Snorre Hagen

Head of Department/Head of Research

(+47) 932 40 197
snorre.hagen@nibio.no

Place
Svanhovd

Visiting address
Svanhovd, NO-9925 Svanvik

Abstract

Several aphid species pose serious treats to potato crops by causing direct damage to the plants and/or indirectly by transmitting viruses. Different morphological forms and phenotypic plasticity among aphids complicates taxonomy and identification and thus makes targeted pest management in potatoes challenging. To obtain an overview of aphids frequenting potato fields in Norway, we investigated seasonal and annual changes in aphid populations in five potato fields (58–64 °N) over a three-year period (2016–2018), using yellow pan traps. In total 2218 of the 6136 collected aphids were identified by traditional barcoding, meaning sequencing a ~ 650 fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. This revealed 137 different species, of which 111 were identified at the species level. The remaining were identified only to the genus level, indicating potential novel species. The southernmost sampling location yielded the highest number of species and individual counts, although no clear correlations to climate factors (temperature/precipitation) was observed. Of the 111 species identified, at least 39 are potential vectors of potato virus Y (PVY) and nine species may also transmit potato virus A (PVA). Knowledge on virus vector and non-vector aphid abundance and phenology have the potential to improve pest management of potato cultivation.

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) ascending a hillside in Svalbard, Norway

Division of Environment and Natural Resources

Paw Prints to DNA – Non-invasive polar bear monitoring in using eDNA derived from snow tracks in Svalbard


Effective conservation and management of polar bears depend on robust knowledge of their ecology, behaviour, population size and structure, connectivity, and adaptive capacity. Although genetic tools are critical for addressing these questions, traditional sampling approaches, often involving capture and handling, are logistically challenging, costly, potentially hazardous to personnel, and can cause stress to animals

Active Updated: 29.04.2026
End: dec 2026
Start: dec 2023
20210907_150818

Division of Environment and Natural Resources

Interreg-Aurora project: Our Precious Transboundary Waters


The brown trout is a socioeconomically important freshwater fish in both Norway and Finland, where habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, translocations, and stocking have led to nationwide decline especially in populations of large growing, adfluvial brown trout and their genetic integrity. Careful conservation and coordinated, sustainable management of the remaining large growing brown trout populations is crucial. For this purpose, our project focuses on the transboundary Lake Inari-Pasvik River catchment as a bilateral model (reference) system, utilizing and requiring cross-border cooperation between Norway and Finland. We combine information on the genetic status of trout populations in the catchment, introduce new research methods and compare existing stocking programs for providing tools and guidelines to support the knowledge-based conservation and management of adfluvial brown trout populations in Norway and Finland.

Active Updated: 17.11.2025
End: jul 2026
Start: aug 2023