Tonje Ingeborg Økland

Seniorforsker (timeavtale)

(+47) 901 61 233
tonje.okland@nibio.no

Sted
Ås - Bygg H8

Besøksadresse
Høgskoleveien 8, 1433 Ås

Biografi

Jeg er seniorforsker 1183 og forsker i hovedsak på naturlige og menneskeskapte endringer i skogøkosystemet, med fokus på skogsvegetasjonens artssammensetning, artsmangfold og biomasse, samt relasjoner mellom undervegetasjonen og tre-sjiktet samt jordkjemiske, jordfysiske, topografiske og klimatiske faktorer. Jeg er utdannet som botaniker og vegetasjons-økolog ved universitetet i Oslo og har  jobbet i NIBIO siden 1988, da jeg startet opp prosjektet med vegetasjons-økologisk overvåking i gammel naturlig og vernet granskog. Dette prosjektet pågår fortsatt i 8 granskoger og ble fra 2005 inkludert i Program for terrestrisk naturovervåking (TOV). Jeg jobber også med effekter av forskjellig typer skogbehandling på skogsvegetasjonen; hogsteffekter, gjødslingseffekter m.m.

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Sammendrag

Effects of clear-cut harvesting on ground vegetation plant species diversity and their cover are investigated at two Norway spruce sites in southern Norway, differing in climate and topography. Experimental plots at these two sites were either harvested conventionally (stem-only harvesting) or whole trees including crowns, twigs and branches were removed (whole-tree harvesting), leaving residue piles on the ground for some months. We compare the number of plant species in different groups and their cover sums before and after harvesting, and between the different treatments, using non-parametric statistical tests. An overall loss of ground vegetation biodiversity is induced by harvesting and there is a shift in cover of dominant species, with negative effects for bryophytes and dwarf shrubs and an increase of graminoid cover. Differences between the two harvesting methods at both sites were mainly due to the residue piles assembled during whole-tree harvesting and the physical damage made during the harvesting of residues in these piles. The presence of the residue piles had a clear negative impact on both species numbers and cover. Pile residue harvesting on unfrozen and snow-free soil caused more damage to the forest floor in the steep terrain at the western site compared to the eastern site.

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Sammendrag

Forest fires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere(1), but also convert a fraction of the burning vegetation to charred black carbon. Black carbon is hard to break down, and formation of this reserve therefore creates a long-term soil carbon sink(2-7). However, although soil black carbon pools are important for global carbon budgets, the spatial variation and dynamics of these pools are poorly understood(6-9). Here we examine the charcoal content of 845 soil samples collected from a broad range of boreal forest landscapes and climates in Scandinavia. We show that there is considerable variation in the distribution and carbon content of soil charcoal between forest landscapes; the landscape-level amount of soil carbon stored in charcoal ranged from 0 to 222 g Cm-2, with an average of 77 g Cm-2. The carbon concentration in the soil charcoal is significantly lower than that found in recently produced fresh charcoal, suggesting that charcoal carbon content decreases with time. Indeed, the median age of a subset of C-14-dated soil charcoal particles was 652 years, implying a rapid turnover compared with the expected median age of approximately 5,000 years if charcoal is persistent. Assuming that our measurements are representative of boreal forests worldwide, we estimate that boreal forest soils store 1 Pg of carbon in the form of charcoal, equivalent to 1% of the total plant carbon stock in boreal forests.

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Large-scale replacements of native birch with spruce have been carried out in Western Norway for economic reasons. This tree species shift potentially affects biotic components such as the eucaryome, consisting of microscopic animals (Metazoa), protists and fungi, which are key players in the functioning of forest ecosystem. The impact on the belowground eukaryome and its interactions with vegetation and soil properties is not well assessed. We examined the impact of replacing native birch with Norway spruce plantations on the eukaryome of the boreal forest floor in Western Norway using 18S rDNA metabarcoding. The tree species shift from birch to spruce had significant impacts on the eukaryome at both taxonomic (Metazoa) and functional categories (phagotrophs, phototrophs, parasites and osmotrophs). The distinct differences in eukaryome communities were related to changes in understorey vegetation biomass and soil chemistry following the tree species shift. This had a negative effect on eukaryome richness, particularly affecting phagotrophs and parasites, while the opposite was observed for osmotroph richness. Our results indicated that the spruce plantations altered the eukaryome communities and their food-web patterns compared to what was found in the native birch forest soil. This information should be taken into consideration in forest management planning.

