Animal Successional Pathways for about 200 Years Near a Melting Glacier: A Norwegian Case Study

Here, we explore 200 years of arthropod succession by using dated moraines in a Norwegian glacier foreland. Surface active beetles (Coleoptera) and spiders (Aranea) were sampled by pitfall trapping, and springtails (Collembola) and mites (Acari) were extracted from soil samples. Newly deglaciated ground was rapidly colonised by a mixture of generalists and specialists, with various life strategies. Interestingly, the pioneer community was fed by three ‘invisible’ food sources: biofilm with terrestrial diatom algae, tiny pioneer mosses and chironomid midges whose larvae were pond-living and used ancient carbon that was released by the melting glacier as an energy source. The true ‘super-pioneers’ were biofilm-eating springtails, which tracked the melting ice edge closely. Most species of beetles and springtails colonised within 80 years, while spiders and oribatid mites needed a longer time span to colonise. Topography influenced the succession pattern. Among both surface-living macroarthropods and soil-living microarthropods, we distinguished between a ‘dry’ and a ‘wet’ successional pathway with different community structure. Most arthropod species persisted after colonisation, but certain species preferring open space or low temperature were gradually excluded. Comparisons are made with botanical succession. Sampling methods, material size, and taxonomic resolution were considered critical factors when studying arthropod succession

Updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in Norway

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment for an updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in Norway. The previous risk assessment of P. ramorum for Norway is from 2009. Since then, the pathogen has been detected repeatedly in Norway, primarily in parks, garden centres, and nurseries in southwestern Norway. The knowledge base concerning P. ramorum has changed since the last pest risk assessment, with increased genetic knowledge about different populations, lineages, and mating types. The risks associated with P. ramorum have also changed, since the disease has become epidemic in new host plants, such as larch trees in England. This updated pest risk assessment will provide important input to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s efforts to develop the Norwegian plant health regulation.Updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in NorwaypublishedVersio

Scientific assessment of risk to populations of pythons listed by CITES as a result of trade

This report provides a scientific risk assessment of the effects that international trade in selected species of pythons (Pythonidae spp.) and python products may have on populations of these species. The assessment is based on the criteria given under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The risk assessment is limited to species in the genera Apodora, Aspidites, Liasis, Malayopython, Morelia, and Python imported/exported to/from Norway since 2010 (ToR §3). Risk assessments to determine species-specific detriment (cf. Res. Conf. 16.7 (Rev. CoP17) Non-detriment findings) were made for 17 species using a standardized approach. Significant data gaps affected the degree of uncertaintyassociated with the assessments. Data gaps are mostly related to populations, trends, and illegal trade. Population and trade data for many species was more than a decade old and might therefore not reflect the current situation for these species. Based on the species-specific detriment assessments VKM concludes no detriment for 12 species (Apodora papuana, Aspidites melanocephalus, Liasis mackloti, Malayopython reticulatus, Morelia bredli, Morelia spilota, Morelia viridis, Python anchietae, Python bivittatus, Python breitensteini, Python brongersmai, Python curtus). For one species, VKM concludes detriment (Morelia boeleni). For two species, a split conclusion is made based on the region of origin (Python regius and Python sebae). Furthermore, sufficient data was lacking for Malayopython timoriensis and VKM is therefore unable to make a detriment assessment. The final species, Python molurus, is CITES Appendix I listed and should not be traded for commercial purposes. The degree of uncertainty associated with each assessment varied based on data availability and this is indicated as a confidence level of the individual assessments (low to high)Scientific assessment of risk to populations of pythons listed by CITES as a result of tradepublishedVersio

Skogens helsetilstand i Norge. Resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i 2016

Skogens helsetilstand påvirkes i stor grad av klima og værforhold, enten direkte ved tørke, frost og vind, eller indirekte ved at klimaet påvirker omfanget av soppsykdommer og insektangrep. Klimaendringene og den forventede økningen i klimarelaterte skogskader gir store utfordringer for forvaltningen av framtidas skogressurser. Det samme gjør invaderende skadegjørere, både allerede etablerte arter og nye som kan komme til Norge som følge av økt handel og import. Eksempler på begge er omtalt i denne rapporten som presenterer resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i Norge i 2016........publishedVersio

Impacts of climate change on the boreal forest ecosystem. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered species (CITES) of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

Source at https://vkm.no/</a

Cyanobakterier og cyanotoksiner i norske drikkevannskilder - (VKM)

publishedVersio

The state of health of Norwegian forests. Results from the national forest damage monitoring 2018

Source at http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2616613Skogens helsetilstand påvirkes i stor grad av klima og værforhold, enten direkte ved tørke, frost og vind, eller indirekte ved at klimaet påvirker omfanget av soppsykdommer og insektangrep. Klimaendringene og den forventede økningen i klimarelaterte skogskader gir store utfordringer for forvaltningen av framtidas skogressurser. Det samme gjør invaderende skadegjørere, både allerede etablerte arter og nye som kan komme til Norge i nær framtid. I denne rapporten presenteres resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i Norge i 2018 og trender over tid for følgende temaer: (i) Landsrepresentativ skogovervåking; (ii) Skogøkologiske analyser og målinger av luftkjemi på de intensive overvåkingsflatene; (iii) Overvåking av bjørkemålere i Troms og Finnmark; (iv) Granbarkbilleovervåking – utvikling av barkbillepopulasjonene i 2018; (v) Ny barkbille på vei – vil den like klimaet?; (vi) Phytophthora i importert jord på prydplanter og faren det utgjør for skog; (vii) Overvåking av askeskuddsyke; (viii) Skog- og utmarksbranner i 2018; (ix) Andre spesielle skogskader i 2018...….Forest health is to a large extent affected by climate and weather conditions, either directly by e.g. drought, frost and wind, or indirectly when climatic conditions influence the occurrence and abundance of pests and diseases. Climate change and the expected increase in abiotic damage are a challenge to the management of future forest resources. The same is true for invasive damage agents, both species which are already established and species which can possibly migrate to Norway in the future. This report presents results from the Norwegian forest damage monitoring in 2018 and trends over time for: (i) Forest monitoring on the large-scale Level I plots; (ii) Ecological analyses and measurements of air quality on the intensive Level II plots; (iii) Monitoring of birch moths in northern Norway; (iv) Spruce bark beetle monitoring – status of the bark beetle population in 2018; (v) New bark beetle at Norway’s doorstep – will it like the climate?; (vi) Phytophthora in soil from imported ornamental plants and the danger that poses to forests; (vii) Monitoring of ash dieback; (viii) Forest fires in 2018; (ix) Other special incidents of forest damage in 2018..

