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.
2024
Authors
Annika M. Felton Adam Felton Per-Ola Hedwall David Raubenheimer Stephen Simpson Robert Spitzer Hilde Karine WamAbstract
The moose (Alces alces) is a large-bodied, ruminant herbivore inhabiting temperate and boreal forests, where their foraging can profoundly influence ecological processes. In intensively managed landscapes, such as large parts of Scandinavia, browsing by moose can also affect human economic interests, such as commercial forestry. Deciphering the nutritional underpinnings of the moose’ foraging choices is therefore in the interest of both wildlife ecology and forest management. In this talk I will summarise findings from several studies from Scandinavia in which we have used the nutritional geometry framework to study moose foraging behavior. First, a small feeding experiment with captive moose indicated that their food choice was not governed by energy maximization as previously postulated. Instead the moose appeared to combine food to reach a target macronutritional balance. We later confirmed this pattern of macronutrient balancing by analysing rumen content (by wet chemistry and NIRS) and faeces (indirectly via by DNA metabarcoding) from a large number of wild moose during wintertime across Sweden. The moose’ tendency to maintain a stable balance between protein and non-structural carbohydrates was most recently confirmed by a detailed study of moose summer time in Norway, using camera collars and plant collections. These studies on the Scandinavian moose have also revealed patterns of complementarity, compensatory intake, linkages to damage and fitness, and valuable information about key forage plant species, and thereby help to improve our understanding of nutritional ecology.
Authors
Annika M. Felton Hilde Karine Wam Zbigniew Borowski Aksel Granhus Laura Juvany Canovas Juho Matala Markus Melin Märtha Wallgren Anders MårellAbstract
Climate change causes far-reaching disruption in nature, where tolerance thresholds already have been exceeded for some plants and animals. In the short-term, deer may respond to climate through individual physiological and behavioral responses. Over time, individual responses can aggregate to the population level and ultimately lead to evolutionary adaptations. Because responses by deer to climate change may take many paths - both positive and negative - it is generally difficult to predict outcomes. Here we take the first step to understanding these complexities by systematically synthesizing the literature (published 2000-2022) regarding direct effects of temperature, rainfall and snow on deer inhabiting boreal and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Our review (based on N= 219 papers) shows that while many deer populations will likely benefit from warmer winters, hotter and drier summers may exceed their physiological tolerances, causing northwards shifts in distributional ranges. We found support for deer expressing both phenotypic and behavioral plasticity in response to climate variability at different temporal and spatial scales. We identified 20 general patterns, among which some illustrate antagonistic pathways, suggesting that detrimental effects will cancel out some of the benefits of climate change. Our findings highlight the importance of local variables for any predictions of future responses by a given deer population. We identified several knowledge gaps, such as studies regarding the potential impact on these animals of extreme weather events, snow type and wetter autumns.
Authors
Ken Olaf StoraunetAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Thomas Georges A Bawin Marte Marie Fossum Ranvik Sigridur Dalmannsdottir Egle Norkeviciene Rita Armonienė Erik Alexandersson Laura Elina JaakolaAbstract
Climate change is increasingly affecting agricultural systems, impacting the productivity and digestibility of forage crops that are essential for livestock feed. Understanding how forage crops respond to temperature is crucial for optimizing growth and nutritional value. Remote sensing technologies offer promising tools for monitoring plant health and predicting forage quality. As part of the project UPSCALE, this study examines the growth and spectral response of Northern and Southern cultivars under different temperature regimes. Two red clover (ʻGandalfʼ from Norway and ʻVytisʼ from Lithuania) and two timothy (ʻNorengʼ from Norway and ʻJauniaiʼ from Lithuania) cultivars were grown at controlled temperatures of 12, 15, and 18°C. A total of 168 pots (10L, ~30 plants per pot) were maintained in climate-controlled chambers at The Climate Laboratory, UiT, Tromsø. Plant growth was monitored using the PlantEye F600, providing 3D models, biomass, height, leaf area index, and stress indices (NDVI, NPCI, PSRI). Destructive sampling was conducted at three stages: pre-flowering, post-flowering, and at the end of the experiment. Leaves were scanned using Specim FX10e (VNIR) and FX17e (SWIR) hyperspectral cameras before drying for chemical analysis. Results showed distinct growth differences among the cultivars. Clovers increased in height and biomass with rising temperatures, though ʻGandalfʼ consistently yielded less biomass. Timothy ʻJauniaiʼ followed a similar trend to the clovers, while cultivar ʻNorengʼ had optimal growth at 15°C. Spectral indices did not reveal significant contrasts; ongoing hyperspectral analysis may provide further insights. The upcoming chemical analysis will integrate with hyperspectral data to identify lignin signatures for assessing forage digestibility. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how forage crops respond to temperature variations, to select cultivars with optimal growth and digestibility in the face of climate change.
Authors
Thomas Georges A Bawin Marte Marie Fossum Ranvik Sigridur Dalmannsdottir Egle Norkeviciene Rita Armonienė Erik Alexandersson Laura Elina JaakolaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Thomas Georges A Bawin Laura Elina Jaakola Katja Hannele KarppinenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Thomas Georges A Bawin Marius Dobbe Klemetsen Marte Marie Fossum Ranvik Marcus Andersen Wojciech Leoniuck Sergey Khorobrykh Otso Turunen Kristian Salo Taina Tyystjärvi Esa Tyystjärvi Laura Elina JaakolaAbstract
Indoor plant production in greenhouses and vertical farms is essential in Nordic countries because the climate does not permit field cultivation of several important species. This project aims to improve illumination methods and nutrient recirculation to better support local cultivation near consumers, with lettuce, baby spinach, and woodland strawberry as target crops. Pulsed LED illumination and spectral optimization of background light, accounting for the photosystem properties of the tested species to maximize photosynthetic activity, are being investigated under controlled conditions. Extensive phenotyping of plants is being carried out using multispectral (PlantEye F600, Phenospex) and hyperspectral (Specim FX series, 400-1700 nm) imaging technologies to monitor their growth, health status, and molecular properties such as chlorophyll a and b levels. Combined illumination and fertilization tests using cyanobacteria to recirculate nutrients from greenhouse wastewater will be conducted later in the project. These advancements will enable plant growth in urban areas near consumers, reducing transportation costs and the environmental footprint of agriculture.
Authors
Vahe Atoyan Simon Mikalsen Thomas Georges A Bawin Laura Elina Jaakola Anna AvetisyanAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Malin Olsen Wedaa Stine Samsonstuen Helge Bonesmo Bente Aspeholen Åby Erland Kjesbu Magne Bergfjord Rune OkstadAbstract
No abstract has been registered