Sammendrag

Questions Observations in permanent forest vegetation plots in Norway and elsewhere indicate that complex changes have taken place over the period 1988–2020. These observations are summarised in the “climate-induced understorey change (CIUC)” hypothesis, i.e. that the understorey vegetation of old-growth boreal forests in Norway undergoes significant long-term changes and that these changes are consistent with the ongoing climate change as an important driver. Seven testable predictions were derived from the CIUC hypothesis. Location Norway. Methods Vegetation has been monitored in a total of 458 permanently marked plots, each 1 m2, in nine old-growth forest sites dominated by Picea abies at intervals of 5–8 years over the 32-year study period. For each of the 52 combinations of site and year, we obtained response variables for the abundance of single species, abundance and species density of taxonomic–ecological species groups and two size classes of cryptogams, and site species richness. All of these variables were subjected to linear regression modelling with site and year as predictors. Results Mean annual temperature, growing-season length and the number of days with precipitation were higher in the study period than in the preceding ca. 30-year period, resulting in increasingly favourable conditions for bryophyte growth. Site species richness decreased by 13% over the 32-year study period. On average, group abundance of vascular plants decreased by 24% (decrease in forbs: 38%). Patterns of group abundance change differed among cryptogam groups: although peat-moss abundance increased by 39%, the abundance of mosses, hepatics and lichens decreased by 13%, 49% and 67%, respectively. Group abundance of small cryptogams decreased by 61%, whereas a 13% increase was found for large cryptogams. Of 61 single species tested for abundance change, a significant decrease was found for 43 species, whereas a significant increase was found only for 6 species. Conclusions The major patterns of change in species richness, group species density and group abundance observed over the 32-year study period accord with most predictions from the CIUC hypothesis and are interpreted as direct and indirect responses to climate change, partly mediated through changes in the population dynamics of microtine rodents. The more favourable climate for bryophyte growth explains the observed increase for a few large bryophyte species, whereas the decrease observed for small mosses and hepatics is interpreted as an indirect amensalistic effect, brought about by shading and burial in mats of larger species and accelerated by reduced fine-scale disturbance by microtine rodents. Indirect effects of a thicker moss mat most likely drive the vascular plant decline although long-term effects of tree-stand dynamics and former logging cannot be completely ruled out. Our results suggest that the ongoing climate change has extensive, cascading effects on boreal forest ecosystems. The importance of long time-series of permanent vegetation plots for detecting and understanding the effects of climate change on boreal forests is emphasised.

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The replacement of native birch with Norway spruce has been initiated in Norway to increase long-term carbon storage in forests. However, there is limited knowledge on the impacts that aboveground changes will have on the belowground microbiota. We examined which effects a tree species shift from birch to spruce stands has on belowground microbial communities, soil fungal biomass and relationships with vegetation biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC). Replacement of birch with spruce negatively influenced soil bacterial and fungal richness and strongly altered microbial community composition in the forest floor layer, most strikingly for fungi. Tree species-mediated variation in soil properties was a major factor explaining variation in bacterial communities. For fungi, both soil chemistry and understorey vegetation were important community structuring factors, particularly for ectomycorrhizal fungi. The relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi and the ectomycorrhizal : saprotrophic fungal ratio were higher in spruce compared to birch stands, particularly in the deeper mineral soil layers, and vice versa for saprotrophs. The positive relationship between ergosterol (fungal biomass) and SOC stock in the forest floor layer suggests higher carbon sequestration potential in spruce forest soil, alternatively, that the larger carbon stock leads to an increase in soil fungal biomass.

Sammendrag

In a fertiliser experiment in a Norway spruce forest in SE Norway, four treatments were applied in a block design with three replicates per treatment. Treatments included 3 t wood ash ha−1 (Ash), 150 kg nitrogen ha−1 (N), wood ash and nitrogen combined (Ash + N), and unfertilised control (Ctrl). Treatment effects on understory plant species numbers, single abundances of species and (summarised) cover of main species groups were studied. Two years after treatment there were no significant changes for species numbers or abundances of woody species, dwarf shrubs or pteridophytes, nor for Sphagnum spp. in the bottom layer. The cover of graminoids decreased in Ctrl plots. Herb cover increased significantly in Ash + N and N plots due to the increase of Melampyrum sylvaticum. In Ash + N plots, mosses decreased significantly in species number, while their cover increased. Moss cover also decreased significantly in N plots. The species number and cover of hepatics decreased significantly in Ash and Ash + N plots. Hepatics cover also decreased in Ctrl plots. Both the lichen number and cover decreased in Ash + N plots. Single species abundances decreased for many bryophytes in fertilised plots. To conclude, fertilisation had modest effects on vascular plants, while bryophytes were more strongly affected, especially by Ash + N.