Invasjonspotensiale og egnethet av ulike vertstrær for utvalgte bark- og vedboende insektskadegjørere

Introduction of nonnative species is often a by-product of increasing global trade. Some nonnative species may reach extremely high population densities, deplete resources and cause extensive economic and ecological damage in invaded areas. For example, nonnative bark- and wood-boring beetles may become extremely damaging pests due to their ability to attack living trees and cause large-scale ecosystem impacts. Pest risk analysis (PRA) is an essential tool that can help reduce the risk of new invasions by identifying phytosanitary measures against high risk nonnative species and commodities. The studies presented in this thesis deal with key PRA issues concerning bark- and wood-boring beetles, such as the probability that new pest species will arrive, establish, spread and expand within new areas, and the potential economic and environmental impact this may have. We focus on some of the most destructive bark- and wood-boring beetle species in temperate and boreal forests and their potential to invade European countries. In addition, we study whether access to novel host tree species may facilitate range expansion of a native pest species in Norway.Introduksjon av fremmede arter er ofte en uheldig bieffekt av økende global handel. Noen fremmede arter kan bli svært tallrike og gjøre omfattende økonomisk og økologisk skade der de etablerer seg. Fremmede bark- og trelevende biller kan for eksempel gjøre stor skade på grunn av sin evne til å angripe levende trær, noe som kan påvirke hele skogøkosystemer. Arbeidet med å forhindre introduksjon av fremmede arter bør bygge på føre var-prinsippet, både fordi det kan være vanskelig å oppdage fremmede arter i tide, og fordi det er svært vanskelig og kostbart å utrydde fremmede arter etter de har etablert seg. Risikoanalyse (Pest Risk Analysis; PRA) er et sentralt verktøy for å identifisere plantesanitære tiltak mot skadelige fremmede arter eller handelsvarer som utgjør en uakseptabel risiko. Denne oppgaven tar for seg utvalgte bark- og trelevende biller med fokus på de sentrale spørsmålene i en risikoanalyse: sannsynligheten for innførsel, sannsynligheten for etablering, sannsynligheten for spredning, og den potensielle innvirkningen artene kan ha på økonomi og miljøet. Vi fokuserer på noen av de potensielt mest skadelige bark- og trelevende artene og deres invasjonspotensiale i Norge. I tillegg undersøker vi om tilgang til nye vertstrær fra Nord-Amerika kan legge til rette for at et naturlig hjemmehørende skadeinsekt i Norge kan utvide sitt utbredelsesområde

Invasion potential and host suitability for selected bark- and wood-boring insect pests

Introduction of nonnative species is often a by-product of increasing global trade. Some nonnative species may reach extremely high population densities, deplete resources and cause extensive economic and ecological damage in invaded areas. For example, nonnative bark- and wood-boring beetles may become extremely damaging pests due to their ability to attack living trees and cause large-scale ecosystem impacts. Pest risk analysis (PRA) is an essential tool that can help reduce the risk of new invasions by identifying phytosanitary measures against high risk nonnative species and commodities. The studies presented in this thesis deal with key PRA issues concerning bark- and wood-boring beetles, such as the probability that new pest species will arrive, establish, spread and expand within new areas, and the potential economic and environmental impact this may have. We focus on some of the most destructive bark- and wood-boring beetle species in temperate and boreal forests and their potential to invade European countries. In addition, we study whether access to novel host tree species may facilitate range expansion of a native pest species in Norway

The Siberian moth (Dendrolimus sibiricus), a pest risk assessment for Norway

Background The Siberian moth (Dendrolimus sibiricus) is a serious pest of conifers in Russia, Northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. The western border of the pest’s distribution in Russia is disputed, but it is present west of the 60th meridian east. The pest has the potential to defoliate a wide range of conifers. Results The pest is not present in Norway or other European countries, except Russia. Natural spread and human mediated transport are potential pathways for the pest. Human mediated pathways considered are: Living trees for planting, coniferous wood in the rough and foliage and branches. There has been no import of living trees from Russia to Norway during the past 30 years, and there is currently no import of coniferous wood commodities containing bark from areas, where D. sibiricus occurs. Conclusions The probability of D. sibiricus entry by natural spread is unlikely, mainly because of the geographical distance and the partial sea barriers between Norway and the infested areas. The probability of entry by human mediated pathways is unlikely due to the very limited volume of the import. Should the pest enter Norway, the probability of establishment and spread is unlikely, due to the suboptimal climatic conditions, and the fact that the two dominant conifers in the country, Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), are intermediate and poor hosts, respectively. The potential damage, should D. sibiricus enter Norway, is considered low. Keywords: Lepidoptera, Invasive species, Geographical distribution, Forest pestpublishedVersio