin shifts, resident birds and partial migrants showed faster range shifts, while fully migratory species were moving more slowly. The results suggest that migratory species, especially long-distance migrants, which often show decreasing population trends, might also have problems in adjusting their distribution ranges to keep pace with global warming.

A new species of tapeworm, Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea), is described from the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), the main definitive host, and the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus and C. pygargus), the main intermediate hosts, from Finland and Russia (Siberia and the Russian Far East). The new species was found once also in the wolf (Canis lupus) and the Eurasian elk/moose (Alces alces), representing accidental definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. The conspecificity of adult specimens and metacestodes of T. lynciscapreoli sp. n. in various host species and regions, and their distinction from related species of Taenia, was confirmed by partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Morphologically, T. lynciscapreoli sp. n. can be separated unambiguously from all other species of Taenia by the shape of its large rostellar hooks, particularly the characteristically short, wide and strongly curved blade. If the large rostellar hooks are missing, T. lynciscapreoli may be separated from related species by a combination of morphological features of mature proglottids. It is suggested that T. lynciscapreoli has been present in published materials concerning the tapeworms of L. lynx and L. pardinus in Europe, but has been misidentified as Taenia pisiformis (Bloch, 1780). Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. has not been found in lynx outside the range of roe deer, suggesting a transmission pathway based on a specific predator-prey relationship. The present study applies a novel, simple approach to compare qualitative interspecific differences in the shape of rostellar hooks.

An as-yet-undescribed, non-indigenous polychaete species was found at very high densities in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea in Estonia in 2012. The species belongs to the sabellid genus Laonome Malmgren, 1866, but it could not be assigned to any of the previously described species. To date, the species has established a stable population after surviving a notably cold winter (2012/2013). To study the local distribution and abundance of the species, a spatial grid with some stations repeated seasonally and interannually was sampled in a quantitative manner. Based of the survey data and available environmental data, the variables that contributed significantly to explaining variation in the abundance of the polychaete were determined using the Boosted Regression Trees modelling approach. Molecular barcodes to characterize the identity of the species were also established. The abundance of Laonome sp. exhibited strong seasonal variation, peaking between July and November. Besides seasonality, the quantity of decomposed microalgae in the sediment and wave exposure best explained the variation in abundance. Laonome sp. is now well-established in the Baltic Sea and locally reached high densities in low salinity areas. This non-indigenous polychaete may potentially modify sediment morphology and chemistry and disrupt the natural infaunal communities. Laonome sp. could displace or even completely eliminate some species currently present in the study area and beyond if it spreads; however, it could also facilitate currently-present species through the provision of alternative substrate and/or food. Given its persistence and high abundance in Parnu Bay, colonization of other low-salinity areas of the Baltic Sea can be expected.

An adult hymenolepidid tapeworm was recovered from a 52-year-old Tibetan woman during a routine epidemiological survey for human taeniasis/cysticercosis in Sichuan, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 showed that the human isolate is distinct from Hymenolepis diminuta and Hymenolepis nana, the common parasites causing human hymenolepiasis. Proglottids of the human isolate were unfortunately unsuitable for morphological identification. However, the resultant phylogeny demonstrated the human isolate to be a sister species to Hymenolepis hibernia from Apodemus mice in Eurasia. The present data clearly indicate that hymenolepidid tapeworms causing human infections are not restricted to only H. diminuta and H. nana.

