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.
2018
Abstract
In spite of its important role as predator of small game species, estimating the density of red fox Vulpes vulpes has been hampered by the species’ highly variable ranging pattern and elusive behavior. DNA analysis from scats combined with spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) modeling might remedy this. In a 50-km2 coniferous forest in southeast Norway, we collected scats on logging roads in late winter. DNA was extracted, amplified, and genotyped using 11 microsatellite markers. Of 184 samples collected, 126 were genotyped successfully, of which 46 (36.5%) produced individual genetic profiles. Twenty-five of these were different individuals: 13 females and 12 males. Nine of them were identified in multiple scats; mean recapture rate among all was 1.8/animal. Applying a conventional capture–recapture model (CAPWIRE) to the genotyped samples, 36 (95% CI 26–52) different individuals were estimated to have been present in the area during the sampling period. For estimating population density, we constructed three differently sized occupancy areas based on distances between recaptures, viz. ½ and 1/1 mean maximum distance moved (MMDM) and the local convex hull home range method (LoCoH). Areas varied from 60 km2 (½MMDM) to 112 km2 (MMDM), producing density estimates of 0.60 and 0.32 foxes/km2, respectively; the 95% LoCoH range method produced an estimate of 0.44 animals/km2 . Based on SECR modeling, the density was estimated at 0.38 (95% CI 0.21–0.70) animals/km2 . Smaller confidence intervals are expected with more appropriate sampling design than used in this pilot study.
Authors
Kalev Jogiste Lee E. Frelich Diana Laarmann Floortje Vodde Endijs Baders Janis Donis Aris Jansons Ahto Kangur Henn Korjus Kajar Köster Jürgen Kusmin Timo Kuuluvainen Vitas Marozas Marek Metslaid Sandra Metslaid Olga Polyachenko Anneli Poska Sille Rebane John A. StanturfAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Habtamu AlemAbstract
This doctoral thesis incorporates an integrated framework for the measurement and analysis of the performance of Norwegian farms, focusing on crop-producing and dairy farms. Farm-level datasets were used in the analysis. The thesis comprises an introductory chapter and five independent research articles. The aim of the first article is to explore the effects of model specifications and estimate short-run and long-run inefficiency. We used the transcendental logarithmic (translog) cost function and the analysis is based on unbalanced farm-level panel data for the period 1991–2013 from 455 Norwegian farms that specialise in crop production in the Eastern and Central regions of Norway. It was found that cost efficiency scores are sensitive to how the inefficiency is modelled and interpreted. Empirical analysis demonstrates that the magnitude of long-run inefficiency (5%) is lower than the level of short-run inefficiency (6%). It would be possible to reduce crop production costs by, on average, up to 5% if shortfalls in managerial capabilities were reduced. Such shortfalls in farmers’ management abilities derive from such factors as lack of farming experience and lack of farm ownership. On the other hand, it would be possible to reduce crop production costs by up to 6% if transient inefficiencies could be eliminated. On average, actual costs could be reduced by 11% without reducing output if both forms of inefficiency were eliminated from Norwegian crop production. Policy interventions to this end might include providing training in farm-management practices, and policy changes to ease rigidity in farm ownership. The objective of the second article is to measure the economic performance of two crop-producing Norwegian farms while accounting for both unobserved heterogeneity and environmental variables. The analysis employs a translog cost function and is based on unbalanced farm-level panel data comprising 3,855 observations (1,004 observations from the central region and 2,884 from the eastern region). We found that the mean minimum costs for the period 1991–2013 were approximately 93% and 92% of the actual production costs for crop farms in the central and eastern regions, respectively. The marginal effects of crop rotation, land tenure, off-farm activity, direct government support, and experience positively correlated with the economic performance of crop farms. In both regions, the marginal contribution of these variables to economic performance increased for the period 2000–2013 compared to 1991–1999. The aim of Article 3 is to measure the contribution of productivity and price change to changes in the profitability of crop-producing family farms in Norway. The results indicate that the average annual productivity growth rate for grain and forage production decreased by 0.11% per annum over the period 1991–2013. Profits decreased by 0.14% per annum primarily due to the effect of the trend of increasing input prices and a decline in total factor productivity. Interventions to improve the productivity of farms would also improve farm profitability.
