Siste publikasjonar – Naturhistorisk museum

• Aarvik, Leif & Slagsvold, Per Kristian (2026). Taxonomic notes on African Tortricidae 3. Six new species of Gypsonoma Meyrick, 1895, and a new genus for G. ngangaona Razowski, 2012 (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Norwegian Journal of Entomology. ISSN 1501-8415. s. 18–31. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The following new species of Gypsonoma Meyrick, 1895 from tropical Africa are described: G. basinigra sp. n., G. flavimaculana sp. n., G. zambensis sp. n., G. katanga sp. n., G. discretana sp. n. and G. trispina sp. n. The female genitalia of G. opsonoma (Meyrick, 1918) are figured for the first time. A new genus, Ainambili gen. n., is established to accommodate G. ngangaona Razowski, 2012, resulting in the combination Ainambili ngangaona (Razowski, 2012) comb. n. Ainambili albifascia sp. n. is described.

• Slagsvold, Per Kristian; Berggren, Kai; Voith, Reidar J.D.I.; Johannessen, Olve D.M. & Aarvik, Leif (2026). Rhodophaea madaricola sp. nov. from the mountains of the Greek island Crete, with comments on Rhodophaea Guenée, 1845 and related genera (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae). Nota lepidopterologica. ISSN 0342-7536. 49, s. 193–193. doi: 10.3897/nl.49.206374. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Rhodophaea madaricola Slagsvold, Berggren & Voith, sp. nov . from Greece, Crete, is described based on morphology of the male and female genitalia, external characters and DNA barcodes. It is compared with and distinguished from the closely related and widespread species R. formosa (Haworth, 1811). The relationship of Rhodophaea to Sciota Hulst, 1888, Nephopterix Hübner, [1825] and other Phycitini taxa is briefly explored, including a larger analysis of publicly available DNA barcodes. A new combination for the Eastern Palaearctic Nephopterix shantungella Roesler, 1969 is established: Sciota shantungella (Roesler, 1969), comb. nov .

• Aarvik, Leif & Slagsvold, Per Kristian (2026). Taxonomic notes on African Tortricidae II: New species, country records, and tribal placement of <i>Phalarocarpa<i> Meyrick, 1937 (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Metamorphosis. 37(1), s. 10–10. doi: 10.4314/met.v37i1.3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Two new species of Phalarocarpa Meyrick, 1937 are described: P. citrina sp. nov. from The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Malawi, and P. suffusicosta sp. nov. from Tanzania. Phalarocarpa is transferred from the tribe Olethreutini Walsingham, 1895 to Enarmomiini Diakonoff, 1953. Phalarocarpa harmographa Meyrick, 1937 is newly recorded from Ghana and P. kryphaios Razowski & Wojtusiak, 2012 is newly recorded from Uganda.

• Delsett, Lene Liebe; Kimball, Justin J. L.; Simonsen, Vanja; Meijer, Hanneke Johanna Maria & Pyenson, Nicholas D. (2026). Whale swimming evolution recorded in vertebral microanatomy from the Eocene to present. Journal of Anatomy. ISSN 0021-8782. doi: 10.1111/joa.70258. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Among modern aquatic amniote clades that evolved pelagic locomotion, whales are a prime example, but timing and mode of evolutionary changes in their swimming are poorly understood. Here, we use 3D vertebral microanatomy derived from CT scanning to investigate swimming patterns in extinct whales. All vertebral centra from a single specimen of the extant common dolphin Delphinus delphis were used to provide a baseline for the correlation of microanatomical parameters and spinal movements in our dataset of fossil whales. We find that bone anisotropy, and to some extent bone compactness, mirrors the amount of compression and movement in vertebral regions. We use these parameters to infer regional movements and thus swimming mode for several lineages of stem cetaceans ( Natchitochia jonesi , Pachycetus wardi , Zygorhiza kochii ) and crown cetaceans ( Maiabalaena nesbittae, an undescribed Oligocene odontocete and a modern minke whale). Natchitochia jonesi could walk on land, whereas Pachycetus wardi and Zygorhiza kochii were obligately aquatic, but show more spinal flexibility than modern taxa. The early Oligocene mysticete and odontocete differ in microstructural properties and might have experienced a different trajectory towards their extant bauplans. Overall, microanatomical data confirm increasing pelagic specializations in cetacean evolution that include a stiffer torso, but our data also highlight modular patterns of compactness within vertebral regions. Our approach is promising for future use of three‐dimensional vertebral microanatomical data to understand locomotory patterns.

• Cotton, Laura J.; Dreyer, Lotta & Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). First ichthyosaur remains from Denmark within glacial erratics. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark. ISSN 0011-6297. 75, s. 303–303. doi: 10.37570/bgsd-2026-75-16. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Ichthyosaurs were widespread and diverse across Europe from the Triassic to the beginning of the late Cretaceous. However, they are relatively rare within Scandinavia, with specimens only known from Arctic Norway. In Denmark, plesiosaur fossils are known from the Jurassic of the island of Bornholm, but no ichthyosaur remains have ever been published either in situ or ex situ. Here we report, for the first time, an ichthyosaur vertebra found in a loose block on the shore at Lodbjerg Klint in western Jylland, and a second block containing ribs from an indeterminate marine reptile, most likely a plesiosaur. The vertebra can be identified as originating from the anterior portion of the tail in a thunniform ichthyosaur and shows similarity to several Jurassic taxa including Ichthyosaurus communis, Eurhinosaurus longirostris, Temnodontosaurus trigonodon and Ophthalmosaurus, although an exact determination is not possible. The most prolific sites for ichthyosaurs in the neighbouring countries, in the UK and Germany, are ruled out as a source due to long distance, and lack of glacial transport from these directions. We postulate the origin of the specimen is from Jurassic outcrops within the Skagerrak–North Sea region, transported by south and south-westerly flow of Pleistocene glaciers.

• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Ewers, Isabelle; Blumeris, Isabella; Bongo, Sandra Irén; Oliveira, Luiz Filipe Brito de & Gouvea, Bruno [Vis alle 45 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). On-site metabarcoding analysis of environmental DNA samples. Hydrobiologia. ISSN 0018-8158. doi: 10.1007/s10750-026-06433-3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Environmental DNA metabarcoding is a powerful monitoring tool for assessing aquatic biodiversity, as well as the sustainability and impacts of fisheries and aquaculture. However, conventional laboratory workflows remain time-consuming and dependent on dedicated infrastructures. Here, we present a field trial of a fully portable, off-site eDNA metabarcoding pipeline that enables end-to-end analysis within a few days using compact equipment, including a BentoLab workstation and an Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION sequencer. The workflow was implemented during two international training courses in Norway and Brazil, where students and early career researchers collected environmental samples, extracted and amplified DNA, prepared DNA libraries, and sequenced on-site before performing bioinformatics and statistical analyses. In the case study detailed here, seven eDNA samples collected and analysed on-site in the Oslofjord allowed detection of 16 fish and elasmobranch species. Although overall diversity was lower than in earlier studies using Illumina-based sequencing, our protocol reliably detected key species and demonstrates that portable eDNA metabarcoding is feasible for rapid ecological assessment, surveillance of high-risk regions and/or deployment in remote or resource-limited settings.

• Kürschner, Wolfram Michael; An, Pengcheng; Dons, Carl Erik & Nakrem, Hans Arne (2026). A new record of the conifer Quadrocladus from the Lower Permian Gipshuken Formation, Spitsbergen: implications for palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology. Lethaia: An International Journal of Palaeontology and Stratigraphy. ISSN 0024-1164. 60(3), s. 1–12. doi: 10.18261/let.60.3.1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Here we report the first occurrence of the conifer genus Quadrocladus from the Lower Permian Gipshuken Formation on Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Arctic Norway. The plant-bearing interval occurs within stacked anhydrite–dolomite–marl successions of the Vengeberget member that record a shallow-marine to supratidal sabkha system on an extensive carbonate platform in a semi-arid climate, characterized by hypersalinity, low taxonomic diversity, and evidence for palaeosol formation and vegetation growth on exposed shoals and platform interiors. The Quadrocladus shoots display pronounced xeromorphic traits, notably very short and narrow leaves, consistent with adaptation to water stress in semi-arid, periodically desiccated playa–sabkha settings. Comparison with younger occurrences from the Kungurian Tregiovo flora and Late Permian Angaran and Zechstein successions shows that the Spitsbergen record is so far, both the oldest and the northernmost known occurrence of Quadrocladus. It provides a key high-latitude data point for reconstructing Early Permian vegetation dynamics and the subsequent palaeobiogeographical expansion of Quadrocladus across Pangaea.

• Fleming, James Frederick & Struck, Torsten Hugo (2026). The Dayhoff Exchange Score: A New Metric to Quantify Entropic Site Saturation in Amino Acid Data Sets Prior to Phylogenetic Analysis. Systematic Biology. ISSN 1063-5157. 75(6), s. 1224–1237. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syag009. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bertola, Laura D.; Vasconcellos, Mariana M.; Damasceno, Roberta P.; Prates, Ivan; Reginato, Marcelo & Thom, Gregory [Vis alle 24 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Multi-Taxa Genome-Environment Associations With Contemporary and Historical Climate in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Molecular Ecology. ISSN 0962-1083. 35(19). doi: 10.1111/mec.70545. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Struck, Torsten Hugo; Marcussen, Thomas; Böhne, Astrid; Fernández, Rosa; Melo-Ferreira, José & Florent, Isabelle [Vis alle 18 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). An automated decision-making procedure for ranking and selecting species in biodiversity projects. npj biodiversity. 5. doi: 10.1038/s44185-026-00140-x. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In large-scale biodiversity genomics projects, the number of species that could be sequenced exceeds the resources available. Species selection is therefore a crucial component, requiring clear criteria and procedures. In a bottom-up approach, the Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) project implemented an Automated Decision-Making (ADM) process for species selection based on objective criteria and tested it on simulated and empirical data. Here, we present this species ranking ADM process, which includes three stages: exclusion, ranking, and feasibility check. The composition of selected species retained the diversity of the community-nominated species pool for key taxonomic, geographic, and demographic assessment criteria while reducing bias. Feasibility and funding limits influenced the final selection more than other factors, indicating that investments in these areas would improve available reference-genome diversity. The ADM achieved species selection for genome sequencing in a large-scale biodiversity project in a relatively objective manner consistent with the broader European biodiversity genomic community’s priorities.