Sammendrag

To increase the annual uptake of CO2 as well as the long-term storage of carbon (C) in forests, the Norwegian government consider large-scale replacements of native, deciduous forests with faster-growing species like Norway spruce. To assess the effects of tree species change on ecosystem C and nitrogen (N) stocks and soil chemistry, we used a paired plot approach including stands of native downy birch and planted 45 – 60-year-old Norway spruce. The birch stands were used as reference for the assessment of differences following the tree species change. We found significantly higher C and N stocks in living tree biomass in the spruce stands, whereas no significant differences were found for dead wood. The cover of understory species groups, and the C and N stocks of the aboveground understory vegetation was significantly higher in the birch stands. The tree species change did not affect the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock down to 1 m soil depth; however, the significantly higher stock in the forest floor of the spruce stands suggested a re-distribution of SOC within the profile. There was a significant positive correlation between the SOC stock down to 30 cm soil depth and the total ecosystem C stock for the birch stands, and a negative correlation for the spruce stands. Significant effects of tree species change were found for C and N concentrations, C/N, exchangeable acidity, base saturation, and exchangeable Ca, K, Mg, Na, S, and Fe in the organic horizon or the upper mineral soil layer. The total ecosystem C stock ranged between 197 and 277 Mg ha-1 for the birch stands, and 297 and 387 Mg ha-1 for the spruce stands. The ecosystem C accumulation varied between 32 and 142 Mg ha-1 over the past 45-60 years, whereas the net ecosystem C capture was considerably lower and potentially negative. Our results suggest that the potential to meet the governments’ targets to increase C sequestration depend on the C debt incurred from the removed birch stands, the rotation length, and potentially also the susceptibility of the different stand types to future risk factors related to climate change.

Sammendrag

Det årlige netto opptaket i skogen i Norge økte frem til 2009 (over 35 mill. tonn), og har etter det vist en avtakende trend. I 2018 var det et netto opptak på i underkant av 28 millioner tonn CO2- ekvivalenter. Størrelsen på opptaket påvirkes av forvaltningen av skogarealene, både gjennom endringer i totalarealet (avskoging og påskoging), og forvaltningen av de eksisterende skogarealene. I en første rapport til Klimakur 2030 – skrevet på oppdrag fra Miljødirektorat og Landbruksdirektoratet - ble det presentert en første vurdering av syv klimatiltak som ikke tidligere var utredet, samt en kunnskapsoppdatering for noen tidligere utredede klimatiltak. I denne rapporten presenteres ytterligere vurderinger av fire av disse tiltakene; ungskogpleie, grøfterensk, stubbebehandling mot råte og gjødsling med treaske. Rapporten er skrevet på bestilling fra Landbruks- og matdepartementet (LMD) og Klima- og miljødepartementet (KLD), og det er departementene som har gjort utvalget av tiltak som skulle vurderes videre...

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Sammendrag

Norge, terrestrisk naturovervåking, dokumentasjon, områder, metoder, data, skog, fjell, vegetasjon, epifytter, bjørkemålere, smågnagere, fugler, Norway, terrestrial ecosystem monitoring, documentation, sites, methods, data, forest, mountains, vegetation, epiphytes, birch defoliating moths, small rodents, birds

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Sammendrag

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 i nær framtid. I denne rapporten presenteres resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i Norge i 2019 og trender over tid.....

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Sammendrag

Overvåking, terrestriske økosystemer, vegetasjon, epifytter, fauna, modeller, integrasjon, adaptiv, monitoring, terrestrial ecosystems, vegetation, epiphytes, fauna, models, integration, adaptive

Sammendrag

Short-term (three to four years) effects of forest harvesting on soil solution chemistry were investigated at two Norway spruce sites in southern Norway, differing in precipitation amount and topography. Experimental plots were either harvested conventionally (stem-only harvesting, SOH) or whole trees, including crowns, twigs and branches were removed (whole-tree harvesting, WTH), leaving residue piles on the ground for some months before removal. The WTH treatment had two sub-treatments: WTH-pile where there had been piles and WTH-removal, from where residues had been removed to make piles. Increased soil solution concentrations of NO3–N, total N, Ca, Mg and K at 30 cm depth, shown by peaks in concentrations in the years after harvesting, were found at the drier, less steep site in eastern Norway after SOH and WTH-pile, but less so after WTH-removal. At the wetter, steeper site in western Norway, peaks were often observed also at WTH-removal plots, which might reflect within-site differences in water pathways due largely to site topography.

Sammendrag

Effects of clear-cut harvesting on ground vegetation plant species diversity and their cover are investigated at two Norway spruce sites in southern Norway, differing in climate and topography. Experimental plots at these two sites were either harvested conventionally (stem-only harvesting) or whole trees including crowns, twigs and branches were removed (whole-tree harvesting), leaving residue piles on the ground for some months. We compare the number of plant species in different groups and their cover sums before and after harvesting, and between the different treatments, using non-parametric statistical tests. An overall loss of ground vegetation biodiversity is induced by harvesting and there is a shift in cover of dominant species, with negative effects for bryophytes and dwarf shrubs and an increase of graminoid cover. Differences between the two harvesting methods at both sites were mainly due to the residue piles assembled during whole-tree harvesting and the physical damage made during the harvesting of residues in these piles. The presence of the residue piles had a clear negative impact on both species numbers and cover. Pile residue harvesting on unfrozen and snow-free soil caused more damage to the forest floor in the steep terrain at the western site compared to the eastern site.

