Web of Knowledge, Web of Life, Web of Wonder the Kalevala (1), 'Rune II

Web of knowledge, web of life, web of wonder The Kalevala (1), 'Rune II — Wainamoinen's Sowing'

Pellerwoinen, thus consenting, Sows with diligence the island, Seeds upon the lands he scatters, Seeds in every swamp and lowland, Forest seeds upon the loose earth, On the firm soil sows the acorns, Spruce-trees sows he on the mountains, Pine trees also on the hilltops, Many shrubs in every valley, Birches sows he in the marshes, In the loose soil sows the alders, In the lowlands sows the lindens, In the moist earth sows the willow, Mountain ash in virgin places, On the banks of streams the hawthorn, Junipers in hilly regions; This the work of Pellerwoinen, Slender Sampsa, in his childhood. Soon the fertile seeds were sprouting, Soon the forest trees were growing, Soon appeared the tops of fir‑trees, And the pines were far outspreading; Birches rose from all the marshes, In the loose soil grew the alders, In the mellow soil the lindens; Junipers were also growing, Junipers with clustered berries, Berries on the hawthorn branches.

(1) The Kalevala is the national epic poem of Finland compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the nineteenth century from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore. The epic consists of 22 795 verses in fifty cantos. The extract selected to open our story shows a highly developed awareness of forest ecology — an awareness we would expect from a people so dependent on the forest for its livelihood and well-being.

2 Our Natural Europe — making connections It's October, it's late in the of outdoor activities centred on season and it's been a bad the country's forests and lakes. year for mushrooms in Finland. Equally, tourism and other Webcaps, a type of mushroom services and goods that forests found particularly in the provide have considerable boreal and temperate forests economic worth. of northern Europe, are no exception. But webcaps aren't just valuable because of their Webcaps play an important role contribution to the surrounding in these forest ecosystems. ecosystem. As we will discover, They are mycorrhizal fungi besides their intrinsic beauty, that live in symbiosis with the their chemical characteristics trees, providing nutrients and have attracted the attention of protection from diseases and scientists and craftspeople. receiving sugars in return. However, there is a delicate balance to this symbiosis. One forest among many When nitrogen levels in the forest floor are low, webcaps Tuula Niskanen and Aino provide the necessary nitrogen Juslén are visiting Mariefred from both organic and Forest in search of the last inorganic nitrogen compounds. webcaps of the season. If nitrogen levels are high, either naturally or due to Situated about 30 kilometres pollution or fertiliser use, then north-east of Helsinki, the the trees reduce sugar supply most noticeable aspect to the webcaps and their of Mariefred Forest is the growth is degraded. In these silence. There is no wind, conditions, more tree means no traffic, no voices. The less mushroom. trees stand close together in a natural, haphazard way, For humans, webcaps offer not in regimented rows as in equally varied benefits. Local plantations. people of course derive many advantages from the forest Overhead the canopy cover ecosystems that they support. is almost complete with a From a cultural perspective, mixture of spruce, pine, many Finns have a deep love aspen and birch providing

ONE Finland 3 lots of shade. Underfoot, a and moss carpet maintain deep carpet of green mosses a cool, moist microclimate sparkles with moisture in that enables a rich diversity the late afternoon light. This of forest fungi, plants and living material helps muffle animals to thrive. the noise within the forest and provides a calm, relaxing Surrounded by a publicly silence. The closed canopy owned Natura 2000 forest

Webcaps get their name from their web-like veil. They belong to a group of mushrooms called Cortinarius, a name derived from the Latin word for a veil (cortina). Within the known 72 000 species of fungi, over 22 000 are club fungi, and include for example mushrooms, toadstools and puffballs. And among mushrooms, the biggest group is Cortinarius with about 2 000 known species. Some webcaps are edible and some may be pharmacologically active and hence have uses in medicine. Photo: Cortinarius semisanguineus Webcaps are most widely used © Gordon McInnes in dyeing, however, as they provide a range of natural colours from pale yellow to deep, dark red. They are not usually eaten because some are deadly poisonous and recognising edible ones requires some expertise.