• Naciri, Marwan; Aars, Jon; Gamelon, Marlene; Andersen, Magnus; Derocher, Andrew E. & Wiig, Øystein [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Denning Phenology Mediates Sea-Ice Loss Impacts on Early Reproductive Success in Polar Bears. Global Change Biology. ISSN 1354-1013. 32(8). doi: 10.1111/gcb.71042. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Climate change is disrupting myriad biological processes, including the ability of species to synchronize life-history events with optimal environmental conditions, with potential fitness impacts. Changes in migratory and breeding phenology and their consequences on fitness have been well studied in birds and some mammals. By contrast, changes in the phenology of overwinter sheltering and their influence on fitness have rarely been investigated. Pregnant female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) spend the winter fasting in a maternity den where they give birth and nurse their cubs until emergence in early spring. To sustain their fast, females rely on energy stores built primarily through consumption of ice-associated seals. Here, we assess the impact of sea-ice loss driven by climate change on early reproductive success acting through disrupted denning phenology and other unspecified factors. To do so, we develop a Bayesian hierarchical model combining capture–recapture and path modeling. We apply it to 38 years of capture–recapture data along with biologging data on denning status and phenology, while accounting for imperfect detection and uncertainty in individual denning schedules. We found that low sea-ice availability led to earlier den emergence, which in turn reduced early litter survival and possibly litter size. By contrast, there was little evidence that sea-ice availability affected early reproductive success through pathways independent of denning phenology (e.g., litter mass). Considering both direct and indirect effects, low sea-ice availability reduced early litter survival but not the size of surviving litters. Given the strong link between sea-ice conditions and body condition in female polar bears, we conclude that sea-ice loss exerts an energetic constraint on denning females, forcing them to depart from dens early, which jeopardizes their cubs, ultimately reducing maternal fitness. Similar impacts of climate change may occur in other species where phenology is determined by body condition.

• Maurstad, Marius Filomeno; Kusy, Dominik; Undheim, Eivind Andreas Baste; Jakobsen, Kjetill Sigurd; Böhne, Astrid & Monteiro, Rita [Vis alle 20 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). ERGA-BGE chromosome-level genome assembly of the giant stream lacewing  Osmylus fulvicephalus (Scopoli, 1763). Open Research Europe (ORE). 6. doi: 10.12688/openreseurope.23457.3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The giant stream lacewing, Osmylus fulvicephalus (Scopoli, 1763), is a widespread European species belonging to the insect order Neuroptera. Its cryptic larvae are predators found at the banks of streams and smaller rivers where they use their piercing, lance-shaped stylets to inject venom into their arthropod prey. Here, we present the reference genome of the giant stream lacewing as a crucial resource for uncovering the genetic basis of venom evolution in Neuroptera. The chromosome-level genome encompasses 674.7 Mb and is composed of 60 contigs and 24 scaffolds where 99.2% of the assembly is distributed among the 6 contiguous chromosomal pseudomolecules and two sex chromosomes (X and Y). Contig and scaffold N50 have a value of 51.5 Mb and 116.2 Mb, respectively. This reference genome is the first genomic resource from the family of lance lacewings, providing valuable data for clarifying the phylogenetic placement of the family Osmylidae within Neuroptera.

• Martino, Emanuela Di; GORDON, DENNIS P.; ROSSO, ANTONIETTA; GAMBINO, SALVATORE & RAMSFJELL, MALI H. (2026). Microporella uncovered: past and present diversity of a successful cheilostome bryozoan in Aotearoa New Zealand, with new species descriptions and distribution maps. Zootaxa. ISSN 1175-5326. 5887(1), s. 1–96. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5887.1.1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The genus Microporella is highly diverse worldwide, with its greatest diversity documented to date in New Zealand, where it appears in the Early Miocene, the earliest known record of the genus, and persists to the present day. Owing to its successful evolutionary history, Microporella has become a model system for addressing macroevolutionary questions, which in turn require a robust understanding of its true taxonomic diversity. This study provides the first comprehensive revision of all available Recent and fossil material of Microporella from New Zealand. We redefine the encrusting species M. agonistes, M. discors, M. intermedia and M. speculum, which appeared widely distributed through time and across New Zealand; a neotype is designated for M. agonistes. In several cases, we identify and describe cryptic taxa that had long been referred to one of these species. We further describe 16 new Recent species, namely M. anomopora sp. nov., M. bairdi sp. nov., M. bifora sp. nov., M. diadematoides sp. nov., M. diaphora sp. nov., M. maerloides sp. nov., M. mucronata sp. nov., M. murdochi sp. nov., M. perissospinosa sp. nov., M. plentyensis sp. nov., M. polaris sp. nov., M. pseudolineata sp. nov., M. puncticulata sp. nov., M. speculoides sp. nov., M. taylori sp. nov., M. tenuidistans sp. nov., some also including Pliocene or Pleistocene records, most of which are associated with poorly investigated deep-water environments. A detailed morphological comparison among all species is presented, and we summarise diagnostic characters, including size-related traits, for all remaining species described in recent studies, which are mostly erect bifoliate forms or encrusting forms known only from the fossil record. We recognize a total of 29 Microporella species, five of which are known exclusively from the fossil record. Distributional maps are compiled to provide a clear regional overview of Microporella diversity. The observed pattern is consistent with New Zealand’s long-recognized status as a centre of marine endemism and diversification, shaped by its prolonged geographic isolation, complex tectonic history, and wide range of environmental settings.

• Yan, Feng,; Daoliang, Chu,; Yunfei, Huang,; Jiankang, Lai,; Liow, Lee Hsiang & Xiaokang, Liu, [Vis alle 9 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). ESSDD - PhaFoS: A Global Database of Phanerozoic Foraminiferal Size. Earth System Science Data. doi: 10.5194/essd-2026-458. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Body size is a key phenotypic trait of living organisms, reflecting ecological function and individual metabolism. Evolutionary changes in body size also provide information on interactions between the organisms and their changing physical and biotic environments. Despite the utilitarian value of body size for understanding evolution and past environments, we lack a standardized, occurrence-based, Phanerozoic body size database for most groups of organisms, limiting large-scale studies of size evolution and size-environment interactions. Foraminifera are an ideal group to fill this data gap, given their abundant fossil record, extensive palaeogeographic distribution, and sensitivity to environmental changes. Here, we present PhaFoS, short for Phanerozoic Foraminifera Size database. PhaFoS compiles 118,885 specimens, of which 103,121 from 963 published papers and the remaining 15,764 from our field colletions, representing 4,167 genera and 34,256 species. Each record is linked to standardized and queryable metadata fields, including test volume (log₁₀ μm³), taxonomy, stratigraphic age, and both modern and paleogeographic coordinates. This database can be used to quantify temporal and spatial patterns of foraminiferal body-size over the Phanerozoic, and to explore the body size relationships with environmental conditions and their changes. The data files described in this paper are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20777319 (Feng et al., 2026).

• Liow, Lee Hsiang; Saulsbury, James G & Taylor, Paul D (2026). Enhanced dominance by cheilostomes relative to cyclostomes in low-latitude bryozoan assemblages through 100 million years. Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society. doi: 10.1093/evolinnean/kzag027. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Clade-clade interactions are thought to be a major force in the changing representation of organisms with similar ecological niches over time and space. It has long been known that the global number of cheilostome bryozoan species have increasingly outnumbered cyclostome bryozoan species, due to higher rates of both origination and extinction in cheilostomes. However, the latitudinal differences in this evolutionary turnover, and their ecological mechanisms, have been underexplored. Here we test the hypothesis that the numerical dominance of cheilostome species is enhanced at low latitudes today, and quantify this dominance in the geological past. Our data comes from 288 extant and 1257 fossil bryozoan assemblages reported in the published literature. We show using generalized linear mixed models that assemblages contain a greater proportion of cheilostome species in lower latitudes through the last 100 million years. We discuss why higher latitudes may have represented a stronghold for cyclostomes, even as cheilostomes have continued to outnumber cyclostomes in species richness over the Cenozoic. We hypothesize that a combination of lower average temperatures and greater seasonality could give cyclostome bryozoans with relatively slower metabolism an edge in higher latitudes, even as cheilostome bryozoan species numbers dominate globally.

• Høitomt, Torbjørn; Weibull, Henrik & Hassel, Kristian (2026). The epixylic liverwort Cephalozia macounii (Austin) Austin new to Norway. Lindbergia. ISSN 0105-0761. 2026(1). doi: 10.25227/linbg.028481. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Klemetsen, Terje; Endresen, Dag; Johnsen, Arild; Boer, Hugo de; Fossøy, Frode & Ekrem, Torbjørn [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Strengthening molecular biodiversity research and monitoring in Norway – connecting tools, data and people. F1000 Research. 15((ELIXIR)). doi: 10.12688/f1000research.179210.1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Norway’s diverse ecosystems and strong research community are well-positioned to leverage molecular approaches (DNA barcoding, eDNA, whole-genome sequencing) for biodiversity research and monitoring. However, progress is constrained by gaps in data accessibility, standardisation, and interoperability across molecular, ecological, and biobank datasets. Methods ELIXIR’s Norwegian Molecular Biodiversity Working Group mapped national actors and networks through a desk review (2024–2025) and conducted a national survey (58 questions; open from 18 February to 8 March 2024) targeting data management, standards, tooling, infrastructures, and training. The survey was implemented in Nettskjema and received 58 responses from biodiversity-related researchers. Results We identified 19 Norwegian institutes active in molecular biodiversity and 28 relevant networks, with 11 networks involving three or more institutes. The survey results highlight gaps between policy and practice: 60% of respondents were familiar with the FAIR principles, but only 29% consistently made data fully open or FAIR-compliant. Data linkage with physical specimens was often reported as missing (38% of respondents), and taxonomic assignment was frequently challenging (39.3%). Most researchers reuse published datasets (90%), but data discovery and reuse are hindered: only 41% find it easy to locate relevant data, 32% struggle to find appropriate sequence databases, 54% cite insufficient metadata, and 72% need to harmonise combined datasets. Tool discoverability and documentation were limited (32% knew bio.tools; 5% WorkflowHub; 32% agreed tools are well documented and user-friendly). Data publication is not straightforward (63.8% find it hard or answered neutral). Conclusions Norway can strengthen molecular biodiversity research by 1) connecting molecular and ecological data, collections, and biobanks using persistent identifiers; 2) adhering to international metadata standards (e.g., DwC, MIxS) and rewarding data stewardship; 3) consolidating national collaborative networks; and 4) building capacity through targeted training and dedicated data steward roles. Implementing these measures will enhance interoperability, FAIR data sharing, and Norway’s leadership in biodiversity research and conservation.