The acanthocephalan genus Echinorhynchus Zoega in Müller, 1776 (sensu Yamaguti 1963) is a large and widespread group of parasites of teleost fish and malacostracan crustaceans, distributed from the Arctic to the Antarctic in habitats ranging from freshwaters to the deep-sea. A total of 52 species are currently recognised based on the conventional morphological species concept; however, the true diversity in the genus is masked by cryptic speciation. The considerable diversity within Echinorhynchus is an argument for subdividing the genus if monophyletic groups with supporting morphological characters can be identified. With this objective in mind, partial sequences of two genes with different rates of evolution and patterns of inheritance (nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships among eight taxa of Echinorhynchus. These included representatives of each of three genus group taxa proposed in a controversial revision of the genus based on cement gland pattern, namely Echinorhynchus (sensu stricto), Metechinorhynchus Petrochenko, 1956 and Pseudoechinorhynchus Petrochenko, 1956. These groupings have previously been rejected by some authorities, because the diagnostic character is poorly defined; this study shows that Echinorhynchus (sensu stricto) and Metechinorhynchus are not natural, monophyletic groups. A revision of Echinorhynchus will require tandem molecular phylogenetic and morphological analyses of a larger sample of taxa, but this study has identified two morhological characters that might potentially be used to define new genera. The estimated phylogeny also provides insight into the zoogeographical history of Echinorhynchus spp. We postulate that the ancestral Echinorhynchus had a freshwater origin and the genus subsequently invaded the sea, probably several times. The freshwater taxa of the E. bothniensis Zdzitowiecki & Valtonen, 1987 clade may represent a reinvasion of freshwater by

The Chrysididae are a group of cleptoparasitic and parasitoid aculeate wasps with a large number of rare and endangered species. The taxonomy of this group has long been confusing due to the similarity of species and extensive intraspecific variation. We present for the first time a comprehensive dichotomous key for all 74 species found in the Nordic and Baltic countries. In addition to diagnostic characters, information on the distribution and biology of each species is also presented. A new species, Chrysis borealis Paukkunen, Odegaard & Soon, sp.n. is described on the basis of specimens collected from Fennoscandia. Chrysis gracillima Forster, 1853 is recorded as new to the Nordic and Baltic countries.

A checklist of tapeworms (Cestoda) of vertebrates (fishes, birds and mammals) in Finland is presented, based on published observations, specimens deposited in the collections of the Finnish Museum of Natural History (Helsinki) and the Zoological Museum of the University of Turku, and additional specimens identified by the present author. The checklist includes 170 tapeworm species from 151 host species, comprising 447 parasite species/host species combinations. Thirty of the tapeworm species and 96 of the parasite/host species combinations have not been previously reported from Finland. The total number of tapeworm species in Finland (170 spp.) is significantly lower than the corresponding figure for the Iberian Peninsula (257 spp.), Slovakia (225 spp.) and Poland (279 spp.). The difference between Finland and the other three regions is particularly pronounced for anseriform, podicipediform, charadriiform and passeriform birds, reflecting inadequate and/or biased sampling of these birds in Finland. It is predicted that there are actually ca. 270 species of tapeworms in Finland, assuming that true number of bird tapeworms in Finland corresponds to that in other European countries with more comprehensive knowledge of the local tapeworm fauna. The other main pattern emerging from the present data is the seemingly unexplained absence in (northern) Fennoscandia of several mammalian tapeworms that otherwise have extensive distributions in the Holarctic region or in Eurasia, including the northern regions. Previously unknown type specimens, that is, the holotype of Bothrimonus nylandicus Schneider, 1902 (a junior synonym of Diplocotyle olrikii Krabbe, 1874) (MZH 127096) and the syntypes of Caryophyllaeides fennica (Schneider, 1902) (MZH 127097) were located in the collections of the Finnish Museum of Natural History.

For migratory birds, the earlier arrival of males to breeding grounds is often expected to have fitness benefits. However, the selection differential on male arrival time has rarely been decomposed into the direct effect of male arrival and potential indirect effects through female traits. We measured the directional selection differential on male arrival time in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) using data from 6years and annual number of fledglings as the fitness proxy. Using structural equation modeling, we were able to take into account the temporal structure of the breeding cycle and the hierarchy between the examined traits. We found directional selection differentials for earlier male arrival date and earlier female laying date, as well as strong selection differential for larger clutch size. These selection differentials were due to direct selection only as indirect selection for these traits was nonsignificant. When decomposing the direct selection for earlier male arrival into direct and indirect effects, we discovered that it was almost exclusively due to the direct effect of male arrival date on fitness and not due to its indirect effects via female traits. In other words, we showed for the first time that there is a direct effect of male arrival date on fitness while accounting for those effects that are mediated by effects of the social partner. Our study thus indicates that natural selection directly favored earlier male arrival in this flycatcher population.