Sammendrag

Whole-tree harvest (WTH), i.e. harvesting of forest residues (twigs, branches and crown tops) in addition to stems, for bioenergy purposes may lead to biodiversity loss and changes in species composition in forest ground vegetation, which in turn also will affect soil properties. Effects of clear-cut harvesting on ground vegetation have been investigated at two Norway spruce sites in southern east and western Norway, respectively, differing in climate and topography. Experimental plots at these two sites were either harvested conventionally (stem-only harvest, SOH), leaving harvest residues spread on the site,or WTH was carried out, with the residues collected into piles at the site for six - nine months prior to removal. Vegetation plots in the eastern site were established and analysed before WTH and SOH in 2008 and reanalysed after harvesting in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In the western site vegetation plots were established before WTH and SOH in 2010 and reanalysed after harvesting in 2012 and 2014 (and planned for 2016). All vegetation plots are permanently marked. Pre-as well as post-harvesting species abundances of all species in each vegetation plot were each time recorded as percentage cover (vertical projection) and subplot frequency. Environmental variables (topographical, soil physical, soil chemical, and tree variables) were recorded only once; before WTH and SOH. Effec ts of WTH and SOH on ground vegetation biodiversity and cover are presented.

Sammendrag

Tree harvest and different harvesting methods may affect the soil carbon (C) pool in forest ecosystems. In con- ventional stem-only timber harvesting (SOH), branches and tops that are left in the forests may contribute to the build-up of the soil carbon pool. In whole-tree harvesting (WTH), inputs of organic matter from branches and tops are strongly reduced. We established field experiments at Gaupen, SE and Vindberg, SW Norway, to study the short-term effects of SOH and WTH on processes affecting the accumulation and loss of soil C. Logging residues on the WTH plots were collected in piles that were removed after 6 months, rendering two sub treatments (WTH- pile and WTH-removal areas). We weighed selected trees and logging residues, surveyed understorey biomass production, quantified pre-harvest soil C and nutrient pools down to 30 cm. Soil respiration was measured and soil water sampled monthly during the growing season, while temperature and moisture were measured continuously. Organic and mineral horizons were incubated at different temperatures to estimate potential C and N mineraliza- tion, and deep sequencing of the ITS2 barcode region of fungal DNA was performed on the samples. Litterbags were deployed in the SOH plots. The logging residues amounted to 2.2-2.4 kg C m-2 At Gaupen, the mean in situ soil respiration rates increased following harvest with all treatments, but were significantly higher in WTH-pile and SOH relative to the WTH- removal areas in the first year as well as the fourth year of treatment. The former rates included aboveground decomposing needles and twigs but excluded coarser branches. The observed increase in the WTH-removal areas may be related to decomposing roots, as well as to increased C mineralization partly due to the higher soil tem- peratures following harvest. Soil temperature was the single most important factor explaining the variability in soil respiration rates over all treatments. At Vindberg, a decrease in soil respiration was observed with all treatments in the second and third years following harvest. At both sites, decomposition of logging residues from needles was more rapid relative to twigs and fine roots. The decomposing residues released a substantial amount of nitrogen which was gradually reflected in the soil water at 30 cm soil depth. A considerable increase in the NO3-N concen- tration also in the WTH-removal areas in the second year following harvest suggests an increase in N availability from decomposing fine roots and/or soil organic matter. The increased N availability in the WTH-removal areas was supported by results from short term lab incubations of undisturbed soil from the forest floor. The changes in the WTH-removal areas were also reflected in the soil fungal diversity: saprophytic ascomycetes on decaying plant material showed a striking increase in all treatments. For the WTH-removal areas, this may, again, be related to the increased input of root litter; however, the decrease in mycorrhizal basidiomycete species and the vigorous increase of ascomycetes following harvest may also affect the C mineralization of soil organic matter.

Sammendrag

Vegetasjonsovervåking basert på konseptet for vegetasjonsøkologiske undersøkelser (T. Øk-land 1990, 1996, R. Økland & Eilertsen 1993, Eilertsen & Stabbetorp 1997, Bakkestuen et al. 2001, T. Økland et al. 2001) ble etablert for ca 25 år siden og omfatter 17 referanseområder (figur 7.1). Med to unntak reanalyseres disse fortsatt jevnlig. Ti overvåkingsområder ble etab-lert i granskog av NIJOS (nå Norsk institutt for skog og landskap) i perioden 1988–1992. I Sol-homfjell etablerte Naturhistorisk museum, Universitetet i Oslo i 1988 et overvåkingsområde i barskog (gran- og furuskog) som etter hvert har blitt inkludert i TOV som TOV-granskogsområde. Seks områder ble etablert i bjørkeskog av NINA fra 1990 til 1993 (TOV-bjørkeskogsområder). Områdene spenner ut viktige klimagradienter i Norge (jf Moen 1998) og ble opprinnelig etablert for å fange opp variasjonen i belastning av langtransporterte luftfor-urensinger i Norge (jf Tørseth & Semb 1997).

