Northern European Environment Research Articles

Photosynthetic limitation as a factor influencing yield in highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) grown in a northern European environment.

Published evidence indicates that nearly 60% of blueberry-producing countries experience yield instability. Yield is a complex trait determined by genetic and environmental factors. Here, using physiological and biochemical approaches, we tested the hypothesis that yield instability results from year-to-year environmental variation that limits carbon assimilation, storage and partitioning. The data indicate that fruit development depends primarily on the daily production of non-structural carbohydrates by leaves, and there is no accumulation of a starch buffer to allow continuous ripening under conditions limiting for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis was saturated at moderate light irradiance and this was mainly due to stomatal and biochemical limitations. In a dynamic light environment, photosynthesis was further limited by slow stomatal response to increasing light. Finally, labelling with 13CO2 at specific stages of fruit development revealed a relatively even distribution of newly assimilated carbon between stems, roots and fruits, suggesting that the fruit is not a strong sink. We conclude that a significant component of yield variability results from limitations in photosynthetic efficiency that are compounded by an inability to accumulate starch reserves in blueberry storage tissues in a typical northern European environment. This work informs techniques for improving agronomic management and indicates key traits required for yield stability in such environments.

Trait identification of faba bean ideotypes for Northern European environments

Abstract European pulse production faces a continued loss of cultivated area along with decreasing or stagnant yields. Vicia faba is a traditional legume with high genetic diversity cultivated in a wide range of European climates. Therefore V. faba is promising to identify stable and high yielding genotypes for specific target environments. The Nordic-Baltic region is challenging for legume growing due to short vegetation period and heat/drought stress in continental climates. Within the pan-European Eurolegume project a set of 18 V. faba accessions containing var. minor and major local landraces and modern cultivars of different geographical origin was evaluated in multi-environmental trials. The aim of this study was to identify ideotypes for Northern Europe and reveal key phenotypic traits conferring high yield potential and stability. Four target environmental clusters represented the range of Nordic growing conditions with yield levels from 128 g m−2 to 380 g m−2. Multivariate classification differentiated distinctive groups of var. minor and var. major accessions with few overlapping genotypes, the former having higher average yield, taller structure, more pods per node and longer flowering duration. Late sowing under long-day conditions above 55°N latitudes resulted in early flowering due to short vegetative development (650 °Cd). Extended flowering duration and tall stature were the most important traits conferring high yields. A negative trade-off between yield potential and yield stability was detected, with yield advantages of stress resistant genotypes only in a limited range of low yielding target environments ( It was concluded that Baltic landraces are promising ideotypes, with adapted flowering phenology and morphological structure, for increased V. faba yields in Nordic target environments.

Background values of gold, potentially toxic elements and emerging high-tech critical elements in surface water collected in a remote northern European environment

A geochemical surfacewater survey, focused on 2nd and 3rd order streams, was carried out in the Oppdal/Berkåk area in Norway. Stream water was collected at 168 sample sites, covering a 1500-km 2 survey area. Electrical conductivity, pH, alkalinity and temperature were recorded in the field. Electrical conductivity and pH were also determined once more in the laboratory. The cations Br, Cl, F, NO 2 , NO 3 , PO 4 and SO 4 were determined by ion-chromatography (IC) on unacidified, laboratory filtered samples. Inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) was used to analyse field filtered and acidified samples for 63 elements. In addition, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to determine 27 elements. One aim of the survey was to test whether today's ICP-QMS analyses are sensitive enough to directly use surface water efficiently for gold prospecting. The two known gold occurrences in the area are marked by low level Au anomalies in stream water (0.006 µg/l). These values are just above the detection limit of 0.001 µg/l and it must be concluded that today's detection limits are still not low enough to use stream water for routine Au (and In) prospecting. The anions as determined by IC were most problematic in terms of number of samples below detection limit. Increased anthropogenic activities in the lowlands are marked by slightly enhanced NO 3 values in the streams. An As, Mo, Sb, V anomaly marks the main skiing area near Oppdal but is probably geogenic. In general surface water geochemistry of, for example, Ca, Ce, Cu, K, La, Rb, SO 4 and Sr reflects the geology of the area well. Methodological tests indicate that it should be sufficient to take unfiltered samples in the field and to filter and acidify these in the evening at home base. The dataset provides a good overview of background concentrations and variation of almost 70 chemical elements in stream water from a remote northern European survey area. Supplementary material: Table S1 showing the analytical program, isotopes measured and detection limits, Table S2 with analytical results of the international reference materials used for quality control and Fig. S1 with geochemical maps for all elements are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4012885

Analysis of Historic Copper Patinas. Influence of Inclusions on Patina Uniformity.

