Research

Formerly I worked as a visiting researcher in the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). My tasks were focused on the assessment of biological impacts of bioenergy harvesting on freshwater ecosystems and developing new methods for that. The same theme works as a topic for my academic scribblings as well (a still ongoing PhD work).

My PhD project is called KORPI (a Finnish word for spruce mire). The project has its webpages also in Finnish on SYKE’s website. I'm a PhD student in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

I want to thank Maj & Tor Nessling Foundation (2011-2014) for making my work possible and believing in my work during the years 2011-2014. I had also a matching funding position in the VALUE Doctoral Program, which has provided numerous possibilities for networking and greatly helped with travelling expenses.

Supervisors of my PhD work are:

Prof. Roger I. Jones, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Dr. Kristian Meissner, Finnish Environment Institute, Jyväskylä, Finland

I use Chironomid Pupal Exuviae Technique (CPET) in conjunction with traditional benthic macroinvertebrate sampling. This is done in order to assess the effects of bioenergy production, like forestry and peat production, on aquatic ecosystems. Local and watercourse scale cumulative ecological effects of bioenergy production and the effectiveness of subsequent remedial actions are also assessed. For example, predators are likely to be indirectly affected by large resource level changes through manifested change in the composition of their prey community.

To demonstrate links between the terrestrial organic matter input from either forestry or peat mining activities, we will use stable isotope analyses, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) analyses, and sediment fingerprinting techniques. In order to assess possible ecosystem changes as a result of bioenergy harvesting practice, stable isotope signatures (e.g. ∂¹³C, ∂¹⁵N) of different sources of organic matter in stream ecosystems and trophic positions of benthic macroinvertebrates will be studied.

My PhD work consists of four subprojects

1. Comparison of peat mining and forestry effects by using benthic macroinvertebrate community analyses
2. Can stable isotope analyses discriminate the different sources of OM?
1. Chromophoric dissolved organic matter
   1. Impacts of peatland use on the basal resources in rivers

Research interests

• Benthic macroinvertebrate ecology
• Stream ecology
• Biomonitoring
• Stable isotopes, ecology and biogeochemistry

My publications in Google Scholar profile

Funding

KORPI-project was funded by Maj & Tor Nessling Foundation (2011-2014) and a matching funding position in the VALUE doctoral program.