Heterotrophic microorganisms are important for the flow of carbon and nutrients in the sea. Bacteria, nanoflagellates and ciliates are relevant components of the pelagic food web. In order to be able to predict the outcome of e.g. eutrophication or climate change we need to know how the different components of the pelagic food web are regulated. With the focus on the northern Baltic Sea food web, this thesis deals with limitation and control of heterotrophic protists, the effect of resource heterogeneity on food web efficiency and diversity of nanoflagellates. In-situ microcosm experiments showed that the net growth of heterotrophic flagellates were resource limited throughout the year. Field data confirmed that the abundance of flagellates was bottom-up controlled. Furthermore, field data also showed that the annual average biomass of protists, flagellates and ciliates increased with primary productivity. On a smaller seasonal scale temperature and bacterial biomass were able to explain most of the variation in flagellate biovolume. The temporal variation in ciliate biovolume could not be explained by any bottom-up factors like bacterial biomass, flagellate biomass or chlorophyll a. This and an in-situ microcosm experiment implied that the seasonal dynamics of ciliates were more regulated by predators like mesozooplankton. The food web efficiency i.e. how much of production at the resource level is converted to production at the top trophic level, may be affected by specific size or type of resource. Indoor mesocosms revealed that the food web efficiency was 11 times lower when heterotrophic bacteria dominated basal production instead of nano- and micro-sized phytoplankton. This was due to a lengthening of the food web when pico-sized bacteria constituted the main resource. The PCR-DGGE molecular biological method was used to study the diversity of heterotrophic or mixotrophic chrysomonads. The focus was set on chrysomonads due to their relatively large contribution to the nanoflagellate community. Group-specific PCR primers were optimized for the target group. A field survey in the northern Baltic Sea showed that a handful of chrysomonad sequences were present throughout the year. Significantly more chrysomonads were recorded in the basin with higher primary productive and salinity. In total 15-16 different chrysomonad sequences were recorded. Most of them matched uncultured chrysomonad clones.

Emerging country markets are becoming increasingly important in the operations of multinational corporations. On May 1, 2004, the EU welcomed 10 new member states, including the three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. As a result, many western multinational corporations have entered these new emerging markets. These countries have witnessed very fast growth and were lucrative to enter. The term “Baltic Tiger” is used to describe the economic boom of the Baltic States from 2000 to 2007. This term is adequate because during this time period the Baltic States had the highest growth rates in Europe. Swedish companies in particular started coming into the Baltic States in 1989 approximately. These companies were looking for and found low cost production. However, today with rising wages, low cost production is more difficult to find. The purpose of our research is to investigate the current conditions and future predictions related to the external environment and high technology industries in the Baltic States. The investigation of the current state and future potential of the markets were analyzed from an institutional standpoint. We compared this to the institutional environment in Sweden and made predictions on the potential changes in these institutions. Given our analysis and evaluation of the most attractive market, we have devised an establishment and matching strategy for the case company. The case analysis is set against the background of a theoretical framework covering current literature over societal and organizational fields in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Our primary and secondary research was examined in the context of well known theoretical models and our own models and upon analysis; we come to a conclusion and make recommendations for companies interested in doing business in the Baltic States. Our research will be useful for companies curious about the potential and necessary considerations they must take in the Baltic markets in general and within the high technology sector specifically.

