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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.

2024

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Abstract

This paper reports on a study investigating the viability and senescence of plum ovules when exposed to different constant temperatures over two years. The research was conducted on the primary and secondary ovules of four plum cultivars: ‘Mallard’, ‘Edda’, ‘Jubileum’, and ‘Reeves’. The results show that the first indication of ovule viability loss was callose accumulation, which was detected using the fluorescent dye aniline blue. All cultivars had viable ovules, in different percentages, at 8 °C on the twelfth day after anthesis. However, at higher temperatures, distinct patterns emerged, indicating the adaptability of each cultivar at certain temperatures. The first indication of callose accumulation became visible at the chalazal pole. After anthesis, the ovule’s ability to remain viable gradually reduced, followed by callose deposition throughout the ovary. The cultivars ‘Edda’ and ‘Reeves’, from 6 days after anthesis onward, in both years, showed the highest percentage of nonviable ovules. In contrast, the ‘Jubileum’ cultivar demonstrated the highest percentage of viable ovules. The loss of viability of secondary ovules followed a similar pattern to that of the primary ovules in all cultivars. This research provides valuable insights into embryological processes, which can help in the following breeding programs, and to cultivate plum cultivars in Western Norway’s climate conditions.

Abstract

The boreal, alpine, and arctic heaths and forests are dominated by dwarf-shrubs along with their symbionts, ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. Dwarf-shrubs are sensitive to climate change and are already affected in large-scale diebacks. It remains to explore how their mycorrhizal symbionts mitigate damages, since little is known about these plant-fungal interactions. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are known to aid the host plant with nutrient uptake, but little research exists on their dealings with drought, suggesting a major knowledge gap. A better overview of belowground ericoid fungi at different drought levels might help predict future climate-change induced damage. In our study we aim to find out if and how drought affects ericoid mycorrhizal fungal communities, and pinpoint key species related to drought mitigation.

Abstract

The boreal, alpine, and arctic heaths and forests are dominated by dwarf-shrubs along with their symbionts, ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. Dwarf-shrubs are sensitive to climate change and are already affected in large-scale diebacks. It remains to explore how their mycorrhizal symbionts mitigate damages, since little is known about these plant-fungal interactions. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are known to aid the host plant with nutrient uptake, but little research exists on their dealings with drought, suggesting a major knowledge gap. A better overview of belowground ericoid fungi at different drought levels might help predict future climate-change induced damage. In our study we aim to find out if and how drought affects ericoid mycorrhizal fungal communities, and pinpoint key species related to drought mitigation.

To document

Abstract

Energy and imported trout egg subsidies hold a pivotal role for Iranian trout farms. They aim to decrease production costs, yet their impact on the profit efficiency of farms remains dubious. The first objective of this paper is to assess how the current subsidy scheme affects the profit efficiency of hatchery and propagation trout farms in Mazandaran, Iran. We examine several subsidy reform scenarios to enhance profit efficiency as a second objective. Standard profit efficiency (SPE) is used to acquire the efficiency of the trout farms using data envelopment analysis. Results show that the majority of farms are inefficient and highly dependent on subsidies. Comparing farms with high efficiency against those with low efficiency as a third aim of research highlights the importance of farms holding a propagation license, engaging in vertical integration, achieving adult trout production surpassing 81 t, and maintaining a fish total feed consumption to trout production ratio below 0.74. Findings from reformation scenarios reveal 1) redirecting the current subsidy towards purchasing the extruder machines for fish feed production, 2) transferring funds to subsidize electricity based on the farm's electricity consumption, and 3) opting for the production of genetically modified eggs gives higher SPE. Reformation can also reduce the burden on public funds and dependency on importation.

Abstract

Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories (FMIs) for sustainable and efficient decision-making. Employing the area-based (ABA) approach, these inventories estimate forest characteristics for grid cell areas (pixels), which are then usually summarized at the stand level. Using the ALS-based high-resolution Norwegian Forest Resource Maps (16 ​m ​× ​16 ​m pixel resolution) alongside with stand-level growth and yield models, this study explores the impact of three levels of pixel aggregation (stand-level, stand-level with species strata, and pixel-level) on projected stand development. The results indicate significant differences in the projected outputs based on the aggregation level. Notably, the most substantial difference in estimated volume occurred between stand-level and pixel-level aggregation, ranging from −301 to +253 ​m3⋅ha−1 for single stands. The differences were, on average, higher for broadleaves than for spruce and pine dominated stands, and for mixed stands and stands with higher variability than for pure and homogenous stands. In conclusion, this research underscores the critical role of input data resolution in forest planning and management, emphasizing the need for improved data collection practices to ensure sustainable forest management.

Abstract

The chapter addresses the impacts of ethics in business’ competitiveness as they are naturally emerging in an embedded firm—i.e., a business organization that is “lifted out” from its market environment and instead explicitly takes into consideration social and environmental factors—e.g., socio-historical capital, environment, local resources, etc. In doing so we adopt the realist approach of the “soft” Polanyian interpretation of embeddedness where business organizations retain their corporate nature and continue to operate in the market economy; embeddedness is then built around the market economy and is expressed on the way the business organization is active in its relevant markets. Capital accumulation and other conventional corporate goals continue to drive the firm’s behavior which is now further impacted by local socio-ecological systems and a greater sense of responsibility and purpose.