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Sammendrag

Overvåkingen i TOV omfatter viktige biologiske komponenter i vanlige boreale og lavalpine økosystemer. Det er forventet at overvåkingsvariablene vil respondere på ulike naturlige og menneskeskapte endringer. Her gis en kvalitativ vurdering av hovedmønstre i mulige påvirk-ninger. Klimaendringer Flere av overvåkingskomponentene i bjørkeskog og granskog viser endringer som kan knyttes til observerte klimavariasjoner etter ca 1990. Det er generell sammenheng mellom plantearte-nes temperaturfølsomhet og deres fordeling med høyden over havet. Store moser i markvege-tasjonen viser økt mengde i flere granskogsområder og dels bjørkeskogsområder, noe som trolig skyldes lengre vekstsesong pga milde høster, spesielt fra midten av 1990-tallet. Økning-en for store moser i mange av granskogsområdene har ført til fortetting av bunnsjiktet, med reduksjon i mengde og artsmangfold av spesielt levermoser. I flere av granskogsområdene, som Grytdalen, Otterstadstølen og Gutulia, er det totale artsmangfoldet i markvegetasjonen betydelig redusert i løpet av overvåkingsperioden. I enkelte nordlige bjørkeskogsområder (Åmotsdalen, Gutulia, Børgefjell) har lokalklimaet vært mer variabelt, og markvegetasjonen her har de siste årene vist tendens mot noe tørrere vekstforhold. På undersøkte trær i flere av overvåkingsområdene har mer varmekjære lavarter som vanlig kvistlav gått fram, mens kulde-tolerante arter som snømållav har gått tilbake og ev. vist høyere skadefrekvens. Tidspunktet for egglegging hos fluesnappere viser nær sammenheng med vårens utvikling (målt ved mid-deltemperaturen i mai). Mildere klima og lengre produksjonssesong bør gi økning i fuglebe-standene i fjellet. En bestandsindeks for fugler i de fem overvåkingsområdene i fjellet (Møs-vatn, Gutulia, Åmotsdalen, Børgefjell, Dividalen) viser ikke signifikant endring for arter knyttet til skog i perioden 1990-2013, mens arter knyttet til åpne naturtyper har hatt signifikant nedgang. De siste årene har det vært episoder med ugunstige værforhold i hekketida eller sein og kald vår, noe som kan ha hatt negative konsekvenser for hekkestart og klekkesuksess, med mulig effekt på bestandsutviklingen for spurvefugl. Langtransporterte forurensinger Ulike effekter av langtransporterte forurensinger, som forsuring fra svovelforbindelser, gjøds-ling (eutrofiering) fra nitrogenforbindelser og akkumulering av miljøgifter, kan påvirke flora og fauna i TOV-områdene. Effektene av slik forurensing kan vise seg ved forskjeller i artssam-mensetning, bestandsvariasjoner eller reproduksjonssuksess mellom de sørligste områdene med mest forurensing og områder lenger nord med lavere belastning. De tydeligste effektene av endringer i forurensingsnivåer er knyttet til epifytter på faste prøvetrær i overvåkingsområ-dene, der særlig de sørlige og mest forurensete områdene viser en nedgang i skader på lav, samt framvekst av lav generelt og spesielt for forurensingsfølsomme arter som brunskjegg. Dette tyder på at reduksjon i svovelnedfall og forsuring de siste tiårene har hatt en positiv effekt på lavfloraen. Mengden av alger på trærne i det sørligste området Lund har økt kraftig i over-våkingsperioden, noe som dels kan skyldes et mildere og fuktigere klima, men ganske sikkert også økt tilførsel av nitrogen. Sterk økning av graset blåtopp og observasjoner av alger i mark-vegetasjonen i Lund settes også i sammenheng med høy nitrogenavsetning. Algedekning på trær og bakkevegetasjonen er også observert i enkelte granskogsområder, spesielt tydelig i det sørligste området Paulen. Terrestrisk miljø, overvåking, klimavariasjon, forurensinger, naturlig dynamikk, markvegetasjon, epifytter, smågnagere, fugl, reproduksjon, bestandsvariasjoner, artssammensetning

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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. […]

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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. […]

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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.

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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.

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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. The Umalak monitoring site in Tashkent region, the Republic of Uzbekistan, was the tenth of ten monitoring sites established in forests in Central Asia: 1: ”Kara-Koi” in the Osch oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 2: ”Sogot in the Jalal-Abad oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 3: “Dugoba” in Batken oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 4: “Besh-Tash” Talas oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 5: “Sary-Chelek”, in Jalal-Abad oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 6: “Navobod” in Sogdi oblast, the Republic of Tajikistan. 7: “Gauyan” in Batken oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 8: “Zaamin” in Djizak region, the Republic of Uzbekistan. 9: “Urumbash” in Jalal-Abad oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 10: “Umalak Teppa”, Tashkent region, the Republic of Uzbekistan. […]

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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. […]

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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.

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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 Republic of Tajikistan 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.