• Øksnebjerg, Daniel Bilyeli; Nielsen, Sascha Dreyer; Chen, Guangji; Andersen, Michael J.; Almagro, Vanessa & Ambrosini, Roberto [Vis alle 93 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). A comprehensive reference genome assembly dataset of birds inhabiting Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. GigaScience. 15, s. 1–9. doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giag078.
• Rodriguez, Eduardo; Birkeland, Siri; Chapple, Ellen Dimmen; Fredriksson, Samuel Nils Andreas; Lorenzo, Zulema Carracedo & Kalman, Teitur Ahlgren [Vis alle 16 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Comparative regulomics of wood formation across dicot and conifer trees. Nature Communications. 17(1). doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-75624-2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Økland, Inghild Halvorsen; Halvorsen, Rune; Nemes, Attila; Dawson, Lorna & Haraldsen, Trond (2026). Gradient analysis of relationships between soil, decomposition of human remains, and external factors in graves in four Norwegian municipalities. Urban Ecosystems. ISSN 1083-8155. 29(5). doi: 10.1007/s11252-026-02100-6. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Chen, Guangji; Wang, Shuang; Bilyeli Øksnebjerg, Daniel; Nielsen, Sascha Dreyer; Dai, Wei & Jiang, Wei [Vis alle 69 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Draft assemblies for 177 bird species enhance genus-level coverage. GigaScience. 15. doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giag045. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Driessche, Charlotte Van; Everts, Teun; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Neyrinck, Sabrina; Beer, Berdien De & Halfmaerten, David [Vis alle 9 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Enabling Quantitative eDNA Monitoring in Lotic Ecosystems by Incorporating Hydrological Characteristics and Allometric Scaling. Freshwater Biology. ISSN 0046-5070. 71(9), s. 1–20. doi: 10.1111/fwb.70308. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Newby, Sean M.; Owens, Jeremy D.; Young, Seth A. & Hammer, Øyvind (2026). Thallium Isotopes Across the Smithian-Spathian Boundary: Evidence for Anoxia Throughout Most of the Early Triassic. Geobiology. ISSN 1472-4677. 24(5), s. e70062–e70062. doi: 10.1111/gbi.70062. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Diederich, Paul; Ertz, Damien & Timdal, Einar (2026). Coccocarpia aptrootii, a new lichen species from Mauritius. Plant and Fungal Systematics. ISSN 2544-7459. 71(1), s. 91–96. doi: 10.35535/PFSYST-2026-0010. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  A new species of Coccocarpia is described from Mauritius based on morphological and molecular evidence. The species is corticolous and currently known from four localities in parkland and natural mountain forest habitats. It is characterized by comparatively large thallus lobes, a distinctly pruinose upper surface, and abundant laminal isidia that are initially subspherical and later elongate into cylindrical to coralloid structures. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS rDNA sequences places the Mauritian material as a distinct lineage within Coccocarpia, not nested within any currently sampled species-level clade. The combined morphological distinctiveness and molecular differentiation support its recognition as a new species, here described as Coccocarpia aptrootii. This discovery further demonstrates that species diversity in Coccocarpia remains underestimated, particularly in tropical regions.

• Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Heng; Akashi, Hiroshi; Albouy, Camille P.; Andres, Kara J. & Barquín, José [Vis alle 50 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). A unified analysis of global riverine eDNA reveals common associations of fish biodiversity with drainage characteristics. Nature Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1038/s41559-026-03106-1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Freshwater biodiversity is declining at a pace that outstrips the capacity of existing monitoring approaches both in temporal and spatial dimensions, highlighting the urgent need for rapid and scalable assessment and attribution of biodiversity states and changes. Here we present a global assessment and unified analysis of riverine fish biodiversity using environmental DNA collected from 1,818 sites across 113 river systems spanning 5 continents. We quantified species richness, functional redundancy, phylogenetic diversity and genetic sequence diversity, and related them to drainage characteristics. Our results showed that environmental DNA effectively captured global patterns of multi-faceted riverine fish biodiversity and disentangled the roles of climate and different aspects of human activities in shaping biodiversity–area relationships. The accumulation of biodiversity with catchment area was consistently enhanced in warmer climates, while human activities weakened this scaling. Further, species richness, functional and genetic sequence diversity exhibited stronger negative responses to human activities in larger catchments. In contrast, phylogenetic diversity was negatively affected by human activities, yet this effect diminished as catchment area increased, highlighting the facet-dependent nature of biodiversity responses to environmental gradients and catchment characteristics. Our findings demonstrate the power of environmental-DNA-based datasets for harmonized, multi-faceted biodiversity assessments, offering a scalable approach for detecting and attributing biodiversity change and informing conservation strategies under accelerating global change.

• Dowding, Elizabeth M.; Skawina, Aleksandra; Baets, Kenneth De; Clements, Thomas; Dentzien-Dias, Paula & Huntley, John W. [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Interpreting Biotic Interactions in the Fossil Record: Evidence and Evolutionary Significance. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. ISSN 1543-592X. 57. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102924-044136. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Fossil biotic interactions (fBIs) provide a critical but underutilized window into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of life through time. Unlike modern ecological data, the fossil record captures the long-term consequences of short-term and local interactions, offering insights into biodiversity, extinction, adaptation, and ecosystem function. We review the contributions of the fossil record to studies of biotic interactions, propose a unified framework for reporting fBI data, and outline the interpretative challenges unique to fossils, including taphonomy and the inability to directly observe behavior. This review traces the process of knowledge creation from specimen-level evidence to inferred interactions, highlights insights gained from different fBI types, and advocates for standardized nomenclature and reporting. The fossil record is indispensable for understanding how interactions evolve, collapse, or persist across environmental crises, providing the foundation for linking organismal observations to evolutionary insights on how life has shaped—and been shaped by—biotic interactions.

• Baalsrud, Helle T; Tørresen, Ole K; Danneels, Bram; Ferrari, Giada; Tooming-Klunderud, Ave & Skage, Morten [Vis alle 12 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Chromosomal fusions shaped the genome of the greater hornwrack bryozoan (Flustra foliacea) (Linnaeus, 1758). Journal of Heredity. ISSN 0022-1503. 117(4), s. 750–760. doi: https:/academic.oup.com/jhered/article/117/4/750/8497176. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The phylum Bryozoa is an understudied, yet commonly occurring, globally distributed bilaterian metazoan organismal group. They have a colonial lifestyle and an evolutionary history that spans at least 480 million years but likely longer. Despite their contentious phylogenetic affinities among metazoans, disproportionately few genomic investigations have been performed thus far. Here, we describe the first chromosome-level genome assembly of an individual Flustra foliacea colony belonging to the order Cheilostomatida, collected in southern Norway. The haplotype-resolved assembly of F. foliacea contains two pseudo-haplotypes spanning 956 megabases and 880 megabases, respectively. Both assemblies are highly complete both in terms of scaffolding (>90% of sequences placed in eight autosomal chromosomal pseudomolecules), and gene content (BUSCO completeness scores >90%). We also present gene and repeat annotations of the two assemblies. A comparison of our newly sequenced F. foliacea with five previously published bryozoan genomes supports the hypothesis that the group has undergone extensive genome rearrangements. This includes multiple chromosomal fusions in F. foliacea since their split with other cheilostome bryozoans. These fusions were enriched with long terminal repeat retrotransposons, highlighting the complex interplay between genome organization and genomic repeats. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of bryozoan genome evolution and the role of repeats in metazoan genome organization.

• Mjøen, Hedvig Elisabeth; Løken, Solveig Bua; Carlsen, Tor; Brysting, Anne Krag & Bjorå, Charlotte Sletten (2026). Resolving the Veratrum phylogeny in northern Fennoscandia by targeted sequencing. Taxon. ISSN 0040-0262. 75(4). doi: 10.1002/tax.70201. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The genus Veratrum comprises approximately 24 species from temperate and arctic North America and Eurasia. In Europe, Veratrum is mainly distributed in mountainous areas of central and southern Europe but is also locally abundant in coastal areas of north-eastern Finnmark, Norway. The taxon name for the Veratrum in Finnmark has over the years been disputed. Several names have been applied, including V. album, V. lobelianum, and various subspecies of these. Previous phylogenetic analyses of Veratrum based on Sanger sequences of the ITS region have lacked sufficient resolution to resolve the relationships within the genus. Furthermore, the Veratrum in Finnmark has not been included in any molecular phylogenetic analysis, leaving its relationship to other populations of Veratrum unknown. The aims of this study were therefore to place the Veratrum in Finnmark in a molecular phylogenetic context, assess if this group represents a separate taxon, and determine the appropriate nomenclature. We applied a target capture approach, using the Angiosperms-353 probe set, to obtain a multi-locus phylogenetic dataset. Our phylogeny reveals that the Veratrum in Finnmark are closely related to Veratrum populations in northern Finland and Russia. Northern European Veratrum resolves as a distinct clade and represents a distinct taxon separate from populations in central Europe. We propose the name V. album subsp. misae for the northern European Veratrum.

• Miedema, Feiko & Maxwell, Erin E. (2026). Use of the notochordal canal as a reliable proxy for prenatal stage, a case study in Ichthyosauria. Royal Society Open Science. 13(2). doi: 10.1098/rsos.251986. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Matovu, Paul; Ballesteros, Jesus Adrian Chimal; Bjorå, Charlotte Sletten; Nordal, Inger; Bulafu, Collins E. & Namaganda, Mary (2026). Distribution and Habitat Preferences of Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) in Uganda. Journal of East African Natural History. ISSN 1026-1613. 115(4), s. 19–34. doi: 10.2982/028.115.401. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Field surveys on Chlorophytum in known and new localities were conducted across 70 districts within the four FTEA floral regions of Uganda between June 2019 and January 2020. The main aim was to map the distribution of taxa that existed in the country and document their habitats through a focused field survey. This was being done for the first time since the publication of the FTEA in 1997. Location coordinates and habitat characteristics were recorded, and voucher specimens collected for encountered plants. The study recorded 14 taxa consisting of 11 species. The U1 region recorded the highest species richness (11). Four species were recorded in U2, three in U4, and none in U3. Chlorophytum tordense, C. elgonense and C. blepharophyllum were the most frequent species while C. longifolium, C. gallabatense and C. miserum were the least frequent. Chlorophytum longifolium is reported here as a new record for Uganda. Chlorophytum species frequently occurred on sandy loams in undisturbed sites particularly in open woodland and wooded grassland habitats. Some eleven species previously recorded in the country were not encountered during this study, probably highlighting species extirpation.

