Publikasjoner
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
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.
Sammendrag
Remote sensing of the activity of vegetation in relation to environmental conditions provides an invaluable basis for investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics and patterns of variability for ecosystem processes. We investigate the fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fAPAR) using SeaWiFS satellite observations from 1998 to 2005 and ancillary meteorological variables from the CRU-PIK dataset with a global coverage at a spatial resolution of 0.5o x 0.5o. A pixel-by-pixel spectral decomposition using Singular System Analysis leads to a global “classification” of the terrestrial biosphere according to prevalent time-scale dependent dynamics of fAPAR and its relation to meteorology. A complexity analysis and a combined subsignal extraction and dimensionality reduction reveals a series of dominant geographical gradients, separately for different time scales. At the annual scale, which explains around 50% of the fAPAR variability as a global average, patterns largely resemble the biomes of the world as mapped by biogeographical methods, and are driven by temperature and by pronounced rain seasons in the tropics. On shorter time scales, fAPAR fluctuations are exclusively driven by water supply, inducing, e.g., semiannual cycles in the equatorial belt of Africa or the Indo-Gangetic Plain. For some regions however, in particular South America, altitude, mean temperature, drought probability and fire occurrences are parameters that seem to shape the spatial patterns of fAPAR across time scales. Overall, we provide a first global multiscale characterization of fAPAR and highlight different mechanisms in land-surface-climate couplings.
Sammendrag
The collapse of the Soviet Union in the Central Asian countries has led to enormous challenges for them in ensuring a sustainable environment. Weak economies and lack of expertise in environmental sciences were important reasons for the Norwegian support to the environmental sector in this region. The State Forest Service of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Norwegian Forestry Group initiated the TEMP project, later renamed TEMP-CA, in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2004. Activities in the Republic of Tajikistan were included in 2007 and in the Republic of Uzbekistan from 2008. The forestry sectors in the Kyrgyz Republic and neighbouring countries in Central Asia, surrounding the Fergana Valley, are closely linked to the environmental and emergency planning sectors. Overgrazing and overharvesting have contributed to a dramatic decline in forest cover. The TEMP-CA project contributes to a better understanding of environmental problems and sustainable forestry in Central Asia.The TEMP-CA project has promoted institutional co-operation between Norway and the Central Asian countries as well as between different institutions both within and between the countries of Central Asia. Increased expertise for scientists, fieldworkers, laboratory staff and staff in different forest departments as well as institutional development in general are important outputs from the TEMP-CA project.
Sammendrag
Bioforsk had the pleasure of hosting the Nordic Baltic Potato Tuber-Disease Workshop 2011 (PTDW 2011) at Hamar, Norway 16-18 November 2011. The workshop was mainly aimed at potato advisors, including the potato industry, and scientists from the Nordic and Baltic countries. In addition, we also had participants that are plant breeders, students, and and other people interested in potato quality. In totalthere were about 60 participants at the workshop from the Nordic countries, UK, Switzerland, USA and China. This Workshop was an activity in Bioforsk project: “Improved potato quality by reduced skin blemishdiseases (scab and scurf) in Norwegian potato production” (2008-2012). This project was financed by grants from the Research Council of Norway, the Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products, the Agricultural Agreement Research Fund, and Norwegian potato growers and food industries; Gartnerhallen, Bama, ICA-Norge, NF-Grønt, KiMs and Maarud. The foreign experts attached to this project, Alison Lees (UK), Leslie Wanner (USA) and Jari Valkonen(Finland), were contributors in the workshop. In addition invited speakers were Lv Dianqiu from Chinaand Ueli Merz from Switzerland. The workshop had 5 different sections, in which the 3 first had presentations from the project:1. Occurrence of skin blemish diseases in the Nordic and Baltic countries2. Diagnosis and biology of different skin blemish pathogens3. Control of skin blemish diseases4. Research activities on other potato tuber diseases in Nordic and Baltic countries5. Future challenges In the table of contents, the abstracts are presented in the same order as found in the program. The scientific workshop committee consisted of Jari Valkonen (Finland), Björn Andersson (Sweden), BentJ. Nielsen (Denmark) and Arne Hermansen (Norway).