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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. The Gauyan monitoring site in Batken oblast in the Kyrgyz Republic was the seventh of ten monitoring sites established in forests in Central Asia: 1: ”Kara-Koi” in the Osch oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 2: ”Sogot in the Jalal-Abad oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 3: “Dugoba” in Batken oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 4: “Besh-Tash” Talas oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 5: “Sary-Chelek”, in Jalal-Abad oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 6: “Navobod” in Sogdi oblast, the Republic of Tajikistan. 7: “Gauyan” in Batken oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 8: “Zaamin” in Djizak region, the Republic of Uzbekistan. 9: “Urumbash” in Jalal-Abad oblast, the Kyrgyz Republic. 10: “Umalak Teppa”, Tashkent region, the Republic of Uzbekistan.

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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. [...]

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Hogstavfall er nøkkelen til økt satsing på bioenergi i Norge. Men vil dette påvirke bærekraften i skogøkosystemet og skogproduksjonen? Blir skogsjorda mer næringsfattig? Endres sammensetningen av arter i vegetasjonen? Vil artsmangfoldet bli redusert? Blir det mindre av de soppene som bryter ned planterester? Dette er noen av spørsmålene vi prøver å besvare gjennom prosjektet «Økologiske virkninger av økt biomasseuttak fra skog i Norge» (ECOBREM), som varer fra 2009 til 2013.

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Forest fires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere(1), but also convert a fraction of the burning vegetation to charred black carbon. Black carbon is hard to break down, and formation of this reserve therefore creates a long-term soil carbon sink(2-7). However, although soil black carbon pools are important for global carbon budgets, the spatial variation and dynamics of these pools are poorly understood(6-9). Here we examine the charcoal content of 845 soil samples collected from a broad range of boreal forest landscapes and climates in Scandinavia. We show that there is considerable variation in the distribution and carbon content of soil charcoal between forest landscapes; the landscape-level amount of soil carbon stored in charcoal ranged from 0 to 222 g Cm-2, with an average of 77 g Cm-2. The carbon concentration in the soil charcoal is significantly lower than that found in recently produced fresh charcoal, suggesting that charcoal carbon content decreases with time. Indeed, the median age of a subset of C-14-dated soil charcoal particles was 652 years, implying a rapid turnover compared with the expected median age of approximately 5,000 years if charcoal is persistent. Assuming that our measurements are representative of boreal forests worldwide, we estimate that boreal forest soils store 1 Pg of carbon in the form of charcoal, equivalent to 1% of the total plant carbon stock in boreal forests.

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Conclusions: Microtopographic relief is a good predictor of local species richness in Picea abies swamp forests, partly because larger vertical variability means higher within-plot habitat diversity with respect to the wet-dry gradient, and partly because qualitatively new microhabitats associated with steep slopes are added in drier sites. The relationship between species richness and microtopographic relief is context dependent, differing in complex ways among species groups and among sites with different environmental conditions.

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Acid rain emerged as an important environmental problem in China in the late 1970s. Many years of record economic growth have been accompanied by increased energy demand, greater coal combustion, and larger emissions of pollutants. As a result of significant emissions and subsequent deposition of sulfur, widespread acid rain is observed in southern and southwestern China. In fact, the deposition of sulfur is in some places higher than what was reported from the ?black triangle? in central Europe in the early 1980s. In addition, nitrogen is emitted from agriculture, power production, and a rapidly increasing number of cars. As a result, considerable deposition of pollutants occurs in forested areas previously thought to be pristine. Little is known about the effects of acid deposition on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in China. In this article, we present the current situation and what to expect in the future, largely on the basis of results from a five-year Chinese?Norwegian cooperative project. In the years ahead, new environmental challenges must be expected if proper countermeasures are not put into place.

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I rapporten presenteres resultatene for bearbeiding av data fra til sammen 561 overvåkingsflater fordelt på 11 granskogsområder i Norge. Alle flatene ble analysert 3 ganger med 5 års omløpstid i perioden 1988-2002 ved standardisert, sammenlignbar metodikk, her kalt ”Det norske konseptet for vegetasjonsøkologisk intensivovervåking”. Endringer fra første til annet omløp (1988–1997) er tidligere rapportert, sammen med resultater for bjørkeskogsflatene i TOV. De endringene som ble observert i første femårsperiode fortsetter til dels i den neste femårsperioden 1993–2002 og i tiårsperioden: Mens tilbakegangen for mange karplantearter i de sørligste/sørøstligste områdene (tolket som effekter av luftforurensing) fortsetter, stopper den generelle økningen i moseartenes mengde og artsantall (tolket som effekter av klimaforhold) opp. Karplantetilbakegangen i sør/sørøst utgjør et konsistent mønster for tiårsperioden sett under ett. For moser trer flere nyanser i endringsmønsteret fram gjennom den andre femårsperioden: Mengdeøkningen for store moser fortsetter. En tendens til at mindre moser reduseres i mengde i mange områder opptrer som et nytt endringsmønster. Mengdeøkningen for store moser forklares av generelt gode voksestedsforhold (hovedsakelig klimatiske forhold) for moser også i andre halvdel av 1990-årene og fram til 2002. De mindre mosenes tilbakegang forklares ved at disse kommer i en ”flaskehalssituasjon” med økende overvoksingsfare som resultat av de store mosenes mengdeøkning. Videre overvåking er nødvendig for å fastslå om denne nye tendensen vil forsterke seg ytterligere og føre til varig tap av moseartsmangfold og/eller ytterligere reduksjon av karplanteartsmangfoldet.

