Tallinn University. Jaanus Terasmaa

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1 Tallinn University Jaanus Terasmaa

2 TALLINN UNIVERSITY

3 The university now known as Tallinn University came into existence on 18th March 2005.

4 It developed as the result of the merger of several research and development institutions in Tallinn: - Academic Library - Tallinn Pedagogical University - Institute of History - Institute of International and Social Studies - Estonian Institute of Humanities - Institute of Ecology - Academy Nord - The Estonian Institute for Future Studies - Tallinn Pedagogical College

5 TU I N N U M B E R S

6 O U R F O C U S F I E L D S : Educational innovation Digital and media culture Cultural competences Healthy and sustainable lifestyle Society and open governance

7 O U R R E S E A R C H A R E A S U N D E R T H E F O C U S F I E L D Ecosystems and Changing Environmental Conditions Educational and cultural psychology Behavioural and Neural Sciences Health Promotion and Rehabilitation Genomics and Molecular Ecology

8 Institute of Ecology at Tallinn University The Institute of Ecology and Marine Research was founded in After it was integrated with Tallinn University in 1997, the new Institute of Ecology remained a distinct, self-governing entity within the University until The basic research at the Institute of Ecology concentrates on the study of the structural-functional organisation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and their responses to changing environmental conditions. In the main focus are connections between water and ecosystem: modelling the development, disturbances and functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Institute of Ecology at TU has laboratories for research in the fields of ecohydrology, geoecology, paleoecology, sedimentology, bryology, plant physiology, and all necessary equipment for collecting samples and making in-situ measurements.

9 Groundwater dependent ecosystems Standing water bodies Streams and rivers Wetlands (spring mires) Karst systems

10 Ecological studies of wetlands Measurements of water levels and infiltration in mires; GIS modeling of water movements in mires Productivity of peat mosses and plants Gas exchange Analysis of peat cores (macrofossils, diatoms, pollen, chemistry, physical properties, testate amoebae) Effect of amelioration on the plant cover structure and nutrient availability on minerotrophic treed fen habitats

11 Lakes and palaeoecological studies Lake-level fluctuations during the postglacial period: causes and impact on the lake ecosystem Natural and human induced trends of the lake trophicity development Spatial and temporal changes of the lakes: sedimentation processes, ecosystem response, lake management Pollutants and nutrients in lake water Lake sediment as carbon sink Lake ecohydrology, water budget, connections with groundwater Regional changes in vegetation and land cover in Estonia - model-based reconstructions using fossil pollen from lakes and forest hollows

12 Development and geological processes of coastal areas Shoreline changes and their relation to hydrodynamic and climatic changes Regional differences in recreational preferences of Estonian coastal landscapes Landcover and biodiversity in coastal zone Geomorphology and development of beach ridge systems in Estonia Paleoclimatology changes in past storminess

13 Ecosystem managament, socio-economical studies Ecosystem services Environmental indicators Monitoring programs and development plans Environmental communication Environmental education

14 Project team Jaanus Terasmaa (PhD) team leader, GDE methodology Liisa Puusepp (PhD) - coordinator, water ecosystems Marko Vainu (PhD) GDE methodology, hydrology, ecology Elve Lode (PhD) GDE methodology, hydrology, wetlands Martin Küttim (PhD student) wetlands ecology Oliver Koit (PhD student) hydrology, hydrochemistry

15 Specific know-how of the partner From 2014 to 2015 the Institute of Ecology developed the methodology for identification and assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Estonia. The main objectives of the project were: - To identify groundwater dependent terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, to work out criteria for evaluating the linkage between GWBs and GDEs which would describe the changes in ecosystems because of changes in groundwater quantity or quality. - To work out the methodology and criteria for monitoring the changes in the groundwater dependent ecosystems. During the project conceptual models, specific criteria and tests were developed to identify GDEs based on existing knowledge base and monitoring data. As a result 70 terrestrial ecosystems were identified. Due to the lack of monitoring data not all GDE were identified and in the future suggestions for improvement of the state water monitoring programme need to be developed in more detail.

16 Partners' tasks Tallinn University is participating in the WP1 - data exchange, mobilisation and collection, and will take part in all activities: - data specification and exchange (T1.1); - data mobilisation and pre-processing (T1.2); - pilot studies and data collection (T1.3); - project meetings (T1.4). In this WP available data will be collected and analysed. During the pilot studies TU will participate in development of a monitoring plan for chosen territories and will be responsible for surface water monitoring and hydrochemical analysis of water samples. Water samples for water chemistry analysis from boreholes and observed ecosystems will be collected 6 times per year depending on seasonal variations. When the connection between groundwater and ecosystems will be detected, monitoring of the status and potential risks to the groundwater dependent ecosystem will begin. For that additional water samples will be analysed.

17 Partners' tasks Tallinn University is leading the WP2 - Development of joint methodology and implementation. Taking part in all activities: - development of common structure of groundwater and habitats data (T2.1); - development of joint methodology (T2.2); - identification of groundwater dependent ecosystems (T2.3); - development of conceptual models and assessment of pilot groundwater dependent ecosystems (T2.4); - project meetings (T2.5). In WP2 Tallinn University will be responsible for development and implementations of the methodology for identification and assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems. The result will be a joint methodology for identification and assessment of terrestrial GDEs in transboundary Gauja-Koiva river basin.

18 Partners' tasks Tallinn University is participating in the WP3 - recommendations and dissemination of results. - recommendations for transboundary groundwater monitoring and groundwater dependent ecosystem assessment (T3.1); - development and dissemination of informative materials for target groups (T3.2); - plenary sessions, meetings, workshops T3.3 - T3.9. Tallinn University will participate in all meetings and will be responsible for organising a GDE methodology seminar and Estonian pilot site visits. TU will develop information for the creation of informative materials. Leader of TU working group will take part in WP3 activity 3.8 Knowledge exchange and training at European Geosciences Union general Assembly, to exchange knowledge with the best experts from other European countries dealing with the same issues- GDE identification and assessment in accordance with WFD needs.

19 THANK YOU!