It has previously been demonstrated that the advance of the Neolithic Revolution from the Near East through Europe was decelerated in the northernmost confines of the continent, possibly as a result of space and resource competition with lingering Mesolithic populations. Finland was among the last domains to adopt a farming lifestyle, and is characterized by substructuring in the form of a distinct genetic border dividing the northeastern and southwestern regions of the country. To explore the origins of this divergence, the geographical patterns of mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal haplogroups of Neolithic and Mesolithic ancestry were assessed in Finnish populations. The distribution of these uniparental markers revealed a northeastern bias for hunter-gatherer haplogroups, while haplogroups associated with the farming lifestyle clustered in the southwest. In addition, a correlation could be observed between more ancient mitochondrial haplogroup age and eastern concentration. These results coupled with prior archeological evidence suggest the genetic northeast/southwest division observed in contemporary Finland represents an ancient vestigial border between Mesolithic and Neolithic populations undetectable in most other regions of Europe.

Habitat loss causes population declines, but the mechanisms are rarely known. In the European Boreal Zone, loss of old forest due to intensive forestry is suspected to cause declines in forest-dwelling raptors by reducing their breeding performance. We studied the boreal breeding habitat and habitat-associated breeding performance of the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus). We combined long-term Finnish bird-of-prey data with multi-source national forest inventory data at various distances (100–4000 m) around the hawk nests. We found that breeding success of the goshawk was best explained by the habitat within a 2000-m radius around the nests; breeding was more successful with increasing proportions of old spruce forest and water, and decreasing proportions of young thinning forest. None of the habitat variables affected significantly the breeding success of the common buzzard or the honey buzzard, or the brood size of any of the species. The amount of old spruce forest decreased both around goshawk and common buzzard nests and throughout southern Finland in 1992–2010. In contrast, the area of young forest increased in southern Finland but not around hawk nests. We emphasize the importance of studying habitats at several spatial and temporal scales to determine the relevant species-specific scale and to detect environmental changes. Further effort is needed to reconcile the socioeconomic and ecological functions of forests and habitat requirements of old forest specialists.

The accelerating loss of biodiversity has created a need for more effective ways to discover species. Novel algorithmic approaches for analyzing sequence data combined with rapidly expanding DNA barcode libraries provide a potential solution. While several analytical methods are available for the delineation of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), few studies have compared their performance. This study compares the performance of one morphology- based and four DNA-based (BIN, parsimony networks, ABGD, GMYC) methods on two groups of gelechioid moths. It examines 92 species of Finnish Gelechiinae and 103 species of Australian Elachistinae which were delineated by traditional taxonomy. The results reveal a striking difference in performance between the two taxa with all four DNA-based methods. OTU counts in the Elachistinae showed a wider range and a relatively low (ca. 65%) OTU match with reference species while OTU counts were more congruent and performance was higher (ca. 90%) in the Gelechiinae. Performance rose when only monophyletic species were compared, but the taxon-dependence remained. None of the DNA-based methods produced a correct match with non-monophyletic species, but singletons were handled well. A simulated test of morphospecies-grouping performed very poorly in revealing taxon diversity in these small, dull-colored moths. Despite the strong performance of analyses based on DNA barcodes, species delineated using single-locus mtDNA data are best viewed as OTUs that require validation by subsequent integrative taxonomic work.