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Sulphur deposition is high at all IMPACTS sites and exceed maximum levels observed in Europe and North-America. Dry deposition equals or exceeds wet deposition. The IMPACTS data, in particular those from the remote Lei Gong Shan site clearly document long-range transport of air pollutants. Due to the actual and future energy combustion and emission strategy in China, the long-range transport of air pollutants may significantly increase with subsequent increased environmental damage in rural and remote areas in China. In addition to sulphur deposition, depositions of reactive nitrogen (nitric acid and ammonia) and calcium are also important and clearly demonstrate that pH alone is not a good indicator for acid deposition. High concentrations of ground level ozone, above critical levels for vegetation and forest, are observed at the Liu Xi He site in Guangdong province. Soil acidification gives rise to high concentrations of toxic aluminium in soil water at several sites. At the Tie Shan Ping site in Chongqing aluminium occurs at a level where long-term harmful effects on trees might be expected. Defoliation and mortality have been severe, however, fairly stable. Insect attacks are apparently a major cause, but enhanced insect attacks might be an indirect effect of health weakening due to acidification. Defoliation has been considerable also in Liu Chong Guan in Guiyang, while the three other catchments had minor defoliation only. High foliar nitrogen concentrations are seen in Lei Gong Shan in Guizhou and Cai Jia Tang in Hunan, accompanied by low P/N-ratios. Statistical tests of vegetation change, so far only implemented in Liu Chong Guan, revealed minor changes in number and abundances of vascular plants, but a significant decline in number of bryophytes. This decline is probably related to climatic year-to-year variations. Data from other catchments and longer time periods are needed to identify vegetation changes related to soil acidification or direct effects of air pollutants. Modelling results from Tie Shan Ping suggest that the currently planned 20% reduction in sulphur emissions is far from sufficient to avoid further acidification. As more data are generated, dose-response relationships, critical load estimates and model predictions will obviously be improved.

Sammendrag

Previous studies point at biogeographic (i.e. evolutionary and demographic) and ecological (i.e. habitat differentiation and disturbance) processes as the most important causes of spatial variation in species richness and species composition. We examined patterns of variation in similarity of vascular plant and bryophyte species composition among 150 1-m2 plots distributed semi-randomly over 11 Norwegian boreal swamp-forest localities that were species-rich islands in an otherwise species-poor forest landscape. For each plot, 53 environmental variables were recorded. By using CCA analyses, we found that c. 20% of the explainable variation in species composition was due to swamp-forest affiliation, in addition to the c. 35% that was due to environmental differences between swamp-forest localities. The unique component of the species composition of each swamp forest was also emphasised by analyses of floristic dissimilarity: plots were significantly more floristically dissimilar if situated in different than if situated in the same swamp forest, even after environmental differences had been corrected for. The lack of any significant relationship between floristic dissimilarity and geographical distance or swamp-forest area indicated that this pattern was not mainly due to demographic processes. We argue that the floristic distinctness of swamp forests, in particular those richer in species and soil nutrients, is due to a combination of factors among which randomness in establishment in infrequently occurring gaps ( ‘windows of opportunity’) are likely to be important. The unique combination of important determinants of the species composition found for boreal swamp forests supports the view that there exists a diversity of explanations for diversity and that these, to a large extent, are system- and/or area-specific.

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I rapporten presenteres resultatene av den første felles bearbeiding av reanalyserte overvåkingsflater i gran og bjørkeskog i Norge som er undersøkt ved standardisert, sammenlignbar metodikk, her kalt ”Det norske konseptet for vegetasjonsøkologisk intensivovervåking”. Vi viser at 1000 flater fra i alt 17 overvåkingsområder (11 i granskog og 6 i bjørkeskog) naturlig utgjør et ”Nasjonalt nettverk av flater for intensivovervåking i skog”. Data fra 14 områder reanalysert fem år etter etablering viser to endringsmønstre for biologisk mangfold som kan relateres til stor-skala påvirkningsfaktorer: Karplantearter i granskog, særlig på noe næringsrik grunn, har avtatt i mengde og antall i de sørligste delene av landet, noe som kan relateres til langvarig jordforsuring og tilførsler av langtransporterte luftforurensninger. De fleste mosearter har gjennom 1990-tallet økt i mengde over det meste av Norge, noe som kan relateres til klimaforhold som har vært særlig gunstige for mosevekst (lange vekstsesonger, milde lange høster). Vi anbefaler at de 17 overvåkingsområdene i skog som inngår i dette nasjonale nettverket bør utgjøre grunnstammen i intensivovervåkingen i det planlagte nasjonale overvåkingsprogrammet for biologisk mangfold. Nettverksflatene gir et meget godt grunnlag også for overvåking av andre indikatorer for biologisk mangfold, overvåkingsrelaterte FoU-aktiviteter, og for utvikling av nasjonale nøkkeltall for biologisk mangfold. Samlet analyse av dataene fra flatene i gran- og bjørkeskog gir synergieffekter.

