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.
2015
Authors
Ivan N. Bolotov Yulia V. Bespalaya Ilya V. Vikhrev Olga V. Aksenova Paul Eric Aspholm Mikhail Y. Gofarov Olga K. Klishko Yulia S. Kolosova Alexander V. Kondakov Artyom A. Lyubas Inga S. Paltser Ekaterina S. Konopleva Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan Nikita I. Bolotov Irina S. VoroshilovaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Paul Eric Aspholm Aune Veersalu Lars Ola Nilsson Bjørn Mejdell Larsen Guttorm Christensen Patrik OlofssonAbstract
No abstract has been registered
2014
Authors
Alexander Kopatz Paul Eric Aspholm Anja Rudolph Hans Geir Eiken Julia Schregel Siv Aarnes Camilla Tobiassen Snorre HagenAbstract
Genetic methods based on sampling of feces and hairs to study brown bears have become the method of choice for many wildlife researchers and managers. Feces and hairs are the most common sample material for DNA identification of individual bears. While the collection of feces and hairs in the field is carried out in an opportunistic manner, hair-trapping can be applied systematically at specific locations. We have here tested a novel systematic method based on hair sampling on power poles. The method relies on the specific behavior of bears to mark, scratch, bite and scrub on power poles, and by this also leave some hairs behind. During late summer and autumn we have investigated 215 power poles in the Pasvik Valley and sampled 181 hair samples in 2013 and 57 in 2014. A total of 17.3% of the samples collected in 2013 and 12.3% in 2014 were positive on brown bear DNA. Our success rates are comparable to other studies, however, DNA quality/content in the hair samples was generally low. Based on other studies, the method could be improved by sampling during spring and early summer and to use shorter frequencies of 2 to 4 weeks between each sampling. Based on our results and previous studies, we can conclude that this sampling technique should be improved by the development of a more accurate and frequent sampling protocol. Hair sampling from power poles may then lead to improved potential to collect valuable samples and information, which would be more difficult to collect otherwise.
Authors
Alexander Kopatz Hans Geir Eiken Jouni Aspi Ilpo Kojola Camilla Tobiassen Konstantin F. Tirronen Pjotr I. Danilov Snorre HagenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Tobias Bidon Axel Janke Steven R. Fain Hans Geir Eiken Snorre Hagen Urmas Saarma Björn M. Hallström Nicolas Lecomte Frank HailerAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Alexander Kopatz Rune Andreassen Hans Geir Eiken Siv Aarnes Camilla Tobiassen Rolf Randa Steinar Wikan Snorre HagenAbstract
Knowledge on the number of female brown bears, especially reproducing females, is important for the wildlife management. One of the largest and densest populations of brown bears in Norway is located in Sør-Varanger, Finnmark, Northern Norway. Observations of females with cubs are reported regularly in the region. Information on the relatedness among individuals is often unknown as well as specifics on the number of reproductions and relatedness among females within this population. We have utilized genetic data originating from feces and hair samples collected in Sør-Varanger in the years 2004-2014 to investigate female brown bear localities. In the same period, personnel from the Norwegian State Nature Inspectorate (SNO) have observed 9 female brown bears with potential female cubs (a priori probability of 0.5). Sampling areas of those female brown bears and their potential offspring showed substantial geographical vicinity suggesting overlapping home ranges. We then calculated the likelihood ratios for these relationships using the forensic software Familias for 18-mother-female cub relationships. For 10 of 18 such relationships, the genetic relationship between mother and female cub were confirmed as their observation in the field was suggestive of. Of the initially observed 9 female bears, 6 have produced 10 female cubs, which here could be confirmed by genetic methods. The remaining 3 females were not excluded to be mothers to their potential cubs, but these relationships cannot be confirmed without additional DNA analyses. Another family relationship could also be confirmed between two observed female bears, but the type of relationship could not be determined.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered