Maija Lampela defended her PhD thesis, Ecological prerequisites for succesful reforestation of degraded tropical peatlands, on December 5th 2018. Professor Barry G. Warner (left, University of Waterloo, Canada) acted as the opponent and professor Harri Vasander (right) as the custos. (Photo: Jyrki Jauhiainen).
(December 2018)
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Sphagnum Mosses – Stars of European Mires is now published and available! Contents and sample pages of the book can be found here.
(September 2018)
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Anuliina Putkinen defended her PhD thesis, Sphagnum-associated methanotrophs – a resilient CH4 biofilter in pristine and disturbed peatlands, on April 20th 2018. Doctor Svetlana Dedysh (Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Russian Academy of Sciences) acted as the opponent and professor Sarah Butcher as the custos.
(April 2018)
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The Academy of Finland has awarded Harri Vasander a four-year funding (2017-2021) for the project Tropical peat decomposition under land-use change: adaptation to resources and conditions TROPDEC. The aim of the project is to understand the underlying biological and microbiological processes resulting in peat loss and greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands in Southeast Asia. The project combines (1) on site GHG and microbial community monitoring on specific management practices and (2) determines microbial bases of the decomposition process in realistic in vitro environments. This is a collaborative effort of peatland ecologists and microbiologists from Finland, Norway and Indonesia.
(May 2017)
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Mari Könönen defended her PhD thesis, Tropical peat decomposability expressed through physical, chemical and biological properties under varying land management intensities, on May 12th 2017. Doctor Sofie Sjögersten (University of Nottingham, United Kingdom) acted as the opponent and professor Harri Vasander as the custos.
(May 2017)
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Markku Koskinen (right) defended his PhD thesis, Impacts of restoration of forestry-drained peatlands on nutrient and organic carbon exports and methane dynamics, on January 20th 2017. Professor Hans Joosten (left, University of Greifswald, Germany) acted as the opponent and professor Harri Vasander (center) as the custos. (Photo: Tommaso Raffaello).
(January 2017)
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Paul Mathijssen defended his PhD thesis, Holocene carbon dynamics and atmospheric radiative forcing of different types of peatlands in Finland, on May 13th 2016. Professor Zicheng Yu (Lehigh University, USA) acted as the opponent and professor Atte Korhola as the custos.
(May 2016)
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Liisa Maanavilja (second from right) defended her PhD thesis, Restoration of ecosystem structure and function in boreal spruce swamp forests, on May 8th 2015. Assistant Professor Juul Limpens (second from left) acted as the opponent and Professor Harri Vasander (left) as the custos. Dr. Eeva-Stiina Tuittila (right) was the thesis supervisor. (photo: Laura Maanavilja)
The thesis is available at: http://www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df191.htm
(May 2015)
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Tiina Ronkainen defended her PhD thesis, Plant Biomarkers as a Proxy to Study Highly Decomposed Fen Peat, on April 10th 2015. Doctor Geoffrey Abbott acted as the opponent and Professor Atte Korhola as the custos. (photo: Tomas Hajec)
The thesis is available at: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-51-0884-5
(April 2015)
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Paavo Ojanen (right) defended his PhD thesis, Estimation of greenhouse gas balance for forestry-drained peatlands, on April 25th 2014. Professor Nigel Roulet (left) acted as the opponent, and Professor Harri Vasander as the custos. (photo: Kari Minkkinen)
The thesis is available at http://www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df176.htm
(April 2014)
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Rabbil Bhuiyan’s PhD project proposal under the supervision of Raija Laiho “Fine root production and decomposition – the missing pieces in the carbon balance of boreal peatlands” was approved for funding on 14.11.2013 by Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation. The project will run from 1.1.2014 till 31.12.2016.
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Rabbil Bhuiyan recieved the Excellent Master’s thesis award 2012 by the Finnish Forest Amelioration Foundation.The award was given during the annual meeting of Suoseura (Finnish Peatland Society) on November 15th 2013.
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Meeri Pearson (right) defended her PhD thesis, Maximizing peatland forest regeneration success at lowest cost to the atmosphere: Effects of soil preparation on Scots pine seedling vitality and GHG emissions, on June 14th 2013. Doctor Florence Renou-Wilson (center) acted as the opponent, and Professor Harri Vasander as the custos. (photo: Lasse Aro)
The thesis is available at http://www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df159.htm
(June 2013)
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A new book on peatland ecology and forestry was published.
Päivänen, J. & Hånell, B. 2012. Peatland Ecology and Forestry – a Sound Approach. University of Helsinki Department of Forest Sciences Publications 3: 1–267. ISBN 978-952-10-4531-8
Price: 40 €
This comprehensive presentation discusses peat and mire properties relative to forestry practiced both on pristine mires and drained peatlands. The emphasis is on Nordic conditions. Where relevant, the approaches applied in other parts of the boreal and temperate zones are also discussed. The book is plentifully illustrated. Subject index and almost one thousand references enable its use both as educational text book and reference work.
The book is a common effort of the Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki and the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
To order, send your name, postal address and number of books to: anne.lehto@helsinki.fi
(June 2012)
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Peatland Ecology Group was among the best 30% in the international evaluation of the research and doctoral training at the University of Helsinki. The group recieved a 270 000 € funding for the years 2013-2016 as a reward.
