Ilvesniemi, H., Pumpanen, J., Duursma, R., Hari, P., Keronen, P., Kolari, P., Kulmala, M., Mammarella, I., Nikinmaa, E., Rannik, Ü., Pohja, T., Siivola, E. & Vesala, T. 2010: Water balance of a boreal Scots pine forest. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 375–396.
Abstract
Full text (pdf format)

Scheinin, M. & Mattila, J. 2010: The structure and dynamics of zooplankton communities in shallow bays in the northern Baltic Sea during a single growing season. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 397–412.
Abstract
Full text (pdf format)

Kopáček, J., Cudlín, P., Svoboda, M., Chmelíková, E., Kaňa, J. & Picek, T. 2010: Composition of Norway spruce litter and foliage in atmospherically acidified and nitrogen-saturated Bohemian Forest stands, Czech Republic. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 413–426.
Abstract
Full text (pdf format)

Ruoho-Airola, T., Leppänen, S. & Makkonen, U. 2010: Changes in the concentration of reduced nitrogen in the air in Finland between 1990 and 2007. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 427–436.
Abstract
Full text (pdf format)

Tavi, N. M., Keinänen-Toivola, M. M., Koponen, H. T., Huttunen,J. T., Kekki, T. K., Biasi, Ch. & Martikainen, P. J. 2010: Impact of Phalaris arundinacea cultivation on microbial community of a cutover peatland. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 437–445.
Abstract
Full text (pdf format)

Lodenius, M., Kiiskinen, J. & Tulisalo, E. 2010: Metal levels in an epiphytic lichen as indicators of air quality in a suburb of Helsinki, Finland. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 446–452.
Abstract
Full text (pdf format)

Ilvesniemi, H., Pumpanen, J., Duursma, R., Hari, P., Keronen, P., Kolari, P., Kulmala, M., Mammarella, I., Nikinmaa, E., Rannik, Ü., Pohja, T., Siivola, E. & Vesala, T. 2010: Water balance of a boreal Scots pine forest. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 375–396.

In terrestrial ecosystems, the amount and availability of water is one of the key factors affecting the net primary productivity and other biological processes of the system. At the SMEAR-II station, we have monitored the water balance of two adjacent micro-catchments since 1997. In this study, we report the long-term measurements of precipitation, throughfall, snow depth, soil water content, runoff and evapotranspiration and the annual water balances based on these measurements and discuss the uncertainties related to different measurements. The proportion of throughfall, evapotranspiration and runoff was 67%, 43% and 32% of the annual precipitation, respectively. The measured amounts of evapotranspiration and runoff were so small that the aim of closing the water balance of the studied system was not fully reached. The largest uncertainties are related to the evapotranspiration measurements and the determination of the actual surface area of the catchments used in the calculation of the runoff.

Scheinin, M. & Mattila, J. 2010: The structure and dynamics of zooplankton communities in shallow bays in the northern Baltic Sea during a single growing season. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 397–412.

The littoral zone forms a large proportion of the northern Baltic Sea and creates diverse and prolific habitats with high regional importance. However, our understanding of the structure and functioning of littoral food webs is constricted, because their zooplankton communities remain virtually unstudied. We investigated variability in the structure and dynamics of littoral zooplankton communities, in relation to landscape-level gradients in environmental conditions, in four shallow bays in the Åland archipelago during one growing season. The variability was best explained by the productivity potential, i.e. the concurrent effects of temperature, trophic state, and phytoplankton biomass, of the environment. Zooplankton abundance and biomass showed a significant, positive correlation with these factors. Also the structure of zooplankton communities and their seasonal succession patterns were strongly associated with productivity potential. In general, the littoral zooplankton communities were characterized by higher diversity and abundance, and earlier succession patterns than previously reported for the northern Baltic pelagial.

