MCFI-interm
Annex 2
MARIE CURIE INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP
(Category 30)
INTERMEDIATE SCIENTIFIC REPORT
ANNEXED TO THE REQUEST FOR INTERMEDIATE PAYMENT
CONTRACT N° ________ HPMF-CT-2002-01728_________
PERIOD COVERED: __01_/_09_/_2002_ – _14__/_03_/_2004_ (DD/MM/YY)
Part I is to be completed and signed together by the fellow and the scientist in charge.
Part II is to be completed and signed by the fellow ONLY. The information will be treated
confidentially (It should be sent in a sealed envelope together with the report).
To include as annexes:
- list of participation in conferences (point 4.1.);
- list of publications (point 4.2.);
- list of patents (point 4.3.).
We welcome your feedback on how to improve the Marie Curie Fellowship scheme. This
can be sent on a separate page. Make sure you include the contract number and fellow’s
name.
1
MCFI-interm
CONTRACT N° ________ HPMF-CT-2002-01728__________
MARIE CURIE INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP (B30)
PART I
(TO BE COMPLETED BY THE FELLOW AND THE SCIENTIST IN CHARGE)
1.
IDENTIFICATION
FELLOWSHIP
Proposal n° ____ MCFI-2001-01752__
Starting date of contract:
HOST INSTITUTION
Title and name of scientist in charge
of the project:
FELLOW
Title and name:
___Dr. Zita Edina Rudner_______
__01__/__09_/__2002_ (DD/MM/YY)
____ Prof. Dr. Matti Seppälä _____
End date of contract:
Laboratory/Institute: ____________
_14__/__03_/_2005_ (DD/MM/YY)
Laboratory of Physical Geography__
Age: _32_ Gender:  M
___Department of Geography________
Civil Status: ______married____
Duration: _24_ months
___University of Helsinki
Number of children: ____1_______
Discipline:
Tel: __(358-9)19150768____
 CHE
 LIF
Fax: ___(358-9)19150760____
 ECO/SOC
 MAT
E-Mail: _matti.seppala@helsinki.fi__
 ENG
 PHY
 ENV
Nationality: __Hungarian_________
 F
Permanent or future contact
address:
___Department of Geography___
____P.O.BOX 64____________
_00014-University of Helsinki,
Finland___________________
Tel: __(358-9)19151075____
Fax: __(358-9)19150760___
E-Mail: _edina.rudner@helsinki.fi__
Title of the project:
Holocene climatic changes reflected in arboreal vegetation succession, tree-limit and fire history in Finnish Lapland
2
MCFI-interm
2. BRIEF SUMMARY OF WORK PERFORMED AND RESULT
The aim of this study was to carry out anthracological examinations on Holocene charcoal samples derived from
Finnish Lapland.
As mentioned in the report before maternity leave, between September-January, 2002-2003 I studied references at the
Dept., collect the old samples, looked through them, mapped the exact needs of the project, planned the field trip to
Lapland. Also plan field trip to typical boreal forests to collect tree braches, wood pieces to prepare the reference
collection by burning the wood on different temperatures in ovens or on open air fires, and carry out xylotomical
investigations on them. I contacted local experts on wood. At the same time I started to examine the samples already
available from the collection of Prof. Matti Seppälä and Prof. John Matthews from Kuttanen, and several from the
Kiellajoki region, sometimes using scanning electron microscopy, as well.
Between January-July, 2003 I was on maternity leave.
The sites around sand dunes of Lapland containing charcoal layers we were intended to examine are the followings: 1.