Biodiversity conservation on private land of the developed world faces several challenges. The costs of land are often high, and the attitudes of landowners towards conservation are variable. Scientists and practitioners need to scan for and adopt cost-effective solutions that allow for the long-term sustainability of conservation measures on private land. In this study, we focus on one of such possible solutions: Working with landowners to implement voluntary nonmonetary conservation. We restrict our focus to protection of raptor nests, but the ideas can be applied to other taxa as well. Through a literature review, we show that a voluntary nonmonetary approach for protecting raptor nests has been so far largely neglected and/or rarely reported in the scientific literature. However, results of a questionnaire sent to BirdLife partners across Europe indicate that this approach is more widely used than it appears from the literature. We show that voluntary nonmonetary approaches may represent useful tools to protect raptor nests on private land. We provide a workflow for implementation of such an approach in raptor nest protection, highlighting benefits, potential risks, and constraints in the application of the strategy. We suggest that a voluntary nonmonetary approach may have great potential for cost-effective conservation, but the risks it may entail should be carefully assessed in each case. There is an urgent need to consider and evaluate novel approaches, such as the one described here, which may constitute missed opportunities for cost-effective conservation.

A new series of notes on distribution, taxonomy, morphology and nomenclature of some vascular plants in Kyrgyzstan is presented. Carex subphysodes Popov ex V.Krecz., Astragalus sogdianus Bunge, Oxytropis ferganensis Vass. and Iris maracandica (Vved.) Wendelbo (all native), and also Delphinium orientalis J.Gay (alien) are reported as new to Kyrgyzstan. Sedum tetramerum Trautv. is new to Northern Tian-Shan, and Scirpoides holoschoenus (L.) Soják is new to Chatkal Range and Western Tian-Shan within Kyrgyzstan. The distribution area of Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link is revised and expanded, and the distribution of Eremurus zoae Vved. (endemic to Kyrgyzstan) is verified and mapped. New names and combinations, Betonica sect. Foliosae (Krestovsk. & Lazkov) Lazkov, Eriophyton anomalum (Juz.) Lazkov & Sennikov, Kudrjaschevia sect. Jacubianae Lazkov, Lagochilus sect. Chlainanthus (Briq.) Lazkov, Leonurus sect. Panzerioidei (Krestovsk.) Lazkov, Phlomoides sect. Pseuderemostachys (Popov) Lazkov, and Scutellaria sect. Ramosissimae Lazkov, are provided as a result of the forthcoming monographic revision of Lamiaceae. Two hybrids are described in Eremurus, E. fuscus × E. cristatus = E. nikitinae Lazkov and E. cristatus × E. zoae = E. gypsaceus Lazkov. Places of valid publication and the authorship of Iris svetlanae (Vved.) T.Hall & Seisums and Erianthera anomala Juz. are corrected. Iris svetlanae is synonymized with I. maracandica. A new colour form (with pinkish flowers) of Betonica betoniciflora (Rupr. ex O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch.) Sennikov is described. English-language designations are provided for the map of biogeographic provinces of Kyrgyzstan.

Antrodia is a polyphyletic genus, comprising brown-rot polypores with annual or short-lived perennial resupinate, dimitic basidiocarps. Here we focus on species that are closely related to Antrodia crassa, and investigate their phylogeny and species delimitation using geographic, ecological, morphological and molecular data (ITS and LSU rDNA, tef1). Phylogenetic analyses distinguished four clades within the monophyletic group of eleven conifer-inhabiting species (five described herein): (1)A. crassa s. str. (boreal Eurasia), Antrodia cincta sp. nova (North America) and Antrodia cretacea sp. nova (holarctic), all three being characterized by inamyloid skeletal hyphae that dissolve quickly in KOH solution; (2) Antrodia ignobilis sp. nova, Antrodia sitchensis and Antrodia sordida from North America, and Antrodia piceata sp. nova (previously considered conspecific with A. sitchensis) from Eurasia, possessing amyloid skeletal hyphae; (3) Antrodia ladiana sp. nova from the southern part of the USA, Antrodia pinea from East Asia, and Antrodia ferox – so far known from subtropical North America, but here reported also from Eurasia. These three species have inamyloid hyphae and narrow basidiospores; (4) the North American Antrodia pini-cubensis, sharing similar morphological characters with A. pinea, forming a separate clade. The habitat data indicate that several species are threatened by intensive forestry.

