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.
2025
Authors
Tuanjit Sritongchuay Michael Beckmann Bo Dalsgaard Alexandra-Maria Klein Angela Lausch Anders Nielsen Julia Osterman Peter Selsam Kanuengnit Wayo Ralf SeppeltAbstract
There is a global concern about the decline of wild pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide. Although land-use change is a major threat to biodiversity, it is still poorly understood how land-use heterogeneity (or land-use structure) impacts pollinator communities and entomophilous crop production. Based on a literature review, we performed a meta-analysis to (1) assess how landscape structure, both composition and configuration, affects pollinator species richness and abundance, and (2) examine the impact of landscape structure on the production of key entomophilous crops. We extracted information on pollinator communities and crop production from 101 studies with a total of 920 site replicates distributed widely across the globe. To obtain landscape structure (total area of all crops, crop diversity, and landscape Shannon’s Diversity Index) information, we sourced data from the database Map-SPAM as well as satellite images. We found that pollinator species richness increased with the number of crop species in the surrounding area. Pollinator abundance increased with the number of different crops but decreased with increasing agricultural area in the surrounding landscape. Crop production of several crops was associated with landscape heterogeneity. Notably, fruit set increased with an increasing number of crop species in neighbouring fields and decreased with increasing agricultural area, that is, when nature is substituted with agriculture in the surrounding landscape. We also found positive correlations between edge density of an area and pollinator species richness and entomophilous crop production suggesting that edge density can be used as a landscape structure indicator to assess pollinator diversity. The effects of landscape structure were more pronounced in crops with high pollinator dependence, showing stronger relationships with both pollinator diversity and crop production. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining landscape heterogeneity through crop diversity and natural habitats to support pollinators and their services, though unmeasured factors such as intensification or local management may also play a role.
Abstract
The global loss of biodiversity and natural capital, driven by land use change, poses a risk for vital ecosystem services, such as air and water filtration, food provisioning, and wellbeing. Ecosystem accounting is a framework for documenting ecosystem extent, condition and the services which they produce. Questions remain about the way in which this new framework can be implemented and utilised in spatial planning. Using Norway as a case study, we perform a requirements analysis of its current spatial planning system, drawing on qualitative data from planning professionals and planning policy documents, to understand the contemporary problems within planning related to the use of ecological data. Ecological data is currently produced to adhere to the knowledge deficit model of decision making, whereby more data and knowledge lead to better decisions. However, our current communicative planning system relies on participation for knowledge gathering, which becomes an issue when the scope, communication method, and timing of communication are barriers to knowledge being used in a decision. We therefore propose a new theoretical model, PRISM, based on the analogy of a prism, as its purpose is to break ecological data up to meet the diverse objectives of, and thus engage with, as many actors as possible. The analogy is derived from the finding that ecological data and knowledge constitutes only one band in the spectrum of considerations and knowledge used in decisions. Framing is proposed as the method to achieve this effect with ecosystem accounting data, thereby activating participation to meet policy and actor objectives.
