Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
Authors
Kristian Hansen Benedikte Watne Oliver Zahra Bitarafan Inger Sundheim Fløistad Christian Andreasen Lars Olav BrandsæterAbstract
Background: Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier and Levier) is a perennial herbaceous plant that can grow to a height of 2-5 m. A single flowering plant can produce more than 20,000 seeds. It is one of Europe’s most widespread and problematic invasive alien species and a severe threat to native biodiversity. Glyphosate is widely used to control H. mantegazzianum. Decades of intensive herbicide spraying have led to environmental pollution, prompting a need to explore new methods to supplement or replace glyphosate. Objective: Non-chemical methods to control H. mantegazzianum were tested and compared with glyphosate application. Methods: In two infested locations in southeast Norway, we compared the efficacy of glyphosate applications with a combination of mechanical cutting of the flowering stem of H. mantegazzianum and hot water treatment (80 °C). Hot water or glyphosate was supplied by foliar application or injection into the root crown. Results: The best method to reduce cover and the number of H. mantegazzianum rosettes and seedlings was achieved with two foliar applications of glyphosate. Cutting the flowering stem and injecting hot water into the root crown was almost as efficient as glyphosate application. Cutting and foliar applications of hot water had the weakest efficacy. Despite the best control and significant growth of grasses after glyphosate treatment, relatively high percentage of bare soil remained in the plots afterwards, increasing the risk of erosion. Conclusions: Cutting and injection of hot water in the root crown may be a viable alternative to glyphosate application in areas where herbicides are undesirable.
Authors
Todora Rogelja Laura Secco Francoise Lefevre Egbert Beuker Marjana Westergren Bruno Fady Santiago C. González-Martínez Tor Myking Luc E. Pâques Christian Rellstab Giuseppe Giovanni Vendramin Thibaud Chauvin Marcela van Loo Ulla Ovaska Jacopo Giacomoni Anže Japelj Anna-Maria Farsakoglou Heino Konrad Sofia Caiolo Aurore Desgroux D. E. Kjær Jo Van Brusselen Mauro MasieroAbstract
Kartlegging av sentrale aktører i forvaltningen av trærnes genressurser
Authors
David Chludil Curt Almqvist Mats Berlin Arne Steffenrem Steven E. McKeand Jiří Korecký Jan Stejskal Jaroslav Čepl Fikret Isik Debojyoti Chakraborty Silvio Schueler Torsten Pook Christi Sagariya Milan LstibůrekAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
For establishment and growth of newly planted seedlings it is essential to overcome environmental stress at the planting site. Adding the amino acid arginine at planting is a novel treatment aiming at increased establishment success, so far tested in a limited number of applied studies. We examined the effects of adding arginine-phosphate (arGrow®), mechanical site preparation (MSP), and planting time on survival and growth of Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings in two field experiments in boreal southeastern Norway. After three growing seasons, survival for spring planted seedlings of both species was significantly better following MSP, while addition of arginine-phosphate did not have any effect. Autumn planted pine seedlings with MSP and arginine had higher survival and also larger diameter than spring planted ones with MSP but without arginine. Spruce and pine seedlings with MSP were taller and had larger diameter than those without MSP. For spring planted seedlings of both species, dry weight of roots and shoots was positively affected by MSP, but not by arginine. To conclude, arginine-phosphate had neutral to modestly positive effects on survival and growth, while MSP had clear positive effects. The effect of planting time varied with species.
