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Berner LT, Orndahl KM, Rose M, Tamstorf M, Arndal MF, Alexander HD, Humphreys ER, Loranty MM, Ludwig SM, Nyman J, Juutinen S, Aurela M, Happonen K, Mikola J, Mack MC, Vankoughnett MR, Iversen CM, Salmon VG, Yang D, Kumar J, Grogan P, Danby RK, Scott NA, Olofsson J, Siewert MB, Deschamps L, Lévesque E, Maire V, Morneault A, Gauthier G, Gignac C, Boudreau S, Gaspard A, Kholodov A, Bret-Harte MS, Greaves HE, Walker D, Gregory FM, Michelsen A, Kumpula T, Villoslada M, Ylänne H, Luoto M, Virtanen T, Forbes BC, Hölzel N, Epstein H, Heim RJ, Bunn A, Holmes RM, Hung JKY, Natali SM, Virkkala AM, Goetz SJ. The Arctic Plant Aboveground Biomass Synthesis Dataset. Sci Data 2024; 11:305. [PMID: 38509110 PMCID: PMC10954756 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03139-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant biomass is a fundamental ecosystem attribute that is sensitive to rapid climatic changes occurring in the Arctic. Nevertheless, measuring plant biomass in the Arctic is logistically challenging and resource intensive. Lack of accessible field data hinders efforts to understand the amount, composition, distribution, and changes in plant biomass in these northern ecosystems. Here, we present The Arctic plant aboveground biomass synthesis dataset, which includes field measurements of lichen, bryophyte, herb, shrub, and/or tree aboveground biomass (g m-2) on 2,327 sample plots from 636 field sites in seven countries. We created the synthesis dataset by assembling and harmonizing 32 individual datasets. Aboveground biomass was primarily quantified by harvesting sample plots during mid- to late-summer, though tree and often tall shrub biomass were quantified using surveys and allometric models. Each biomass measurement is associated with metadata including sample date, location, method, data source, and other information. This unique dataset can be leveraged to monitor, map, and model plant biomass across the rapidly warming Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan T Berner
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Orndahl
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
| | - Melissa Rose
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
| | - Mikkel Tamstorf
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Marie F Arndal
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Heather D Alexander
- College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, USA
| | - Elyn R Humphreys
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Sarah M Ludwig
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, Palisades, USA
| | - Johanna Nyman
- Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
| | - Sari Juutinen
- Climate System Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mika Aurela
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Juha Mikola
- Bioeconomy and Environment Unit, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michelle C Mack
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
| | | | - Colleen M Iversen
- Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
| | - Verity G Salmon
- Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
| | - Dedi Yang
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
| | - Paul Grogan
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Ryan K Danby
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Neal A Scott
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthias B Siewert
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lucas Deschamps
- Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Esther Lévesque
- Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Vincent Maire
- Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Amélie Morneault
- Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Gilles Gauthier
- Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Department of Biology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Charles Gignac
- Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Department of Plant Science, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Anna Gaspard
- Department of Biology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - Heather E Greaves
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, USA
| | - Donald Walker
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, USA
| | - Fiona M Gregory
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Anders Michelsen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, København, Denmark
| | - Timo Kumpula
- Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Miguel Villoslada
- Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
- Institute of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Henni Ylänne
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Miska Luoto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarmo Virtanen
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bruce C Forbes
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Norbert Hölzel
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Howard Epstein
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Ramona J Heim
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Bunn
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Scott J Goetz
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
- Bioeconomy and Environment Unit, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
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Puts IC, Ask J, Siewert MB, Sponseller RA, Hessen DO, Bergström A. Landscape determinants of pelagic and benthic primary production in northern lakes. