ISSN 1239-6095
© Boreal Environment Research 1998

Contents of Volume 3 Number 3

Bergström. I. 1998. The Integrated Monitoring Programme in Finland. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 201–203. Abstract not available
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Ruoho-Airola, T., Syri, S. & Nordlund, G. 1998. Acid deposition trends at the Finnish Integrated Monitoring catchments in relation to emission reductions. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 205–219.
Abstract
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Ahonen, J., Rankinen, K., Holmberg, M., Syri, S. & Forsius, M. 1998. Application of the SMART2 model to a forested catchment in Finland: comparison to the SMART model and effects of emission reduction scenarios. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 221–233.
Abstract
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Ukonmaanaho, L., Starr, M., Hirvi, J.-P., Kokko, A., Lahermo, P., Mannio, J., Paukola, T., Ruoho-Airola, T. & Tanskanen, H. 1998. Heavy metal concentrations in various aqueous and biotic media in Finnish Integrated Monitoring catchments. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 235–249.
Abstract
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Keskitalo, J., Salonen, K. & Holopainen, A.-L. 1998. Long-term fluctuations in environmental conditions, plankton and macrophytes in a humic lake, Valkea-Kotinen. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 251–262.
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Rask, M., Holopainen, A.-L., Karusalmi, A., Niinioja, R., Tammi, J., Arvola, L., Keskitalo, J., Blomqvist, I., Heinimaa, S., Karppinen, C., Salonen, K. & Sarvala, J. 1998. An introduction to the limnology of Finnish Integrated Monitoring lakes. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 263–274.
Abstract
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Starr, M., Lindroos, A.-J., Tarvainen, T. & Tanskanen, H. 1998. Weathering rates in the Hietajärvi Integrated Monitoring catchment. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 275–285.
Abstract
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Vanhala P., Kapanen A., Fritze H. & Niemi R. M. 1998. Microbial activity and biomass in four Finnish coniferous forest soils — spatial variability and effect of heavy metals. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 287–295.
Abstract
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Starr, M., Hartman, M. & Kinnunen, T. 1998. Biomass functions for mountain birch in the Vuoskojärvi Integrated Monitoring area. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 297–303.
Abstract
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Ruoho-Airola, T., Syri, S. & Nordlund, G. 1998. Acid deposition trends at the Finnish Integrated Monitoring catchments in relation to emission reductions. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 205–219.

The effects of transboundary air pollutants on deposition levels and precipitation concentrations have been monitored within the UN/ECE Integrated Monitoring Programme since 1988 at four Finnish background stations. A monotonic decreasing trend was detected for the concentration and deposition of sulphate, nitrate, ammonium and potassium at the southern stations. Further to the north, fewer compounds showed a significant reduction. For sulphur, model calculations with the operational deposition model DAIQUIRI also indicate a clear decrease in deposition. At the southern stations this reflected rather well the reduction of sulphur emissions in Finland and elsewhere in Europe. In the northern part of the country, where the distance to the major emission sources is longer and transport is more affected by meteorological parameters, wind direction especially, the annual amounts of sulphur deposition varied more independently of the changes in emission levels. The proportion of domestic oxidised nitrogen and total ammonium deposition decreased on moving northwards. The downward trend for nitrogen compounds throughout the country seems to be due to international emission reductions.

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Ahonen, J., Rankinen, K., Holmberg, M., Syri, S. & Forsius, M. 1998. Application of the SMART2 model to a forested catchment in Finland: comparison to the SMART model and effects of emission reduction scenarios. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 221–233.