Authors
Kar H. Lim Wuyang Hu Rodolfo M. Jr. NaygaAbstract
The Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) sustainable seafood ecolabel covers about 10% of total seafood catch globally. Despite its prevalence, consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for MSC-certified imported seafood is not well understood. Using a choice experiment conducted with an American-consumers sample, this study measures the differences in WTP for American, Ecuadorian, and Vietnamese canned tuna. The results noted two things. First, the ecolabel induces country-specific effects, where the marginal WTP for the MSC label is higher for the imported products than for the domestic product; second, consumers prefer domestic products ceteris paribus, nevertheless, the premium of the ecolabel—when attached to the imported products—may partially eclipse preference for domestic products without the ecolabel. The results imply that the MSC ecolabel may generate a more favorable effect when applied to products from developing countries.
Authors
M. Bauer R. Harzer K. Strobl Johannes KollmannAbstract
River restoration is widely applied, although its effects are poorly understood, and degraded habitats might be difficult to improve. Moreover, there is a lack of monitoring as well as few systematic comparisons of restoration methods. This study presents results of a 4‐year monitoring on River Inn (southern Germany) investigating restoration by gravel or sand addition or embankment removal. The results were compared with reference sites that represent the pre‐restoration conditions. At the landscape scale, we analysed vegetation types based on aerial photographs, whereas at a smaller scale, we undertook vegetation surveys and evaluated species composition, growth, and life form, as well as the proportion of the target vegetation. After 4 years, the data indicated a “negative resilience” of the vegetation back to the state prior to restoration. The structural analysis revealed an extensive spread of reed at expense of bare soil. Thus, the species composition largely regressed to the pre‐restoration conditions, and neither annuals nor other pioneer species showed a long‐term benefit of river restoration. There were differences among the three restoration treatments after 2 years, but no longer after 4 years. However, the river restoration had three positive outcomes: (a) There was a temporary benefit for pioneer vegetation that most likely replenished the seed bank of the respective species, (b) the valuable reed communities showed resilience, and (c) the measures allowed some practical learning as expected for adaptive restoration.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Marte Persdatter TangvikAbstract
Free-living plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN), including migratory endoparasites such as Pratylenchus spp., cause yield reduction in agriculture and horticulture world-wide. In Norway, nematicides are banned due to their adverse effect on human health and the environment. Thus, management of plant-parasitic nematodes rely on cultural practices, such as crop rotation. Free-living PPN tend to have broad host-ranges, which complicates the design of effective crop rotations. Information on the reproductive rate and damage potential of nematode species on different crops is of crucial importance when designing a successful crop rotation. Results from several experiments indicate that in order to reduce the numbers of free-living PPN, the sequence of crops is more important than the length of the rotation. The crop rotation should aim at protecting the most economically valuable crop. An oat (Avena sativa) field in Norway was heavily infested with Tylenchorhynchus dubius (1200 ind/250 ml soil) and a low population of Pratylenchus crenatus (10 ind/250 ml soil). The primary goal was to reduce T. dubius by growing turnip rape (Brassica rapa ssp. oleifera), with carrot as the following crop. T. dubius was reduced with 77-85% after turnip rape. In contrast, the population of P. crenatus increased by more than tenfold. The increased numbers of P. crenatus could be damaging to the carrot crop. This illustrates that crop rotation should be a long-term strategy, with carefully designed rotations to protect the most economically valuable crop (e.g. carrot). This also illustrates the challenges of designing a crop rotation that effectively reduces multiple nematode populations. In a started project, we will use photography with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and transects to monitor nematode populations and damage in several fields throughout the growing season, and over several seasons. These fields will serve as naturally occurring experiments. We want to develop decision-making tools for nematode management in Norway.
Authors
Jing-Wei Li Min-Rui Wang Hai-Yan Chen Lei Zhao Zhen-Hua Cui Zhibo Hamborg Dag-Ragnar Blystad Qiao-Chun WangAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
The forest understory is often associated with rapid rates of carbon and nutrient cycling, but cost-efficient quantification of its biomass remains challenging. We tested a new field technique for understory biomass assessment using an off-the-shelf handheld laser rangefinder. We conducted laser sampling in a pine forest with an understory dominated by invasive woody shrubs, especially Rhamnus frangula L. Laser sampling was conducted using a rangefinder, mounted on a monopod to provide a consistent reference height, and pointed vertically downward. Subsequently, the understory biomass was measured with destructive sampling. A series of metrics derived from the airborne LiDAR literature were evaluated alone and in combination for prediction of understory biomass using best-subsets regression. Resulting fits were good (r2 = 0.85 and 0.84 for the best single metric and best additive metric, respectively, and R2 = 0.93 for the best multivariate model). The results indicate that laser sampling could substantially reduce the need for costly destructive sampling within a double-sampling context.
Authors
Maryia Khomich Filipa Cox Carrie Joy Andrew Tom Andersen Håvard Kauserud Marie Louise DaveyAbstract
No abstract has been registered