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NIBIOs ansatte publiserer flere hundre vitenskapelige artikler og forskningsrapporter hvert år. Her finner du referanser og lenker til publikasjoner og andre forsknings- og formidlingsaktiviteter. Samlingen oppdateres løpende med både nytt og historisk materiale. For mer informasjon om NIBIOs publikasjoner, besøk NIBIOs bibliotek.

2011

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We developed dominant height growth models for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Norway using national forest inventory (NFI) data. The data were collected for a different purpose which potentially causes problems for dominant height growth modelling due to short time series and large age errors. We used the generalized algebraic difference approach and fitted 15 different models using nested regression techniques. Despite the potential problems of NFI data the models fitted to these data were unbiased for most of the age and site index range covered by the NFI data when tested against independent data from long-term experiments (LTE). Biased predictions for young stands and better site indices that are better represented in the LTE data, led us to fit models to a combined data set for unbiased predictions across the total data range. The models fitted to the combined data that were unbiased with little residual variation when tested against an independent data set based on stem analysis of 73 sample trees from southeastern Norway. No indications of regional differences in dominant height growth across Norway were detected. We tested whether the better growing conditions during the short time series (22 years) of the NFI data had affected our dominant height growth models relative to long-term growing conditions, but found only minor bias. The combination with LTE data that have been collected during a longer period (91 years) reduced this potential bias. The dominant height growth models presented here can be used as potential height growth models in individual tree-based forest growth models or as site index models.

Sammendrag

1. Surrogate species measures of biodiversity (SSB) are used worldwide in conservation prioritisations. We address the important question whether the ideas behind SSB are consistent with current knowledge on distribution patterns of species, as reflected in theories of community assembly. 2. We investigated whether assumptions necessary for successful functioning of SSB (nested species assemblages, cross-taxon congruence, spatio-temporal consistency) were supported by predictions from either niche or neutral community models. 3. We found a general mismatch between ideas behind SSB and ecological community theory, except that SSB based on complementarity may be consistent with niche-based theory when gradients in species composition are strong. 4.  Synthesis and applications. The lack of a necessary scientific foundation may explain the disappointing results of empirical tests of SSB. We argue that site selection should be based on costs and opportunities within complementary environmental/land units, rather than expensive inventories of unfounded surrogate species.

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The Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is one of the major forest insect pests in Europe, capable of mass-attacking and killing mature Norway spruce trees. The initiation and development of a new generation are strongly controlled by temperature and a warmer climate may affect the number of generations that is produced per year and hence the outbreak dynamics. Experimental knowledge regarding reproductive diapause adaptations is, however, too sparse for largescale assessments of future trends. We developed a model description of diapause induction, and used gridded observational temperature data to evaluate multiple combinations of day length and temperature thresholds to find the model parameterisation most coherent with I. typographus monitoring data from Scandinavia. The selected model parameterisation is supported by European literature data, though further experimental studies are required to analyse population specific adaptations and capacity for adjustments to changing climate conditions. Implementing the model description of reproductive diapause in a temperature driven model of bark beetle phenology (swarming activity and development from egg to mature bark beetle), enabled us to assess the length of the late summer swarming period that is a critical determinant of the risk of forest damage. By using regional climate model data we show that higher temperatures can result in increased frequency and length of late summer swarming events, producing a second generation in southern Scandinavia and a third generation in lowland parts of central Europe. Reproductive diapause will not prevent the occurrence of an additional generation per year, but the day length cues may restrict the length of the late summer swarming period.