4 Our Natural Europe — making connections

In his famous story, 'Tale of the Forest Folk' (translated by Tim Steffa and published by Otava, Helsinki , 1994), Finnish novelist Veikko Huovinen (who died in 2009) described the regeneration of a forest after a tragic, accidental fire at the turn of the nineteenth century. Having worked as a forester, Huovinen knew well the process of succession and climax of forest ecosystems: 'allowed to develop in peace and quiet, untouched by the axe for one hundred and thirty years, [a forest] reaches a kind of equilibrium governed by a certain regularity. It slowly begins to reach the climax stage, in which each tree and plant species is represented in its particular niche and to a degree determined by its ecological character and biotic vitality'.

to the north and agricultural the forest and most of the land, other small forests and protected areas lie in the less scattered dwellings on the populated northern parts of other sides, Mariefred Forest the country, however. In the is an example of the fairly south, commercial forestry and old boreal forest that has conversion to arable land has been steadily disappearing reduced forest cover and less in southern Finland. Almost than two per cent is protected. two-thirds of Finland is forest land and five per cent of all Mariefred Forest is an exception. land is protected. Much of Under the government's Metso

Natura 2000 is the network of nature protection areas established across the European Union by the 1992 Habitats Directive. Its aim is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ nature/index_en.htm.

ONE Finland 5 environment. The need for sustainable development of these prized resources is obvious.

Forest covers about two‑thirds of Finland's land area. Almost one in five Finns owns forest directly through purchase or inheritance. Tar burning was Photo: Mariefred Forest © Gordon McInnes the first sign of commercial use of forest and remained the only sign until Finland's Programme the owner receives forest industry started to a subsidy for 10–20 years develop 150 years ago. in return for maintaining the This industry, being highly natural values of the forest competitive and profitable, and not selling the trees for helped Finland develop from timber. As a result, the forest an economy dependent on has a hope of reaching climax the land into a prosperous, — the state of equilibrium post‑industrial society focused that ecosystems may achieve on knowledge and information if left undisturbed. At the services. At its peak, forest same time, researchers will be industries accounted for up able to gather valuable data, to 80 per cent of Finland's and the public will be able to export income. That figures continue collecting berries and is now around 20 per cent. mushrooms and enjoying its However, tens of thousands of tranquillity. Finnish families still depend on forest for their incomes and employment. Finns and their forests All Finnish forests are freely The value that Finns put accessible for outdoor on their forests can hardly activities such as trekking be overstated. Forests play and picking wild berries and a crucial role in Finland's mushrooms. This is captured culture, recreational pursuits, in the concept of Everyman's economy and, of course, its Right (Jokamiehenoikeudet

6 Our Natural Europe — making connections in Finnish, www.environment. a love for plants and nature fi/everymansright). Hiking that guided her subsequent and hunting are very popular choice of studies. Researching and most Finns love spending webcaps for 10 years, first time at summer cottages in for her master's degree and forests and by lakes. The long then for her doctorate, Tuula history of feeling at home has helped catalogue over in the forests is seen in the 200 webcap species in Finland work of many well-known and considers that there may Finnish artists, including Pekka be as many as 400 more. Halonen, Fanny Churberg and Akseli Gallen‑Kallela. Aino is the co-ordinator of the PUTTE Programme at the Finnish Environment Little did we know Institute (SYKE). Born in the small village of Tiihala, Tuula Niskanen grew up in almost 200 kilometres north Helsinki but like many Finns of Helsinki, she spent much her family had a summer of her youth in the forests of cottage where they spent the family's home town Nokia, holidays. In the forest beside where she enjoyed trekking, the lake in Kisko she developed camping and evenings around