Inland vertebrate predators could enrich of nutrients the local top soils in the area surrounding their nests and dens by depositing faeces, urine, and prey remains and, thus, alter the dynamics of plant populations. Surprisingly, and in contrast with convincing evidence from coastal habitats, whether and how this phenomenon occurs in inland habitats is largely uncertain even though these habitats represent a major fraction of the earth's surface. We investigated during two consecutive breeding seasons the potential enrichment of the top-soils associated with inland ground-nesting eagle owls Bubo bubo, as well as its possible consequences in the growth of two common annual grasses in southern Spain. Top-soils associated with owl nests differed strongly and significantly from control top-soils in chemical parameters, mainly fertility-related properties. Specifically, levels of available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic matter, and available potassium were 49.1, 5.6, 3.1, and 2.7 times higher, respectively, in top-soils associated with owl nests as compared to control top-soils. Germination experiments in chambers indicated that nutrient enrichment by nesting owls enhanced seedling growth in both annual grasses (Phalaris canariensis and Avena sativa), with seedling size being 1.4-1.3 times higher in owl nest top-soils than in control top-soils. Our experimental study revealed that pervasive inland, predatory birds can profoundly enrich the topsoil around their nests and, thus, potentially enhance local vegetation growth. Because diverse inland vertebrate predators are widespread in most habitats they have a strong potential to enhance spatial heterogeneity, impinge on plant communities, and exert an overlooked effect on primary productivity worldwide.

The massive outpourings of Karoo and Ferrar continental flood basalts (CFBs) ~180 Ma ago mark the initial Jurassic rifting stages of the Gondwana supercontinent. The origin and sources of these eruptions have been debated for decades, largely due to difficulties in defining their parental melt and mantle source characteristics. Recent findings of Fe- and Mg-rich dikes (depleted ferropicrite suite) from Vestfjella, western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, have shed light on the composition of the deep sub-Gondwanan mantle: these magmas have been connected to upper mantle sources presently sampled by the Southwest Indian Ocean mid-ocean ridge basalts (SWIR MORBs) or to high 3He/4He plume-entrained non-chondritic primitive mantle sources formed early in Earth’s history. In an attempt to determine their He isotopic composition and relative contributions from magmatic, cosmogenic, and radiogenic He sources, we performed in-vacuo stepwise crushing and melting analyses of olivine mineral separates, some of which were abraded to remove the outer layer. The best estimate for the mantle isotopic composition is given by a sample with the highest amount of He released (> 50%) during the first crushing step of an abraded coarse fraction. It has a 3He/4He of 7.03 ± 0.23 (2σ) times the atmospheric ratio (Ra), which is indistinguishable from those measured from SWIR MORBs (6.3‒7.3 Ra; source 3He/4He ~6.4–7.6 Ra at 180 Ma) and notably lower than in the most primitive lavas from the North Atlantic Igneous Province (up to 50 Ra), considered to represent the epitome magmas from non-chondritic primitive mantle sources. Previously published trace element and isotopic (Sr, Nd, and Pb) compositions do not suggest a direct genetic link to any modern hotspot of Indian or southern Atlantic Oceans. Although influence of a mantle plume cannot be ruled out, the high magma temperatures and SWIR MORB-like geochemistry of the suite are best explained by supercontinent insulation of a precursory Indi