Authors
Adam Eindride Naas Trond Simensen Lasse Torben Keetz Ingrid Vesterdal Tjessem Anders Bryn Rune Halvorsen Peter Horvath Ida Marielle Mienna Olav Skarpaas Joachim Paul Töpper Vigdis Vandvik Liv Guri Velle Catharina Caspara VloonAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Mélanie SpedenerAbstract
Sammendrag på norsk I Norge beiter kjøttfe i store områder av boreal produksjonsskog preget av flatehogst på sommeren (mai-september). Vi studerte først mat- og habitatvalg av disse kyrne (Artikkel I– II), og deretter effektene av storfe på flora og fauna (Artikkel III-V). Datainnsamlingen foregikk i Sørost-Norge i 2015-2017 (Furnes/Vang og Stange/Romedal) og 2021-2023 (Steinvik og Deset). Vi studerte kyrnes ressursvalg ved å klassifisere deres adferd ved hjelp av GPS og akselerasjonsdata, ved å hente inn (fra kart) og måle (i felt) habitatvariabler, ved å samle inn møkkprøver til mikrohistologiske analyser og ved å modellere ressursseleksjonsfunksjoner. Vi fokuserte på unge granplantefelt for å studere effektene av kjøttfe på flora og fauna, siden kyrene selekterer for denne skogstypen. Dessuten har små grantrær høy økonomisk verdi og unge granplantefelt er rikere i blomster og pollinatorer enn det resterende skoglandskapet. På 24 unge granplantefelt satt vi opp parede prøveflater (20x20 m hver), hvorav en omgitt av et gjerde. Vi så på unge trær, vegetasjonen i feltsjiktet og blomsterbesøkende insekter. Siden halvparten av disse granplantefeltene lå innenfor, og den andre halvparten utenfor beiteområdene, kunne vi skille effektene av storfe fra effektene av hjortedyr, som lever vilt i disse skogene. Interaksjoner mellom storfe og hjortedyr studerte vi ved å sette opp viltkamera på de samme granplantefelt og ved å gjennomføre møkktellinger langs et rutemønster i ett av beiteområdene. Kyrne hadde en gressrik diett og selekterte for gressrike habitater, både på stor og på liten skala (Artikkel I). Storfe selekterte for forskjellige habitatvariabler (liten skala) avhengig av adferden: Når de beitet, selekterte de for gressrikt habitat, og når de hvilte, selekterte de for gressrikt habitat med lite helling og høy kronedekning (Artikkel II). Storfe førte til bittelitt høyere dødelighet av unge grantrær, men ikke til høyere risiko for tråkk- og beiteskader (Artikkel III). Storfe fjernet vegetasjon som konkurrerte med unge grantrær, det vil si unge løvtrær og vegetasjon i feltsjiktet (Artikkel III). Storfe påvirket plante-pollinatorsamfunnet på en annen måte enn hjortevilt: Utgjerding av klovdyr utenfor beiteområde (hjortedyr) førte til lavere abundans av blomster, mens utgjerding av klovdyr innenfor beiteområde (hjortedyr og storfe) førte til lavere abundans av blomster og lavere abundans av blomsterbesøkende insekter (Artikkel IV). Elg brukte andre habitattyper enn storfe (Artikkel V). Elgen sitt bruk av unge granplantefelt avtok med økende bruk av storfe (Artikkel V). Mulige beiteinnskrenkende tiltak, samt bevaring av artsmangfoldet i boreal produksjonsskog ble drøftet, og anbefalinger for videre forskning ble gitt.
Authors
Lawrence R. Kirkendall Daniel Flø Martin Malmstrøm Anders Nielsen Paul Ragnar Berg Anders Bryn Kjetil Hindar Johanna Järnegren Kyrre Kausrud Erlend Birkeland Nilsen Brett Kevin Sandercock Eva Bonsak Thorstad Gaute VelleAbstract
VKM has assessed the potential risk to Norwegian biodiversity associated with the import of the Turkestan cockroach, Periplaneta lateralis, as live food for hobby animals. Populations of the cockroach are nearly always found in or near buildings, and non-native populations have never been observed in natural environments. No previous observations of P. lateralis have been reported for Norway and it is very unlikely the species will be able to establish and spread into Norwegian nature due to the low winter temperatures and short summers. Furthermore, VKM find that there is low risk associated with the potential effects on biodiversity, if it against all odds, were to establish in Norway. Therefore, VKM concludes that there is low risk associated with import and keeping of P. lateralis in relation to its potential negative effect on Norwegian biodiversity.
