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.

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2024

Academic article – Elucidating nematode diversity and prevalence in moose across a wide latitudinal gradient using DNA metabarcoding

Jason Lee Anders, Marie Louise Davey, Bram Van Moorter, ...

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 24, 2024, 100962

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Authors

Jason Lee Anders Marie Louise Davey Bram Van Moorter Frode Fossøy Sanne Boessenkool Erling Johan Solberg Erling Meisingset Atle Mysterud Christer Moe Rolandsen

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes are ubiquitous and can negatively impact their host by reducing fecundity or increasing mortality, yet the driver of variation in the parasite community across a wildlife host’s geographic distribution remains elusive for most species. Based on an extensive collection of fecal samples (n = 264) from GPS marked moose (Alces alces), we used DNA metabarcoding to characterize the individual (sex, age class) and seasonal parasitic nematode community in relation to habitat use and migration behavior in five populations distributed across a wide latitudinal gradient (59.6◦N to 70.5◦N) in Norway. We detected 21 distinct nematode taxa with the six most common being Ostertagia spp., Nematodirella spp., Trichostongylus spp., T. axei, Elaphostrongylus alces, and an unclassified Strongylida. There was higher prevalence of livestock parasites in areas with larger sheep populations indicating a higher risk of spillover events. The individual level nematode richness was mostly consistent across study areas, while the number and type of nematode taxa detected at each study area varied considerably but did not follow a latitudinal gradient. While migration distance affected nematode beta-diversity across all sites, it had a positive effect on richness at only two of the five study areas suggesting population specific effects. Unexpectedly, nematode richness was higher in winter than summer when very few nematodes were detected. Here we provide the first extensive description of the parasitic nematode community of moose across a wide latitudinal range. Overall, the population-specific impact of migration on parasitism across the distribution range and variation in sympatry with other ruminants suggest local characteristics affect hostparasite relationships. Alces alces Migration Habitat use Moose Nematode diversity

Academic article – Red deer grazing pressure on agricultural grass meadows from broad to local scale

Tilde Hjermann, Nikolai Antonsen Bilet, Inger Maren Rivrud, ...

Wildlife Biology, 2024, e01312

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Authors

Tilde Hjermann Nikolai Antonsen Bilet Inger Maren Rivrud Erling Meisingset Pål Thorvaldsen Atle Mysterud

Abstract

Grazing by wildlife on agricultural land is widespread across geographical regions, and can cause human–wildlife conflicts due to reduced crop yield when the grazing pressure is high. Growing red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations in Europe call for an increased understanding of their grazing patterns to mitigate damages. We quantified how red deer grazing pressure (grazing presence and grazing level) on agricultural grass meadows (n = 60) in Norway varied across multiple spatial scales. We used a nested, hierarchical study design transcending from a broad scale (meadows across the landscape) to intermediate (between nearby meadows) and local (within-meadow) scales, allowing us to identify at which scale the variation in grazing pressure was strongest. We estimated how grazing was determined by broad-scale factors influencing forage availability and quality through population density, distance to coastline, and differences between the first versus second harvest, by intermediate-scale factors in terms of meadow management causing differences in botanical composition and quality, and by local-scale factors in terms of perceived predation risk and disturbance. At a broad scale, higher population densities were associated with higher grazing pressure, and more grazing occurred before the first compared to the second harvest. Intermediate-scale factors explained the most variation of grazing pressure from red deer, with higher grazing pressure on newly renewed meadows compared to other nearby meadows. On a local scale, more grazing occurred closer to the forest edge, providing cover, and further away from infrastructure, with increased risk and disturbance. Overall, our study highlights how drivers of grazing pressure on agricultural land vary across spatial scales. Population reductions on a broader scale may have some effect in reducing the grazing pressure, but renewed meadows will nevertheless attract red deer, causing higher grazing pressure compared to neighbouring meadows. This insight is crucial for determining effective mitigation strategies facing rising red deer populations across Europe.

Degree phd – Habitat selection, migration timing, and grazing patterns of red deer in an agroecosystem

Tilde K. S. Hjermann

2024

Authors

Tilde K. S. Hjermann

Abstract

Agriculture has significantly impacted the land use over the past centuries. For wild herbivores such as the red deer, foraging on farmland can be beneficial when food is limited in their natural habitats. In Norway, the red deer populations consist of migratory and resident individuals, where migrants travel from low-elevation winter ranges, typically with more available farmland, towards higher-elevation summer ranges. Residents remain in the low-elevation areas year-round. I found that residents selected farmland more than migrants, buffering the migrants’ benefit from following the wave of emerging vegetation in spring. Higher farmland availability also delayed the red deer’s spring migration, that generally varied greatly between and within years. Wildlife foraging on farmland can cause conflicts with humans due to reduced crop yield. Grazing can vary with factors on different scales, and I found most variation in grazing between neighbouring meadows, with more grazing on those recently renewed. Within meadows, more grazing was found close to the forest and away from infrastructure. On broad scale, grazing increased with population density. My thesis provides insight into the coupled dynamics of the red deer and agricultural farmlands, which can be important for management of this coupled ecosystem.

Academic article – The increase of an allelopathic and unpalatable plant undermines reindeer pasture quality and current management in the Norwegian tundra

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