• Castillo-Almansa, Elvira; Mateo, Rubén G.; Galbany-Casals, Mercè; Blanco-Gavaldà, Carme; Moreyra, Lucía D. & Roquet, Cristina [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Climate change vulnerability of the Afrotemperate flora on Africa’s tropical sky islands. Biodiversity and Conservation. ISSN 0960-3115. 35. doi: 10.1007/s10531-026-03422-9. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Climate change poses a significant threat to the Afrotemperate flora of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, particularly to species confined to high-elevation ecosystems such as those found on the African sky islands. This study evaluates the vulnerability of tropical Afroalpine and Afromontane Helichrysum taxa (Compositae) by assessing their climatic niches and predicting future shifts in distribution, range fragmentation, and altitudinal limits under climate change scenarios. Occurrence records for 14 taxa (eight Afroalpine and six Afromontane) were obtained from recent field campaigns, biodiversity databases and herbaria. Ensemble ecological niche models were developed combining Generalized Linear Models, Generalized Boosting Models, and Random Forest. Taxon-specific bioclimatic variables were selected after correlation analyses. The models were calibrated using current climate data and projected using the PSL-CM6A-LR and MRI-ESM2.0 climate models with both low- and high-emission scenarios. The results show that most Afrotemperate taxa currently occupy only a portion of their climatically suitable habitat, often in geographically distant areas. Future projections indicate significant range contractions and increased fragmentation. Afroalpine taxa could lose 50–66% of their suitable habitat, while Afromontane taxa could decline by 53–79%. Suitable areas were estimated to shift upwards in elevation, with limited potential for colonization of new areas, and with no significant latitudinal or longitudinal shifts. These findings represent the first continental-scale assessment of the impact of climate change on the Afrotemperate flora using ecological niche modelling. The projected climate-induced range losses and increased habitat fragmentation, in particular combined with increasing anthropogenic pressure in this region, highlight the urgent need for targeted conservation actions.

• Krøglid, Jørgen; Brac, Mathieu Gabriel Faure & Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). Rib microstructure in thunniform ichthyosaurs and toothed whales. PeerJ. 14, s. 1–28. doi: 10.7717/peerj.21486. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Xiong, Xueping; Mao, Chengzhi; Zhou, Yuxi; Xue, Feng; Li, Xin & Dunthorn, Micah [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Hydrological seasonality shifts zooplankton metacommunity assembly mechanisms in the Chishui River, China. European Journal of Protistology. ISSN 0932-4739. 105, s. 126215–126215. doi: 10.1016/j.ejop.2026.126215. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Hydrological regimes of river ecosystems are increasingly altered by climate change and other human-induced stressors, yet how these alterations affect aquatic metacommunity assembly remains unclear. Here, we investigated seasonal zooplankton dynamics in the subtropical Chishui River in southern China by sampling 80 sites across the dry and wet seasons. Using the morphology-based approach, we identified 146 zooplankton taxa, including protists, rotifers, cladocerans, and copepods, with protists accounting for nearly half of the total taxa and being dominated by ciliates. By integrating physicochemical, climatic, and land-use data with neutral community models and co-occurrence network analysis, we found a clear seasonal shift in assembly mechanisms: stochastic dispersal dominated during the hydrologically connected wet season, whereas deterministic environmental filtering prevailed during the dry season. Unexpectedly, higher α-diversity was associated with lower cohesion-based network stability, suggesting that seasonal community assembly processes may influence the diversity–cohesion relationship. During the dry season, deterministic assembly processes were more prominent, and community composition was associated with nutrient-related variables. These findings suggest that maintaining natural flow variability and reducing nutrient inputs may help sustain habitat heterogeneity and seasonal metacommunity dynamics in river ecosystems.

• Kusch, Erik & Ordonez, Alejandro (2026). Ecological network resilience - Updating projections of ecological networks under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios of biodiversity loss. Ecological Complexity : An International Journal on Biocomplexity in the Environment and Theoretical Ecology. ISSN 1476-945X. 66(Selected papers from 5th World Conference on Complex Systems). doi: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2026.101176. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Forecasting ecosystems under climate change requires multi-species approaches that account for ecological interactions through ecological networks. While previous projections have used network approaches mainly focusing on extinction-cascade directionality as a driver of ecological change, few multi-species projections have considered the resilience mechanisms of ecological networks to species extinctions. These mechanisms are link-loss sensitivity (the inverse of a network’s ability to withstand loss of links when interaction partners go extinct) and realisation of rewiring potential (the capacity to reallocate lost interactions to novel or existing partners). Using a new quantitative framework, we simulate compositional and network changes across globally distributed, in-situ sampled mutualistic frugivory networks. These simulations are based on species-specific climate-driven extinction cascades that incorporate both resilience mechanisms simultaneously. To assess the impact of network resilience mechanisms on biodiversity loss and network connectedness, we introduce and explore two-dimensional resilience landscapes defined by link-loss sensitivity and rewiring potential. We evaluate outcomes under optimistic and pessimistic resilience assumptions, and both low- and high-emission climate change scenarios to improve understanding of the potential consequences of extinction cascades across the Earth. Additionally, we compare climate driven projections with baseline scenarios that remove the least- and most-connected species in each network. In contrast to traditional models emphasizing bottom-up or top-down cascades, we account for bi-directional extinction processes to better reflect ecological reality. Our findings suggest that ignoring ecological network resilience mechanisms may significantly underestimate ecological change, particularly in terms of biodiversity loss and shifts in network connectedness under climate change.

• Lykova, Inna; Rowe, Ralph; Poirier, Glenn; Friis, Henrik; Ojaste, Kelsie & Barnes, Stephanie (2026). Mckelveyite group minerals – Part 5: Bainbridgeite-(NdCe), Na2Ba2NdCe(CO3)6*3H2O, a new neodymium and cerium-dominant species from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada. European journal of mineralogy. ISSN 0935-1221. 38(4), s. 419–429. doi: 10.5194/ejm-38-419-2026. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The new mckelveyite group mineral bainbridgeite-(NdCe), ideally Na2Ba2NdCe(CO3)6⚫3H2O, was found at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. It occurs in two distinct environments: (1) in a “carbonate pegmatite” as pale-yellow or orange barrel-shaped short prismatic crystals up to 2 mm in size, where bainbridgeite-(NdCe) forms thin rims while the core is composed of bainbridgeite-(YCe), and (2) in a hornfels rock as white or pale-grey tabular saucer-shaped crystals up to 0.5 mm in size. It has a white streak, a vitreous lustre, and no cleavage. Dcalc is 3.49 g cm−3. Bainbridgeite-(NdCe) is optically biaxial (+), α=1.577(3), β=1.592(3), γ=1.657(3), 2V (meas.) = 40(3)°, and 2V (calc.) = 52° (589 nm). The IR spectrum is reported. The composition (wt. %, average of seven analyses) is Na2O 6.85, CaO 1.16, SrO 4.83, BaO 24.02, Y2O3 1.84, La2O3 6.07, Ce2O3 8.82, Pr2O3 0.76, Nd2O3 6.24, Sm2O3 3.34, Eu2O3 0.46, Gd2O3 2.74, Tb2O3 0.21, Dy2O3 0.53, ThO2 0.24, CO2 27.33, H2O 5.73, total 101.17. The empirical formula of the holotype from the “carbonate pegmatite” calculated on the basis of six cations is as follows: Na2.09Ca0.19Sr0.44Ba1.48Y0.15La0.35Ce0.51Pr0.04Nd0.35Sm0.18Eu0.03Gd0.14Tb0.01Dy0.03Th0.01(CO3)5.86(H2O)3.00. The mineral is triclinic, P1, a=9.0525(3) Å, b=9.1178(2) Å, c=6.85180(19) Å, α=102.575(3)°, β=116.272(4)°, γ=59.788(4)° and V=438.23(3) Å3, and Z=1. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å(I)(hkl)] are as follows: 6.17(50)(001, 1‾1‾1, 1‾01), 4.407(100)(11‾0, 2‾1‾1, 120), 4.077(30)(1‾2‾1, 1‾11, 210), 3.241(32)(11‾1, 2‾1‾2, 121), 2.870(88)(1‾2‾2, 1‾12, 211), 2.621(39)(3‾01, 030, 3‾3‾1), 2.253(22)(2‾21, 2‾4‾1, 4‾2‾1), and 1.9978(25)(03‾2, 3‾3‾3, 3‾03, 301, 032, 331). The crystal structure, solved and refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R1=0.036), is of the weloganite type. Bainbridgeite-(NdCe) is the first known mineral with Ce and Nd atoms preferentially concentrated at two different sites of the structure.

• Baalsrud, Helle Tessand; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Enevoldsen, Emily Louise Gilbert; Krabberød, Anders Kristian; Dominik, Fischer, & Tooming-Klunderud, Ave [Vis alle 13 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Centromeric satellite expansion drives genome evolution in the snowy owl. Genome Biology. ISSN 1474-7596. doi: 10.1186/s13059-026-04175-y. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Comparative genomic studies in birds have revealed that bird genomes are relatively repeat-poor and stable in terms of karyotype, size, and gene synteny/collinearity compared to other vertebrates. One notable exception is the owls, with cytogenetic studies demonstrating large variations in karyotypes and the evolution of unusual centromeric satellite repeats in some species. However, there has so far not been an investigation into genome architecture and repeat landscape of owls. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus). We find that the repeat DNA content in the relatively large snowy owl genome (1.6 Gb) is among the highest reported for any bird genome to date (28.34% compared to an average of ~ 10% in other birds). The bulk of the snowy owl genomic repeat landscape consists of extensive centromeric satellite arrays that form large contiguous blocks across multiple chromosomes. These arrays represent one of the largest centromeric satellite expansions reported in birds and are consistent with rapid turnover and amplification of centromeric repeats. Using gene collinearity analyses we show that the position of the centromeres are not homologous with chicken centromeres, and are located in regions with collinearity breaks to other bird genomes due to chromosomal rearrangements. Our results support rapid satellite turnover at lineage-specific centromeres, which could have played a role in centromeric drive, reproductive isolation and speciation of the snowy owl. The extensive centromeric satellite arrays uncovered in this genome highlight centromere evolution as a potentially important driver of genome evolution in owls.

