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Two long-term potentially oil exposed Baltic Sea coastal sites near old oil refineries and harbours were compared to nearby less exposed sites in terms of bacterial, archaeal and fungal microbiomes and oil degradation potential. The bacterial, archaeal and fungal diversities were similar in oil exposed and less exposed sampling sites based on bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene and fungal 5.8S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from both DNA and RNA fractions. The number of genes participating in alkane degradation (alkB) or PAH-ring hydroxylation (PAH-RHDα) were detected by qPCR in all water and sediment samples. These numbers correlated with the number of bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies in sediment samples but not with the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons or PAHs. This indicates that both the clean and the more polluted sites at the Baltic Sea coastal areas have a potential for petroleum hydrocarbon degradation. The active community (based on RNA) of the coastal Baltic Sea water differed largely from the total community (based on DNA). The most noticeable difference was seen in the bacterial community in the water samples were the active community was dominated by Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria whereas in total bacterial community Actinobacteria was the most abundant phylum. The abundance, richness and diversity of Fungi present in water and sediment samples was in general lower than that of Bacteria and Archaea. Furthermore, the sampling location influenced the fungal community composition, whereas the bacterial and archaeal communities were not influenced. This may indicate that the fungal species that are adapted to the Baltic Sea environments are few and that Fungi are potentially more vulnerable to or affected by the Baltic Sea conditions than Bacteria and Archaea.

Over the last two decades, the use of DNA barcodes has transformed our ability to identify and assess life on our planet. Both strengths and weaknesses of the method have been exemplified through thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. Given the novel sequencing approaches, currently capable of generating millions of reads at low cost, we reflect on the questions: What will the future bring for DNA barcoding? Will identification of species using short, standardized fragments of DNA stand the test of time? We present reflected opinions of early career biodiversity researchers in the form of a SWOT analysis and discuss answers to these questions.

Dispersants have been used in several oil spill accidents, but little information is available on their effectiveness in Baltic Sea conditions with low salinity and cold seawater. This study investigated the effects of dispersant use on petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation rates and bacterial community structures. Microcosm experiments were conducted at 5 °C for 12 days with North Sea crude oil and dispersant Finasol 51 with open sea Gulf of Bothnia and coastal Gulf of Finland and Norwegian Sea seawater. Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations were analysed with GC-FID. Bacterial community structures were studied using 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing, and the abundance of genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation with quantitative PCR. The highest oil degradation gene abundances and oil removal were observed in microcosms with coastal seawater from the Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland, respectively, and the lowest in the seawater from the Norwegian Sea. Dispersant usage caused apparent effects on bacterial communities in all treatments; however, the dispersant’s effect on the biodegradation rate was unclear due to uncertainties with chemical analysis and variation in oil concentrations used in the experiments.

Several marine and freshwater diatoms produce polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA) in wound-activated processes. These metabolites are also released by intact diatom cells during algal blooms. Due to their activity in laboratory experiments, PUA are considered as potential mediators of diatom-bacteria interactions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that PUA mediate such processes in a close-to-field mesocosm experiment. Natural plankton communities enriched with Skeletonema marinoi strains that differ in their PUA production, a plankton control, and a plankton control supplemented with PUA at natural and elevated concentrations were observed. We monitored bacterial and viral abundance as well as bacterial community composition and did not observe any influence of PUA on these parameters even at elevated concentrations. We rather detected an alternation of the bacterial diversity over time and differences between the two S. marinoi strains, indicating unique dynamic bacterial communities in these algal blooms. These results suggest that factors other than PUA are of significance for interactions between diatoms and bacteria.

Over the last two decades, the use of DNA barcodes has transformed our ability to identify and assess life on our planet. Both strengths and weaknesses of the method have been exemplified through thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. Given the novel sequencing approaches, currently capable of generating millions of reads at low cost, we reflect on the questions: What will the future bring for DNA barcoding? Will identification of species using short, standardized fragments of DNA stand the test of time? We present reflected opinions of early career biodiversity researchers in the form of a SWOT analysis and discuss answers to these questions.