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:7063-7077. [PMID: 36054573 PMCID: PMC9826228 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Global change affects gross primary production (GPP) in benthic and pelagic habitats of northern lakes by influencing catchment characteristics and lake water biogeochemistry. However, how changes in key environmental drivers manifest and impact total (i.e., benthic + pelagic) GPP and the partitioning of total GPP between habitats represented by the benthic share (autotrophic structuring) is unclear. Using a dataset from 26 shallow lakes located across Arctic, subarctic, and boreal northern Sweden, we investigate how catchment properties (air temperature, land cover, hydrology) affect lake physico-chemistry and patterns of total GPP and autotrophic structuring. We find that total GPP was mostly light limited, due to high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations originating from catchment soils with coniferous vegetation and wetlands, which is further promoted by high catchment runoff. In contrast, autotrophic structuring related mostly to the relative size of the benthic habitat, and was potentially modified by CO2 fertilization in the subarctic, resulting in significantly higher total GPP relative to the other biomes. Across Arctic and subarctic sites, DIC and CO2 were unrelated to DOC, indicating that external inputs of inorganic carbon can influence lake productivity patterns independent of terrestrial DOC supply. By comparison, DOC and CO2 were correlated across boreal lakes, suggesting that DOC mineralization acts as an important CO2 source for these sites. Our results underline that GPP as a resource is regulated by landscape properties, and is sensitive to large-scale global changes (warming, hydrological intensification, recovery of acidification) that promote changes in catchment characteristics and aquatic physico-chemistry. Our findings aid in predicting global change impacts on autotrophic structuring, and thus community structure and resource use of aquatic consumers in general. Given the similarities of global changes across the Northern hemisphere, our findings are likely relevant for northern lakes globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isolde Callisto Puts
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Jenny Ask
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Matthias B. Siewert
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Ryan A. Sponseller
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | | | - Ann‐Kristin Bergström
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
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MacDougall AS, Caplat P, Olofsson J, Siewert MB, Bonner C, Esch E, Lessard-Therrien M, Rosenzweig H, Schäfer AK, Raker P, Ridha H, Bolmgren K, Fries TCE, Larson K. Comparison of the distribution and phenology of Arctic Mountain plants between the early 20th and 21st centuries. Glob Chang Biol 2021; 27:5070-5083. [PMID: 34297435 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Arctic plants are adapted to climatic variability, but their long-term responses to warming remain unclear. Responses may occur by range shifts, phenological adjustments in growth and reproduction, or both. Here, we compare distribution and phenology of 83 arctic and boreal mountain species, sampled identically in the early 20th (1917-1919) and 21st centuries (2017-2018) from a region of northern Sweden that has warmed significantly. We test two compensatory hypotheses to high-latitude warming-upward shifts in distribution, and earlier or extended growth and reproduction. For distribution, we show dramatic upward migration by 69% of species, averaging 6.1 m per decade, especially boreal woodland taxa whose upward expansion has reduced arctic montane habitat by 30%. Twenty percent of summit species showed distributional shifts but downward, especially moisture-associated snowbed flora. For phenology, we detected wide inter-annual variability in the onset of leafing and flowering in both eras. However, there was no detectable change in growing-season length, relating to two mechanisms. First, plot-level snow melt data starting in 1917 demonstrated that melt date, rather than vernal temperatures, better predicts plant emergence, with snow melt influenced by warmer years having greater snowfall-warmer springs did not always result in earlier emergence because snowbeds can persist longer. Second, the onset of reproductive senescence between eras was similar, even when plant emergence was earlier by a month, possibly due to intensified summer heat stress or hard-wired 'canalization' where senescence occurs regardless of summer temperature. Migrations in this system have possibly buffered arctic species against displacement by boreal expansion and warming, but ongoing temperature increases, woody plant invasion, and a potential lack of flexibility in timing of senescence may foreshadow challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S MacDougall
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Paul Caplat
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthias B Siewert
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Colin Bonner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ellen Esch
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Pia Raker
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hassan Ridha
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kjell Bolmgren
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Keith Larson
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Abstract
Understanding how herbivores shape plant biomass and distribution is a core challenge in ecology. Yet, the lack of suitable remote sensing technology limits our knowledge of temporal and spatial impacts of mammal herbivores in the Earth system. The regular interannual density fluctuations of voles and lemmings are exceptional with their large reduction of plant biomass in Arctic landscapes during peak years (12-24%) as previously shown at large spatial scales using satellites. This provides evidence that herbivores are important drivers of observed global changes in vegetation productivity. Here, we use a novel approach with repeated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, to map vegetation impact by rodents, indicating that many important aspects of vegetation dynamics otherwise hidden by the coarse resolution of satellite images, including plant-herbivore interactions, can be revealed using UAVs. We quantify areas impacted by rodents at four complex Arctic landscapes with very high spatial resolution UAV imagery to get a new perspective on how herbivores shape Arctic ecosystems. The area impacted by voles and lemmings is indeed substantial, larger at higher altitude tundra environments, varies between habitats depending on local snow cover and plant community composition, and is heterogeneous even within habitats at submeter scales. Coupling this with spectral reflectance of vegetation (NDVI), we can show that the impact on central ecosystem properties like GPP and biomass is stronger than currently accounted for in Arctic ecosystems. As an emerging technology, UAVs will allow us to better disentangle important information on how herbivores maintain spatial heterogeneity, function and diversity in natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias B. Siewert
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johan Olofsson