The morphology and elemental composition of cross sections of eight historic copper materials have been explored. The materials were taken from copper roofs installed in different middle and northern European environments from the 16th to the 19th century. All copper substrates contain inclusions of varying size, number and composition, reflecting different copper ores and production methods. The largest inclusions have a size of up to 40 μm, with most inclusions in the size ranging between 2 and 10 μm. The most common element in the inclusions is O, followed by Pb, Sb and As. Minor elements include Ni, Sn and Fe. All historic patinas exhibit quite fragmentized bilayer structures, with a thin inner layer of cuprite (Cu2O) and a thicker outer one consisting mainly of brochantite (Cu4SO4(OH)6). The extent of patina fragmentation seems to depend on the size of the inclusions, rather than on their number and elemental composition. The larger inclusions are electrochemically nobler than the surrounding copper matrix. This creates micro-galvanic effects resulting both in a profound influence on the homogeneity and morphology of historic copper patinas and in a significantly increased ratio of the thicknesses of the brochantite and cuprite layers. The results suggest that copper patinas formed during different centuries exhibit variations in uniformity and corrosion protection ability.

Geographical variability in northern European sheep wool isotopic composition (δ(13) C, δ(15) N, δ(2) H values).

Light stable isotopic analysis of herbivore proteinaceous tissues (hair, muscle, milk) is critical for authenticating the point of origin of finished agricultural or industrial products in both ancient and modern economies. This study examined the distribution of light stable isotopes in herbivores in northern Europe (Iceland to Finland), which is expected to depend on regional-level environmental inputs (precipitation, temperature) and local variables (vegetation type, fodder type, soil type). Sheep wool was obtained from animals managed using traditional methods and located across a gradient of northern European environments. Defatted whole-year samples were analysed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for carbon (δ(13) C values), nitrogen (δ(15) N values) and un-exchangeable hydrogen (δ(2) H values) isotopic composition. Wool δ(13) C, δ(15) N and δ(2) H values showed the same correlations to local mean annual precipitation and temperature as were expected for graze plants. Wool δ(2) H values were correlated with local modelled meteoric water δ(2) H values, mediated by plant solid tissue and leaf water fractionations. Cluster analysis distinguished wool from Sweden and the Baltic region from more western material. Local variation in vegetation or soil type did not disrupt dependence on climatic variables but did affect geospatial discrimination. Wool isotopic composition in northern Europe is controlled by the effects of local precipitation and temperature on graze plant inputs, and is only weakly affected by pasture type. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Northern richness and cryptic refugia: phylogeography of the Italian smooth newtLissotriton vulgaris meridionalis

Recent phylogeographical studies have re-evaluated the role of refugia in central and northern Europe for glacial persistence and postglacial assembly of temperate biota. Yet, on a regional scale within Mediterranean peninsulas, putative ‘northern’ refugia's contribution to the current structure of biodiversity still needs to be fully appreciated. To this end, we investigated the phylogeographical structure and the evolutionary history of the Italian smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis, through phylogeographical, molecular dating and historical demographic analyses. We found ten differentiated mitochondrial lineages with a clear geographical association, mainly distributed in northern Italy. The most ancient divergence among these lineages was estimated at the Early Pleistocene and was followed by a series of splits throughout the Middle Pleistocene. No haplogroup turned out to be derived from another one, each one occupying terminal positions within the phylogenetic network topologies. These results suggest an unprecedented scenario involving long-term survival of distinct evolutionary lineages in multiple northern Mediterranean refugia. This scenario mirrors on a smaller geographical scale what has been previously observed in the literature concerning northern European environments; it also sheds more light on how northern Italy has contributed to temperate species' long-term survival and to the assembly of regional biota. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 590–603.

Length of Migration and Eating Habits of Portuguese University Students Living in London, United Kingdom

Several studies have pointed adverse effects of long term migration on eating habits. Research is needed to understand if this effect occurs also with a short length of migration, as is the case of international students. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of short and long term migration on eating habits of Portuguese university students. Participants were 46 English and 55 Portuguese students from universities in London, United Kingdom. The findings from this study highlight the difficulties that Portuguese students faced in maintaining a traditional Mediterranean diet after moving to a Northern European environment.

Pre-Harvest Night-Interruption on Everbearing Cultivars in Out-of-Soil Strawberry Cultivation in Belgium

Trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to examine the relationship between photoperiod and temperature in commercial production of two everbearing strawberry cultivars. Specifically, two experiments were conducted to determine: 1) the extent of flowering and runnering in the everbearing strawberry cultivar Charlotte as influenced by night-interruption using incandescent lights, or no night-interruption; and 2) the influence of temperature and night-interruption on flowering and runnering of the everbearing cultivar Portola in 2010. The 2009 trial was conducted in a glasshouse, while the 2010 trial was conducted on a table-top system. In both trials, the influence of pre-harvest night-interruption lighting or night-interruption lighting + temperature on fruit yield, cropping pattern, and runnering were investigated. The results demonstrate that use of night-interruption can result in increased fruit production and earlier fruit production of the second fruit cycle and a reduced stolon development for both cultivars. Both cultivars were sensitive to long-day treatments. It appears that an appropriate lighting strategy is required for optimizing yields of everbearing cultivars in Northern European environments.

