Hopp til hovedinnholdet

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

To document

Abstract

Pollinator conservation schemes are typically focused on conserving existing-, restoring degraded- or establishing new wild bee habitats. The effectiveness of such conservation schemes depends on the presence of dispersal corridors that allow habitat colonization by bees. Nonetheless, we lack an understanding of the role of semi-natural habitats edges on the connectivity of pollinator communities across intensively managed landscapes. Here, we use data from wild bee communities comprising 953 occurrences from 79 species of non-parasitic bees, sampled at 68 locations distributed across a Norwegian and a Danish landscape to show that the proportion of semi-natural habitat edges is positively correlated to bee species richness and habitat connectivity. Specifically, we found that wild bee species richness sampled along roadsides increased with the proportion of semi-natural habitat edges within1.5 km of the study sites and with local plant species richness. We combined maps showing the proportion of seminatural habitat edges with least cost path analysis to find the most likely dispersal route between our bee communities. We find that these least cost path lengths provide better models of bee species compositional similarity than geographic distance (|ΔAICc| > 2), suggesting that seminatural habitat edges act as dispersal corridors in intensively managed landscapes. However, we also find that compositional similarity between communities depend on site-specific plant species richness stressing the importance of improving the habitat quality of edge habitats if they are to function as dispersal corridors. We discuss potential management options for improving wild bee habitat conditions along seminatural habitat edges and illustrate how maps of least cost paths can be used to identify dispersal corridors between pollinator habitats of conservation priority. Maps of dispersal corridors can be used to direct wild bee habitat management actions along seminatural habitat edges to facilitate the dispersal of bees between larger grassland habitats. Bees, Connectivity, Conservation planning, Pollinators, Restoration, Grassland

To document

Abstract

Background Neck pain remains a persistent challenge in modern society and is frequently encountered across a wide range of occupations, particularly those involving repetitive and monotonous tasks. It might be expected that patterns of trapezius muscle activity at work, characterized by few breaks and prolonged periods of sustained muscle activity, are linked to neck pain. However, previous cross-sectional studies have generally failed to establish a definitive association. While some longitudinal studies have suggested that extended periods of heightened muscle activity could be a risk factor for neck pain, these findings often relied on limited participant numbers or specific professional groups. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between trapezius muscle activity and neck pain by pooling data from seven Scandinavian research institutes encompassing a diverse range of occupational backgrounds. Methods Electromyographic (EMG) data for the upper trapezius muscle, collected during working hours, were coupled with questionnaire responses pertaining to neck pain, individual characteristics, and potential confounding variables for a total of 731 subjects. Additionally, longitudinal data from 258 subjects were available. The various EMG datasets were consolidated into a standardized format, and efforts were made to harmonize inquiries about neck pain. Regression analyses, adjusting for sex and height, were conducted to explore the associations between muscle activity variables and neck pain. An exposure index was devised to quantify the cumulative neck load experienced during working hours and to differentiate between various occupational categories. Results The cross-sectional data displayed a distinct pattern characterized by positive associations for brief periods of sustained muscle activity (SUMA) and negative associations for prolonged SUMA-periods and neck pain. The longitudinal data exhibited a contrasting trend, although it was not as pronounced as the cross-sectional findings. When employing the exposure index, notable differences in cumulative muscle load emerged among occupational groups, and positive associations with longitudinal neck pain were identified. Discussion The results suggest that individuals with neck pain experience higher cumulative workloads and extended periods of muscle activity over the long term. In the short term, they appear to compensate by taking frequent short breaks, resulting in a lower cumulative workload. Regardless of their occupation, it is crucial to distribute work breaks throughout the workday to ensure that the cumulative load remains manageable.