• Birhanu, Liyew; Amsalu, Nigussie; Tamir, Dabash; Sefu, Gerefa & Chala, Desalegn (2026). Severe Climate-Driven Range Contraction of Taverniera abyssinica A. Rich, an Endangered and Locally Popular Medicinal Plant in Ethiopia. Ecology and Evolution. 16(7). doi: 10.1002/ece3.73950. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Taverniera abyssinica A. Rich. is one of the most important and well‐known medicinal plants used by local communities in Ethiopia. This critically endangered shrub is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers, fever, soreness, and pain, and it is widely valued for its antipyretic and analgesic properties. In this study, we applied ensemble species distribution models using four algorithms (BRT, RF, GAM, GLM), 10‐fold cross‐validation, and three model replicates to predict the current and future distribution of T. abyssinica across Ethiopia. Suitable habitats were mapped at the district level to facilitate conservation planning and practical applications. Model performance was consistently high, with mean AUC values of 0.90–0.93 and TSS values exceeding 0.8, indicating strong predictive accuracy. Under current climatic conditions, the potential distribution of T. abyssinica is primarily concentrated in the central highlands, with additional suitable areas in the northern and eastern highlands. However, future climate projections indicate substantial range contraction, with approximately 85.9% (114,868 km 2 ) of currently suitable habitat projected to become unsuitable, while only 2.7% (3573 km 2 ) of new habitat is expected to become suitable. This represents a net habitat loss of 83.2% (111,295 km 2 ). These findings indicate the vulnerability of T. abyssinica to climate change and underscore the urgent need for adaptive conservation strategies. Although model performance was robust, predictions are based on a relatively small number of occurrence records, meaning they capture only what is represented in the data. We therefore recommend that both current and projected future suitable areas be given conservation priority to safeguard this species.

• Paasche, Hendrik; Dumais, Marie-Andrée; Haase, Claudia; Harrop, John; Larsen, Bjørn Eskil & Menuge, Julian [Vis alle 13 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Unsupervised clustering for prospectivity mapping of lithium pegmatites in Leinster, Ireland: A transferable workflow. Ore Geology Reviews. ISSN 0169-1368. 195. doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2026.107380. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rumsey, Michael Scott; Missen, Owen P. & Mills, Stuart J. (2026). Recovering history: the process of determining type specimens of montanite. Mineralogical magazine. ISSN 0026-461X. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2026.10231. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rumsey, Michael Scott (2026). Formal discreditation of ‘eosite’, a historic mineral name originally described from Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology. ISSN 0036-9276. doi: 10.1144/sjg2025-020. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sørensen, Rolf; Høeg, Helge Irgens & Persson, Per (2026). A new sea-level curve for Bamble, Telemark County, south-eastern Norway. Varia. ISSN 1504-3266. 82, s. 261–273. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rojo, Maximo A.; Delsett, Lene L.; Ruciński, Maciej; Hoffeker, Endre T. A.; Lund, Bjørn & Bjerke, Bjørn Aksel [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Preparation and mounting of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) at the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway. Natural History Collections and Museomics (NHCM). 3. doi: 10.3897/nhcm.3.191751. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In this report, we detail the process undertaken for preparing and mounting a sperm whale skeleton ( Physeter macrocephalus Husson & Holthuis, 1974) specimen for exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Oslo, University of Oslo, which was displayed in 2022. We provide a detailed account of materials applied and techniques used in the specimen for skeletonisation, including defleshing, carcass composting and maceration. We highlight a successful and cost-effective application of horse manure as a bulking agent in carcass composting and readily available detergents in maceration. Furthermore, we describe the skeleton mounting process, addressing architectural limitations restricting the possible loads on the ceiling. Consequently, the adjusted mounting procedure had to be undertaken, which included the construction of a custom-made podium and a steel support structure. Lastly, we present the result of the skeleton mount, which is supplemented with a 3D photogrammetric model.

• Taboada, Sergi; Gracia-Sancha, Carlota; Galià-Camps, Carles; Böhne, Astrid; Monteiro, Rita & Marcussen, Thomas [Vis alle 18 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). ERGA-BGE reference genome of Xylophaga dorsalis - a common deep-sea wood-boring bivalve with Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution. Open Research Europe (ORE). 6. doi: 10.12688/openreseurope.22692.2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Xylophaga dorsalis is a common Atlantic-Mediterranean mollusc that plays a crucial role in deep-sea habitats, where it digests wood that reaches the seabed through a unique symbiosis with specialised bacteria. The reference genome of X. dorsalis thus offers a crucial resource for uncovering the genetic basis of the species adaptability to wood bore in deep-water ecosystems. The entirety of the genome sequence was assembled into 18 contiguous chromosomal pseudomolecules (superscaffolds) and 1 mitochondrial genome. This chromosome-level assembly encompasses 0.451 Gb, composed of 1,259 contigs and 320 scaffolds, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 1.30 Mb and 25.4 Mb, respectively. The genome assembly encodes 19,441 protein-coding genes (34,405 transcripts) and 6,716 non-coding genes.

• Westbury, Michael V.; Freymueller, Nicholas A.; Cabrera, Andrea A.; Bachmann, Lutz; Ferguson, Steven H. & Heide-Jørgensen, Mads Peter [Vis alle 12 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Tracing the Drivers of Range-Wide Bowhead Whale Genomic Structure and Diversity. Molecular Ecology. ISSN 0962-1083. 35(10). doi: 10.1111/mec.70378. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In a rapidly warming Arctic, genetic variation might serve to buffer organisms against the effects of environmental change, such as sea ice loss and ocean warming. Yet, this concept remains largely unexplored because comprehensive genome-wide studies across the full ranges of Arctic marine taxa are rare. Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) have a strong association with sea ice and polar water masses, a long history of human exploitation, and a circumpolar distribution, making them a valuable model for evaluating how past environmental and anthropogenic factors have shaped contemporary population variation. We analysed both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes from bowhead whales sampled across the species' range, encompassing all four recognised stocks. Firstly, our results indicate the existence of three genetic groupings instead of four: (1) Okhotsk Sea; (2) East Greenland-Svalbard-Barents Sea; and (3) a population containing two recognised stocks—the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort and East Canada-West Greenland. We utilised high-resolution ecological niche modelling and bowhead whale movement data to reconstruct inter-stock habitat connectivity over the last 11,700 years, finding that this explains our identified genetic groupings. Bowhead whale populations exhibit little-to-no evidence of recent inbreeding and retain high genetic diversity relative to other mammalian species despite centuries of intensive commercial whaling. The most vulnerable population is that in the Okhotsk Sea, which has the lowest genetic diversity, most inbreeding, and the highest realised genetic load. Collectively, our findings elucidate the recent history and dynamics of bowhead whales, offering valuable baseline data and context on present-day genetic structure and diversity to support effective conservation and management strategies.

• Bulto, Gamtesa Olika; Wedajo, Gizachew Kabite; Gole, Tadesse Woldemariam; Chala, Desalegn & Gemeda, Dessalegn Obsi (2026). Selective Ensemble Machine Learning for Mapping Potential Invasion of Vachellia drepanolobium in Ethiopian Savanna Ecosystem Using Sentinel-2 and Environmental Variables. Trees, Forests and People. 24, s. 101218–101218. doi: 10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101218. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Chala, Desalegn; Alemu, Diress Tsegaye; Alem, Habtamu; Asalf, Belachew; Eshetu_Moges, Melesse & Abate, Nega Tassie [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Beyond Removal: Strategies for Sustainable Control of Water Hyacinth in Tropical Freshwater Ecosystems. Environmental Management. ISSN 0364-152X. 76(6). doi: 10.1007/s00267-026-02494-1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Water hyacinth is among the world’s most damaging aquatic invasive plants, forming dense mats that disrupt ecosystem functioning, fisheries, navigation, and livelihoods across tropical and subtropical freshwater systems. Its rapid spread is driven by clonal propagation, short life cycles, and prolific seed production, particularly under nutrient-enriched conditions. Although mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods are widely applied, their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain when underlying eutrophication persists. Here, we present a large-scale, one-time water hyacinth removal campaign in Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, as a representative nutrient-rich tropical freshwater system. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, we quantified coverage one month before removal, one month after removal, and one year later. We integrated SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis with a socio-ecological system map to assess mitigation mechanisms and identify sustainable management pathways capable of providing long-term solutions to halt water hyacinth proliferation in freshwater bodies. The campaign removed over 75% (~1271 ha) of water hyacinth, yet within one year the plant resurged to levels ~18% higher than pre-removal. This rebound highlights the ecological resilience of water hyacinth and the limitations of short term, noncontinuous control strategies. Our analysis identifies unmanaged catchment nutrient inputs as the primary driver of proliferation. Lake Tana serves as a model system demonstrating that water hyacinth functions less as a traditional invader and more as a bioindicator of eutrophication. We propose a transferable conceptual and methodological framework combining continuous removal, catchment-based nutrient management, and circular bioeconomy approaches, offering globally relevant lessons for sustainable management of nutrient-enriched tropical freshwater systems.

• Naas, Adam Eindride; Horvath, Peter; Halvorsen, Rune; Sivertsen, Bendik & Bryn, Anders (2026). The impact of reference data errors on land-cover classifiers. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift. ISSN 0029-1951. doi: 10.1080/00291951.2026.2661590. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Errors in thematically detailed land-cover maps have large consequences for downstream applications. Moreover, simulation-based studies suggest that land-cover classifiers are sensitive to errors in reference data. We (1) quantified the expected error from field interpretation of land-cover types; (2) the sensitivity of classifiers to reference data errors; and (3) the error transferred from reference data to classifiers. Lastly, we (4) recommended strategies to reduce errors. The study area was mapped by 12 field interpreters divided into three equal-sized experience-level groups. The field-based land-cover maps were aggregated to three thematic resolutions and used to train 6804 land-cover classifiers by varying inputs, algorithm, and hyperparameter values. Separately from the first field campaign, four field interpreters classified validation data points, which were used to quantify error for each field interpreter and land-cover classifier, as the proportion of incorrectly classified validation points. We observed (1) generally high and varying levels of interpreter error; (2) a strong relationship between interpreter and classifier error; and (3) a net positive transfer of errors from reference data to classifiers. Because classifier error seems largely driven by interpreter error at the levels commonly observed in thematically detailed land-cover mapping, we (4) recommend strategies to reduce interpreter error before modelling.

• Veltman, Margaretha A.; Anthoons, Bastien; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Ballesteros, Jesus Adrian Chimal; Ghorbani, Abdolbaset & Karahan, Arzu [Vis alle 15 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Molecular evidence reveals unsustainable harvest of wild orchids. Current Biology. ISSN 0960-9822. 36(7), s. 1842–1856.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.066. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ahrens, Sven; Andersen, Tom & Elburg, Marlina Augusta (2026). Provenance of Ballast Stone Retrieved From Panormos Harbour on Naxos, Greece. Archaeometry. ISSN 0003-813X. doi: 10.1111/arcm.70149. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  ABSTRACT In the ancient harbour of Panormos on south‐east Naxos, Greece, stones from 15 ballast piles have been sampled and documented. Hand specimen examination, thin section microscopy and geochemical analyses of representative samples indicate that 12 of the 15 ballast piles contain volcanic rocks from Santorini. Ceramic finds in one of the piles are datable to the period between the 5th and 8th centuries ad . The presence of material originating from Santorini in the ballast material suggests that there has been a previously undocumented trade connection between the two islands in the Late Roman period.