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Background: Tree-killing bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) are among the most economically and ecologically important forest pests in the northern hemisphere. Induction of terpenoid-based oleoresin has long been considered important in conifer defense against bark beetles, but it has been difficult to demonstrate a direct correlation between terpene levels and resistance to bark beetle colonization. Methods: To test for inhibitory effects of induced terpenes on colonization by the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) we inoculated 20 mature Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karsten trees with a virulent fungus associated with the beetle, Ceratocystis polonica (Siem.) C. Moreau, and investigated induced terpene levels and beetle colonization in the bark. Results: Fungal inoculation induced very strong and highly variable terpene accumulation 35 days after inoculation. Trees with high induced terpene levels (n = 7) had only 4.9% as many beetle attacks (5.1 vs. 103.5 attacks m22) and 2.6% as much gallery length (0.029 m m22 vs. 1.11 m m22) as trees with low terpene levels (n = 6). There was a highly significant rank correlation between terpene levels at day 35 and beetle colonization in individual trees. The relationship between induced terpene levels and beetle colonization was not linear but thresholded: above a low threshold concentration of ,100 mg terpene g21 dry phloem trees suffered only moderate beetle colonization, and above a high threshold of ,200 mg terpene g21 dry phloem trees were virtually unattacked. Conclusion/Significance: This is the first study demonstrating a dose-dependent relationship between induced terpenes and tree resistance to bark beetle colonization under field conditions, indicating that terpene induction may be instrumental in tree resistance. This knowledge could be useful for developing management strategies that decrease the impact of tree-killing bark beetles.

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odronia canker (Godronia cassandrae f. sp. vaccinii) is a severe disease in young plantings of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in Norway. In Europe, only the imperfect stage (Topospora myrtillii) has been reported, and thus conidia produced in pycnidia are assumed to be important for dissemination of the fungus. The seasonal pattern of production of conidia was investigated in a commercial planting of ‘Jersey" in 1998 and a research planting of ‘Bluecrop" in 1998 to 2000. The disease became apparent in March on shoots infected the preceding growing season, and lesions started to form pycnidia containing conidia in April. Samples of stems with distinct lesions of Godronia canker were collected from the bushes every two to three weeks from early spring to autumn. Stem pieces with lesions were shaken in water to release conidia from the pycnidia, and the numbers of conidia were determined by microscopy. Conidia were present throughout the growing season, but the highest numbers occurred during May, with 106 to more than 107 conidia per lesion. The numbers generally decreased during July to 20 % or less of that found in May, and decreased further during September to around 4 %. Ability to germinate remained high throughout the period conidia were trapped, from April to November/December. Options to manage the disease are discussed.

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‘Summerred" apples (Malus domestica) Borkh are highly susceptible to biennial bearing if not properly thinned. This results in erratic yields and also affects fruit quality adversely. Between 2003 and 2005 ‘Summered"/‘M9" trees were treated with ethephon at concentrations of 250, 375 and 500 mL·L-1 when most king flowers opened (ca. 20% bloom) or at concentrations of 500, 625 and 750 mL·L-1 when the average fruitlet size was 10 mm in diameter. The experimental design was a completely randomised block design with 6 whole tree plots per replication. Trees were sprayed to the point of run-off with a hand applicator only when temperatures exceeded 15ºC. Within two weeks after the second application fruit set was reduced linearly with increasing concentrations of ethephon to less than 1 fruitlet per cluster at the highest concentrations used. Most thinning treatments reduced fruit set significantly compared to unthinned trees. Fruit numbers per tree decreased significantly with increasing ethephon concentrations, and the highest concentrations of ethephon applied during bloom or when the average fruitlet size was 10 mm in diameter resulted in over-thinning. Yield results confirmed the fruit set response where yield reductions were significant at highest concentrations of ethephon (2.1 kg·tree-1) compared to hand-thinned trees (7.3 kg·tree-1) in 2005. All thinning treatments resulted in higher percentage of fruits larger than 60 mm diameter average fruit size compared to unthinned control fruit. Thinning resulted in significantly higher soluble solid contents, and this was especially so for hand-thinned trees. Other fruit quality parameters like yellow/green background color did not show a clear response to thinning. Fruit firmness, however, decreased slightly in all ethephon treated trees whereas return bloom was improved on all thinned trees. It is recommended that ethephon be applied at a rate of 375 mL·L-1 when king flowers open or at a rate of 625 mL·L-1 when the average fruitlet size is 10 mm in diameter. These treatments thin ‘Summerred" apples to a target of about 5 fruits·cm-2 per trunk cross sectional area or 50-70 fruits·100 flower clusters-1 without impacting fruit quality, yield or return bloom the following year.