Authors
Zahra Bitarafan Wiktoria Kaczmarek-Derda Therese With Berge Inger Sundheim Fløistad Christian AndreasenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Katri Kärkkäinen Sonja T. Kujala Rosario Garcia-Gil Arne Steffenrem Johan Sonesson Liina Hoikkala Harri Mäkinen Sauli ValkonenAbstract
• Genetic effects of continuous cover forestry (CCF) are not well known. We need more research, especially on the genetics of spruce-dominated CCF sites. Levels of relatedness are of interest, as are estimates of safe limits for the intensity and duration of CCF practices that secure genetic potential for good growth and quality. • With even-aged forestry, genetically improved regeneration material can be used to mitigate climate change-related risks through breeding and deployment recommendations. In CCF, currently based on natural regeneration, we assume that enough seedlings establish, and that sites contain enough genetic variation to enable natural selection and evolutionary processes. • Based on research in other regions, the number of reproducing trees must be kept large to avoid excessive levels of relatedness and inbreeding and to maintain sufficient levels of genetic diversity. • In some well-documented long-term experiments in other regions, intensive high-grading has led to slower growth rates, which could partly be due to genetic degradation of the stand. If contemporary recommendations for selection cutting are followed, negative genetic effects should be unlikely.
Authors
G. Brundu S. Follak J. Pergl D. Chapman E. Branquart S. Buholzer Inger Sundheim Fløistad G. Fried M. Herbst E. Marchante Valkenburg van Valkenburg R. TannerAbstract
Bamboos are popular ornamental plants in the EPPO region though some of themhave been observed to escape the confines of planting and establish in the naturalenvironment. The aim of this study is to produce a risk-based list of bamboospecies which are recorded in the natural environment in the EPPO region, and todetermine if any of the species require a pest risk analysis. Forty-two bamboo specieswere identified as being present in the natural environment in the EPPO region. Ofthese, 11 species fulfil the three pre-selected criteria for species to be consideredpotentially harmful: (1) the species is naturalized in at least one EPPO country; (2)the species has a running dispersal behaviour (leptomorph); and (3) there is evidenceof invasive behaviour in at least one country. These 11 species were prioritized usingthe EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants. Owing to their high spreadpotential and potential high impact, three species, namely Phyllostachys aurea,Pseudosasa japonica and Sasa palmata, proceeded to the second stage of theprioritization process (risk management stage). All three species were identified ashaving a high priority for a pest risk analysis. In 2024, the EPPO Panel on InvasiveAlien Plants agreed with the results of the study but noted that further informationon impacts would be beneficial and therefore the Panel agreed that Ph. aurea andS. palmata should be added to the EPPO Alert List along with the already includedP. japonica. This will raise awareness of these species in the region and furtherinformation can be gathered to support the development of a risk assessment
Authors
David Chludil Jaroslav Čepl Arne Steffenrem Jan Stejskal Christi Sagariya Torsten Pook Silvio Schueler Jiří Korecký Curt Almqvist Debojyoti Chakraborty Mats Berlin Milan LstibůrekAbstract
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to forest ecosystems, necessitating innovative adaptation strategies. Traditional assisted migration approaches, while promising, face challenges related to environmental constraints, forestry practices, phytosanitary risks, economic barriers, and legal constraints. This has sparked debate within the scientific community, with some advocating for the broader implementation of assisted migration despite these limitations, while others emphasize the importance of local adaptation, which may not keep pace with the rapid rate of climate change. This opinion paper proposes a novel pollen-based assisted migration strategy as a potential middle ground in this debate. By leveraging existing seed orchard infrastructure for controlled pollen transfer, this approach aims to enhance forest resilience through the introduction of genetic material from climatically suitable sources while acknowledging local adaptation. We assess the genetic implications of the proposed strategy through computer simulation. Additionally, we examine the ecological implications of assisted gene flow, discussing the potential benefits of heterosis and the risks of outbreeding depression in intra-specific hybrid populations. We further explore the advantages of pollen-based migration in mitigating phytosanitary risks, reducing economic barriers, and simplifying legal considerations compared to traditional seed or seedling transfer methods. Regional perspectives on adapting pollen-based assisted migration are provided, with specific examples from Northern and Central Europe. We highlight how this approach could be integrated into existing forestry practices and regulatory frameworks within the European Union. We conclude by advocating for the inclusion of pollen-based assisted migration in future international projects and operational forestry, emphasizing the need for adaptable policies that can support innovative forest management strategies in the face of climate change.
Authors
Tore SkrøppaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Tore SkrøppaAbstract
No abstract has been registered