A5020844217- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Gut microbiota and health
- Evolution and Science Education
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Research in Social Sciences
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Religion, Ecology, and Ethics
- Science Education and Perceptions
- Plant and animal studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Science Education and Pedagogy
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
University of Helsinki
2016-2025
Leiden University
2024-2025
University of Oulu
2024
University of Zurich
2017-2021
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
2019-2020
Helsinki Institute of Physics
2018
Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology
2010-2016
Abstract Detecting interaction between species is notoriously difficult, and disentangling associations in host‐related gut communities especially challenging. Nevertheless, due to contemporary methods, including metabarcoding 16S sequencing, collecting observational data on community composition has become easier much more common. We studied the previously collected datasets of intestinal bacterial microbiota parasite compositions within longitudinally followed mouse lemurs by analysing...
Abstract Lyme disease is a tick-borne caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia . The host factors that modulate susceptibility for have remained mostly unknown. Using epidemiological and genetic data from FinnGen Estonian Biobank, we identify two previously known variants an unknown common missense variant at gene encoding Secretoglobin family 1D member 2 ( SCGB1D2 ) protein increases disease. live burgdorferi (Bb) find recombinant reference inhibits growth Bb in vitro more efficiently than...
The contribution of school curricula to public understanding and acceptance evolution is still mostly unknown, due the scarcity studies that compare learning goals present in different curricula. To overcome this lack data we analysed 19 (18 European one from Israel) study differences regarding inclusion targeting understanding. We performed a quantitative content analysis using Framework for Assessment Curricula on presence Evolutionary concepts (FACE). For each country/region what...
Ecological factors, host characteristics and/or interactions among microbes may all shape the occurrence of and structure microbial communities within organisms. In past, disentangling these factors determining their relative importance in shaping within-host microbiota has been hampered by analytical limitations to account for (dis)similar environmental preferences ('environmental filtering'). Here we used a joint species distribution modelling (JSDM) approach characterize bacterial one...
ABSTRACT Longitudinal sampling for intestinal microbiota in wild animals is difficult, leading to a lack of information on bacterial dynamics occurring nature. We studied how the composition communities changed temporally free-ranging small primates, rufous mouse lemurs ( Microcebus rufus ). marked and recaptured during their mating season Ranomafana National Park southeastern mountainous rainforests Madagascar 2 years determined fecal compositions these with MiSeq sequencing. collected 160...
Abstract This paper is a search for common ground between two natural scientists, childhood studies and education scholars human–animal or critical animal all working within shared citizen science project. The takes the form of thematic mapping existing literature on ecological science, with questions: “Participation whose terms?”, benefit?”. First, we draw from field to show how concept participation can be theorized further. Second, recontextualize research multispecies perspective,...
Citizen science is a valuable tool in environmental and formal education creating scientific knowledge for the researchers facilitating learning fostering positive relationship toward environment study species. We present case on Helsinki Urban Rat Project which students surveyed rat occurrence their own near environments. According to our results, experientiality, involvement, meaningfulness, freedom choose, ease of participation, rats themselves contributed students' increased interest...
Abstract Background Investigations of evolution knowledge and acceptance their relation are central to education research. Ambiguous results in this field study demonstrate a variety measuring issues, for instance differently theorized constructs, or lack standardized methods, especially cross-country comparisons. In particular, meaningful comparisons across European countries, with varying cultural backgrounds systems, rare, often include only few standardization. To address these deficits,...
Abstract While humans often feed birds in their backyards, there is a growing awareness that this has positive and negative effects on local biodiversity. Whether the observed species assemblage shapes human activities has, however, rarely been investigated. We analyzed 15,088 open-ended answers from 9473 Finnish respondents about why they have increased or reduced feeding birds. They mentioned 58 avian non-avian linked to changed practices. The main reasons for change were (1) respondent’s...
Genetics is a fast-developing field and it has been argued that genetics education lagging behind. has, for example, suspected of indoctrinating strong genetic determinism. As the updating national upper secondary school curricula about to start, we decided study how current curriculum manifests in Finnish biology textbooks. We studied main four textbooks historical gene models definitions genes using content analysis. Hybrid were pervasive The expressed sometimes even determinism, which...
Calls for a common environmental education (EE) vision imply imposing certain values as universal. Nevertheless, there is lack of knowledge on the extent to which EE reflects universalities versus diverse sociocultural realities. We explored practitioners' perspectives purpose by interviewing practitioners in Finland and Madagascar using theory change approach. classified goals into eight categories following framework Clark et al. (Citation2020). found signs universal patterns, with...
Posthumanist orientations have underlined the need to foster non-hierarchical relations with other-than-human beings adequately attend planetary crises and help life survive flourish. Since a posthumanist critique towards natural sciences has mostly leaned on questioning premise of human subjects making sense objectified nature, little effort been made explore if how scientific research approaches might intersect co-exist without abandoning their respective aims. In this paper, we analyse...
In this article, we investigate the evolution of birdfeeder and analyze it as a multispecies technology, technological artefact that has co-evolved between interactions humans, target species feeding, unwanted visitors. We use close reading method to examine pictures, design descriptions, photos text sources published in Finnish magazines newspapers from late nineteenth century, when birdfeeders were first discussed, until twentieth with aim analyzing how designs models have changed relation...
Abstract Uncertainty is endemic to scientific research practices; therefore, it also an important element in learning about science. Studies have shown that experiences and management of uncertainty regarding the epistemic practices science can support learning. Whereas common strategies supporting students handling rely on teacher knowing preferred outcomes answers, few studies explored settings which no one give right answers students. In this study, we explore how Finnish, suburban...
Background Brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) are synanthropic rodents with worldwide distribution, which known to harbour many zoonotic pathogens and parasites. No systematic surveys targeting multiple parasites have previously been conducted in urban Finland. Aim In Helsinki, Finland, we explored the presence prevalence brown of certain (including helminths, viruses bacteria) across potentially taxa. Methods We opportunistically received rat carcasses from pest management operators citizens...
SUMMARY While it is known that intestinal parasite communities vary in their composition over time, there a lack of studies addressing how variation component (between-hosts) manifests infracommunities (within-host) during the host lifespan. In this study, we investigate changes wild-living rufous mouse lemurs ( Microcebus rufus ) from Ranomafana National Park southeastern Madagascar 2010 to 2012. We used high-throughput barcoding 18S rRNA gene interrogate community structure. Our results...
Science education strives to increase interest in science and facilitate active citizenship. Thus, the aspects of personal societal relevance are increasingly emphasised curricula. Still, little is known about how teachers choose content for their teaching, although choices translate curricula teaching practice. We explored genetics contexts biology courses on cells, heredity biotechnology by interviewing ten Finnish upper-secondary school teachers. studied described three themes which they...
Anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) resistance is widespread across Europe, but its prevalence has not been previously studied in Finland. We sampled 48 house mice (Mus musculus) and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) farms urban locations from southern Finland here we report the identification of Vkorc1 polymorphisms linked to AR resistance.Two thirds carried polymorphisms. The most common was type Y139C (resistance first-generation ARs, bromadiolone difenacoum), whereas L128S FGARs bromadiolone)...
Games have been used for a long time in teaching and learning. The increasing use of mobile phones makes it possible to link learning outside the classroom with augmented reality (AR). We tested how well conceptual models can be facilitated by AR games. present game designed in-service teacher-training workshop model evolutionary ecological relationships explicitly. game, Parasite Race, life cycles three different parasites allows player choose between two strategies. experienced teachers...
Understanding how teaching affects students' attitudes and beliefs is notoriously difficult, specifically in a quickly evolving societally relevant field such as genetics. The aim of this survey study to capitalize our previous research examine relates Finnish secondary school liking of, self-concept experienced utility genetics, attitude towards gene technology belief genetic determinism. In unique setting, we used explanatory variables their teachers' emphases learning materials,...
Abstract Providing food to animals, especially birds, during winter is a common activity in many countries. While bird‐feeding can increase connections between people and nature, there are increasing calls from researchers the general public limit this due emerging knowledge of potential negative ecological impacts (e.g. biased competition spread pathogens). However, what motivates changes habits remains largely unknown, despite ‘provisioners’ perspective’ being critical for designing...
Marker gene studies often use short amplicons spanning one or more hypervariable regions from an rRNA to interrogate the community structure of uncultured environmental samples. Target are chosen for their discriminatory power, but limited phylogenetic signal high-throughput sequencing reads precludes accurate analysis. This is particularly unfortunate in study microscopic eukaryotes where horizontal flow and expected accurately reflect species phylogeny. A promising alternative full...