Sammendrag
Det er ikke registrert sammendrag
Forfattere
Lars Tørres HavstadSammendrag
Different procedures for managing stubble and regrowth in meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) seed crops were examined in two experimental series in southeast Norway. The first series investigated cutting and removal of stubble shortly after seed harvest in late July/early August, combined with cutting of regrowth (forage harvest) in September or October or burning of the wilted aftermath in early spring. Except for one crop with more than 30-cm stubble, stubble removal shortly after seed harvest did not improve seed yield in the following year. On average for plots with and without stubble removal in seven seed crops, forage harvest on 5 September or 1 October reduced seed yield by 9 and 12%, respectively. The reductions were due to smaller inflorescences, probably reflecting lower carbohydrates reserves. In most trials, the highest seed yield, on average 9% above that of the uncut and unburned control, was found after burning in spring. The second experimental series investigated flail-chopping in spring as an alternative to burning, and the effect of delaying either of the two treatments. On average for four trials, burning and flail-chopping before growth initiation increased seed yield by, in turn, 20 and 12% compared with the untreated control. A two-to-three-week delay in fail-chopping had no negative impact, but a two-week delay in burning reduced seed yield back to the uncut/unburned control level. Based on these trials, growers are recommended to burn meadow fescue seed crops in early spring rather than removing stubble and regrowth in autumn. If burning in early spring is not possible, flail-chopping is recommended within two weeks after growth initiation.
Forfattere
Jan Svtlík Isabella Børja Toril Drabløs Eldhuset Holger Lange Frank Newell Kidder Douglas Lawrence GodboldSammendrag
Fungi are the main degraders of organic matter and are associated symbiotically with over 80% of terrestrial plants (Smith and Read 1997). Thus, the extent of the mycelial network is an indicator of the decomposing or symbiotic activity. Although the importance of fungi in soil is undisputable, the determination of the extent of hyphal mats and the hyphal biomass is difficult to assess. Methods for estimating hyphae in soil are mostly based on the gridline intersect method originally developed to determine the root length or recently by measuring of the ergosterol content, fungal sterol found in the cell membranes....
Forfattere
Håvard Kauserud Einar Heegaard Rune Halvorsen Lynne Boddy Klaus Høiland Nils Christian StensethSammendrag
Most basidiomycete fungi produce annual short-lived sexual fruit bodies from which billions of microscopic spores are spread into the air during a short time period. However, little is known about the selective forces that have resulted in some species fruiting early and others later in the fruiting season. This study of relationships between morphological and ecological characteristics, climate factors and time of fruiting are based upon thorough statistical analyses of 66 520 mapped records from Norway, representing 271 species of autumnal fruiting mushroom species. We found a strong relationship between spore size and time of fruiting; on average, a doubling of spore size (volume) corresponded to 3 days earlier fruiting. Small-spored species dominate in the oceanic parts of Norway, whereas large-spored species are typical of more continental parts. In separate analyses, significant relationships were observed between spore size and climate factors. We hypothesize that these relationships are owing to water balance optimization, driven by water storage in spores as a critical factor for successful germination of primary mycelia in the drier micro-environments found earlier in the fruiting season and/or in continental climates.
Sammendrag
Oil transportation from the Russian part of the Barents Region along the Norwegian coast had insignificant volumes before 2002. However, in 2002 there was a dramatic increase in oil shipment, when 4 million tons was delivered westwards by the Barents Sea. In 2003, the volume reached 8 million tons. The trend continued in 2004, and about 12 million tons of export oil and refined products were transported from the Russian part of the Barents Region to the western market along the Norwegian coast. From 2005 to 2008, the annual shipment volumes were on the levels between 9.5 and 11.5 million tons. In 2009, Russian oil-and-gas export cargoes carried by the Barents Sea rose to 13 million tons, and in 2010, exceeded the level of 15 million tons. Norwegian Snøhvit, the first offshore production in the Barents Sea, added to these volumes 5 million cubic metres of liquefied gases (LNG and LPG) each of two recent years. The terminals loading oil for export in the Russian Western Arctic seas have been continuously developed, and the overall shipping capacity has been enlarged. The changes in oil volumes carried for export through the Barents Sea during the recent years were not so much dependent on the terminals‟ capacities and logistic schemes as on the external factors. The changes in the export taxes by the State and rates for cargo transportation by Russian railways, development of new trunk pipelines and sea terminals in the Baltic Sea and Far East by Transneft, bankruptcy of Volgotanker were a few examples that induced oil transport operators to develop new terminals in the Kola Bay and to focus more on petroleum products than crude oil. The big oil export challenges that occurred in the recent years due to conflicts between Russia and neighbouring transit countries