Pasyviųjų priemaišų jūrinėje aplinkoje įvertinimas ypač svarbus gamtosauginiu aspektu. Ypatingas dėmesys skiriamas Baltijos jūros ekologinei būklei, kurią lemia jūros dubens ypatybės, silpnas ryšys su Pasauliniu vandenynu, klimatinės ir hidrometeorologinės sąlygos. Pastaraisiais dešimtmečiais jūros baseine didėja antropogeninės kilmės teršalų kiekis. Branduolinės fizikos ir technikos plėtra neišvengiamai sukelia technogeninės kilmės radionuklidų patekimą į jūrinę aplinką. Daug dėmesio skiriama 137Cs radionuklidui, nes iki šiol jūros vandens tyrimai rodo aukštas šio radionuklido tūrinio aktyvumo reikšmes. Be to, 137Cs radionuklidas geras indikatorius, tiriant kitų pasyviųjų priemaišų migraciją Baltijos jūros vandenyje. Daug mokslininkų nagrinėja problemas, susijusias su technogeninės kilmės radionuklidų kiekiais, jų sklaida ir poveikiu jūrinei aplinkai. Tačiau darbų, kuriuose būtų nagrinėjama radionuklidų tūrinių aktyvumų pokyčių bei pernašos Baltijos jūros priekrantės vandenyje problema, praktiškai nėra. Atsižvelgiant į tai, šiame darbe nustatytas 137Cs radionuklido tūrinis aktyvumas Baltijos jūros Lietuvos priekrantės paviršiniame vandenyje bei įvertinti hidrometeorologiniai parametrai. 137Cs radionuklido tūrinis aktyvumas Baltijos jūros vandenyje nėra pastovus, todėl aktualu parinkti tinkamus nustatymo metodus ir vertinti jo pokyčių tendencijas. Įvertinus radiocezio tūrinio aktyvumo pokyčius priekrantės vandenyje, galima modeliuoti ir prognozuoti taršos šaltinio atsiradimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The evaluation of the passive admixture transfer in the marine environment is very significant from the point of view of environmental protection. A particular attention is devoted to the Baltic Sea ecological state, which is strongly influenced by the peculiarities of the sea bottom, weak connection with the World Ocean, climatic and hydrometeorological conditions. During the recent decades, the tendency of increment of the amount of anthropogenic pollutants is observed. The development of nuclear energetics and technology inevitably causes the spread of radionuclides of technical origin in the marine environment. The major attention is paid to the investigation of the radionuclide 137Cs distribution, since the investigations show the high values of the volumetric activity of this radionuclide to be present in the sea water thus far. Besides that, 137Cs radionuclide can be used as a tracer in investigations of the migration of other passive admixtures in the Baltic Sea water. Quite a number of scientists research the problems related with the amounts of the radionuclide of technical origin, their spread and impact on the marine environment. However, the works considering a problem of the variations of volumetric activity of radionuclides and their transfer in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea practically are not encountered. Considering that, the volumetric activity of radionuclide 137Cs in the coastal surface waters of the Lithuanian territorial zone of the Baltic Sea... [to full text]

The evaluation of the passive admixture transfer in the marine environment is very significant from the point of view of environmental protection. A particular attention is devoted to the Baltic Sea ecological state, which is strongly influenced by the peculiarities of the sea bottom, weak connection with the World Ocean, climatic and hydrometeorological conditions. During the recent decades, the tendency of increment of the amount of anthropogenic pollutants is observed. The development of nuclear energetics and technology inevitably causes the spread of radionuclides of technical origin in the marine environment. The major attention is paid to the investigation of the radionuclide 137Cs distribution, since the investigations show the high values of the volumetric activity of this radionuclide to be present in the sea water thus far. Besides that, 137Cs radionuclide can be used as a tracer in investigations of the migration of other passive admixtures in the Baltic Sea water. Quite a number of scientists research the problems related with the amounts of the radionuclide of technical origin, their spread and impact on the marine environment. However, the works considering a problem of the variations of volumetric activity of radionuclides and their transfer in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea practically are not encountered. Considering that, the volumetric activity of radionuclide 137Cs in the coastal surface waters of the Lithuanian territorial zone of the Baltic Sea... [to full text] / Pasyviųjų priemaišų jūrinėje aplinkoje įvertinimas ypač svarbus gamtosauginiu aspektu. Ypatingas dėmesys skiriamas Baltijos jūros ekologinei būklei, kurią lemia jūros dubens ypatybės, silpnas ryšys su Pasauliniu vandenynu, klimatinės ir hidrometeorologinės sąlygos. Pastaraisiais dešimtmečiais jūros baseine didėja antropogeninės kilmės teršalų kiekis. Branduolinės fizikos ir technikos plėtra neišvengiamai sukelia technogeninės kilmės radionuklidų patekimą į jūrinę aplinką. Daug dėmesio skiriama 137Cs radionuklidui, nes iki šiol jūros vandens tyrimai rodo aukštas šio radionuklido tūrinio aktyvumo reikšmes. Be to, 137Cs radionuklidas geras indikatorius, tiriant kitų pasyviųjų priemaišų migraciją Baltijos jūros vandenyje. Daug mokslininkų nagrinėja problemas, susijusias su technogeninės kilmės radionuklidų kiekiais, jų sklaida ir poveikiu jūrinei aplinkai. Tačiau darbų, kuriuose būtų nagrinėjama radionuklidų tūrinių aktyvumų pokyčių bei pernašos Baltijos jūros priekrantės vandenyje problema, praktiškai nėra. Atsižvelgiant į tai, šiame darbe nustatytas 137Cs radionuklido tūrinis aktyvumas Baltijos jūros Lietuvos priekrantės paviršiniame vandenyje bei įvertinti hidrometeorologiniai parametrai. 