Metso was started in 2000 to safeguard biodiversity in Finland's forests. Metso is the Finnish acronym for the Forest Biodiversity Programme of Southern Finland and also the Finnish word for capercaillie (wood grouse), which has been adopted as the emblem for the Programme. More information is available at: www.ymparisto. fi/default.asp?contentid=2749 Photo: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) 11&lan=fi&clan=en. © P. Rassi

ONE Finland 7

The PUTTE Programme was initiated within Metso to help improve the knowledge base and meet several targets set under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It focuses on the most poorly known groups of organisms, particularly invertebrates and fungi. PUTTE produces scientific publications and identification books. It also promotes public awareness about Finnish plants and animals and their status and threats, through books, active contact with the public, information on the Internet and cartoons: www.environment.fi/putte.

a fire with friends or family, and hence new to science. telling stories, singing and This research has made a cooking. major contribution to the understanding of these Tuula and her colleagues have mushrooms in Finland and found 146 webcap species other Nordic countries, giving new to Finland, including at her great pleasure. This least 12 not seen elsewhere knowledge has been partly

8 Our Natural Europe — making connections Photo: Cortinarius gentilis (left), semisanguineus (middle two) and sommerfeltii (right) © Gordon McInnes

captured in Funga Nordica, new species, her excitement a Nordic handbook for the is infectious. She plucks identification of fungi, which a webcap from the moss, Tuula helped compile. examines it closely, smells its odour and announces its name. In search of webcaps in Then she darts further into the Mariefred Forest forest, finds another webcap then another and repeats the Walking through Mariefred identification process. Forest, Tuula spots several types of webcap as well as First, Cortinarius some edible cantarelles and semisanguineus, then inedible mycenas. Although Cortinarius gentilis, then she knows the forest and has Cortinarius sommerfeltii. The spent many days in others first has a dark brown cap, across Finland searching for blood red gills and a pale brown

ONE Finland 9 Photo: Cortinarius semisanguineus Cortinarius gentilis © Kare Liimatainen © Kare Liimatainen

stem; the next looks quite like Tuula does not find anything the first but the stem is redder she does not immediately and the gills red-brown; the recognise so it's unlikely there third is slightly different again. will be any new species to

As a taxonomist Tuula is one of perhaps fewer than 6 000 specialists worldwide dedicated to describing, naming and classifying all species on the planet before they (the species and the taxonomists) disappear. Estimates of the total number of species vary between 10 and 100 million with less than two million discovered and named so far. Since taxonomy is seen by most people as rather dull, repetitive, routine and poorly paid, it is difficult to attract, train and retain such specialists. Hence expanding knowledge of the millions of species in existence, as well as their role within ecosystems and their potential benefits to people, is proving difficult. We now risk losing species before we know that they exist let alone what their properties are. For more information see, for example: www.cbd.int/gti/ problem.shtml.

10 Our Natural Europe — making connections

DNA sequencing techniques have developed into routine, readily available and relatively cheap laboratory methods, allowing taxonomists to distinguish species. Using such techniques, Tuula has determined that two specimens classified as belonging to one species on the basis of visual inspection were actually different species, Cortinarius semisanguineus and Cortinarius aff. semisanguineus. For a general introduction to DNA sequencing see: www.wiley. com/college/pratt/0471393878/student/animations/dna_ sequencing/index.html. For specific details of the particular technique used by Tuula see: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mycres.2008.10.006. add today. Nevertheless, the webcaps are stored carefully in her mushroom-motif basket for further analysis by microscope and DNA sequencing, if needed, back in the laboratory.

Tuula is most interested in extending knowledge of webcaps, their diversity and their role in forest ecosystems. She is first and foremost a taxonomist, fascinated by the collection, analysis and classification of webcaps.