made the Russian Government and Transneft to reorient the Russian oil export routes and increase the capacities of the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS) to 75 million tons in 2007, with the prospects to reach 150 million tons in 2015. Construction of Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline (ESPO) was launched, the first phase with a branch to China was put on stream in 2010, and a new terminal in the Far East started to ship oil for export. In the south, the project of Burgas-Alexandropoulis pipeline was developed. In the north, Kharyaga-Indiga pipeline project was frozen because a new Varandey terminal came on full scale. The year of 2009 started with an export gas transit conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Government of Russia and Gazprom highlighted the importance of constructing Nord Stream and South Stream gas pipelines through the Baltic and the Black seas to let Russia export natural gas to Western Europe bypassing its neighbouring countries, the former Soviet sister-republics. In 2009, Russia launched its first LNG plant in Far East in Sakhalin. Three more LNGs are planned in the Arctic, in the Kola Peninsula, in Nenets region, and in Yamal. Those plants can start shipping liquefied gas in 2016-2017. The first oil from offshore production in the Russian Barents should come from Prirazlomnoye oil field. Prirazlomnaya platform left Severodvinsk and came to Murmansk for completion in the fall of 2010. The plan is to deliver the platform on its production destination and put the oil field on stream in 2011. The Prirazlomnaya platform will be the second big offshore installation in the Pechora Sea. The first one, 12 million tons Varandey terminal, was launched in 2008, and already in 2009 sent more than 7 million tons of crude oil for export. Lukoil plans to increase the terminal oil offloading volumes building 8 million tons pipeline from Kharyaga to Varandey. In the present report on oil transportation in the Barents Region, we have given special attention to the description of the existing and prospective offshore and onshore oil and gas terminals in the northern regions of Russia and Norway, and their connection to hydrocarbon reserves on one hand and to the export routes on the other. We demonstrate that even without a Russian oil trunk pipeline to the Barents Sea coast, that was discussed a few years ago, the overall capacity of the terminals shipping oil and gas for export along the northern coast of Russian and Norway can reach 100 million tons in five years perspective. In Russia, about 50 million tons of crude oil and petroleum products can be delivered by railway to the Murmansk port terminals in the Barents Sea, and Kandalaksha and Arkhangelsk in the White Sea. In addition, up to 20 million tons of oil will come from the northern Timano-Pechora oil fields - 12.5 million via the new Varandey terminal, and 7.5 million from Prirazlomnoye field. Dolginskoye oil field, which is estimated to be three times as big as Prirazlomnoye, will be the next large offshore field in the Pechora Sea put on stream. With port infrastructure developed on Yamal, the terminals in the Kara Sea can ship 3 million tons of Western Siberia crude oil for export. Shtokman in the Barents Sea and Tambey in Yamal gas fields can offload 12.5 million tons of liquefied gas in 2017, when the first phases of both LNG plants are completed. In Norway, in addition to 5 million tons of liquefied gas shipped from Snøhvit, Goliat oil field in the Barents Sea should be put on stream in 2013 and produce 5 million tons of oil in 2014. In 2010, there were made a number of historic voyages by the Northern Sea Route. We will see more cargo vessel passages through this Arctic shipping lane in 2011. In a long term perspective, the Northern Sea Route will give the way for huge Yamal and Kara Sea oil-and-gas resources to the western markets via the Barents Sea; and it will also open possibilities for transit cargo transportation from Europe to Asia Pacific along the Arctic coast. In the European part of Russia there are three possibilities for shipping oil for export - through the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Barents Sea. Out of these three options, only the northern way can provide the stable cargo shipping directly to major European and North American harbours, avoiding transit challenges through neighbouring countries or heavy traffic in the sea straits. Oil pollution prevention should be the central issue during oil transportation in the Barents Sea. The year 2010 was marked with the Mexican Gulf accident, the largest oil spill ever happened in the sea that put issues of marine environmental protection against oil pollution to a high international political agenda. In this report, we pay attention to the environmental safety matters in oil transportation and Norwegian-Russian co-operation in the oil pollution prevention. We see more advanced and safer terminals and vessels operating in the region. However, the number of accidents with sea vessels was increasing worldwide the last 10 years due to human errors. Traffic control and monitoring are developed both in Norway and Russia. Establishment of an early warning and notification system between two countries should be the next step. The Treaty on a delimitation line in the Barents Sea, that was signed between Norway and Russia in 2010 and ratified in 2011, should put relations between two countries on a new level opening wider possibilities for oil-and-gas, maritime shipping and environmental cooperation.
Forfattere
Mekjell Meland Lars Sekse Clive KaiserSammendrag
‘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.