SMART2, an extended version of the dynamic soil acidification model SMART, was tested with data from a forested catchment in Finland. The catchment belongs to the network of the Integrated Monitoring Programme and is situated in North Karelia (Eastern Finland). The aim of the study was to predict the long-term acidification of soil and runoff water at the study site under different scenarios of future sulphur and nitrogen deposition. Another objective was to study the model behaviour by comparing the results obtained with this extended version to those of SMART. Compared to previous SMART model calibrations, only the nitrate concentration in surface water was clearly closer to the mean observed value. For the specific purposes of the current study, the results did not indicate any great advantage in using the more complex model version SMART2. The scenario runs with both models showed a decline in soil base saturation and surface water pH in response to the rapid increase in acidifying deposition that started in the 1960s. The studied reduction scenarios will result in the cessation of environmental deterioration and the onset of recovery. However, the timing of the response depends on the stringency of the chosen abatement strategy.

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Ukonmaanaho, L., Starr, M., Hirvi, J.-P., Kokko, A., Lahermo, P., Mannio, J., Paukola, T., Ruoho-Airola, T. & Tanskanen, H. 1998. Heavy metal concentrations in various aqueous and biotic media in Finnish Integrated Monitoring catchments. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 235–249.

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in various aqueous and biotic media in four small forested catchments located throughout Finland (61–70°N) are presented. The data has been collected (1989–96) as part of the UN-ECE Integrated Monitoring programme. Aqueous media included: bulk (open) precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, soil water, groundwater, and lake and stream waters. The biotic media included: moss (Pleurozium schreberi), needles (Pinus sylvestris), litterfall, humus layer, red wood ants (Formica aquilonia and F. lugubris), and common shrew (Sorex areneus) liver. In comparison to temperate ecosystems, the concentrations of each metal in all media were low. Levels and bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn were clearly affected by their role as micro-nutrients and, in the case of Zn at one of the catchments, by local lithological sources. Humus layer and surface water 95th percentile concentration values were below lowest effect values. Concentrations of Pb have significantly declined over the study period.

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Keskitalo, J., Salonen, K. & Holopainen, A.-L. 1998. Long-term fluctuations in environmental conditions, plankton and macrophytes in a humic lake, Valkea-Kotinen. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 251–262.

The water of lake Valkea-Kotinen has become acidified to pH ca. 5. In agreement with the decreased deposition of acidifying compounds, the results for 1990–96 indicated no further acidification. However, coverage of the bottom surface by underwater Sphagnum moss still increased markedly between 1990 and 1994, possibly due to its slow colonisation and slow recovery of the lake. Phytoplankton primary production, chlorophyll and phytoplankton biomass seemed to respond to factors linked with varying weather conditions. Water inflow from the catchment area and the extent of spring circulation were identified as major factors causing the observed changes. The high dominance of Gonyostomum semen (Raphidophyceae) in late summer suggested that, in addition to environmental variables, the behavioural strategies of individual species may also have a strong influence on the diversity and biomass of phytoplankton. Among zooplankton there was a dramatic change in 1993 when a rotifer, Kellicottia bostoniensis, suddenly became the most abundant species. This cannot be attributable to the other measured variables and may have been a random occurrence. Overall, the results suggest that 7-year time series may be too short to draw definite conclusions about possible trends. On the other hand the results demonstrated that weekly observations are, in most cases, necessary for finding interrelationships between hydrological and biological factors in small headwater lakes.

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Rask, M., Holopainen, A.-L., Karusalmi, A., Niinioja, R., Tammi, J., Arvola, L., Keskitalo, J., Blomqvist, I., Heinimaa, S., Karppinen, C., Salonen, K. & Sarvala, J. 1998. An introduction to the limnology of Finnish Integrated Monitoring lakes. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 263–274.

The limnological monitoring of the lakes in the Finnish Integrated Monitoring catchment areas was started in 1990 in order to study the effects of airborne pollutants on ecosystems. The four pristine headwater lakes made up a wide gradient in terms of location, pH, alkalinity, water colour and total phosphorus concentration. The productivity of the lakes decreased from south to north, as was implied by data on phytoplankton biomass, chlorophyll concentration, primary production of phytoplankton and abundance of rotiferan zooplankton. However, the test fishing catches were not related to the productivity of the lakes. Perch, Perca fluviatilis, was the only fish species present in all four lakes. The appearance of new year-classes of roach, Rutilus rutilus, in one lake was interpreted to be a consequence of the slight decrease in the water acidity during 1988–1996.

