Norwegian children's acquisition of the dialect feature r

The pronunciation of r is a central dialect feature of Norwegian. The main division is between a front and a back pronunciation. The back realization is acquired relatively early (around age 4), while the front realization is one of the most problematic sounds to acquire, and substitution sounds are frequent. Using two data collection points, we show how four children learning Norwegian start by substituting r use of the r of their dialect area or idiolectal surroundings. The main argument of this article is that the r-development of kindergarten children is not only governed by rules on acquisition and development lines, but also by the sociolinguistic variation and use of r in the Norwegian speech community.Norwegian children's acquisition of the dialect feature rpublishedVersio

Successive Language Learning in Early Childhood: The Case of Question Formation

This study investigates the emergence of question formation in multilingual and monolingal children aged 3–5 from two Norwegian kindergartens. The data is longitudinal and collected during play. The overall purpose of the study is to explore whether, and if so how, the language of multilingual children with an early onset of acquisition of Norwegian (early successive language learning) differs compared to that of monolingual children who have been exposed to Norwegian from birth (crib monolinguals). The study finds that the individual early successive learner’s questions differ more in terms of developmental stages than their monolingual peers’ questions.publishedVersio

A comparison of Goshawk summer diet in three areas with different breeding density in western Norway

In Norway, Goshawk Accipiter gentilis populations have declined in continuously forested areas in the inland, possibly because of decreased populations of grouse. The highest breeding densities are now found in landscapes dominated by farmland and urban areas, and in some areas close to the coast. In western Norway, we have compared the summer diet of Goshawks breeding at high densities in one island area and one urban area with that of Goshawks breeding at lower densities in an inland area at higher altitudes, approximately 90 km from the coast. Birds dominated the diet in all areas, but the diet diversity was lower in the inland than in the two other areas. The number of pigeons, Woodcock Scolopax rusticola and ducks/waders found at nest sites decreased with altitude, whereas the number of grouse increased. We conclude that Goshawks in the inland are more dependent on grouse because of lower availability of alternative prey

Possible impact of winter conditions and summer temperature on bank vole (Myodes glareolus) population fluctuations in Central Norway

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Moth species richness and diversity decline in a 30‑year time series in Norway, irrespective of species’ latitudinal range extent and habitat

Introduction Insects are reported to be in decline around the globe, but long-term datasets are rare. The causes of these trends are elusive, with changes in land use and climate among the top candidates. Yet if species traits can predict rates of population change, this can help identify underlying mechanisms. If climate change is important, for example, high-latitude species may decline as temperate species expand. Land use changes, however, may impact species that rely on certain habitats. Aims and methods We present 30 years of moth captures (comprising 97,032 individuals of 808 species) from a site in southeast Norway to test for population trends that are correlated with species traits. We use time series analyses and joint species distribution models combined with local climate and habitat data. Results and discussion Species richness declined by 8.2% per decade and total abundance appeared to decline as well (−9.4%, p = 0.14) but inter-annual variability was high. One-fifth of species declined, although 6% increased. Winter and summer weather were correlated with annual rates of abundance change for many species. Opposite to general expectation, many species responded negatively to higher summer and winter temperatures. Surprisingly, species’ northern range limits and the habitat in which their food plants grew were not strong predictors of their time trends or their responses to climatic variation. Complex and indirect effects of both land use and climate change may play a role in these declines. Implications for insect conservation Our results provide additional evidence for long-term declines in insect abundance. The multifaceted causes of population changes may limit the ability of species traits to reveal which species are most at risk.publishedVersio

Framvekst av morfologi, syntaks og ordforråd i tidleg andrespråksutvikling – ein longitudinell kasusstudie

I denne longitudinelle undersøkinga studerer vi den norskspråklege utviklinga innanfor ordforråd, morfologi og syntaks hos to fleirspråklege barn som starta å lære norsk i barnehagen. Det finst få empiriske studiar av barn som veks opp i ein slik språklæringssituasjon, og eit av føremåla med undersøkinga er å skaffe fram empirisk basert kunnskap om korleis grammatikken i andrespråket, i dette tilfelle norsk, veks fram hos denne gruppa språkinnlærarar. Det er også eit mål å utforske kva for metodar som eignar seg til å fange utviklinga av ordforråd og grammatikk hos så unge barn. Vi har prøvd ut ulike variablar, både reint kvantitative (ytringslengde, aktivt ordforråd målt som talet på substantiv og verb, både leksem og eksemplar, passivt ordforråd) og meir kvalitative (mest komplekse ytring, mest komplekse substantivfrase, spørsmålssyntaks o.a.). Mange av desse måla har gitt oss god innsikt i korleis unge, fleirspråklege barn utviklar majoritetsspråket. Vi knyt også undersøkinga opp til diskusjonen om korleis tidleg fleirspråkleg utvikling skal beskrivast og forståast. Vi argumenterer for at funna våre tyder på at der er ein effekt av forseinka oppstart, og at sjølv om ein tar til å lære eit andrespråk lenge før ein er tre år, vil utviklinga av andrespråket vere annleis enn utviklinga av førstespråket

Kor e alle k-ar hen? Variasjon mellom k- og v- i spørjeord blant bergenske barnehagebarn