137Cs radionuklido tūrinis aktyvumas Baltijos jūros vandenyje nėra pastovus, todėl aktualu parinkti tinkamus nustatymo metodus ir vertinti jo pokyčių tendencijas. Įvertinus radiocezio tūrinio aktyvumo pokyčius priekrantės vandenyje, galima modeliuoti ir prognozuoti taršos šaltinio atsiradimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Surface elevation is likely the most fundamental property of our planet. In contrast to land topography, bathymetry, its underwater equivalent, remains uncertain in many parts of the World ocean. Bathymetry is relevant for a wide range of research topics and for a variety of societal needs. Examples, where knowing the exact water depth or the morphology of the seafloor is vital include marine geology, physical oceanography, the propagation of tsunamis and documenting marine habitats. Decisions made at administrative level based on bathymetric data include safety of maritime navigation, spatial planning along the coast, environmental protection and the exploration of the marine resources. This thesis covers different aspects of ocean mapping from the collection of echo sounding data to the application of Digital Bathymetric Models (DBMs) in Quaternary marine geology and physical oceanography. Methods related to DBM compilation are developed, namely a flexible handling and storage solution for heterogeneous sounding data and a method for the interpolation of such data onto a regular lattice. The use of bathymetric data is analyzed in detail for the Baltic Sea. With the wide range of applications found, the needs of the users are varying. However, most applications would benefit from better depth data than what is presently available. Based on glaciogenic landforms found in the Arctic Ocean seafloor morphology, a possible scenario for Quaternary Arctic Ocean glaciation is developed. Our findings suggest large ice shelves around parts of the Arctic Ocean during Marine Isotope Stage 6, 130–200 ka. Steered by bathymetry, deep water from the Amerasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean flows over the central Lomonosov Ridge into the Eurasian Basin. This water mass is traced on its continuing way towards Greenland and the Fram Strait. At the Morris Jesup Rise, bathymetry plays an important role in the partial re-circulation of the water into the Amerasian Basin. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

Magistro baigiamajame darbe išanalizuotas Baltijos valstybių įvaizdžio formavimas šiuolaikinėje Rusijos Federacijos internetinėje žiniasklaidoje, nagrinėjama, kaip Baltijos valstybių įvaizdis keičiasi keičiantis Rusijos užsienio politikai. Pirmoje darbo dalyje aptariamas žiniasklaidos vaidmuo šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje, nagrinėjama žiniasklaidos svarba, internetinės žiniasklaidos vaidmuo, masinės informacijos priemonių panaudojimas informaciniame kare. Antroje dalyje pateikiama Rusijos Federacijos politikos Baltijos valstybių atžvilgiu raida, aptariama kuo pasižymėjo ir kaip keitėsi Rusijos Federacijos užsienio politika valdant Borisui Jelcinui ir Vladimirui Putinui. Trečioje dalyje nagrinėjamas Rusijos Federacijos politikos Baltijos valstybių atžvilgiu atspindys internetinėje žiniasklaidoje, aptariamas informacinio karo, kaip politikos vykdymo priemonės panaudojimas, analizuojama, kaip kuriamas Baltijos valstybių įvaizdis per pagrindinių problemų internetinėje žiniasklaidoje pateikimą, pateikiami socialinių apklausų rezultatai, nusakantys, kaip keitėsi Rusijos piliečių nuomonė apie Baltijos valstybes keičiantis Rusijos užsienio politikai ir žiniasklaidos pateikiamam Lietuvos, Latvijos ir Estijos įvaizdžiui. / This master’s final work covers the analysis of the Baltic States’ image which is being formed by the contemporary Russian Federation’s mass media on the internet. Also, the present paper focuses on the change of the image of the Baltic States which is changing together with the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. In the first part of the work there is a consideration of the mass media’s role in the contemporary world, using the mass media as a tool in the information warfare. The second part of the work points out the development of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation in relation to the Baltic States; the consideration unfolds how was changing the foreign policy of the Russian Federation during the governing of Vladimir Putin and Boris Yelcin. In the third part of the work the research is carried out on the reflection of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation in connection with the Baltic States which has been placed on the internet. Moreover, the use of the information warfare as a tool of politics is discussed. Also, this part of the paper analyzes how the image of the Baltic States is created through the presentment of the main problems on the internet’s media. Public opinion polls reveal how the Russian Federation citizens’ opinion about the Baltic States is changing together with the foreign policy of the Russian Federation.