Lichens are symbiotic associations of heterotrophic fungi and photoautotrophic green algae or cyanobacteria. Bryoria is a lichenized euascomycete genus of approximately 50 currently accepted species. Although Bryoria is a conspicuous, easily recognized and frequently collected genus, species boundaries in this group are poorly known. This is especially the case with species in section Implexae where morphological and chemical variation is high even between individuals of the same species and genetic variation has been shown to be low in the examined markers. The aim of this study was to elucidate the taxonomic delimitation of the genus Bryoria, to examine the identity and selectivity of photobionts associated with Bryoria and to study the identity and phylogenetic placement of tremellalean fungi discovered from Bryoria. Possible correlations between the identity of the photobiont and the secondary chemistry of the lichen, and the identity of the secondary fungi and the secondary chemistry of the host lichen were particularly searched for. To study these questions, the taxon sampling focused on the chemically variable section Implexae. In addition, ecological characteristics and the distribution of Bryoria section Implexae species and their chemotypes in Finland were investigated to see if they corroborate recent taxonomic concepts. The results show that B. pseudocapillaris and B. spiralifera previously considered as members of section Implexae actually belong to the genus Sulcaria. Phylogenetic analyses also revealed that these two species are conspecific and thus a new combination, Sulcaria spiralifera, is introduced. In agreement with other studies, genetic differentiation in section Implexae was found to be minimal. Although most species of section Implexae are genetically indistinguishable, in this study, many of them were observed to have different ecological preferences. Bryoria capillaris favors managed stands in southern Finland whereas B. implexa and B. kue, Jäkälät ovat sieni- ja leväosakkaan muodostamia symbiooseja. Tummalupot (Bryoria) ovat kotelosienten ryhmään kuuluva jäkäläsuku johon kuuluu noin 50 lajia. Vaikka tummalupot ovat helposti tunnistettavissa oleva ja usein kerätty suku, ovat lajien väliset sukulaisuussuhteet tässä ryhmässä huonosti tunnettu. Näin on etenkin Implexae-sektioon kuuluvien lajien kohdalla, joilla morfologinen ja kemiallinen vaihtelu on suurta jopa samaan lajiin kuuluvien yksilöiden välillä ja geneettinen vaihtelu on vähäistä tutkittujen geenimarkkerien osalta. Tämän väitöstutkimuksen tarkoitus oli selvittää tummaluppojen sukulaisuussuhteita, niiden leväosakkaiden identiteetti ja sieniosakkaiden valikoivuus leväosakkaita kohtaan, sekä tutkia tummalupoilta löydettyjen likenikolisten ja endolikenisten sienten taksonomiaa. Tutkimuksessa pyrittiin selvittämään onko jäkälien sieniosakkaiden tuottamilla sekundaarisilla aineenvaihdunta-tuotteilla, jäkäläaineilla, yhteyttä leväosakkaan identiteettiin ja leväosakkaaseen kohdistuvaan valintaan tai likenikolisten ja endolikenisten sienten identiteettiin ja isäntäspesifisyyteen. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa selvitettiin Implexae -sektioon kuuluvan viiden lajin ja niiden kemotyyppien levinneisyyttä ja levinneisyyteen vaikuttavia ekologisia tekijöitä Suomessa. Tulokset osoittivat, että aikaisemmin Implexae-sektioon luokitellut lajit Bryoria pseudocapillaris ja B. spiralifera eivät kuulu Bryoria- vaan Sulcaria-sukuun. Fylogeneettisten analyysien mukaan B. pseudocapillaris ja B. spiralifera ovat myös yksi ja sama laji, jolle annettiin nimeksi Sulcaria spiralifera. Vaikka aikaisemmat tutkimukset ovat osoittaneet geneettisen vaihtelun olevan vähäistä Implexae-sektioon kuuluvilla lajeilla, on niiden välillä kuitenkin selviä levinneisyyteen ja ekologisiin tekijöihin liittyviä eroavaisuuksia. Bryoria capillaris on yleinen Etelä-Suomen talousmetsissä, kun taas B. implexa ja B. kuemmerleana suosivat Pohjois-Suomen pitkän jatkumon elinympäristöjä. Bryoria vrangiana on yle

