NINA Brage (Norsk institutt for naturforskning)
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Movement in 3D: Novel Opportunities for Understanding Animal Behaviour and Space Use
Full text linkAnimals move in three spatial dimensions, but many animal movement tools have only focused on the use of 2D coordinates for modelling space use, habitat selection, behavioural classification, social interactions and movement. Here, we submit that many common movement ecology analyses can and should be extended to consider all three spatial dimensions to make more robust inferences about ecological processes. We provide an overview of how home range analysis, network analysis and social network analysis, hidden Markov models, resource selection and step selection functions and hierarchical linear and additive models are used for studying animal movement in two dimensions. Then, we explain how the third dimension, z, can be used within these existing frameworks to consider how depth and altitude affect key ecological inferences drawn from animal tracking data. Our position builds on empirical and theoretical work about how three-dimensional methods can contribute to stronger inferences in movement ecology. Key limitations to operationalisation of this framework include calibration of uncertainty in pressure sensors used to measure depth and altitude, visualisation and rendering of three-dimensional data to make them interpretable and understandable to end-users and generally more conventional and accepted methods for using three dimensions when conducting standard animal movement analyses.publishedVersio
Europe-wide spatial trends in copper and imidacloprid sensitivity of macroinvertebrate assemblages
Full text linkExposure to synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, afects freshwater communities at broad spatial scales. This risk is commonly managed in a prospective environmental risk assessment (ERA). Relying on generic methods, a few standard test organisms, and safety factors to account for uncertainty, ERA determines concentrations that are assumed to pose low risks to ecosystems. Currently, this procedure neglects potential variation in assemblage sensitivity among ecosystem types and recommends a single low-risk concentration for each compound. Whether systematic diferences in assemblage sensitivity among ecosystem types exist or their size, are currently unknown. Elucidating spatial patterns in sensitivity to chemicals could therefore enhance ERA precision and narrow a fundamental knowledge gap in ecology, the Hutchinsonian shortfall. We analyzed whether taxonomic turnover between feld-sampled macroinvertebrate assemblages of diferent broad river types across Europe results in systematic diferences in assemblage sensitivity to copper and imidacloprid. We used an extensive database of macroinvertebrate assemblage compositions throughout Europe and employed a hierarchical species sensitivity distribution model to predict the concentration that would be harmful to 5% of taxa (HC5) in each assemblage. Predicted HC5 values varied over several orders of magnitude. However, variation within the 95% highest density intervals remained within one order of magnitude. Diferences between the river types were minor for imidacloprid and only slightly higher for copper. The largest diference between river-type-specifc median HC5 values was a factor of 3.1. This level of variation is below the assessment factors recommended by the European Food Safety Authority and therefore would be captured in the current ERA for plant protection products. We conclude that the diferences in taxonomic composition between broad river types translate into relatively small diferences in macroinvertebrate assemblage sensitivity toward the evaluated chemicals at the European scale. However, systematic diferences in bioavailability and multi-stressor context were not evaluated and might exacerbate the diferences in the ecological efects of chemicals among broad river types in real-world ecosystems. Ecological risk assessment, Copper, Imidacloprid, Macroinvertebrates, Broad river typespublishedVersio
Parameters of 150 temperate and boreal tree species and provenances for an individual-based forest landscape and disturbance model
No full textUnderstanding the impacts of changing climate and disturbance regimes on forest ecosystems is greatly aided by the use of process-based models. Such models simulate processes based on first principles of ecology, which requires parameterization. Parameterization is an important step in model development and application, defining the characteristics of trees and their responses to the environment, i.e., their traits. For species-specific models, parameterization is usually done at the level of individual species. Parameterization is indispensable for accurately modeling demographic processes, including growth, mortality, and regeneration of trees, along with their intra- and inter-specific interactions. As it is time-demanding to compile the parameters required to simulate forest ecosystems in complex models, simulations are often restricted to the most common tree species, genera, or plant-functional types. Yet, as tree species composition might change in the future, it is important to account for a broad range of species and their individual responses to