The aim of the study is to carry out a comparative causative analysis of population systems in the territory of Lithuania in the 1st–12th century AD. For this purpose, a unique GIS GDB of archaeological sites and find spots of Iron Age in Lithuania was compiled making advantage of the possibilities offered by GIS technologies. The comprehensive analysis of chronological development of territory population (by cultural groups localized in the territory of Lithuania) systems was carried out distinguishing their progression, change, stability and regression stages. The results obtained by detailed cartographic analysis allowed supplementing the data obtained by other researchers who have investigated the structural homogeneity of cultural areas and distinguished their kernel areas, peripheries, unpopulated tribal and intertribal territories, and peripheral areas of mixed cultural possession. Much attention was paid to the boundaries of cultural areas and their changes. The territorial unevenness of the spread of innovations is pointed out and their seed-beds and centres of old tradition distinguished. The regional differences of population and ethnogenetic processes in the territory of Lithuania were evaluated in close correlation with the natural environment as a determining factor of paramount importance. A concept of natural environment and integrity of cultural divisions (ethnogeocoenoses) is presented and used as an ideological and theoretical basis for further structural... [to full text] / Disertacijos tikslas – atlikti I–XII a. Lietuvos teritorijos apgyvenimo sistemų palyginamąją priežastinę analizę. Tyrimui sukurta unikali Lietuvos geležies amžiaus archeologinių vietų ir radimviečių GIS GDB, kurios pagrindu, panaudojant GIS technologijas, atlikta išsami skirtingų I–XII a. Lietuvos teritorijoje lokalizuotų kultūrinių regionų teritorijos apgyvenimo sistemų chronologinės raidos analizė (skiriant jų plėtros, kaitos, stabilumo bei regresijos laikotarpius). Detalios kartografinės analizės rezultatas – papildyti ir patikslinti iki šiol kitų tyrinėtojų atlikti tyrimai, vertinant kultūrinių regionų struktūrinį nevienalytiškumą, išskiriant juose branduolius, periferiją, tarpgentines ir vidujgentines neapgyventas teritorijas bei mišrios kultūrinės priklausomybės periferines teritorijas. Daug dėmesio skirta kultūrinių regionų riboms, jų kaitai. Atkreiptas dėmesys į inovacijų plitimo teritorinį netolygumą, išskiriant jų židinius bei konservatyviuosius senųjų tradicijų centrus. Lietuvos teritorijos apgyvenimo ir etnogenezės procesų raidos regioniniai skirtumai vertinti neatsiejant jų nuo gamtinės aplinkos – kaip itin svarbaus jų raidą determinuojančio faktoriaus, įtakos vertinimo. Tuo pagrindu parengta gamtinės aplinkos ir kultūrinių darinių integralumo (etnogeocenozių) koncepcija, šiame darbe tapusi teoriniu pagrindu atliekant tolimesnę teritorijos apgyvenimo sistemų struktūrinę analizę. Aptariant bendruomenių adaptaciją nevienalytėje gamtinėje aplinkoje, išryškinti Rytų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacijos tikslas – atlikti I–XII a. Lietuvos teritorijos apgyvenimo sistemų palyginamąją priežastinę analizę. Tyrimui sukurta unikali Lietuvos geležies amžiaus archeologinių vietų ir radimviečių GIS GDB, kurios pagrindu, panaudojant GIS technologijas, atlikta išsami skirtingų I–XII a. Lietuvos teritorijoje lokalizuotų kultūrinių regionų teritorijos apgyvenimo sistemų chronologinės raidos analizė (skiriant jų plėtros, kaitos, stabilumo bei regresijos laikotarpius). Detalios kartografinės analizės rezultatas – papildyti ir patikslinti iki šiol kitų tyrinėtojų atlikti tyrimai, vertinant kultūrinių regionų struktūrinį nevienalytiškumą, išskiriant juose branduolius, periferiją, tarpgentines ir vidujgentines neapgyventas teritorijas bei mišrios kultūrinės priklausomybės periferines teritorijas. Daug dėmesio skirta kultūrinių regionų riboms, jų kaitai. Atkreiptas dėmesys į inovacijų plitimo teritorinį netolygumą, išskiriant jų židinius bei konservatyviuosius senųjų tradicijų centrus. Lietuvos teritorijos apgyvenimo ir etnogenezės procesų raidos regioniniai skirtumai vertinti neatsiejant jų nuo gamtinės aplinkos – kaip itin svarbaus jų raidą determinuojančio faktoriaus, įtakos vertinimo. Tuo pagrindu parengta gamtinės aplinkos ir kultūrinių darinių integralumo (etnogeocenozių) koncepcija, šiame darbe tapusi teoriniu pagrindu atliekant tolimesnę teritorijos apgyvenimo sistemų struktūrinę analizę. Aptariant bendruomenių adaptaciją nevienalytėje gamtinėje aplinkoje, išryškinti Rytų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study is to carry out a comparative causative analysis of population systems in the territory of Lithuania