Stakeholder theory and practice in Europe and North America: The key to success lies in a marketing approach

Corporate reputation in Europe and North America is increasingly seen as a function of how firms treat their stakeholders. In the United States, stakeholder theory has been touted as a paradigm of good management; yet despite enlightened stakeholder practice at home, US firms continue to run into problems in Europe. Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and GE have, in one way or another, all been caught off guard when doing business in Europe. This paper suggests that some of the stakeholder relations difficulties encountered by US corporations in Europe can be explained by fundamental cultural and philosophical differences between these regions that affect how stakeholders are viewed and how relations with those groups are managed. In this paper, we examine the historical and socio-political forces influencing stakeholder theory in the US and northern Europe and then use a business-to-business marketing approach to show how US firms might develop an approach to stakeholder relations that fits the northern European environment.

Differentiating between the effect of rapid dietary acculturation and the effect of living away from home for the first time, on the diets of Greek students studying in Glasgow

The diets of University students, particularly those living away from the family home, are characterised by a number of undesirable practices such as meal skipping, frequent snacking and low intakes of fruits and vegetables. This study aimed to identify the extent to which the previously reported negative changes in the eating habits of Greek students living in Glasgow were the result of rapid dietary acculturation (the ‘Glasgow effect’), and the extent to which these changes were the result of living away from the family home for the first time. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we assessed the diets before and after commencing university of Greek students living in the family home ( n=43) or away from home either in Greece ( n=37) or in Glasgow ( n=55). No significant changes were observed in the diets of students who continued to live at home after starting university. Significant changes observed only in the students living in Glasgow were decreases in consumption frequency of fresh fruits, meat and cheese, and increases in consumption of snack foods. These changes were attributed to rapid dietary acculturation. Young Greek adults faced difficulties in maintaining a traditional Mediterranean diet after leaving the family home, particularly after moving to a Northern European environment.

The impact on eating habits of temporary translocation from a Mediterranean to a Northern European environment.

To assess the effect of temporary translocation from a Mediterranean to a Northern European environment on the eating habits of a group of foreign students. Cross-sectional survey of eating habits before and after moving from Greece to Glasgow, Scotland. University of Glasgow. Eighty post-graduate Greek students. A self-administered questionnaire comprising of three major sections: (1) general eating habits; (2) frequency of eating selected food items; (3) opinion of food availability in Glasgow. After moving to Glasgow, significant decreases were reported in the frequency of consuming fresh fruit, raw vegetables, fish, legumes, meat, poultry and fresh fruit juice. The frequency of eating biscuits, savoury snacks, soft/fizzy drinks, alcoholic drinks and mayonnaise, dips and sauces increased. The estimated median daily consumption of fruit and vegetables decreased from 363 g in Greece to just 124 g in Glasgow, well below the Scottish and WHO dietary target of 400 g/day. The main perceived barriers to maintaining customary eating habits were the price of food, the lack of familiar tastes, the greater availability of convenience food and the limited variety of food available in Glasgow, when compared to Greece. These findings highlight the difficulties that migrant populations face in retaining traditional, often healthier, eating habits when migrating to a foreign country. Barriers of high cost, limited availability and poor quality of familiar foods, need to be addressed in order for migrants to maintain their customary eating patterns. Furthermore, these barriers need to be addressed before nutritionists can expect to see the widespread adoption of the Mediterranean diet by Western populations less familiar with this eating pattern.

Effect of Winter Climatic Conditions on the Behaviour of Adult Ostriches (Struthio Camelus) on a British Farm

AbstractOstrich welfare on farms of is great importance, particularly because little is known about appropriate husbandry conditions for these birds in a northern European environment. Rain has been shown to influence the pattern of behaviour during the spring months. This study examined the effects of four different climatic conditions (raining, dull but overcast, bright but overcast and sunny) on the behaviour of ostriches during the winter. Compared with dry conditions, there was a significantly higher rate of sitting during rainy periods — apparently at the expense of foraging (from pasture) and pacing (around the perimeter). The rate of sitting was much lower than that reported for the same birds during rain in the spring. During all climatic conditions, feeding (on concentrate feed provided) and foraging were the most dominant behaviours. Feeding was not significantly affected by rain but the frequency of foraging was reduced. Standing was a common behaviour. There were significant gender differences for standing (males > females) and foraging (females > males). These results show that winter conditions require ostriches to feed and forage at higher rates than during the spring or summer, presumably to consume more energy for thermoregulation. Gender differences in pacing and feeding behaviours previously observed in breeding birds were absent in non-breeding ostriches (presumably because males were not defending territories); although non-breeding males appeared to be more vigilant than females and needed to consume more food. Improvements in ostrich husbandry should take into account the need to provide both adequate shelter and more concentrate rations during the cold weather of winter. Energy requirements will be higher at this time, yet the ability of the birds to forage will be diminished. Without such considerations, ostrich welfare during the winter in northern Europe will be compromised.