Authors
Elena Arrigoni Ruairi Hafferty-Hay Pino-Raquel Bodas Liv Guri Velle Kerry Bradshaw Zeren Yang Amanda Cooper Tim Wilkinson Jeffrey G. Duckett Silvia Pressel Rachael Howlett Justin Moat Susan Zappala Martin I. Bidartondo Laura M. Suz Jill KowalAbstract
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK) launched the Air Pollution Recovery Indicators Programme (APRI) in 2023. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew’s APRI experimental work focuses on heathland recovery where nitrogen (N) pollution has significantly impacted ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Despite the important ecosystem services they provide, little is known about how heathlands might recover from N pollution, especially below ground. We are investigating the potential of ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi, in both soil and roots, as novel indicators of recovery from N pollution in southern England, and comparing these results to soil and heather roots sourced in less polluted Norway heathlands. ErM fungi form symbiotic associations with heather roots and liverwort rhizoids, mining organic N and phosphorus from nutrient-poor heathland soils; in exchange, the plants supply carbon to the fungi. As such there is an expectation that ErM fungi will respond rapidly to changes in N pollution. Our field experiments are also assessing changes in lichen community composition and evaluating the practicality of using LiDAR, RGB and multispectral drone technology to measure and link biomass changes above ground to N fertilization. We have the following research questions regarding above and below ground heathland condition: How are ErM and soil fungal communities impacted by, and how do they recover from, N pollution? How do changes in above ground vegetation (plants, lichens) link with ErM and soil fungal communities? What are the ErM and non-mycorrhizal fungal communities across a N pollution gradient, in southern England and coastal Norway?
Authors
Elena Arrigoni Ruairi Hafferty-Hay Pino-Raquel Bodas Liv Guri Velle Kerry Bradshaw Zeren Yang Amanda Cooper Tim Wilkinson Jeffrey G. Duckett Silvia Pressel Rachael Howlett Justin Moat Susan Zappala Martin I. Bidartondo Laura M. Suz Jill KowalAbstract
Heathlands are among the most iconic habitats in Northern Europe, with 20% of the world’s total area in the UK. Their wide, open landscape is dominated by low-growing Ericaceae shrubs on nutrient poor, acidic, organic soils, dry or waterlogged. Urbanisation, tree encroachment and nitrogen (N) pollution, contributed to their sharp decline, gaining them the status of priority habitats in country legislation. Heathlands provide ecosystem services such as flood mitigation and climate regulation, and their soils constitute a stable, long-lasting carbon (C) stock. However, the effects of air pollution on their C pool are not well understood. Ericaceae roots (e.g., Calluna vulgaris, Erica spp.) form symbiotic associations with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ErM), which enhance their hosts’ N and phosphorous (P) uptake in exchange for C, hence playing a crucial role in in nutrient cycling and contributing to soil C stocks. Our recent study conducted in a lowland dry heathland at Thursley National Nature Reserve (Surrey, UK) showed lingering effects of N deposition on soil chemistry, soil fungal communities, and ErM root colonisation eleven years after simulation of N deposition ceased. While the detrimental effects of N deposition on heath lichens and bryophytes are well documented, soil microbiome and mycorrhizal associations are largely overlooked, as is heathland recovery after pollution declines. This led to Kew’s partnership with Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s Air Pollution Recovery Indicators (APRI) project, investigating ErM response and recovery from air pollution, and their suitability as indicators. We established thirty 4x4 m plots in a dry heath at Thursley, 15 fertilised with cumulative 30 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and 15 with water as control. Combining DNA techniques and microscopy, we are monitoring ErM root colonisation, root and soil fungal communities, and soil fungal biomass post treatments. Belowground measurements will be integrated with vegetation structure changes measured with LiDAR, RGB and multispectral drone imaging to develop a C calculation method. A lichen survey was conducted to assess differences in postfire recovery on N-fertilised vs control plots. Thursley’s background deposition is 13.4 kg N/ha/yr, the higher end of critical load for heathlands (5-15 kg N/ha/yr), possibly beyond the tipping point for fungal communities, and recovery may not be apparent. To address this, we sampled six wet heathlands in Norway, along a south-north N deposition gradient (1-6 kg N/ha/yr), and a comparable wet heathland at Thursley. By studying Norwegian root and soil fungal communities, we are investigating potential mycorrhizal indicators of “healthy” heathlands below the critical load. Preliminary results show ErM fungi are more diverse than thought, with ongoing analyses linking root colonisation to N deposition and climate data to understand heathland recovery and identify key indicators.