in the 1st–12th century AD. For this purpose, a unique GIS GDB of archaeological sites and find spots of Iron Age in Lithuania was compiled making advantage of the possibilities offered by GIS technologies. The comprehensive analysis of chronological development of territory population (by cultural groups localized in the territory of Lithuania) systems was carried out distinguishing their progression, change, stability and regression stages. The results obtained by detailed cartographic analysis allowed supplementing the data obtained by other researchers who have investigated the structural homogeneity of cultural areas and distinguished their kernel areas, peripheries, unpopulated tribal and intertribal territories, and peripheral areas of mixed cultural possession. Much attention was paid to the boundaries of cultural areas and their changes. The territorial unevenness of the spread of innovations is pointed out and their seed-beds and centres of old tradition distinguished. The regional differences of population and ethnogenetic processes in the territory of Lithuania were evaluated in close correlation with the natural environment as a determining factor of paramount importance. A concept of natural environment and integrity of cultural divisions (ethnogeocoenoses) is presented and used as an ideological and theoretical basis for further structural... [to full text]

During summer, the Baltic Sea is subjected to the world’s largest cyanobacterial blooms. These blooms are linked to eutrophication and raise many questions concerning their effects on the ecosystem. To understand their impacts on the food web dynamics, it is essential to assess growth responses of grazers to these cyanobacteria. In the northern Baltic proper, copepods are the most important herbivores providing an essential link between the primary producers and higher trophic levels. In this Thesis, Papers I &amp; II evaluate methods to estimate copepod growth in response to feeding conditions in situ. The most conspicuous diazotrophic filamentous cyanobacterium in the Baltic Sea is Nodularia spumigena, a producer of nodularin which is highly toxic to vertebrates, yet its ecological role is largely unknown. In Paper III, reciprocal interactions between cyanobacteria, sympatric algae and copepods are studied. The results suggest that nodularin is likely involved in allelopathic interactions, but it is not an inducible defense against grazers. Furthermore, the results of Papers IV &amp; V, indicate that natural assemblages of N. spumigena and Anabaena spp. may support copepod reproduction and that total diazotrophic filamentous cyanobacteria appear to provide a beneficial feeding environment for the feeding stages of copepod nauplii, most probably by stimulating the microbial communities that nauplii feed upon. Since cyanobacterial blooms are projected to increase due to global climate change, the combined effects of toxic cyanobacteria, ocean acidification and global warming predicted for year 2100 are further investigated on copepods in Paper IV. Taken together, these studies indicate that filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria contribute to sustaining secondary productivity and have potential implications of management practices with respect to combating eutrophication, global climate change and sustaining fish feeding conditions. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

The purpose of this study is to examine how Viking Line, Tallink Silja and Birka Cruises work with economic and environmental sustainability, and also to see how they work with new environmental legislations. In 2015 a new environmental legislation will be introduced, by the name Sulphur directive. The Sulphur directive entails a reduction in Sulphur dioxide emissions from ships where the emissions cannot exceed 0,1 percent. There are three alternatives to achieve the new environmental legislation, the use of Marine Gas Oil, LNG or scrubbers. All three alternatives will lead to increasing costs for the shipping industry. The three companies exerts its shipping traffic in the Baltic Sea, a sea that is highly sensitive to external impacts. In the study qualitative methods were used, three personal interviews and five telephone interviews. Five theories were used to understand how the companies work, their estimations and their decisions: Strategic Tourism Planning Process, the Triple Bottom Line, the COSO model, The Decision-making Process and Responsible Cruise Tourism. The results of the study show that all three companies are facing an uncertain economic sustainable future and the deciding factors will be technological development, fuel prices and competitiveness.