Small wonders beneath their caps

Tuula's enthusiasm does not stop at her research work. Photo: Tuula Niskanen (with basket) and She is also interested in the Aino Juslén in Mariefred Forest practical side of her discoveries. © Gordon McInnes

ONE Finland 11 When she discovered from her the collection, study and use of DNA sequencing that one of webcaps for dyeing textiles. these mushrooms producing deep red dyes was in fact two Where Tuula is most interested different species producing in researching and extending two different shades of dye, knowledge on webcaps, she informed Riikka Räisänen, Riikka is more concerned with a chemist at the University of practical applications and in Helsinki. Tuula and Riikka had the integration of a range of met through their attendance disciplines and skills. They in the monthly meetings of the therefore complement each Finnish Mycological Society, the other well through a common professional body promoting the interest in the availability and study of fungi in Finland. diversity of webcaps. They both recognise that scientific Riikka grew up in the country, study of various species and the in Mäntsälä, a municipality ecosystem goods and services 50 km north of Helsinki and they provide is essential for surrounded by forest. In understanding, managing and her youth she spent lots of conserving biological diversity time in the forest collecting better in the twenty-first plants and fungi. Like Tuula, century. she is interested in webcaps, but more in the chemistry Learning biology, chemistry and uses of the dyes they and art in the forest produce than in their biological diversity. For her Riikka initially developed her doctorate, she studied the course for a secondary school in dyes produced by Dermocybe collaboration with a chemistry sanguinea (also known as teacher and a textiles teacher. Cortinarius sanguineus) and She has subsequently provided their retention by wool and training and advice to 100 synthetic fibres. teachers, extending the course to more schools and students. In her work at University of Helsinki, she developed a course Many students now start her for secondary school students course with a field trip to collect integrating biology, chemistry, and identify webcaps. Imagine art and craft lessons based on their excitement on a day out

12 Our Natural Europe — making connections Photo: Riikka Räisänen with sample materials © Gordon McInnes of the classroom when they are other mycorrhizal fungi in set free to collect different types promoting tree growth. of mushroom knowing that some are good to eat, some are Their escape to the forest poisonous and some provide teaches them, if they did not natural dyes, even some know already, a little biology and fluorescent ones. However, ecology before they return to before they can extract and use school for some chemistry. Back these natural dyes, they are in their classes, they isolate trained to recognise the various the coloured pigments from the trees, flowers, mosses, lichens, webcaps and identify them using fungi, birds and insects in the simple chemicals, equipment forest. and classification methods. They learn that the webcaps produce They also learn a little a range of anthraquinone dyes, about the interaction and which are found in a variety of interdependencies of these other organisms from bacteria various species as producers, through lichens, other fungi and consumers and decomposers, plants to insects. They provide and the role of webcaps and natural colours from pale

ONE Finland 13 yellow to almost black that are together in the Finnish Guild brighter than other popular dyes of Dyers to share information and fade less in the light. The on their craft and learn from students then learn to create each other. All have access to printing and dyeing designs a range of websites to support in their art class, produce the their hobbies and professional dyed materials and create final interests, for example the virtual products according to their craft place (www.kaspaikka. chosen design in their crafts fi/engl/index.html) and Textile class. Education and Research in Europe (www.texere.u-net. And it's not just young students dk). The complex web of being introduced to webcaps connections, in which webcaps and their creative uses. Many play numerous valuable roles adults in Finland use webcaps to in human and natural systems, dye products for their own use thus extends all the way to the or for sale. Large numbers come world wide web.

The veil has been lifted has lifted the veil on the little Cortinarius and its contribution With the help of a small and to the web of life we call little understood mushroom, biodiversity. this story has linked a small forest ecosystem, the goods and services provided by that Acknowledgements ecosystem, and the work of three highly motivated This story was prepared with researchers extending Aino, Riikka and Tuula with knowledge and awareness additional help and advice from of these goods and services, Tapani Säynätkari, National including the use of the Focal Point for Finland, as well mushroom in the teaching as Gülcin Karadeniz and Mike of chemistry, biology, arts Asquith, EEA. and crafts to an increasing number of Finnish students. It

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