Artikkelen presenterer ei undersøking av variasjon mellom k- og v- i framlyd av spørjeord blant bergenske barnehagebarn med norsk som første- og andrespråk. I undersøkinga er det brukt innsikter frå både sosiolingvistikk og barnespråkstileigning for å finne ut korleis barna tileignar seg denne sosiolingvistiske variabelen. Datamaterialet som undersøkinga er basert på, er frå opptak av samtalar mellom to‒tre barn som leika saman i barnehagane dei går i. Medan Mykings undersøking av same variabel frå 1988 peika mot ei utvikling der v- i framlyd kunne vere på veg ut av bergensk, har seinare undersøkingar vist at v- framleis er noko brukt, også av ungdommar i Bergen. Dei nye resultata som blir presentert her, viser at barna brukar overraskande mykje v- i framlyd – langt meir enn ungdommar og vaksne frå Bergen.publishedVersio

Why do raptors take domestic prey? The case of Bonelli's eagles and pigeons

Predator conservation management requires detailed understanding of the ecological circumstances associated with predation, especially that on economically valuable prey. We examined the mechanisms behind Bonelli's eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus predation on prey of domestic origin, using dietary data from 22 pairs breeding in south-west Portugal (1992-2001) together with information on landscape composition and prey availability. 2. Numerically, 42.7% (37.7% in biomass) of eagle prey comprised domestic species, about 70% of which were rural pigeons Columba livia and the remainder were racing pigeons Columba livia and domestic fowl Gallus gallus. Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, red-legged partridges Alectoris rufa and jays Garrulus glandarius were the most frequent wild prey (43.1%; 50.8% in biomass). This dietary pattern was remarkably stable over a decade, but within each year the intake of pigeons almost halved over the course of the breeding season. 3. Landscape composition significantly affected the dietary proportion of wild and domestic prey items. This was particularly evident in territories dominated by eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus plantations, where there was reduced consumption of rural pigeons and partridges, an increased intake of minor avian prey items and greater diversity in the diet overall. 4. Bonelli's eagles showed type II functional responses while preying on the most important wild (rabbit) and domestic (rural pigeon) prey, although the former was much stronger. Eagle predation on rabbits declined with increasing abundance of pigeons, and vice versa, but there was no switching in the traditional sense, as selection between these two species was inversely frequency dependent. 5. Synthesis and applications. Predation by Bonelli's eagle on domestic pigeons results from a combination of high vulnerability of the pigeons to eagles and a shortage of key wild prey such as rabbits and partridges, especially during the early breeding season. Given the relatively low economic value of rural pigeons and their importance in the diet of Bonelli's eagles, they could probably be used as a conservation tool to enhance food resources in breeding territories and to deflect predation from more valuable prey such as partridges and racing pigeons

Pervasive Growth Reduction in Norway Spruce Forests following Wind Disturbance

Background: In recent decades the frequency and severity of natural disturbances by e.g., strong winds and insect outbreaks has increased considerably in many forest ecosystems around the world. Future climate change is expected to further intensify disturbance regimes, which makes addressing disturbances in ecosystem management a top priority. As a prerequisite a broader understanding of disturbance impacts and ecosystem responses is needed. With regard to the effects of strong winds – the most detrimental disturbance agent in Europe – monitoring and management has focused on structural damage, i.e., tree mortality from uprooting and stem breakage. Effects on the functioning of trees surviving the storm (e.g., their productivity and allocation) have been rarely accounted for to date. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that growth reduction was significant and pervasive in a 6.79?million hectare forest landscape in southern Sweden following the storm Gudrun (January 2005). Wind-related growth reduction in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests surviving the storm exceeded 10 % in the worst hit regions, and was closely related to maximum gust wind speed (R 2 = 0.849) and structural wind damage (R 2 = 0.782). At the landscape scale, windrelated growth reduction amounted to 3.0 million m 3 in the three years following Gudrun. It thus exceeds secondary damage from bark beetles after Gudrun as well as the long-term average storm damage from uprooting and stem breakage in Sweden

The effects of sex, age, season and habitat on diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in northeastern Poland

The diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes was investigated in five regions of northeastern Poland by stomach content analysis of 224 foxes collected from hunters. The red fox is expected to show the opportunistic feeding habits. Our study showed that foxes preyed mainly on wild prey, with strong domination of Microtus rodents, regardless of sex, age, month and habitat. Voles Microtus spp. were found in 73% of stomachs and constituted 47% of food volume consumed. Other food items were ungulate carrion (27% of volume), other mammals (11%), birds (9%), and plant material (4%). Sex- and age-specific differences in dietary diversity were found. Adult males and juvenile foxes had larger food niche breadths than adult females and their diets highly overlapped. Proportion of Microtus voles increased from autumn to late winter. Significant habitat differences between studied regions were found. There was a tendency among foxes to decrease consumption of voles with increasing percentage of forest cover. Based on our findings, red foxes in northeastern Poland can be recognized as a generalist predators, consuming easily accessible and abundant prey. However, high percentage of voles consumed regardless of age, sex, month, or habitats may indicate red fox specialization in preying on Microtus rodents