drivers of change explicitly in simulations. Thus, species-specific parameterization is a critical task for making accurate projections about future forest trajectories, yet species parameters often remain poorly documented in simulation studies. We compiled and harmonized all existing tree species parameters available for the individual-based forest landscape and disturbance model (iLand). Since its first publication in 2012, iLand has been applied in 50 peer-reviewed publications across three continents throughout the Northern Hemisphere (i.e., Europe, North America, and Asia). The model operates at individual-tree level and simulates ecosystem processes at multiple spatial scales, making it a capable process-based model for studying forest change. However, the extensive number of processes and their interactions as well as the wide range of spatio-temporal scales considered in iLand require intensive parameterization, with tree species characterized by 66 unique parameters in the model. The database presented here includes parameters for 150 temperate and boreal tree species and provenances (i.e., regional variations). Excluding missing values, the database includes a total of 9,249 individual parameter entries. In addition, we provide parameters for the individual susceptibility of tree species to wind disturbance (five parameters) for a subset of 104 tree species and provenances (498 parameter entries). To guide further model parameterization efforts, we provide an estimate of uncertainty for each species based on how thoroughly simulations with the respective parameters were evaluated against independent data. Our dataset aids the future parameterization and application of iLand, and sets a new standard in documenting parameters used in process-based forest simulations. This dataset will support model application in previously unstudied areas and can facilitate the investigation of new tree species being introduced to well-studied systems (e.g., simulating assisted migration in the context of rapid climate change). Given that many process-based models rely on similar underlying processes our harmonized parameter set will be of relevance beyond the iLand community. Our work could catalyze further research into improving the parameterization of process-based forest models, increasing the robustness of projections of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies.publishedVersio
Evolution and genetic architecture of sex-limited polymorphism in cuckoos
Full text linkSex-limited polymorphism has evolved in many species including our own. Yet, we lack a detailed understanding of the underlying genetic variation and evolutionary processes at work. The brood parasitic common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a prime example of female-limited color polymorphism, where adult males are monochromatic gray and females exhibit either gray or rufous plumage. This polymorphism has been hypothesized to be governed by negative frequency-dependent selection whereby the rarer female morph is protected against harassment by males or from mobbing by parasitized host species. Here, we show that female plumage dichromatism maps to the female-restricted genome. We further demonstrate that, consistent with balancing selection, ancestry of the rufous phenotype is shared with the likewise female dichromatic sister species, the oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus). This study shows that sex-specific polymorphism in trait variation can be resolved by genetic variation residing on a sex-limited chromosome and be maintained across species boundaries.publishedVersio
Multiple climatic drivers increase pace and consequences of ecosystem change in the Arctic Coastal Ocean
Full text linkThe impacts of climate change on Arctic marine systems are noticeable within the scientific “lifetime” of mostresearchers and the iconic image of a polar bear struggling to stay on top of a melting ice floe captures many ofthe dominant themes of Arctic marine ecosystem change. But has our focus on open-ocean systems and param-eters that are more easily modeled and sensed remotely neglected an element that is responding more dramati-cally and with broader implications for Arctic ecosystems? We argue that a complementary set of changes tothe open ocean is occurring along Arctic coasts, amplified by the interaction with changes on land and in thesea. We observe an increased number of ecosystem drivers with larger implications for the ecological andhuman communities they touch than are quantifiable in the open Arctic Ocean. Substantial knowledge gapsexist that must be filled to support adaptation and sustainability of socioecological systems along Arctic coasts.publishedVersio
Atlantic populations of a declining oceanic seabird have complex migrations and weak migratory connectivity to staging areas
Full text linkAnthropogenic change is impacting ecosystems globally, causing declines in bio diversity. Long-distance migrants are particularly susceptible, as they depend on conditions over large geographical scales and are likely to experience a greater range of pressures. One long-dis tance migrant that has experienced substantial declines across the North-East Atlantic is the Arctic skua Stercorarius parasiticus. However, little is known about their migratory routes or strategies.