Kopáček, J., Cudlín, P., Svoboda, M., Chmelíková, E., Kaňa, J. & Picek, T. 2010: Composition of Norway spruce litter and foliage in atmospherically acidified and nitrogen-saturated Bohemian Forest stands, Czech Republic. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 413–426.

We investigated litter fall and foliage chemistry in mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands in the catchments of Plešné (PL) and Čertovo (CT) lakes (Czech Republic). The stands differed in bedrock (granite in PL and mica-schist in CT) and soil chemistry, with lower base saturation (9% vs. 15%) and higher nitrogen saturation in the CT catchment. Concentrations and fluxes of ecologically important elements were measured for four years in six litter fall categories (needles, twigs, bark, lichen, cones, and 'other material') at plots differing in elevation. Litter and foliage in the CT catchment had lower Ca concentrations and Ca:Al ratios, and higher N concentrations and N:Mg ratios, than in the PL catchment. These characteristics further progressed with elevation in both catchments, corresponding to higher acid and N deposition at higher elevation. As a result, concentrations of N, Al, and Fe were higher and concentrations of Ca and Mg, as well as Ca:Al and Mg:Al ratios were lower in most litter categories at high elevation (~1300 m) than at low elevation (~1100 m) plots.

Ruoho-Airola, T., Leppänen, S. & Makkonen, U. 2010: Changes in the concentration of reduced nitrogen in the air in Finland between 1990 and 2007. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 427–436.

The concentration of reduced nitrogen in the air declined in 1990–2007 at the Finnish background stations in the southern and central parts of the country. The annual mean values, the summer mean values and the winter mean values declined by 35%–60%. In 2007 the annual mean values were 0.1–0.4 µg N m^–3. The data from Utö and Oulanka were analysed in transport sectors. At both stations, the foreign contribution from the southern, southwestern and western sectors was dominant in the reduced nitrogen concentrations. In Utö, the ammonium concentration decreased in the air arriving from the sectors extending from the south to the west and in the air transported from the east. In Oulanka, the concentration did not decrease in any of the transport sectors. However, the exposure of reduced nitrogen from the west declined at both sites. In Utö, this was due to the decline in both the ammonium concentration and the frequency of western transport. In Oulanka, the reduced exposure was due to a shift of air transport from the west to the north.

Tavi, N. M., Keinänen-Toivola, M. M., Koponen, H. T., Huttunen,J. T., Kekki, T. K., Biasi, Ch. & Martikainen, P. J. 2010: Impact of Phalaris arundinacea cultivation on microbial community of a cutover peatland. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 437–445.

Organic peat soils have been extensively drained and used for agricultural, horticultural and energy purposes. The management practices of organic soils accelerate decomposition processes resulting generally in loss of carbon. Microbes are the key players in soil carbon cycling. We studied the effects of cultivation of a perennial bioenergy plant (reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea) on microbial biomass carbon, microbial respiration and microbial communities in an old, previously uncultivated peat soil. The cultivation increased the amount of microbial biomass carbon and microbial respiration in peat mostly in the uppermost 5 cm layer where the impacts of roots and litter are most pronounced. As shown by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, the abundance of fungi and gram-negative bacteria increased with cultivation, while the abundance of gram-positive bacteria decreased. The implications of these changes on carbon cycling and carbon storage in peat under reed canary grass are discussed.

Lodenius, M., Kiiskinen, J. & Tulisalo, E. 2010: Metal levels in an epiphytic lichen as indicators of air quality in a suburb of Helsinki, Finland. Boreal Env. Res. 15: 446–452.

The levels of Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in epiphytic lichens Hypogymnia physodes in a suburban area of Helsinki, Finland. The metal levels were near the background values or slightly higher. The concentrations of Cd, Fe and Zn were compared with results from a previous monitoring survey. The concentrations of Cd had increased significantly from 1980 to 2007 but were still at the background level. The levels of Fe and Zn had decreased during that period. The distribution of metals was in most cases rather even but land use explained partly the distribution of some of the metals studied.