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Starr, M., Lindroos, A.-J., Tarvainen, T. & Tanskanen, H. 1998. Weathering rates in the Hietajärvi Integrated Monitoring catchment. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 275–285.

Rates of Ca and Mg release by weathering were calculated for four soil profiles (Haplic Podzols) in a small forested catchment in eastern Finland (63°10´N, 30°43´E). Three of the profiles were developed on glacifluvial fine sand and one on till, and all derived from granodiorites. Soil weathering rates (mmolc m–2 a–1) were calculated using three methods: Zr depletion, Ca + Mg\temperature sum regression, and the PROFILE model. The first two methods give long-term average rates while the latter gives the current rate. According to the Zr depletion method, the weathering rate of Ca was 7–32 (mean = 19) and that of Mg, 3–16 (mean = 9). According to the regression method, the weathering rate of Ca was 14–19 (mean = 15) and that of Mg, 5–9 (mean = 7). The mean values using the PROFILE model were 10 (Ca) and 3 (Mg). Values were corrected for stone content. Catchment input-output budgets gave values of 18 (Ca) and 8 (Mg).

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Vanhala P., Kapanen A., Fritze H. & Niemi R. M. 1998. Microbial activity and biomass in four Finnish coniferous forest soils — spatial variability and effect of heavy metals. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 287–295.

In the long-term monitoring of forested areas, there is a need for reference values for soil microbiological variables in different types of forest ecosystem under different pollution loads. Owing to the high spatial variation in microbial flora in the soil and to the uncertainty in the measurements, several replicate samples are needed to give a representative estimate of a study site. Four different soil microbiological variables, soil respiration rate, ATP content, ergosterol content and acid phosphatase activity, were measured in four monitoring areas belonging to the Finnish Integrated Monitoring programme. The inhibitory effect of Cd, Cu, and Ni on the soil respiration rate was investigated in a laboratory experiment. The biomass-dependent variables correlated very well with each other, but differed from the variables representing microbial activities. The number of replicate humus samples needed to accurately describe the microbiological status of a study area is clearly site dependent. In general, less than 15 replicates were sufficient to give results with 20% precision at the 5% significance level. The soil respiration rate clearly decreased in response to the experimental heavy metal addition at all four sites. The EC20 values of soil respiration for Cd, Cu, and Ni were 100–1070, 100–700 and 20–510 mg kg–1 , respectively.

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Starr, M., Hartman, M. & Kinnunen, T. 1998. Biomass functions for mountain birch in the Vuoskojärvi Integrated Monitoring area. Boreal Env. Res. 3: 297–303.

Simple linear regression models for estimating the oven-dry stem, living and dead branch, and leaf components of above-ground biomass for mountain birches (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii, syn.: B. czerepanovii N.I. Orlova) taller than 1.3 m growing in the Vuoskojärvi Integrated Monitoring area are presented. The models were based on allometric relationships between biomass component and tree size characteristic: stump diameter (d0.1), breast height diameter (d1.3) and height (h) of 20 specimens. Correlation analysis indicated that d1.3 and d1.32h were the best variables explaining biomass. Logarithm (natural) transformation of both d1.3 and biomass component resulted in higher correlation coefficients. The linear regression model describing the relationship between ln(d1.3) and ln(biomass) of each component was highly significant (p < 0.0001) with R2 values ranging from 62% (dead branches) to 98% (stem). Using ln(d1.32h) did not notably improve the models. The stand above-ground biomass for a plot where all stems had been measured in 1995 was estimated at 21.2 t ha–1 (stems 61%, live branches 29%, dead branches 2% and leaves 8%).

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