Over the last two decades, the use of DNA barcodes has transformed our ability to identify and assess life on our planet. Both strengths and weaknesses of the method have been exemplified through thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. Given the novel sequencing approaches, currently capable of generating millions of reads at low cost, we reflect on the questions: What will the future bring for DNA barcoding? Will identification of species using short, standardized fragments of DNA stand the test of time? We present reflected opinions of early career biodiversity researchers in the form of a SWOT analysis and discuss answers to these questions

The purpose of this quantitative observational study was to examine primary students' sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) during segmented school days. The data of 2920 observation units was collected in all the primary schools in a city in southern Finland and analysed using cross-tabulation and z-tests. The results suggest that most SB was accumulated in theoretical subjects and most PA in recesses and physical education. Girls accumulated more 'no motion'. Both genders' 'no motion' increased when moving to the highest class level. In conclusion, the amount of 'no motion' needs to be studied and reduced, especially in classroom lessons.

Problem statement: Previous research has focused on the multiple effects of physical activity and sedentary behavior. However, the associations between physical activity and sedentary behavior need more research. Recreational screen time, a part of children's sedentary behavior, has increased rapidly during the last few decades,and threatens to conquer time under taking physical activities. Purpose: This quantitative case study aimed to examine children's recreational screen time, sedentary behavior and moderate to vigorous physical activity, and especially the associations between them. Approach: The convenience sample consisted of 33 11-year-old children (20 boys, 13 girls) from a primary school in the capital area of Finland. Sedentary behavior and moderate to vigorous physical activitywere objectively registered for seven consecutive days and nights with wrist-worn accelerometers. Recreational screen time was self-reported. Main results: Boys spent three times more hours on recreational screen time than girls did during schooldays, and four times more during the weekend. An increase in sedentary behavior was associated with a decrease in moderate to vigorous physical activity. During the weekend, children accumulated less moderate to vigorous physical activity and more sedentary behavior. Recreational screen time was not associated with sedentary behavior, but a negative association with boys' moderate to vigorous physical activity was found. Conclusions: The results suggest that sedentary behavior and especially boys' recreational screen time have a 'tug of war' with their moderate to vigorous physical activity for their shares of children's time use. Atthe school level, these results provide adviceto make schooldays more physically active, and for physical educationteachers to motivate children to engage more in physical activities instead of sedentary behavior during leisure time. Additionally, screen gamesthat aremore physically active need to be developed, because pursuits of strongly limiting recreational screen time may be fighting a losing battle. Future research: Sedentary behavior, recreational screen time and different intensity levels of physical activity together with sleep time, should be studied with bigdata andobjectivemeasurements during all seasons of the year, and in at least weeklong periods.

The role of early childhood education and care (ECEC) is crucial in the implementation of the physical activity recommendations during long ECEC days. Young children should engage in 180 minutes of physical activity spread throughout the day, including 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). To attain the goal more information is needed on children's time use and physical activity (PA) in children's activities. The purposes of this quantitative observational study were twofold: (1) to examine children's time use and (2) to describe which children's activities best generate physical activity, specifically MVPA, in ECEC. Altogether, 2879 Finnish children, aged from 1- to 6-years, participated in this study. The data of 57 881 observations were analysed using cross-tabulation and a z-test. Daily routines (e.g. eating, dressing, napping and transition), task or seatwork and material play accounted for almost 70% of children's sedentary behaviour and less than 10% of MVPA. The best MVPA generators were physical activities (that generated 57.4% of all MVPA in boys vs. 62.8% in girls, respectively), rule play (11% in boys vs. 6.7% in girls) and role play (10.1% in boys vs. 9.9% in girls) as well as action not allowed (3.3% in boys vs. 1.2% in girls). Educators should integrate physical activities, rule play and role play more in ECEC day to support the realisation of the recommendations.