• Ewers, Isabelle & Dunthorn, Micah (2026). A review of protistan parasites in and around Norwegian marine fish farms. Ocean Microbiology. 2. doi: 10.1186/s44375-026-00008-2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Protistan parasites are an integral part of marine ecosystems and can serve as indicators for environmental health and ecosystem status. This study provides a review of the protistan parasite taxa reported in and around Norwegian marine fish farms, the functional groups they represent, and which potential implications their occurrences have for environmental stress. By focusing on the parasite life cycles, pathogenicity, and host specificity, we aimed to determine whether they are internal or external, monoxenous or heteroxenous, and generalist or specialist parasites for inference of the functional groups. Our findings reveal that the majority of reported parasites are external or internal, monoxenous, and generalist taxa, such as Paramoeba perurans, Spironucleus salmonicida, Ichthyobodo, and Ichthyophonus hoferi, which can indicate that the environment along the Norwegian marine shoreline is experiencing moderate to high levels of environmental stress and some degree of degradation. By contrast, the presence of only a few parasitic taxa such as Trichodina cooperi and Trypanosoma pleuronectidium is indicative of low levels of stress and mildly degraded conditions. Notably, parasites typically associated with healthy environments, such as external, heteroxenous specialists, were largely absent. These patterns suggest that Norwegian coastal ecosystems in and around fish farms are subject to continuous environmental stress, potentially due to the farming conditions and other anthropogenic pressures. While not all detected protistan parasites are currently associated with disease outbreaks in Norway, many are known pathogens elsewhere or may act as opportunists under changing environmental conditions. Their presence highlights the importance of continued research efforts on protistan parasites of fish, especially in the context of climate change and evolving fish farming practices.

• Tjessem, Ingrid Vesterdal; Brysting, Anne Krag; Reitan, Trond; Hjelle, Simen Salomonsen & Eidesen, Pernille Bronken (2026). A shift in species niche through autopolyploidy: From sexual to vegetative reproduction in Saxifraga oppositifolia. Annals of Botany. ISSN 0305-7364. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcag116. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background and Aims Polyploidy has been essential in the evolution of angiosperms, facilitating novel adaptations, enhancing speciation and contributing to the establishment of larger evolutionary lineages. However, newly formed polyploids require sufficient niche differentiation to survive and coexist with the diploid ancestor. Polyploids are commonly reproductively challenged, which may lead to rapid development of asexual reproduction, which may, in turn, lead to reproductive barriers or ecological niche divergence. Through this study, we investigate whether autopolyploidization has induced a shift from sexual reproduction to vegetative propagation in the arctic–alpine Saxifraga oppositifolia (Saxifragaceae) and thus facilitated the establishment of polyploids in mixed-cytotype populations. Methods We sampled data on capsule and seed production, seed germination, rooting ability, and leaf production among cytotypes through a combination of growth chamber experiments and in situ observations in a field set-up across different habitats (ridges, slopes, riverbeds) in Svalbard including >700 georeferenced S. oppositifolia plants with known cytotype (diploid, triploid or tetraploid). Through hypothesis testing and an explorative model search for relevant covariates (e.g. growth form, habitat, soil type), we tested the effect of cytotype on sexual and vegetative reproductive outcomes. Key Results Polyploids had lower sexual reproductive investment (i.e. capsule production and seed production) and higher vegetative investment (i.e. leaf production and rooting ability), showing that polyploidy has significantly affected both sexual reproduction and vegetative propagation. Conclusions Our findings confirm a shift in reproductive strategy towards less sexual investment and enhanced vegetative investment in triploid and tetraploid individuals. This shift may enhance polyploid survival in habitats with shorter growing season and limited pollinator availability, and thus explains their higher frequency in such habitats. These results support autopolyploidy as an evolutionary mechanism that may allow Arctic species to adapt to ongoing, rapid changes.

• Alvestad, Tom; Marklund, Filip; Nygren, Arne & Grosse, Maël (2026). Redescription of Melinna palmata (Annelida, Melinnidae), a recently established species in Sweden, with a synoptic table for Melinnidae species occurring in Sweden and Norway. Marine Biology Research. ISSN 1745-1000. 22(1-2), s. 18–31. doi: 10.1080/17451000.2025.2601601. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Melinna palmata was found in Swedish waters for the first time during recent environmental surveys. In this paper the species is redescribed based on type material and recently collected material from environmental monitoring expeditions in Sweden, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay, Western France (2021–2022). The description is illustrated with photographs of both live and fixed specimens as well as scanning electron microscopy photographs. Haplotype networks, based on COI and ITS1, have been constructed for M. palmata showing a lack of population structure between the different areas. The establishment and spread of M. palmata in Sweden are documented and illustrated with maps. The identity of M. palmata and its phylogenetic relationships with other species of Melinnidae have been assessed using the standard barcoding COI fragment. COI sequences from close to type localities are provided for M. palmata, Melinna cristata, Melinna elisabethae, Melinna albicincta, Melinna monoceroides and Melinnopsis arctica. A synoptic table of key morphological features for the same species is given.

• Sand-Eriksen, Anette; Farrell, Michelle; Høeg, Helge Irgens & Løvschal, Mette (2026). A forested form of life: Southeast Norway in 2350–500 BCE. Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. 5. doi: 10.3389/fearc.2026.1794721. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  For much of prehistory, the landscapes of southeast Norway were deeply shaped by dense forests. Yet archaeological narratives of the period from around 2350 BCE onward—the Late Neolithic and Nordic Bronze Age—have largely emphasized episodes of forest clearance and agrarian expansion, mirroring human-landscape developments elsewhere in Scandinavia. This focus has left more persistent landscapes and their associated “forms of life”, particularly those linked to forested environments, largely unexplored. To understand how people continued to inhabit and work within wooded surroundings, even after establishing farmsteads, this study adopts a different perspective. Using REVEALS to reconstruct Late Neolithic and Bronze Age vegetation from an extensive palynological dataset, we examine the diversity and socio-economic potential of forests in southeast Norway. By integrating these reconstructions with archaeological evidence, we propose the concept of a forested form of life: a sustained livelihood rooted in differentiated forest use and management. This reframing positions the southeast Norwegian forests not as passive backdrops to deforestation, but as actively maintained, co-shaped environments. In doing so, the paper highlights the dynamic role of forests as social and historical ecologies, offering a neglected perspective on human-environment relations in the Scandinavian Bronze Age.

• Asplund, Ulrika Jansson; Karlsen, Damian Petkovic; Brysting, Anne Krag; Halvorsen, Rune; Kauserud, Håvard & Kjønaas, Janne [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Long-term effects of clear-cutting on understory plant communities in boreal forests. Forest Ecology and Management. ISSN 0378-1127. 613. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123784. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  After five centuries of selective cutting in the boreal Fennoscandian forest there was a shift to stand replacing harvest (clear-cutting) in the 1940s. This shift altered light conditions experienced by the forest understory profoundly, from semi-open conditions to light regimes altering between very open in the recently clear-cut forest to very dense some decades later. In this study, we investigated the long-term effects of clear-cutting on vascular plants and bryophytes. Our study system consists of twelve pairs of mesic spruce forests in Southeastern Norway, with a previously clear-cut, but now mature stand and a near-natural forest within each pair. Vascular plant cover was almost twice as high in the near-natural than in the mature, previously clear-cut forest sites, despite similar standing volume and light availability. Overall, previous clear-cutting did not have long-term effects on species richness, but vascular plant species richness was more responsive to soil Ca, a key driver of plant community composition, in the near natural forests. Likewise, the community composition showed a stronger association with soil chemistry in near-natural forests, suggesting that management alters natural drivers of understory communities. The long-lasting effects of clear-cutting was distinct for understory cover and mainly driven by common species such as the keystone species Vaccinium myrtillus, which was substantially less abundant in previously clear-cut stands.

• L'Abee-Lund, Jan Henning; Villar, Jaime Otero; Brittain, John Edward & Veie, Carl Andreas (2026). Climatic and electricity demand effects on Norwegian hydropower revenue in a daily and annual perspective. Renewable Energy. ISSN 0960-1481. 259. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.125142. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Jia, Yu; Jeremiassen, Ninni; Larsen, Morten Birch; Olsen, Maia; Maurice, Christian & Hansen, Violeta [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Evaluating the Efficacy of Shrimp Shells and Demolished Concrete in Reducing Mine Drainage in South Greenland: Column Leaching Test Results. Mine Water and the Environment. ISSN 1025-9112. 45, s. 33–51. doi: 10.1007/s10230-026-01110-2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Immobilization of Pb and Zn leached from waste rock (WR) using shrimp shells, waste concrete, and sea water was investigated in continuous flow column leaching tests. To evaluate dynamic long-term leaching behaviors, leachate was collected at different liquid/solid (L/S) ratios up to 10 L/kg (≈ 12 weeks). The results showed that the leached content of Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cd, and As from the WR control treatments generally decreased over the experimental period. The shrimp shell treatment further decreased the release of Pb (0.4–0.5%), Zn (19%), Cu (140–150%), and Cd (20–24%), possibly caused by a change in pH. In contrast, the concrete treatment increased the release of Pb (110–150%) and Zn (200–250%) in the leachate, while the leaching of Cu and Cd remained basically unaffected, reflecting a weaker pH effect than that of the shrimp shell treatment. Multi-variate data analysis further confirmed the experimental data and suggested that the release of arsenic, and to some extent also Cu, originated from the shrimp shells. The mechanisms behind the immobilization of these elements are likely biological sulfate reduction caused by the shrimp shell amendment raising the pH, which increased the precipitation of secondary minerals. The results suggest that these amendments carry the potential for bringing new elements into the system and any future remediation plans for these mine sites should be tailored with that in mind. The results suggest that this mitigation could be effective and should be further investigated.