Human-caused habitat changes have led to declines of many species by impairing their occurrence, reproduction and interactions with other species. In Northern Europe, intensive forestry has transformed boreal forests and worsened conditions of species dependent on old forest, but the mechanisms by which habitat changes affect species are often unknown. In my dissertation, I examined habitat changes, their effects and habitat-associated breeding performances of three declining forest-dwelling hawks, the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus). These species can compete for nest sites and goshawks can also predate the buzzards. Raptors may lack nest sites in managed forests which is why their nesting has been supported by constructing artificial nests. I analysed the breeding success of the hawks in artificial nests since their benefits as a conservation measure were not previously analysed. Finally, I studied the conditions when dominant species can exclude subordinate ones in competition for suitable nest sites. According to my results, old forests have decreased and young forests increased throughout southern Finland. These changes are adverse for the goshawk whose breeding success improves when old spruce forests are more abundant and young forests scarce around their nests. Breeding performances of the common buzzard and honey buzzard were not significantly associated with habitats. However, common buzzards were reluctant to re-occupy nests surrounded by a vastness of old forest. The breeding success of the goshawk and common buzzard was lower in artificial nests than in natural ones. Thus, this measure aimed at enabling hawk breeding in managed forests seems to conflict with its conservation objectives. I discuss the possible contributing factors and directions for further investigations. Interspecific interactions with other raptors proved to be important when a subordinate hawk decided on, Ihmisen aiheuttamat elinympäristömuutokset ovat monien lajien taantumisen suurin syy, sillä ne vaikuttavat lajien esiintymiseen, lisääntymiseen sekä lajienvälisiin vuorovaikutuksiin. Pohjois-Euroopassa tehometsätalous on muokannut boreaalisia metsiä ja heikentänyt erityisesti vanhojen metsien lajien elinoloja. Elinympäristömuutosten vaikutusmekanismeja ei kuitenkaan aina tunneta. Tutkin väitöskirjassani kolmen vähentyneen metsäpetolinnun, kanahaukan (Accipiter gentilis), hiirihaukan (Buteo buteo) ja mehiläishaukan (Pernis apivorus), elinympäristön muutoksia, muutosten vaikutuksia sekä pesimistulokseen vaikuttavia elinympäristötekijöitä. Lajit voivat kilpailla pesäpaikoista, mutta kanahaukka voi myös saalistaa hiiri- ja mehiläishaukkoja. Talousmetsissä haukoille sopivia pesäpaikkoja on niukasti, joten pesintää on avustettu rakentamalla tekopesiä. Tutkin haukkojen pesimistulosta tekopesissä, joiden hyötyjä suojelutoimenpiteenä ei ole tarkasteltu. Lisäksi tutkin, missä oloissa vahvemmat lajit voivat syrjäyttää alisteiset lajit sopivilta pesäpaikoilta. Tulosteni mukaan vanhat metsät vähentyivät haukkojen reviireillä ja Etelä-Suomessa, kun taas nuorten metsien osuus kasvoi. Nämä muutokset ovat haitallisia etenkin kanahaukalle, jonka pesimismenestys kasvaa vanhan kuusimetsän osuuden kasvaessa ja nuoren metsän osuuden vähentyessä reviirillä. Hiiri- ja mehiläishaukalla ei havaittu merkitsevää yhteyttä elinympäristön ja pesimistuloksen välillä. Hiirihaukat eivät kuitenkaan mielellään asuttaneet uudestaan pesiään, joiden ympärillä oli paljon vanhaa metsää. Kanahaukan ja hiirihaukan pesimismenestys oli alhaisempi tekopesissä kuin haukkojen omissa pesissä. Haukkojen avuksi ajateltu suojelukeino vaikuttaa siten olevan ristiriidassa suojelutavoitteidensa kanssa. Tarkastelen tähän mahdollisesti vaikuttavia tekijöitä sekä tarvittavia lisäselvityksiä. Vuorovaikutussuhteet muiden petolintulajien kanssa osoittautuivat tärkeiksi alisteisen petolintulajin päättäessä asettumisesta reviir

In total, 7 species of heterobasidiomycetes are reported for the first time from St. Helena. A new genus Dendrogloeon (Auricularilaes) is introduced for the new species D. helenae based on both DNA and morphological data. Saccoblastia media, sp. nova, is the sole representative of the Pucciniomycotina, so far found in the study area.