The Corona virus epidemic did not stop a group of Russian and Finnish scientists from holding a seminar on common approaches to studying and conserving vulnerable aquatic ecosystems and reservoirs of the North. The online meeting was held on April 9th, 2020 and attracted participants from universities and institutes on boths sides of the border.
The participants made specific mention of the great importance of comprehensively studying lake ecosystems, which are of great importance for people in Russia and Finland. It is believed that only a comprehensive approach will give an appropriate estimation of how these ecosystems are changing over time and will give an opportunity to take preventing and controlling measures.
Considering the discussion on developing the Red List of Ecosystems in Europe, the participants of the seminar pointed out that lake ecosystems, and especially northern lakes in the Baltic and Barents Regions are especially vulnerable to anthropogenic influences. What is essential, is studying the ecosystems of the skerry part of Lake Ladoga which is the largest fresh water reservoir in Europe. It requires a comprehensive and united approach to studying ecosystems considering both their geographical distribution and their components.
The participants discussed their experiences examining aquatic communities gained by Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and universities in Russia and Finland, and highlighted the importance of integrating and discussing methods of various researches. Using new technologies provides opportunities for collecting field data which have become available only recently. The participants hope that interest in new research methods will gain momentum and their development will continue. Biologists, engineers, programmers, geologists, and geoecologists are welcomed.
Effective solutions of topical problems are impossible to achieve without interdisciplinary cooperation. The participants state that the partnership between Institutes which appeared on the expedition “Skerries of Ladoga” in the summer of 2019 has borne fruit. Uniting universities and science centers plays an especially important role as well as international cooperation does as it promotes public discourse and the formation of new points of view.
The hope is that leaders of the member-organizations will recognize the success thus far and further encourage development of partnership between institutes and universities participating in the expedition to Ladoga and hopefully restrictions arising from the epidemic will allow for a second expedition to take place in 2020.
Participants also proposed the implementation of a framework agreement on interuniversity partnership for the study and conservation of fresh water reservoirs in the North and the ecosystems in the Baltic and Barents Regions. Online seminars should take place twice a year on a regular basis. Considering the significance of Lake Ladoga and small lakes of the region, a perspective of the seminar program expansion in spheres of social ecology, socioeconomic researches connected with responsible environmental management should be considered.
-Dina Sergeyevna Dudakova
THE PARTICIPANTS:
Ivan Andreyevich Mukhin, Cand. Sc., assistant professor of Biology and Ecology Department, Vologda State University, Vologda, responsible organizer;
Dina Sergeyevna Dudakova, Cand. Sc., researcher of Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Institute of Limnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, responsible organizer;
Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Kurashov, PhD Biology, head of Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Institute of Limnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg;
Nataliya Mikhaylovna Kalinkina, PhD Biology, leading researcher, head of Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Northern Water Problems Institute, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk;
Mariya Tagiyevna Syarki, Cand. Sc., senior researcher of Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Northern Water Problems Institute, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk;
Mikhail Olegovich Dudakov, engineer of Laboratory of Comprehensive Problems, Institute of Limnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg;
Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Belyakov, Cand. Sc., senior researcher of Laboratory of Higher Aquatic Vegetation, Institute of Internal Waters Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Yaroslavl Region;
Lauri Arvola, Ph. D., professor of Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki;
Niko Nappu, HiLIFE research stations' coordinator;
Interpreter: Svetlana Alekseyevna Rozanova, Vologda