Browsing by Subject "korkeusgradientti"
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(2016)For the conservation of biodiversity, it is important to examine the factors that shape species richness in different ecosystems. Global warming is predicted to be most pronounced in arctic-alpine areas and arctic environments, especially in major ecotones, like environments close to the tree lines. Therefore by examining the species richness, distribution and requirements of species living in mountainous areas, it is possible to assess the effects of climate change in different spatial scales. Elevational gradients are suitable for this kind of research, because many ecosystems processes and structure of local communities change along elevational gradients. Studies carried out in elevational gradients can help us to find out the mechanisms that shape local communities. The elevational patterns of species richness of micro-organisms like diatoms have been studied increasingly lately, but the results of the factors shaping species richness along elevational gradient are varied between different studies and groups of micro-organisms. Therefore it is important to learn more about the factors that shape species richness of micro-organisms along elevational gradients. In this thesis’s the elevational patterns of species richness and species evenness were studied in three different mountain streams in northern Norway and Kilpisjärvi (n= 44). The study also examines the effects of altitude to taxonomic relatedness of diatom species. Diatom and water chemistry samples were collected in August 2013. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to analyse species richness and the correlation between environmental variables and species richness were examined with pairwise correlation tests. Taxonomic distinctness was calculated with taxondive-command. According to the GLM, the species richness was best explained (49,2 %) by pH of stream water, stream depth, conductivity and altitude. Species evenness was best explained (45,6 %) by water temperature and total nitrogen (TN). Altitude showed a statistically significant relation to species richness (p= 0,003) and species evenness only in Lepänjoki (p< 5,45e+07). Species were not phylogenetically more clustered as elevation increased. Altitude did not explain the taxonomic distinctness of diatom species in the research streams. It can be concluded that a deeper riverbed guarantee more stable conditions to diatom species. Similarly, higher water pH value is more favorable habitat for diatoms, than acidic waters. Altitude may affect species richness through bedrock geology, which probably affects pH value and conductivity in the research streams. The short elevational gradients probably affect the fact that species richness did not decrease as altitude increased and that the species were not closely related to each other at the upper end of the gradient.
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(2022)The Arctic is facing a major turning point with climate change and the region's climate will experience a particularly sharp rise in temperature. Subarctic ponds are important habitats and shelters for many organisms in the area but are nevertheless poorly known compared to larger water bodies. Along with climate change, the importance of studying ponds becomes more important as they are the first to manifest a changing climate. Factors affecting the water properties of subarctic ponds include the characteristics of the catchment area, such as its location relative to the sea, altitude, bedrock, and soil. Of the climatic factors, the temperature in the summer months and the amount of precipitation are of great importance. The purpose of the thesis was to find out the factors influencing the water properties of ponds in the Kilpisjärvi region and how the water properties vary between ponds. Water samples were collected from 94 tundra ponds in and around Malla Strict Nature Reserve and in the areas around Ailakkavaara in August-September 2018 and 2019. The collected samples were later analyzed in the laboratory of the Department of Geosciences and Geography in University of Helsinki. The hydrochemical variables studied were metals dissolved in water, major ions, and total phosphorus and nitrogen. Variables describing catchment characteristics such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), TWI (Topographic Wetness Index) and climatic variables such as precipitation during the summer months and average temperature in July were collected from open spatial data sources. Based on the results of the principal component analysis (PCA), the chemical properties of pond waters vary slightly on average between Malla and Ailakkavaara, but there is more variation within the regions. The characteristics of the catchment areas and the climate clearly influenced the vegetation type surrounding the ponds, but these factors were not as strongly reflected in the characteristics of the pond waters. The absolute amounts of nutrients and water-dissolved metals are small, but the relative variation between ponds is substantial. Based on GAM-modeling, influence of groundwater (deuterium excess) was the single most significant factor influencing water quality, which was the explanatory variable for several water properties. The drier-than-average summer months in the study years emphasize the importance of runoff to water quality. Rainfall during the summer months, altitude, mean temperature in July, and amount of vegetation (NDVI) were the main factors influencing the subarctic ponds in the study. The increase in temperature caused by climate change will raise the temperature of pond waters and increased precipitation will increase the runoff of metals dissolved in ponds.
Now showing items 1-2 of 2