(May 2012)
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Päivi Mäkiranta defended her PhD thesis, Heterotrophic soil respiration in drained peatlands: Abiotic drivers, and changes after clearfelling and afforestation, on March 30th 2012. Professor Leif Klemedtsson acted as the opponent, and Professor Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari as the custos.
The thesis is available at http://www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df140.htm
(March 2012)
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Mari Könönen (right) received an award of the Seppo and Leena Kaunisto Fund for her M.Sc. thesis Maankäyttömuutoksen vaikutus trooppisen ja boreaalisen puuvaltaisen turpeen fysikaaliseen rakenteeseen ja kemialliseen koostumukseen [Effect of land-use change on the physical and chemical characteristics of tropical and boreal woody peat]. Mrs Leena Kaunisto on the left and Prof. emer. Seppo Kaunisto in the centre. Additionally, Mari received a “Tropical peat digger 2011” prize (front) from her supervisors, Jyrki Jauhiainen and Harri Vasander. Photo: Jyrki Jauhiainen.
(November 2011)
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We had a nice excursion to Silmäneva, Virrat, in October 20th to commemorate the career of Jukka Laine when he retired from the professorship of Peatland Research at the Finnish Forest Research Institute. Many exciting Sphagnum species were sighted (e.g., S. molle, S. platyphyllum, S. pulchrum), as well as absolutely gigantic Carex rostrata, to name just a few attractions of the site. Thank you for everything, Jukka, “We would not be here without you”; we’ll stay in touch! Photo: Lasse Aro. (October 2011)
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We arranged an internship program Peatland Management for Wise Use and Conservation for a team of six from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia, during October 10-18. The participants were microbiology and biotechnology experts with an interest in peatlands. The program consisted of lectures, lab visits, a field trip to Hyytiälä Field Station and Lakkasuo, and discussions. Plans for collaborative research were also drafted. From left: Heru Purwanta, Mari Könönen, Farah, Sih Parmiyatni, Gatyo Angkoso (in front), Dr Koesnandar, Raija, Diana Nurani. Photo: Heru Purwanta. (October 2011)
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Mirva Leppälä defended her PhD thesis, Successional changes in vegetation and carbon dynamics during boreal mire development, on June 15th at the University of Oulu. Professor Håkan Rydin from the Uppsala University, Sweden, acted as the opponent, and Professor Jari Oksanen as the custos. The thesis is available at http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9789514294655/isbn9789514294655.pdf
(June 2011)
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A new, amended edition of the acclaimed guidebook, The Intricate Beauty of Sphagnum Mosses – a Finnish Guide to Identification, is fresh out of print! Price remains the same (49.50 € regular, 30 € student) and includes postage. Orders may be sent by e-mail to anne.lehto@helsinki.fi
(May 2011)
The book is sold out!
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Päivi Mäkiranta started as a postdoctoral researcher in the team as of May 1, 2011, and Krista Peltoniemi will start on June 1. They will participate in a project funded by the Academy of Finland, entitled “Plant-soil Processes in Peatlands Under a Warming Climate”. This project will investigate the impacts of warming and water table level drawdown on carbon gas exchange between ecosystem and atmosphere, above- and below-ground carbon inputs into the soil, organic matter decomposition and allocation of carbon within the system. It will utilize the experimental setup with open top chambers. Hannu Fritze (Finnish Forest Research Institute) coordinates the project that will run from 2011 through 2014. (May 2011)
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Petra Straková (center) defended her PhD thesis “Carbon dynamics in peatlands under changing hydrology – Effects of water level drawdown on litter quality, microbial enzyme activities and litter decomposition rates” on December 17 th, 2010. Dr Luca Bragazza (right) from the University of Ferrara, Italy, acted as the opponent, and Prof. Harri Vasander (Dept. of Forest Sciences) as the custos. Photo by Tommaso Raffaello. The thesis is available at
http://www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df112.htm
(December 2010)
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University of Helsinki awarded a postdoctoral position to Anna Laine (Department of Forest Sciences) for years 2011-2013. Anna will work on Young fens – ecosystems on the edge under changing climate in close collaboration with the University of Oulu. University of Helsinki awards altogether 12 postdoctoral positions annually, based on an open call covering all fields of science. Congratulations, Anna!
(December 2010)
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Krista Peltoniemi (left) defended her PhD thesis “Aerobic carbon-cycle related microbial communities in boreal peatlands: responses to water-level drawdown” on June 4th, 2010. Dr Rebekka Artz (right) from the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, UK, acted as the opponent, and Prof. Kielo Haahtela (Dept. of Biosciences) as the custos. Photo by Mikko Peltoniemi. The thesis is available at
http://www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df101.htm
(June 2010)
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Tomáš Picek from the University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, was visiting us during March 2010. He was, among other things, participating in Liisa Maanavilja’s steering group meeting together with Minna Väliranta and Raija Laiho, and collaborating with Eeva-Stiina on peatland restoration. (March 2010)
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Eeva-Stiina Tuittila was visiting Steve Frolking at the University of New Hampshire during February-March 2010. They were working on a peatland succession model. (March 2010)
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The new book on Sphagnum identification was celebrated in a release party thrown in the Palm House of Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden, Helsinki, in 13 October 2009. The authors were happy to finish their long labour and to see the enthusiastic reception of the outcome by colleagues. From left: Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, Kari Minkkinen, Anna Laine, Harri Vasander, The Book, Jukka Laine, Tuuli Timonen and Pirkko Harju. Photo by Sinikka Piippo. (October 2009)