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.
2008
Abstract
Extensive timber imports represent potential introduction pathways for exotic bark beetles (Col: Scolytidae) that may pose ecological hazards and economical risks to native forests. One such species, Ips amitinus Eichh., has been intercepted several times at Norwegian ports of entry in the years since 2002, the year of the first Scandinavian record. Detection of overwintering individuals of I. amitinus at the timber storage site of import timber and preliminary results of a stepwise import model may suggest a high risk of establishment and spread in Norway spruce forests in Scandinavia.Using various modeling approaches, our goal is to reduce the risk of introduction, establishment, and spread of introduced bark beetles. Our objectives are to:model the processes of dispersal and establishment of arriving bark beetlesexplore to what extent an introduced species interacting with native Ips typographus L., the most dominant species in Norway spruce, will lead to stronger and more frequent outbreaks of I. typographusassess potential patterns of spread of newly established bark beetle species and the spatiotemporal outbreak dynamics resulting from interactions between native and introduced species; andadvise on the implications for forest industry and management.Here we present current efforts to model dispersal (objective 1). Dispersal patterns, and hence rates of establishment and spread, may vary considerably depending on dispersal behaviors of insects, such as directionality of movement and aggregation propensity. To assess underlying assumptions of dispersal models, we are using an individual-based model where traits governing dispersal are inherited with random mutations. Individual reproductive success is determined by resource availability and density-dependence in a simulated landscape governed by external forces (e.g., windfellings) and beetle activity (consumption of resources). Evolvable traits include straight line vs. random-walk flight paths and aggregation propensity.Model simulations show that the chance of successful reproduction is greatest for intermediate to high levels of directionality, and that directionality increases over time up to a certain point determined by the landscape features as well as other traits of the species. Assuming limited (local) information in a stochastic landscape, intermediate to high degree of flight directionality is selected for.
Abstract
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.
Abstract
An easier penetrability and a more even uptake of wood protection agents is aimed for the two most common wood species in Europe, namely Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine heartwood (Pinus sylvestris), particularly when there is a great difference in absorption behavior of sapwood and heartwood. Microwave conditioning can improve permeability, reduce density and heat conductivity and change dimensional stability of wood. It could also improve the permeability of refractory wood species. This study deals with the evaluation of different parameters of a microwave treatment and their influence on the penetrability of water during dipping and impregnation of Scots pine heartwood and Norway spruce. Microwave irradiation lead to an increased water uptake after a submersion test, and after vacuum and pressure impregnation of the tested samples. This effect was more pronounced for Scots pine heartwood samples than for spruce wood samples. A short process with high microwave energy is recommended in order to reduce the development of large cracks but to increase the sorption behavior due to small checks in wood.
Abstract
Norway spruce (Picea abies) is widely used not only in Norway but in many other European countries. Due to its refractory behavior after drying it is difficult to impregnate with wood protecting agents that makes it suitable for outside applications. In this research spruce wood samples are exposed to microwave radiation in order to improve the impregnability. The strength properties are evaluated after both microwave and impregnation treatment. The results show, that microwave treatment on spruce wood samples improves the uptake of impregnation agents. With increasing energy absorption due to microwave radiation the impregnability is improved. No differences could be found between the microwave treatments in radial or tangential direction, neither in uptake of wood preservative nor in strength properties. The uptake of impregnation agents in spruce wood is increased by using a pre-treatment with microwave radiation. However, some microwave treatments lead to cracks and a reduction in tangential strength. Most of the values of the process parameters used were obviously too high, which resulted in a distinct crack development.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Åsmund AsdalAbstract
The Second Norwegian National Report on PGR describes the current state of plant genetic resources (PGR) in Norway. Changes and developments since the first national PGR report in 1996 was issued are commented in particular. The most important innovation over the last ten years has been the establishment of both a national programme for conservation and use of plant genetic resources in 2001 and the Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre in 2006. This has significantly increased the resources allocated to conservation and use of plant genetic resources in Norway, the scope of PGR activities has been broadened and the public awareness and stakeholders involvement has increased considerably. The responsibility for ex-situ conservation of Norwegian germplasm is shared between The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen, formerly the Nordic Gene Bank) and The Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre. The seed collections of varieties and landraces of edible agricultural and horticultural crops at NordGen have been extended and better documented and characterised since 1996. […]
Authors
Guro Brodal Oleif Nilsen Elen Ingerd Skow Hofgaard Heidi Udnes Aamot Erik Lysøe Sonja KlemsdalAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Guro Brodal Oleif Nilsen Elen Ingerd Skow Hofgaard Heidi Udnes Aamot Erik Lysøe Sonja KlemsdalAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Lone Ross Gobakken Mats WestinAbstract
Modified wood has potential for above ground use, but surface treatment might be a request in such applications. Three coating systems were applied on furfurylated Scots pine, acetylated Scots pine, heat treated Scots pine, oil heat treated Scots pine, heat treated Norway spruce, and eight reference wood substrates and exposed outdoors to evaluate their ability to resist surface mould. Samples of the surface were taken for fungal identification to examine any relationship between treatment and fungal species. Both water-borne and solvent-borne coatings with various fungicides were included and the test was carried out according to EN 927-3. The degree of mould growth mainly varied with time and type of paint. Of the modified wood substrates furfurylated Scots pine had the lowest degree of mould growth and acetylated pine had the highest after 3.5 years. A brown semi-transparent acrylic paint had the lowest degree of mould growth after year 1, year 2.5 and year 3.5. Larch heartwood, copper-organic preserved pine and pine heartwood performed best as wood substrates. No differential patterns in susceptibility to various fungal species were detected on the surface of the coated wood substrates Aureobasidium pullulans was the dominating species on all the wood substrates.