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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.

2009

Abstract

The study aims to estimate the effects on the sheep farm economy of reducing grazing levels necessitated due to possible overgrazing by sheep on two important mountainous range pastures in southwest Norway. The pasture range in Setesdal Vesthei is grazed by sheep from distant farms located at Jæren (south of Stavanger), while south-western Hardangervidda is grazed by sheep from local farms and distant farms located along the coast. Farmers utilizing the pasture areas combine sheep with dairy cows, off farm work or businesses, while the local farms combine it with orchards. A Linear Programming (LP) model for specialized sheep farms based on farm records has been developed to study effects of reaching various grazing capacity levels. Reducing the number of sheep in Setesdal Vesthei by 10 percent would lower farm income per breeding stock animal with € 15 to € 119 and with € 35 to € 211 for Hardangervidda. The decrease in annual income will range from € 15,00 to € 119,00 in total for the farms using Setesdal Vesthei. The economic effects depend much on meat production per ewe. Replacing unilateral sheep grazing with a mixed system involving suckling goats and heifers is discussed to deal with the problems of encroachment and increasing elevation of the alpine tree-line.

Abstract

A phylogenetic analysis of ITS1-2 sequences from 117 specimens of Schistidium from Eurasia and North America revealed several new taxa within the genus. Schistidium sibiricum Ignatova & H.H. Blom, S. obscurum H.H. Blom, Köckinger & Ignatova, S. tenuinerve Ignatova & H.H. Blom, S. bakalinii Ignatova & H.H. Blom, S. echinatum Ignatova & H.H. Blom and S. succulentum Ignatova & H.H. Blom are described as new for science. Three new combinations are made: S. canadense (Dupr.) Ignatova & H.H. Blom, S. abrupticostatum (Bryhn) Ignatova & H.H. Blom and S. konoi (Broth.) Ignatova & H.H. Blom. Illustrations are provided for new species. A preliminary key for the identification of Schistidium species known in Russia is given.

Abstract

Myrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918 and Formica cunicularia Latreille, 1798 are recorded in Norway for the first time. Both species were found in 2008 at Jeløya, Østfold County in South-Eastern Norway. A total of 54 outdoor-living ant species are now known to occur in Norway.

Abstract

A Working Ring Test (WRT) was organised within the framework of the EU/Life+ FutMon Project (`Further Development and Implementation of an EU-level Forest Monitoring System`, LIFE07 ENV/D/000218), to evaluate the overall performance of the laboratories responsible for analysing atmospheric deposition and soil solution samples in European forests, and to verify improvements in the analytical quality resulting from the QA/QC work carried out in the laboratories which participated in previous WRTs organized in the framework of the UN/ECE ICP Forests Monitoring Programme. The WRT was carried out in accordance with International ISO and ILAG guide proficiency test both for sample preparation and numerical elaboration of the results. Four natural atmospheric deposition and soil solution samples and 4 synthetic solutions were distributed to 44 laboratories for analysis using their routine methods for the following variables: pH, conductivity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, ammonium, sulphate, nitrate, chloride, total alkalinity, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Two tolerable limits were defined for each variable on the basis of the measured value, the results of previous WRTs, a comparison with the Data Quality Objectives of other international networks, and the importance of the variable in deposition and soil solution monitoring. In the ring test 16% of the results from all the laboratories did not fall within the tolerable limits. This enabled us to identify those variables and laboratories for which improvements in analytical performance are required. The results of the exercise clearly show that the use of data check procedures, as described in the ICP Forests manual for sampling and analysis of atmospheric deposition, makes it possible to detect the presence of inaccurate or outlying results, and would therefore greatly improve the overall performance of the laboratories. Some of the analytical methods used by individual laboratories were found to be unsuitable for the samples included in this WRT, and therefore also for the routine analysis of atmospheric deposition and soil solution samples in European forests. These methods included outdated methods, such as turbidimetry or nephelometry for the determination of sulphate, silver nitrate titration and ion selective electrode for chloride, Kjeldahl digestion for the determination of ammonium and organic nitrogen, and colorimetric titrations for alkalinity. A detailed discussion of the determination of total alkalinity is also given in the report because this variable was associated with the most analytical problems.