Iijärvi, 2. Kiellajoki, 3. Mutusjärvi, 4. Hietatievat, 5. Pasmajärvi, 6. Pöyrisjärvi, 7. Palojärvi, 8. Kuttanen (Seppälä, 1995),
in order from East to the West along the polar tree limit in Northernmost Finland. Hietatievat (Seppälä, 1974; van VlietLanoë et al., 1993) and Kuttanen (Seppälä, 1981) are esker-dune regions, with several, sometimes up to 35 charcoal layers
in one exposure. We carried out fieldwork in August 2003 (immediately after maternity leave, report sent just before it), to
collect new samples, on the basis of literature and laboratory work done so far. We collected samples altogether from 64
localities of the above-mentioned region. Of that 64, 30 is covering 6 of the above mentioned sites (1. Iijärvi, 2. Kiellajoki,
3. Mutusjärvi, 4. Hietatievat, 5. Pasmajärvi, 7. Palojärvi). From Kuttanen no new samples were collected, as earlier
collections by Prof. Matti Seppälä and Prof. John Matthews, currently under dating, proved to be enough for the analysis
in the framework of this project. Pöyrisjärvi site was not contained in the fieldwork, as it lies in remote location, and about
a day walking would be needed to site and then camping there, but as I had a 5 months old baby to take with me along the
trip, we omitted that site from collection. However, it is a promising site, so maybe this year’s summer fieldwork will
include it. The other 34 sites are around, between these six regions, completing the east-west line around the treeline.
Altogether 140 samples of about 2 kg were collected.
Still during August and September 2003, I collected recent wood material for the preparation of reference collection. After
returning to the laboratory, I started to examine the charcoal samples. After wet and/or dry sieving them, charcoal, and
charred plant material is separated, then, examined under stereomicroscope, reflected-light microscope. First we decided
on 12 samples to AMS date, and I started the examination of these 12 samples. Not only charcoal, but other plant
macrofossils, like seed and leaves are also analysed. In the meantime, the drawing of profiles has been done at the
department, and data arrived from AMS laboratory. Thus we started to plan more dating. March, 2004: Evaluation of the
results just started, also paper preparation, and planning possible field trips of that summer. But anthracological work is
still on, together with building the reference collection.
New to the research is, that not only wood, but other plant material, like leaves fragments, seeds were has also been
recovered from the sand dunes in charred state, thus examinations can be broadened to involve plant macrofossil data.
Thus not only forest trees, but underlying vegetation can be reconstructed from in situ material.
Plans are made to participate at International Symposium on Wood Sciences at Montpellier (France) from 24 to 29
October 2004 (http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/bio/sys/iawa/). Due to the high price of AMS dating, only one conference
participation can be planned.
3.
ASSESSMENT BY THE SCIENTIST IN CHARGE ON THE FELLOW'S WORK DURING THE FELLOWSHIP
After the maternity leave Dr. Rudner has worked intensively conducting the project mentioned above. We were in August
2003 together in fieldwork in Lapland to collect a great number of buried charcoal samples for the further investigations.
She studies the samples under microscope to identify the wood species burnt. This is very time consuming work. 12
selected samples have already been dated and 12 more are on the waiting list. The work progresses as planned.
Startigraphy of the sampling localities has been mapped and the final drawings are ready. No publication has been
finished yet. The Fellow is now preparing an abstract for the international symposium in France.
3
MCFI-interm
4.
RESEARCH RESULTS RELATED TO THE FELLOWSHIP
4.1. Participation in conferences and other scientific events
Please list participation on a separate sheet following the classification used below.
Number
Active participation
Oral
Poster
Passive
participation
Of which were
invited presentations
(oral + poster)
Conferences
1
Workshops
Other Scientific Meetings
4.2. Publications
Please list publications on a separate sheet following the classification used below, indicating any invited
contributions. In publications resulting from collaboration with other institutions, indicate name and country of
institution.
Number of Publications
As main author
Other
Of which were
co-authored with researchers
from other institutions
A. Peer Reviewed
(incl. in press)
- Articles in Journals
- Chapters in Books
- Articles in Conference
Proceedings
- Books and Monographs
B. Non-Peer Reviewed
(incl. in press)
C. Submitted
D. Manuscripts in
preparation
1
4.3. Patents
Please list patents on a separate sheet giving their complete reference number and briefly stating the
applicability of each patent.
- Number of patents granted:
- Number of patents pending:
___-__
___-__
Signatures:
Name of fellow:____Edina Rudner___
Date: ____15.03.2004._________
Name of scientist in charge: ______ Matti Seppälä _______
Date: ________15.03.2004._________
_______________________
Signature of fellow: ______________________ Signature of scientist in charge: ____________________
4