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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5
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Parker TC, Clemmensen KE, Friggens NL, Hartley IP, Johnson D, Lindahl BD, Olofsson J, Siewert MB, Street LE, Subke JA, Wookey PA. Rhizosphere allocation by canopy-forming species dominates soil CO 2 efflux in a subarctic landscape. New Phytol 2020; 227:1818-1830. [PMID: 32248524 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In arctic ecosystems, climate change has increased plant productivity. As arctic carbon (C) stocks predominantly are located belowground, the effects of greater plant productivity on soil C storage will significantly determine the net sink/source potential of these ecosystems, but vegetation controls on soil CO2 efflux remain poorly resolved. In order to identify the role of canopy-forming species in belowground C dynamics, we conducted a girdling experiment with plots distributed across 1 km2 of treeline birch (Betula pubescens) forest and willow (Salix lapponum) patches in northern Sweden and quantified the contribution of canopy vegetation to soil CO2 fluxes and belowground productivity. Girdling birches reduced total soil CO2 efflux in the peak growing season by 53%, which is double the expected amount, given that trees contribute only half of the total leaf area in the forest. Root and mycorrhizal mycelial production also decreased substantially. At peak season, willow shrubs contributed 38% to soil CO2 efflux in their patches. Our findings indicate that C, recently fixed by trees and tall shrubs, makes a substantial contribution to soil respiration. It is critically important that these processes are taken into consideration in the context of a greening arctic because productivity and ecosystem C sequestration are not synonymous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Parker
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling,, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Karina E Clemmensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden
| | - Nina L Friggens
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling,, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Iain P Hartley
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter,, EX4 4RJ, UK
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Björn D Lindahl
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Matthias B Siewert
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Lorna E Street
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh,, EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Jens-Arne Subke
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling,, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Philip A Wookey
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling,, FK9 4LA, UK
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Tang J, Yurova AY, Schurgers G, Miller PA, Olin S, Smith B, Siewert MB, Olefeldt D, Pilesjö P, Poska A. Drivers of dissolved organic carbon export in a subarctic catchment: Importance of microbial decomposition, sorption-desorption, peatland and lateral flow. Sci Total Environ 2018; 622-623:260-274. [PMID: 29216467 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Tundra soils account for 50% of global stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), and it is expected that the amplified climate warming in high latitude could cause loss of this SOC through decomposition. Decomposed SOC could become hydrologically accessible, which increase downstream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export and subsequent carbon release to the atmosphere, constituting a positive feedback to climate warming. However, DOC export is often neglected in ecosystem models. In this paper, we incorporate processes related to DOC production, mineralization, diffusion, sorption-desorption, and leaching into a customized arctic version of the dynamic ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS in order to mechanistically model catchment DOC export, and to link this flux to other ecosystem processes. The extended LPJ-GUESS is compared to observed DOC export at Stordalen catchment in northern Sweden. Vegetation communities include flood-tolerant graminoids (Eriophorum) and Sphagnum moss, birch forest and dwarf shrub communities. The processes, sorption-desorption and microbial decomposition (DOC production and mineralization) are found to contribute most to the variance in DOC export based on a detailed variance-based Sobol sensitivity analysis (SA) at grid cell-level. Catchment-level SA shows that the highest mean DOC exports come from the Eriophorum peatland (fen). A comparison with observations shows that the model captures the seasonality of DOC fluxes. Two catchment simulations, one without water lateral routing and one without peatland processes, were compared with the catchment simulations with all processes. The comparison showed that the current implementation of catchment lateral flow and peatland processes in LPJ-GUESS are essential to capture catchment-level DOC dynamics and indicate the model is at an appropriate level of complexity to represent the main mechanism of DOC dynamics in soils. The extended model provides a new tool to investigate potential interactions among climate change, vegetation dynamics, soil hydrology and DOC dynamics at both stand-alone to catchment scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Tang
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund Univeristy, Sweden; Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Alla Y Yurova
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; NANSEN International Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Guy Schurgers
- Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Paul A Miller
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund Univeristy, Sweden.
| | - Stefan Olin
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund Univeristy, Sweden.
| | - Benjamin Smith
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund Univeristy, Sweden.
| | - Matthias B Siewert
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Sweden; Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - David Olefeldt
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
| | - Petter Pilesjö
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund Univeristy, Sweden.
| | - Anneli Poska
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund Univeristy, Sweden; Institute of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia.
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