Soil processes are constituents of planetary well-being

Soils play multiple roles in vital ecosystem processes, even though they form only a thin layer between Earth’s atmosphere and lithosphere. Soils are reservoirs of carbon, most nutrients and fresh water while acting as a substrate for plants, a site for decomposition processes, and a sink for harmful substances. The decomposition of dead organic matter and the associated recycling of nutrients are a prerequisite for photosynthesis by green plants and, therefore, for all life forms on Earth. Without healthy soils, the integrity of the Earth system cannot be maintained in the future. Soils are highly diverse habitats, inhabited by both structurally and functionally diversified organisms. Howe…

Does stump removal affect early growth and mycorrhizal infection of spruce (Picea abies) seedlings in clear-cuts?

Abstract Stump removal procedure increases the extent of exposed mineral soil in the clear felled areas. In this study, our aim was to find out whether the early growth and mycorrhization of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings differ between stump removal and mounding sites. Stumps were harvested from five one-hectare study sites and other five sites were mounded after clear felling. Twenty seedlings were planted on mounds at each study site. Although the height of spruce seedlings did not differ between the treatments after three growing periods, their mean growth was ca. 10% higher at the stump removal sites. The community of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) in the seedling roots did n…

Springtails (Collembola) in meadows, pastures and road verges in Central Finland

Understanding of species distribution, abundance and habitat affinities is crucial for red-list assessment, conservation and habitat management. In Central Finland, we studied Collembola in three habitat types, namely non-grazedmeadows, pastures and road verges using pitfall traps. Altogether, 9,630 Collembola individuals were recorded. These belonged to 12 families, 34 genera and 60 species. The number of specimens was clearly higher in meadows than in pastures or road verges. The number of species, however, was higher in meadows and road verges (40 and 39 species, respectively) than in pastures (33 species). The overall species number is comparable to other large-scale sampling schemes in…

Short-term responses of decomposers and vegetation to stump removal

Variable mode of estrus affects female decision for multiple mating

Investigating patterns of variation in mating strategies may shed light on their evolutionary importance as well as their impact on the strength and shape of sexual selection. Multimale mating (polyandry) and mate choice are intensely studied subjects in the area of sexual selection, but little is known about intraspecific patterns of variation that may respond to dynamic cost-benefit balances. In a laboratory study, we investigated the mating behavior of female bank voles (Myodes glareolus) with distinctly different time and energy budgets: They were either in cycling estrus (CE) or postpartum estrus (PPE) shortly after delivery. Postpartum mating is highly constrained by time and energy d…

Effects of stump removal on soil decomposer communities in undisturbed patches of the forest floor

Abstract Soil preparation after clear-cutting leads to fragmentation of forest floor and, consequently, changes the habitat of decomposers. Stump removal for bioenergy is further increasing the disturbance in the soil. We studied responses of decomposers to stump removal in boreal spruce forests during the first 4 years after clear felling in relation to mounding. Samples for each decomposer organism group were taken from undisturbed forest floor patches that are the main habitat for decomposers after forest regeneration and whose amount and size obviously differ between the treatments. Microbial biomasses and community structure, and the abundance of enchytraeids, were not found to be affe…

Planetary well-being as a strategic goal : The University of Jyväskylä pursues Green Campus polices

Responses of soil carbon and nitrogen transformations to stump removal

We studied in central Finland whether stump harvesting after clear felling of coniferous forest poses further short-term changes in soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics when compared to the traditional site preparation method, mounding. Exposed mineral soil patches in Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominated clear-cut stands were sampled 1–5 years after the treatments. The extent of the exposed mineral soil surface was significantly larger at the stump removal sites when compared to the mounding sites. No differences were found in soil pH, organic matter content or total concentration of soil C between the treatments or treatment years. Total concentration of soil N was consistently higher and …

Short-term responses of soil decomposer and vegetation communities to stump harvesting in boreal forests

Recently, in addition to logging residues, stumps have become an important component in energy production since there is growing global interest in the use of renewable energy sources in order to decrease anthropogenic carbon emissions. Harvesting of stumps influences the forest floor by changing vegetation and soil organic layers and exposing mineral soil across large areas. We studied whether stump harvesting after clear felling poses further short-term changes in boreal forest soil decomposer community (microbes and mesofauna) and vegetation when compared to the traditional site preparation practice (mounding). In general, stump harvesting caused decline in enchytraeid abundance but did …

Planetary well-being

Tensions between the well-being of present humans, future humans, and nonhuman nature manifest in social protests and political and academic debates over the future of Earth. The increasing consumption of natural resources no longer increases, let alone equalizes, human well-being, but has led to the current ecological crisis and harms both human and nonhuman well-being. While the crisis has been acknowledged, the existing conceptual frameworks are in some respects ill-equipped to address the crisis in a way that would link the resolving of the crisis with the pivotal aim of promoting equal well-being. The shortcomings of the existing concepts in this respect relate to anthropocentric norma…

Planetary well-being

Tensions between the well-being of present humans, future humans, and nonhuman nature manifest in social protests and political and academic debates over the future of Earth. The increasing consumption of natural resources no longer increases, let alone equalises, human well-being, but has led to the current ecological crisis and harms both human and nonhuman well-being. While the crisis has been acknowledged, the existing conceptual frameworks are in some respects ill-equipped to address the crisis in a way that would link the resolving of the crisis with the pivotal aim of promoting equal well-being. The shortcomings of the existing concepts in this respect relate to anthropocentric norma…

The arthropod community of boreal Norway spruce forests responds variably to stump harvesting

Forest fuel harvesting increases the need to collect not just logging residues but also tree stumps from harvested stands. This biomass removal has raised concern over forest biodiversity. Here, the effects of stump harvesting on spiders, ants, harvestmen, ground beetles and epiedaphic springtails occupying boreal Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest floor were studied two and five years after harvesting by comparing pitfall trap samples from clear-cut sites with and without subsequent stump harvesting and from unharvested mature forests in central Finland. At harvested sites, traps were placed both on intact and exposed mineral soil surface. Open-habitat and generalist ground beetles benefit…