Keyword: Biodiversity and sustainability

In two studies, researchers at the University of Turku have found that carbon sequestration and plant resilience as well as forage pasture yield can be increased through key adjustments in agricultural management. The results provide a roadmap for reducing pesticide loads in soils and the first steps towards increasing climate change mitigation while improving crop yield in grasslands.

In the context of the 32nd BioCity Symposium (24-25 August 2023) the nineteenth Elias Tillandz prize will be awarded for the best scientific paper published in 2022 in Turku.

Wind turbines are built at an increasing pace but their effect on nature and animals are poorly known. Researchers from the Universities of Turku and Helsinki in Finland have investigated the impact of wind turbines on bat presence and activity in boreal forests. The results indicate clearly that bats don’t like wind turbines.

Professor David Whyte has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Turku since 2014. He has collaborated with the Faculty of Law in events, research and teaching. In the spring of 2022, Whyte was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Turku. In autumn 2022, Whyte has been visiting the Faculty to plan a research project on sustainability in the forest industry.

Researchers used artificial nests to test two methods for reducing the nest predation of vulnerable and endangered ground-nesting birds. The study showed that red foxes can be more easily deceived into not eating bird eggs than raccoon dogs. The methods could be used alongside hunting and offer an alternative, non-lethal solution for creating protection for vulnerable prey. 

The universities in Turku launched in autumn 2021 a joint webinar series focusing on technology and sustainable development. Aboa Tech Talks will highlight new technologies and innovative technological research that can offer solutions to the complex global challenges of our time.

Researchers at the Universities of Turku and Oulu, Finland, found out how Roundup, a herbicide containing glyphosate, affects the learning and memory of bumblebees. Already a small dose affected their ability to learn and memorise connections between colours and taste. The weakened fine colour vision can severely impair bumblebees’ foraging and nesting success.

After conducting a research on fish populations in the Baltic sea,  Doctoral Candidate MSc Giovanna Mottola found that some fish can still survive from current summer heat waves. But according to the research the general increase of temperature due to climate change all the year around can threaten this capacity.

The six strategic research and education profiles of the University of Turku together with the Steering Group for Sustainable Development are hosting a new "Thematics Talk Together - Sustainability" -seminar series. The series addresses topical and interesting questions related to sustainability and sustainable development.

The University of Turku, together with the Universities of Eastern Finland, Oulu, Helsinki and Jyväskylä and Åbo Akademi University are collaborating in biodiversity education, and the course catalogue for this academic year has been published. Through the Biodiversity education network, students at the University of Turku have a possibility to take biodiversity-related courses from other universities.