Ecological Spotlights on Mites (Acari) in Norwegian Conifer Forests: A Review

Long-term studies on mites in Norwegian coniferous forests are summarized. In podzol soil with raw humus, mite densities could pass 1 million per m2, with 48 species of Oribatida and 12 species of Mesostigmata. Field and laboratory experiments with liming and artificial acid rain showed that soil pH affected the structure of the mite community. Certain species of mites and springtails typical for acid soils did, however, show preference for a higher pH in monoculture. We hypothesized that competition could be a strong regulating factor in microarthropod communities. Several oribatid species were flexible regarding soil type, vegetation, substrate, and decomposition stage. The genus Carabodes showed examples on specialists: two species were grazers on Cladonia lichens in dry pine forests, while three were decomposers in dead polypore fungi. Another three oribatid species from different genera were unique in excavating spruce needles, producing slowly decomposing excrements, and probably contributing to stable, carbon-storing humus. In microcosms, predatory Gamasina mites were seen to regulate microarthropod numbers. Mites were able to adjust both their vertical and horizontal distribution in soil according to environmental change. A local and temporary burst of fungal activity could rapidly attract opportunistic fungal feeders. Several mites were active under snow, often feeding. Some even penetrated into the snow layer

Djevelen ligger i diskursen. En kritisk diskursanalyse av Marte Krogh-saken i VG

This article is a critical discourse analysis of a provocative news story later heavily criticized for being based on a misquotation. The analysis shows how the quote is offensive primarily by being assigned to a critical news discourse that constructs a dichotomy between «the conservative upper class» and «modern female Norway». Therefore, the ethics of the case are not just a matter of quotation technique, but rather in which perception of reality the journalists considered it natural to frame the story as a whole – and, in fact, necessary even to make it a story

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

Digital innovation during terror and crises

Terror attacks are moments of chaos and destabilization. From a journalistic perspective, terror attacks disrupt everyday news work where journalists find themselves struggling to restore order and report the event at hand as accurate and speedy as possible. From the perspective of the affected audience, journalism fills vital functions in making sense of the attack, by responding to a complex and rapidly changing mix of social needs. In this article, we explore how such disrupting events as terror can contribute to newsroom innovation in terms of journalistic processes, journalistic products, and even journalistic genres. We use the terror attack and massacre in Norway on 22 July 2011 as a case study, as it to a large extent forced journalists to think outside the box in order to meet the audience’s informational and rhetorical needs. The study shows that innovation is tightly connected to the development of the rhetorical situation through three phases: shock, start-up, and transformation. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with journalists who covered the attack, as well as a rhetorical exploration of the evolving situational context and the texts that were created in response

Reading the national: shifting subjectivities in a stateless nation

"Putting a Face on It analyses and discusses how subjectivity and exposure of individuals now affect most journalistic topics and genres: from politics to sports journalism, from science journalism to journalism about terrorism. Individual exposure and subjectivity affect news and features, photos and front pages, and are at the core of an increasing dialogue with digital media users. One aim of this book is therefore to present some of this variation. Another is to contribute to the discourse about the present state of journalism and where it is heading. Putting a Face on It will appeal to researchers, teachers, students, writers, journalists and other media-interested readers.

Plant bugs on Tanacetum vulgare with Megalocoleus tanaceti (Fallén, 1807) new to Norway (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae)

The plant bug Megalocoleus tanaceti (Fallén, 1807) (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae) is reported new to Norway. It has probably colonised the county Østfold from Sweden. Since the species is morphologically similar to two other Miridae living on the host plant Tanacetum vulgare L., a short identification key is presented to separate M. tanaceti from M. molliculus (Fallén, 1807) and Oncotylus punctipes Reuter, 1875. The Norwegian distribution of the three species is given. Keywords: Heteroptera, Megalocoleus tanaceti, Tanacetum vulgare, Norway.publishedVersio

Forest strips left along water and bog can be valuable for birds. A case of experimental cutting

An experimental cutting was performed in Grue municipality, Hedmark, to study the value for birds of retaining a forest strip along bog and water. Two study areas of mature coniferous forest were selected, each 600 x 200 m, with one of the long sides towards either water or bog. Before logging started, all bird territories were mapped during two years. In the third breeding season, a 50 m wide forest strip remained adjacent to water and bog, and in the fourth season a 25 m wide forest strip. Both along bog and water, the 25 m wide forest strip supported a species- and individual-rich bird fauna, with higher density than before cutting. This is in accordance with an extensive study in remaining forest strips adjacent to water and bogs in South-East Norway, where the authors adviced to set aside 30 m wide strips. Literature data indicate that the rich bird life in such buffer zones may be due to a concentration of insects blown in from the open clearcut area

Food habits and niche overlap in three alpine passerine birds, South Norway

The three most common passerine birds in alpine habitats on the Hardangervidda plateau, South Norway, are the Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, the Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, and the Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis. Analyses of stomach content showed that invertebrates are the main food of these species, but theWheatear and the Snow Bunting also eat Empetrum berries, and the Snow Bunting becomes a seed eater in October when snow has arrived and the two other species have left the area. Seasonal changes in diet were related to phenological changes in the availability of food items. Adult Tipulidae were for instance taken by all species during the swarming period in July. Overlap in food choice was considered medium for all three species combinations. The Snow Bunting overlapped only slightly with the two other species in altitudinal distribution, habitat choice and territory. However, the Meadow Pipit and the Wheatear overlapped strongly in these parameters. Since their reproduction was successful, we assume that these two species can live togetherwith strongly overlapping niches due to a surplus of available invertebrate food. All three species are able to change their food choice rapidly and are thus well adapted to manage unpredictable conditions in a harsh, high altitude ecosystem