Abstract
Despite abundant knowledge on the causes and threats of biodiversity loss, we keep failing in addressing this crisis and environmental concerns are still more often than not trumped by other societal interests. An important cause of this failure is that available information on species occurrences lacks sufficient spatial coverage and is not accessible at a scale that is relevant to managers and decision-makers. They need access to relevant data with sufficient spatial coverage and on a sufficiently fine spatial scale, as well as guidance to interpret and use this data. Here, we present a framework for modelling species distributions developed in the ECoMAP project specifically for meeting these needs. We take a hierarchical Bayesian approach, impleme- nting an observation submodel, a spatial random effects submodel and regularization routines. The ECoMAP model can provide species maps downscaled to a resolution of below 100 x 100 m, is automatable, and predicted maps are thus updatable.
Abstract
1. Semi‐natural grasslands are recognized as important habitat for bumblebees in Fennoscandia. These grasslands are maintained by free‐ranging sheep, but it is unclear which sheep intensities are most beneficial to bumblebees. 2. We will compare bumblebee species richness and abundance with Bayesian mixed models at varying levels of disturbance by sheep to test the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, while considering other important habitat variables: distance to forest, meadow size, sward height, and availability of flowers, litter and bare soil. 3. Practical Implication: Results of this investigation will provide valuable information to land managers setting limits for the number of free‐ranging sheep released on semi‐natural grasslands within the coniferous boreal landscape to benefit bumblebee conservation.
Authors
Elena Arrigoni Ruairi Hafferty-Hay Pino-Raquel Bodas Liv Guri Velle Kerry Bradshaw Zeren Yang Amanda Cooper Tim Wilkinson Jeffrey G. Duckett Silvia Pressel Rachael Howlett Justin Moat Susan Zappala Martin I. Bidartondo Laura M. Suz Jill KowalAbstract
Heathlands are among the most iconic habitats in Northern Europe, with 20% of the world’s total area in the UK. Their wide, open landscape is dominated by low-growing Ericaceae shrubs and associated ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi on nutrient poor, acidic, dry or waterlogged, organic soils. ErM fungi enable N and phosphorus uptake by their plant hosts in exchange for carbon, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling and contributing to carbon stocks. These fungi also form intimate associations with the rhizoids of several leafy liverworts, including the widespread heathland liverwort Cephaloziella divaricata. In the 20th Century, nitrogen (N) pollution alongside urbanisation and tree encroachment, have severely impacted heathlands, contributing to their sharp decline. The effects of N pollution on heathland vegetation are well documented, with useful indicators including lichens and bryophytes. However, little is known about how the soil microbiome, including mycorrhizal-forming fungi, is impacted by N pollution. Also lacking is understanding of how heathland might recover; with N pollution now declining across parts of Europe, there is demand from managers and policymakers for novel indicators of heathland recovery. Our research investigates responses of ErM fungi to, and recovery from N pollution, and evaluates their suitability as recovery indicators. 18In 2021, we reinstated a dormant experiment in a dry heathland at Thursley National Nature Reserve (Surrey, UK) where N additions ceased in 2010. Results showed lingering effects of N additions on heather vegetation, moss ground cover, lichen communities, soil chemistry and soil fungal communities, while a negative trend was observed in root ErM colonisation in N-treated plots. In 2023, we established thirty new plots, 15 fertilised with 30 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and 15 as controls. To account for plant age, 20 plots were located within mature C. vulgaris stands, and 10 on pioneer vegetation (wildfires occurred in 2006 and 2020, respectively). Combining eDNA techniques and microscopy, we are monitoring ErM root and rhizoid colonisation in C. vulgaris and C. divaricata respectfully, diversity of fungal communities in roots and soil, and soil fungal biomass. A lichen survey was conducted to assess differences in postfire recovery. Vegetation structure and biomass changes are monitored with LiDAR, RGB and multispectral drone imaging to develop a complementary carbon calculation method. We also sampled six coastal heathlands in Norway, along a south-north N deposition gradient (1-6 kg N/ha/yr), and a comparable wet heathland at Thursley (13 kg N/ha/yr) to investigate potential mycorrhizal indicators of healthy heathlands below the N critical load. Preliminary results show ErM fungi are more diverse than expected, with ongoing analyses linking root colonisation to N deposition and climate data to understand heathland recovery and identify potential nitrophilic and nitrophobic ErM fungi as recovery indicators.