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Publications

NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.

2012

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Abstract

Continued flexible exchange of forest genetic resources (FGR) in the Nordic region is important for sustainable forest management and for climate change adaptation and mitigation. For this reason, a high level political initiative identified a need to clarify the legal status of FGR in the Nordic region. The overall aim of this study was to assess whether it is necessary and possible to take legal steps to ensure that FGR remain available for conservation and sustainable use in and between the Nordic countries. A survey of the present situation revealed that although the Nordic countries have different domestic legislation on access to FGR, it has not caused any hinders for exchange. Thus, in effect the situation is quite similar in the Nordic countries. As for the future, it is unlikely that application of patent law and plant variety protection (UPOV) will restrict exchange of FGR, mainly due to the short protection periods of these regulations relative to the long generation time of main forestry tree species. For short rotation tree species, intellectual property rights (IPR) might prove to be more applicable. Concerning international agreements, it is premature to evaluate the effect of the Nagoya Protocol (2010) on access and benefit sharing for FGR, as well as recent FAO initiatives. Based on the current study, no legal steps or action seem necessary. To promote continuing simple exchange of FGR the Nordic countries are recommended to stay involved in those processes where relevant international agreements are debated and developed, facilitate simple procedures for exchange and establish a mechanism for surveillance of biotechnological methods that might increase the use of private property rights on FGR.

Abstract

In Norway spruce there is an enigmatic epigenetic memory of the temperature conditions during embryogenesis affecting vital phenological traits (Yakovlev et al. 2012). Adaptive phenological traits such as bud burst and bud set, observed as clinal variation in nature, are the ones affected.The epigenetic memory is establishment exclusively during embryogenesis in response to environmental impact. The epitype fixated by the time the embryo is fully developed without any change in the primary DNA sequence and is mitotically propogated. The epigenetic mechanism influence the phenotype through altered regulation of gene expression and is propagated throughout every growth cycle for the entire lifespan of this long lived species.The epigenetic memory may be realized through several molecular mechanisms including DNA methylation, and histone modifications affecting chromatin, as well as by small non-coding RNAs, and may also be related to the mechanisms silencing transposable or repetitive elements in the genome. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous small regulatory RNAs, are shown to be differentially expressed in genetically identically but epigenetically different progenies, in regards to the timing of bud burst and bud set (Yakovlev et al. 2010).We have started large scale studies using next regeneration sequencing approaches to identify and characterize the genes and regulatory elements involved in the initiation, maintenance, and heritability of the epigenetic memory. Epigenetic related changes in miRNA regulation during the establishment of the epigenetic memory are now studied in in vitro derived somatic embryos developing under cold (18C) and warm (30C) environmental conditions (that induce epitypes).We have constructed and sequenced 10 small RNA libraries during proliferation, maturation stage 1, 2 3 and the mature stage of embryo formation in the contrasted temperatures, in two control libraries during proliferation at 22C, as well as their mRNA transcriptomes using the Ion Torrent PGMTM (Life technologies) platform.We are expecting to determine at what stage(s) during embryogenesis the epigenetic memory marks are being laid down by identifying when the transcriptomic differences, of small RNA and mRNAs, between the epitypes are the most prominent during embryogenesis. The identification of novel miRNA candidates and the confirmation of conserved and novel miRNAs will be presented.

Abstract

CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad will be the world\"s largest test centre for testing and development of CO2 capture technology. The emissions to the atmosphere from CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad contain amines and may in addition contain or lead to the formation of degradation products from amine-based CO2 capture technology. An environmental baseline survey was conducted in 2011 prior to the operation. The survey performed is broad, and describes in detail the environmental situation both in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as relevant chemical compositions of a range of matrices such as soil, plants and water. The data collected in the monitoring program were used to propose a future monitoring program in the area.

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Abstract

This paper provides a review of theoretical and practical aspects related to genetic management of forest trees. The implementation of international commitments on forest genetic diversity has been slow and partly neglected. Conservation of forest genetic diversity is still riddled with problems, and complexities of national legal and administrative structures. Europe is an example of a complex region where the distribution ranges of tree species extend across large geographical areas with profound environmental differences, and include many countries. Conservation of forest genetic diversity in Europe has been hampered by a lack of common understanding on the management requirements for genetic conservation units of forest trees. The challenge resides in integrating scientific knowledge on conservation genetics into management of tree populations so that recommendations are feasible to implement across different countries. Here, we present pan-European minimum requirements for dynamic conservation units of forest genetic diversity. The units are natural or man-made tree populations which are managed for maintaining evolutionary processes and adaptive potential across generations. Each unit should have a designated status and a management plan, and one or more tree species recognized as target species for genetic conservation. The minimum sizes of the units are set at 500, 50 or 15 reproducing individuals depending on tree species and conservation objectives. Furthermore, silvicultural interventions should be allowed to enhance genetic processes, as needed, and field inventories carried out to monitor regeneration and the population size. These minimum requirements are now used by 36 countries to improve management of forest genetic diversity.

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Abstract

Dynamic conservation of forest genetic resources (FGR) means maintaining the genetic diversity of trees within an evolutionary process and allowing generation turnover in the forest. We assessed the network of forests areas managed for the dynamic conservation of FGR (conservation units) across Europe (33 countries). On the basis of information available in the European Information System on FGR (EUFGIS Portal), species distribution maps, and environmental stratification of the continent, we developed ecogeographic indicators, a marginality index, and demographic indicators to assess and monitor forest conservation efforts. The pan-European network has 1967 conservation units, 2737 populations of target trees, and 86 species of target trees. We detected a poor coincidence between FGR conservation and other biodiversity conservation objectives within this network. We identified 2 complementary strategies: a species-oriented strategy in which national conservation networks are specifically designed for key target species and a site-oriented strategy in which multiple-target units include so-called secondary species conserved within a few sites. The network is highly unbalanced in terms of species representation, and 7 key target species are conserved in 60% of the conservation units. We performed specific gap analyses for 11 tree species, including assessment of ecogeographic, demographic, and genetic criteria. For each species, we identified gaps, particularly in the marginal parts of their distribution range, and found multiple redundant conservation units in other areas. The Mediterranean forests and to a lesser extent the boreal forests are underrepresented. Monitoring the conservation efficiency of each unit remains challenging; however, <2% of the conserved populations seem to be at risk of extinction. On the basis of our results, we recommend combining species-oriented and site-oriented strategies.