• Wendmu, Tsedal Asres; Boer, Hugo de; Makate, Clifton & Westengen, Ola (2026). Seeds and social norms: sorghum seed exchange among smallholder farmers in Northern Ethiopia. Ecology & Society. 31(1). doi: 10.5751/ES-16855-310113. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Seed exchange is a major means for smallholder farmers to access seeds of both traditional and new crop varieties. This study explores how social and cultural norms influence farmers’ seed exchange and thereby shape the distribution of sorghum diversity among farmers from two ethnolinguistic groups in Northern Ethiopia. Network data on sorghum variety transactions for 300 households was analyzed to map the flow of seed and determine key characteristics of the farmers playing particularly important roles as nodes in the networks. Together with a household survey, ethnographic studies of cultural practices and norms informed the interpretation of the network data. We found that exchange with neighbors was the main seed transaction type and that exchange mainly happens within ethnolinguistic groups and villages. A norm saying that no one should be denied access to seeds underpins seed sharing within the communities. Sociocultural institutions like the labor exchange institutions Lifnti/Kowa, marriage, and religious institutions influence seed sharing within both ethnolinguistic groups. Seed sharing is common among all categories of farmers, and we found no significant association between farmers’ socioeconomic status and seed sharing. The dynamics of seed exchange can explain the sorghum diversity in the study areas, as the most exchanged sorghum varieties within each ethnolinguistic group are also the most cultivated. We discuss the implications of our findings for the conservation of sorghum diversity and seed system development and conclude that policies and extension programs should leverage farmers’ seed exchange networks for the management of crop diversity and in efforts to strengthen farmers’ access to seeds of both local and improved seeds.

• Heuvel-Greve, Martine J. van den; Polling, Marcel; Groot, G. Arjen de; Kodde, Linda; Mulder, Ingeborg M. & Verdaat, Hans [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Tracking biodiversity in changing Arctic waters: insights from eDNA metabarcoding in Svalbard. Polar Biology. ISSN 0722-4060. 49. doi: 10.1007/s00300-026-03488-9. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Monitoring biodiversity patterns and their changes in Arctic coastal ecosystems is critical under ongoing climate change. However, common current approaches require high effort and expertise and this in turn limits the spatial and temporal scale of these monitoring efforts. Here, we investigated both the fish and the marine invertebrate communities across Svalbard using a multi-marker environmental DNA metabarcoding approach. We collected and analysed marine water, sediment and zooplankton filtered from marine water from sites influenced by the warm West Spitsbergen Current and the cold East Spitsbergen Current. Following metabarcoding amplification using mitochondrial COI, 12S, 16S and nuclear 18S markers and high-throughput sequencing, we retrieved an extensive overview of Svalbard marine biodiversity. Water, sediment and especially zooplankton samples collected across Svalbard revealed spatial differences in community composition, with significantly distinct assemblages in the northwest and southeast of Svalbard. We identified potential bioindicator species for use in rapid assessment of impacts of marine temperature increase and confirmed observed patterns of ongoing shifts in community structure as a response to changes in dominant water masses. Overall, our findings show that species composition depending on fine-scale climate variation of Arctic waters can be effectively studied and monitored using environmental DNA. These insights can help us understand current and evolving climate-driven changes.

• Doliwa, Annemie; Mayombo, Ntambwe Albert Serge; Pimentel, Iris Madge; Rehsen, Philipp M.; Vermiert, Anna-Maria & Kaijser, Willem [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Dynamic stressor regimes drive shifts in biofilm-associated parasites. Parasitology Research. ISSN 0932-0113. 125. doi: 10.1007/s00436-026-08669-3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Parasites have gained increased recognition for their ecological relevance in riverine systems, which are highly vulnerable to biodiversity losses and degradation resulting from climate change and anthropogenic pressures. In recent decades, restoration efforts have been launched in many degraded watercourses to mitigate the influence of stressors. Yet, the ecological consequences of multiple stressor exposure and release remain complex, with the return to near-natural biotic communities representing only one possible trajectory. Parasites are still poorly understood in this context. To address this gap, we used the streamside mesocosm system ExStream to investigate the effects of multiple potential stressors and their release on biofilm-associated micro-eukaryotic parasites at a recently restored site of the Boye River. The Boye River system, a tributary of the Emscher River located in the Ruhr metropolis in western Germany, suffered from long-term hydromorphological degradation and pollution in the past until its restoration. In the ExStream experiment, we used a full-factorial design to manipulate flow velocity, salinity, and temperature during a stressor phase. The system entered a recovery phase afterwards, where the treatments were set to control conditions in all recovering mesocosms. Assessing metabarcoding data from biofilms that grew on the mesocosm walls revealed shifts in parasite assemblages between stressor and recovery phases, and reduced flow velocity was associated with altered community compositions and diversity decline. Our findings highlight that biofilm-associated parasite communities can provide important insights into the ecological dynamics of degraded and recovering river systems, and demonstrate that stressor legacies may persist beyond the period of exposure.

• Westbury, Michael V.; Brown, Stuart C.; Cabrera, Andrea A.; Morales, Hernán E.; Parreira, Bárbara & Ma, Jilong [Vis alle 19 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Four centuries of commercial whaling eroded 11,000 years of population stability in bowhead whales. Cell. ISSN 0092-8674. 189(7), s. 2040–2053.e19. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.02.022. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Bowhead whales were heavily exploited during commercial whaling between the 16th and 20th centuries. Current and near-future climate warming poses a new threat. Assessing bowhead vulnerability to climatic change remains challenging due to insufficient knowledge regarding responses to past climates and pre-whaling population dynamics. We integrate paleogenomics and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) from 206 bowhead fossils from the Atlantic Arctic with paleoclimate and ecological modeling based on 823 radiocarbon-dated fossils, including 140 from this study. We find long-term resilience of bowheads to Holocene environmental perturbations, with no detectable changes in genetic diversity or population structure. Simulated commercial-whaling-driven genetic and fitness changes indicate that population subdivision and loss of genetic diversity are unlikely to be fully realized, despite nearly a century since whaling ceased. Furthermore, even in simulated complete population recovery scenarios, overall fitness did not return to pre-whaling levels, potentially compromising the future resilience of bowhead whales.

• Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Heng; Akashi, Hiroshi; Albouy, Camille P.; Andres, Kara J. & Barquín, José [Vis alle 50 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Integrated Reanalysis of Global Riverine Fish eDNA Datasets Shows Robustness and Congruence of Biodiversity Conclusions. Molecular Ecology. ISSN 0962-1083. 35(8), s. 1–16. doi: 10.1111/mec.70340. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized biodiversity assessments in aquatic ecosystems, enabling non‐invasive monitoring of fish communities across diverse regions. However, the global comparability of these eDNA datasets remains ambiguous due to heterogeneous sampling protocols and bioinformatic workflows across studies, making it difficult to assess how robust and comparable the biodiversity patterns inferred from these datasets actually are. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 58 riverine fish eDNA metabarcoding studies, covering 1818 sampling sites worldwide, to evaluate the robustness of eDNA‐derived biodiversity patterns. We found that species richness estimates and metrics of community structure derived under a common bioinformatic workflow were overall consistent with those of original analyses, despite the relatively high variability in bioinformatic analyses in the respective original studies. Contrastingly, congruence of species identity varied more extensively across datasets, mostly reflecting different completeness and regional relevance of reference databases. Restricting taxonomic assignment to basin‐specific species pools improved species identification accuracy, while datasets lacking publicly accessible or well‐curated reference data were more prone to mismatches. Year of sampling had a positive effect on taxonomic congruence, such that more recent studies showed increased robustness, also reflecting improved reference database coverage and enhanced species‐level identification over time and overall method congruence in more recent years. Overall, the suitability and potential of eDNA for global biodiversity monitoring is corroborating overall robust biodiversity estimates, irrespective of the bioinformatic approaches. Our study underlines the effectiveness and need for further harmonization of bioinformatic workflows and strengthened region‐specific reference databases for improved taxonomic resolution and comparability across studies.

• Schuuring, Sil; Halvorsen, Rune; Eidesen, Pernille Bronken; Niittynen, Pekka; Kemppinen, Julia & Lang, Simone I. (2026). High Arctic vegetation lowers soil temperatures on sunny days despite low stature. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. ISSN 1523-0430. 58(1). doi: 10.1080/15230430.2026.2649436. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The impact of vegetation on soil temperatures in low Arctic and boreal regions is well documented,where dense vegetation reduces soil temperatures. However, equivalent empirical evidence forinfluence of sparse, low-stature high Arctic vegetation and its interaction with cloud cover islimited. Improved understanding of this relationship is vital, because soil temperatures driveimportant ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling and carbon fluxes. We investigatedwhether effects on soil temperature are found under smaller high Arctic vegetation in Svalbard,Norway, by modeling soil temperatures in relation to vegetation cover and height across forty plots,using July temperature recordings from 2020 to 2023. We found reduced minimum temperaturesunder thicker moss layers and taller forb and shrub vegetation, whereas organic layers reducedmaximum temperatures. These effects were strongest under sunny conditions, whereas shrubcover showed weak interactions with cloud cover. This contrasts with lower latitudes, where shrubsexert strong shading effects and vegetation reduces maximum and raises minimum soil tempera-tures. This discrepancy might stem from smaller diurnal temperature fluctuations, lower vegetationheight, and lower solar radiation in the high Arctic. Our results indicate that predicted vegetationshifts resulting from climate change may lead to complex soil temperature responses in the future.

• Vardakas, Leonidas; Kapakos, Yiannis; Leris, Ioannis; Koutsikos, Nicholas; Kouraklis, Petros & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Urban aquatic habitats as refugia for threatened freshwater fish: Insights from the Corfu killifish. Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 7(1). doi: 10.1002/2688-8319.70228. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Freshwater biodiversity is under immense pressure globally, with invasive species among the primary drivers of extinction risk. We tested whether urban aquatic habitats can serve as refugia for threatened freshwater fish from invasive species' pressure, focussing on the translocation of a critically endangered killifish (Corfu killifish, Valencia letourneuxi ) to a spring‐fed peri‐urban pond in northwestern Greece. Urban habitat suitability was assessed using the REVIVE‐POLIS feasibility analysis tool, which incorporates conventional ecological criteria (water and biological quality, species‐specific habitat requirements, and invasive species pressure) alongside urban‐specific criteria including hydrological stability, food web structure and surrounding land use. The tool supported the suitability of the release site and indicated its utility in urban conservation planning. The translocation involved a two‐stage transfer of a total of 84 adult killifish spawners into the recipient pond across 2021 and 2022, corresponding to an estimated introduction density of 1.12 translocated inds m −2 . Post‐release monitoring in 2022 utilizing electrofishing confirmed establishment at the release site (density 0.83 inds m −2 ), as evidenced by the presence of larvae and juveniles. Subsequent monitoring in 2024 and 2025 using underwater cameras recorded cohorts of approximately 30 individuals (density 0.71 inds m −2 ). These spanned multiple age classes on both occasions, suggesting persistence and recruitment for ≥3 years after the initial release. As a single‐site case study, these findings should be interpreted cautiously; nevertheless, they indicate that carefully selected and managed urban aquatic refugia may complement conventional approaches for threatened fishes exposed to invasive species, provided key constraints (biosecurity, habitat area and long‐term viability) are addressed. Practical implication . This study delivers a user‐ready feasibility assessment tool that helps practitioners identify urban aquatic habitats suitable as refugia for threatened fish, provides methodological guidance for designing, implementing, and monitoring threatened‐fish translocations, and shows that where invasive‐species eradication is unfeasible, well‐managed urban refugia can complement or in some contexts, substitute for conventional in situ translocations.