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Undervegetasjonens artssammensetning er undersøkt i 150 prøveflater á 1 m2 i 11 gransumpskogslokaliteter i Østmarka naturreservat, Akershus. 53 miljøvariabler er registrert i tilknytning til hver prøveflate. Det ble funnet to hovedgradienter i artssammensetning i sumpskogene. Begge kunne relateres til økologiske hovedkompleksgradienter; jordas (og grunnvannets) nærings- og surhetsstatus, og dybden til det mediane grunnvannsspeilet. En rekke arter har klare fordelingsmønstre langs disse gradientene og kan derfor nyttes som indikatorer på ulike voksestedsforhold. Variasjonen langs de to hovedkompleksgradientene blir lagt til grunn for beskrivelse av seks voksestedstyper i gransumpskog.. Det blir vist at grensa mellom sumpskog og granskog på fastmark er relativt skarp, og at artsmangfoldet i sumpskoger er høyt, både på grunn av høyt nisjemangfold og på grunn av høyt antall mindre vanlige arter. Fordi artsinventaret i sumpskogene bare i begrenset grad kan forutsies på grunnlag av økologiske forhold anbefales at man, dersom man ønsker å ta vare på det biologiske mangfoldet i skog, sikrer alle intakte sumpskoger på næringsrik grunn og et representativt utvalg av øvrige sumpskoger mot grøfting og andre irreversible inngrep.

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Undervegetasjon og økologiske forhold i felter med forskjellig hogsthistorie - naturskog uten hogstspor, tidligere plukkhogd skog og tidligere flatehogd skog - er undersøkt på sørvendte og nordvendte eksposisjoner i granskog i Oppkuvenområdet på Ringerike i Buskerud. Hovedformålet var å finne eventuelle forskjeller i vegetasjonssammensetning og artsmangfold relatert til forskjellige typer hogstpåvirkning. Det ble funnet få direkte effekter av hogst (og dermed få forskjeller som kunne relateres til type av hogst) på artsmangfoldet i skogbunnen. Resultatene viste imidlertid at hogst påvirker undervegetasjonen i granskog gjennom et komplekst samspill med økologiske faktorer, som topografi (helning, eksposisjon og ujevnheter), klima og endringer i tresjiktsstruktur (indirekte effekter). Ønsker man å ta vare på biologisk mangfold, bør det tas økologiske hensyn ved skogbruksplanleggingen, fortrinnsvis ved at den naturlige tresjiktsstrukturen etterlignes. Resultatene tilsier at indikatorarter bør brukes med forsiktighet og bare når deres økologiske krav er godt dokumentert.

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Resultater for endringer i permanente prøveflater i granskogsvegetasjon i løpet av en fem-årsperiode blir presentert for 5 av NIJOS´ 10 intensive overvåkingsområder (”Vegetasjons-økologisk overvåking av boreal barskog i Norge”, etablert i årene 1988-1992). Mange kar-plantearter er signifikant redusert i mengde i de 3 sørligste områdene, og karplanteartsantallet i analyseflatene er signifikant redusert i de 2 sørligste områdene. Mange mosearter øker signifikant, både i mengde (i alle områdene), og i antall pr. flate (i 2 av områdene). Endringene i artssammensetning og økologiske faktorer viser ikke noe tydelig regionalt mønster, men det totale innholdet av nitrogen i humussjiktet økte signifikant i alle de 5 områdene. Det regionale mønsteret for karplante-endringene stemmer overrens med det regionale mønsteret for deposisjon av langtransporterte luftforurensinger, mens klimavariasjon trolig er årsak til mosenes økning i mengde og antall.

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Change in crown density for Norway spruce (Picea abies) from 1988 to 1993 in three independent forest monitoring projects in southern Norway were compared. An increase in crown density was found in a countywide systematic random sample, whie measurements taken in old-growth forests reported a decline. These contradictory results may be due to: (1) high sensitivity of high-elevation forests to various kinds of environmental impact; (2) differences in stand age and management practice; and (3) different sensitivity to long distance airborne pollutants. The systematic random sample encompassed stans of several age classes from two counties, while the two other studies were restricted to old-growth forest in two smaller are as. A possibe explanation of the differences is thus that the three studies refer to differet popuations as a resut of different sampling strategies.