We tracked 131 Arctic skuas from Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Svalbard between 2009
and 2019 using geolocators. To investigate migration strategies, we applied a hidden Markov model, using saltwater immersion data to infer stopovers and transit flights. Skuas used several dis crete staging areas during migration, with an area of high marine productivity in the mid-North Atlantic being of high importance. Individuals from the different breeding populations overlapped extensively in staging areas, resulting in weak spatial connectivity between breeding and staging areas during southbound (rM = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.09–0.42; 0 = weak connectivity, 1 = strong con nectivity) and northbound (rM = 0.16, 95% CI = –0.02 to 0.33) migration. Variation in migration
strategies was driven by individuals from Svalbard, which belong to a population that is declining
less than the other populations tracked. The relative location of wintering areas also influenced migration strategies. Individuals migrating further spent a smaller proportion of their migration at stopovers than those wintering closer. Identifying the non-breeding distribution, migration strategies and weak migratory connectivity of Arctic skuas provides a vital step towards linking conditions dduring migration to population dynamics and prioritising future research and conservations actions.acceptedVersio
Holding slow time while scrolling fast: Young minds, handmade materialities, and imagination in the digital era
Full text linkThe digital era in which we live has led to countless online social movements, all driven by emotions. This paper builds on fieldwork that stretched over 2 years, starting March 2020 as Norway went into lockdown due to COVID-19. Emotions as experienced online seem to differ from those that are materially embodied or physically present among the studies' 25 young adults. Through two young women, this paper explores reflections on slow writing, holding a letter in their hands, in juxtaposition to fast scrolling on their phones, receiving and sending messages and pictures. In the meetings between their hands and paper, their hands, and their phone screens, they sense time and experience emotions through touch and imaginaries. Amelia and Embla connect mind, body, and senses, as they share their understanding of touching what others have made by hand, imagining the thought behind the embodied materiality. digital, handmade, imagination, materialities, touchpublishedVersio
Mammals show faster recovery from capture and tagging in human-disturbed landscapes
Full text linkWildlife tagging provides critical insights into animal movement ecology, physiology, and behavior amid global ecosystem changes. However, the stress induced by capture, handling, and tagging can impact post-release locomotion and activity and, consequently, the interpretation of study results. Here, we analyze post-tagging effects on 1585 individuals of 42 terrestrial mammal species using collar-collected GPS and accelerometer data. Species-specific displacements and overall dynamic body acceleration, as a proxy for activity, were assessed over 20 days post-release to quantify disturbance intensity, recovery duration, and speed. Differences were evaluated, considering species-specific traits and the human footprint of the study region. Over 70% of the analyzed species exhibited significant behavioral changes following collaring events. Herbivores traveled farther with variable activity reactions, while omnivores and carnivores were initially less active and mobile. Recovery duration proved brief, with alterations diminishing within 4–7 tracking days for most species. Herbivores, particularly males, showed quicker displacement recovery (4 days) but slower activity recovery (7 days). Individuals in high human footprint areas displayed faster recovery, indicating adaptation to human disturbance. Our findings emphasize the necessity of extending tracking periods beyond 1 week and particular caution in remote study areas or herbivore-focused research, specifically in smaller mammals.publishedVersio
Effects of extrinsic and intrinsic factorson parturition and reproductive outputin wolverines
Full text linkOne of the selective advantages of delayed implantation in carnivores is the flexibility to decouple the time between mating and parturition, allowing both to occur when conditions are most favorable. Terrestrial carnivores with delayed implantation have evolved reduced maternal energy expenditure through shorter gestation length, smaller neonates, and smaller litters, with a possible linkage between maternal body condition and time of birth or litter size. Using data on wolverine (Gulo gulo) females and cubs from management removals covering the entire latitudinal gradient of the Scandinavian population in 2001‐2022, I assessed the effect of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on variation in parturition date and litter size. Timing of parturition varied over 2 months, where 90% of the litters were born between 5 February and 11 March, with a birth peak on 23 February. Females living in winter grazing pastures of semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) gave birth earlier than those outside, and along an elevation gradient parturition date was delayed at higher altitudes. I did not find evidence of an effect of latitude on parturition date. Furthermore, older females had greater odds than younger females of having litters with 3 cubs rather than 1 cub. To minimize the risk of harvesting lactating females, management regulations should implement harvest seasons that extend no longer than the end of January. delayed implantation, Gulo gulo, litter size, reproductive cost, reproductive phenology, sex ratio, timing of birthpublishedVersio
Overvåking av dragehode Dracocephalum ruyschiana
Full text linkRapporten er tilgjengelig fredag 22. november 2024Statsforvalteren i Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo og Akershu