• Jeunen, Gert‐Jan; Mills, Sadie; Bailie, Marc; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Lamare, Miles & Mariani, Stefano [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Recovering Historical eDNA From Museum-Preserved Filter Feeders via Non-Destructive Metabarcoding. Molecular Ecology Resources. ISSN 1755-098X. 26(3). doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.70132. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Recent technical advances have significantly enhanced the value of museum specimens for molecular research, with metagenomic and metabarcoding approaches expanding further the utility of museum collections. However, given the finite number of specimens, there is a critical need to move past destructive DNA extraction approaches and to explore non‐destructive techniques. In this proof‐of‐concept study, we evaluated the feasibility of extracting historical eDNA from the ethanol preservative used to store museum specimens. We compared a variety of extraction methods (centrifugation, evaporation, filtration, and precipitation) using ten replicate samples per treatment for statistical analyses. To assess potential differences in preservative‐derived eDNA recovery across different filter‐feeding taxonomic groups, we included a bryozoan, a demosponge, and a glass sponge. Comparative analyses with tissue biopsies revealed that 10 mL ethanol filtration performed equal to or, in some instances, outperformed tissue biopsies for all three specimens when examining the historical eDNA of Antarctic fish using a 16S rRNA metabarcoding approach, both for the number of species detected (α‐diversity) and community characterisation (β‐diversity). This initial study demonstrates the potential of ethanol preservative as a valuable, non‐destructive source of historical eDNA from museum‐stored filter‐feeding specimens. These findings highlight the viability of non‐destructive sampling for molecular research on museum collections, preserving specimen integrity while enabling biodiversity assessments. Further refinement of non‐destructive eDNA extraction could expand its applicability across taxa, collection types, and preservation methods, ensuring the long‐term sustainability of museum‐based genomic, metagenomic, and metabarcoding research.

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Karlson, Bengt & Eikrem, Wenche (2026). . Report from workshop on automated imaging of plankton in Oslo, Norway, 24–26 September 2025. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Karlson, Bengt; Artigas, Luis Felipe; Bastianini, Mauro; Cicco, Annalisa Di; Clarke, Dave & Clayton, Sophie [Vis alle 15 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). The state of high frequency automated phytoplankton observations in European coastal seas based on optical imaging in flow methods.
• Kürschner, Wolfram Michael; An, Pengcheng; Dons, Carl Erik & Nakrem, Hans Arne (2026). A new record of the conifer Quadrocladus from the Lower Permian Gipshuken Formationon Spitsbergen - implications for palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology. doi: https:/indico.uni-muenster.de/event/4105/book-of-abstracts.pdf. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  We report the first systematic description of Permian plant macrofossils from the Lower Permian Gipshuken Formation on Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Arctic Norway. Several conifer shoots from a fossil plant horizon in the lower Vengeberget member are assigned to the genus Quadrocladus. The plant-bearing interval occurs within stacked anhydrite–dolomite–marl successions of the Vengeberget member that record a shallow marine to supratidal sabkha system on an extensive carbonate platform in a semi arid climate, characterized by hypersalinity, low taxonomic diversity, and evidence for palaeosol formation and vegetation growth on exposed shoals and platform interiors. The Quadrocladus shoots display pronounced xeromorphic traits, notably very short and narrow leaves, consistent with adaptation to water stress in semi arid, periodically desiccated playa–sabkha settings. Comparison with younger occurrences from the Kungurian Tregiovo flora and Late Permian Angaran and Zechstein successions shows that the Spitsbergen record is so far, both the oldest and the northernmost known occurrence of Quadrocladus. These findings imply a boreal, semi arid origin for this xeromorphic, stress tolerant conifer and provide a key high latitude data point for reconstructing Early Permian vegetation dynamics and the subsequent palaeobiogeographic expansion of Quadrocladus across Pangaea.

• Norli, Marit; Jaccard, Pierre Franqois; Hansen, Peter Stig; Merlina, Andrea; Risbakk, Nathalie Marquesin & Vedal, Jens [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). New IFCB pipeline. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Presenting NIVAs new IFCB pipeline going from from images captured on the SOOP MS Color Fantasy using an IFCB, to data being stored as cell counts of phytoplankton taxa in the NIVA BioDB database. The pipeline includes use of an internally developed app to predict, annotate and retrain a CNN model.

• Boon, Annique van der; Boer, Rosa de; Groot, Bertwin de; Nakrem, Hans Arne; Nogueira, Liebert Parreiras & Ruggiu, Lisa Krämer [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). A promising novel recorder of Earth’s ancient magnetic field: fossil micrometeorites as paleomagnetic archives. doi: https:/royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/09/unravelling-magnetic-histories/. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The paleomagnetic record from sedimentary rocks is often ambiguous, limiting the recovery of reliable paleomagnetic data, particularly when compared to paleomagnetic data obtained from igneous rocks. I will introduce a novel, unexplored recorder of Earth’s magnetic field: fossil micrometeorites. Micrometeorites (MM) are small cosmic particles (50 μm-2mm) that make up a substantial part of the ~40,000 tons of extraterrestrial material delivered to Earth each year. Many MMs melt during atmospheric entry at altitudes of 80-90 km, transforming into cosmic spherules (CS). During this process, particles oxidise and form new minerals, particularly wüstite and magnetite, which record thermoremanent magnetisations upon subsequent cooling. CS are strongly magnetic and can be extracted from sedimentary rocks. Diagnostic features such as metal beads and vesicles inside some CS allow the reconstruction of their flight trajectory, which can be combined with their magnetisations to reconstruct the polarity of Earth’s magnetic field. While modern CS from Antarctica are already known to be robust recorders of the geomagnetic field, their deep-time counterparts remain almost entirely unexplored. I will present the first results of a paleomagnetic study of anthropogenic magnetite spherules that resemble iron-type (I-type) CS, as well as several Paleozoic I-type CS. These 50-300 μm spherules are measurable with standard paleomagnetic tools and, together with flight trajectories obtained using NanoCT scanning, are capable of opening a new window on the ancient geomagnetic field.

• Weiner, Agnes; Sætersdal, Ingrid Myklestad; Lacka, Magdalena; Ferraro, Mattia; Husum, Katrine & Risebrobakken, Bjørg [Vis alle 12 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Using paleogenomics to assess the impact of past environmental change on the biodiversity in Norwegian fjords. doi: https:/ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026AGUOSMC14C0909W/abstract. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Fjords are unique environments at the land-ocean interface. They provide sheltered, nutrient-rich habitats supporting highly diverse ecosystems. Over the past decades, climate change and other anthropogenic pressures have modified the environmental conditions in the fjords with so far mostly unknown consequences for the marine biodiversity. To better understand both ongoing and future changes in fjord ecosystems and how sensitive marine communities are to environmental changes, it is essential to trace past changes in environmental conditions and their effects on biodiversity. To this end, in the project PASTIME we are combining traditional paleoecological proxies with paleogenomics (sedimentary ancient DNA) to investigate environmental changes in both Arctic and western Norwegian fjords over the past few centuries and their impact on marine communities. This retrospective approach can now extend far beyond observational timescales and even discover species without a fossil record. We are reconstructing changes in water temperature, freshwater inflow, sea ice cover and oxygen levels and trace changes from a preindustrial state of the ecosystem to the modern state. Our aim is to elucidate key drivers of biodiversity change, study the resilience of organisms, trace the rate of change of fjord ecosystems, and the arrival of invasive species over time. Here, we will present preliminary data on sediment cores collected in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, and Masfjorden, Western Norway, that have a high temporal resolution and show marine community responses to past environmental changes.

• Skarpaas, Olav (2026). Trees and forest dynamics: present, past and future. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Skarpaas, Olav (2026). Skog i NiN: Hva skjuler seg bak skogmaska? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Smith, Paul; Kool, Anneleen; Tornevall, Hanna; Gehrke, Berit & Pirie, Michael D. (2026). Panel discussion on the future of botanical gardens. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Paul Smith fra BGCI mottok æresdoktortittel ved UiB (torsdag 21. mai). Universitetsmuseet inviterte I denne anledning onsdag 20. mai til æresdoktor forelesning av Paul Smith, BCGI (Tårnsalen, Naturhistorisk Museum Bergen, englsk) med titel «Conserving plants across the world's gardens and seed banks: how to create impact at scale». Universitetshagene benyttet også anledningen til å arrangere et tilsvarende seminar om betydningen av – og fremtiden for – botaniske hager.

• Tonti-Filippini, Justin Antony Dean; Jakobsen, R.; Hammer, Øyvind & Piispa, E. (2026). Atmospheric pressure recorded by mid-Miocene basalts in eastern Iceland. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Zedda, Luciana; Sipman, Harrie; Moncada, Bibiana; Nimis, Pier Luigi; Spribille, Toby & Timdal, Einar [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Ophioparma rubricosa (Müll. Arg.) Ekman, an extremely rare lichen from Sardinia (Italy). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nelson, Jessica & Köder, Franziska Maria (2026). Neurodiversity in the Workplace. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bryn, Anders (2026). Forskinga i Valdres kan stoppe byggeprosjektet ditt. Det verste vi kan gjøre er å spre oss utover. [Journal]. Avisa Valdres. doi: https:/www.avisa-valdres.no/forskninga-i-vang-kan-stoppe-byggeprosjektet-ditt-det-verste-vi-kan-gjore-er-a-spre-oss-utover/s/5-54-1211245. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bryn, Anders (2026). 20 forskere og kartleggere bruker naturen i Vang til å forbedre KI-modellene. doi: https:/omny.fm/shows/dalfret/20-forskere-og-kartleggere-bruker-naturen-i-vang-til-forbedre-ki-modellene. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bryn, Anders (2026). Anders Bryn om hvordan fjellet gror igjen og hva det betyr. doi: https:/open.spotify.com/episode/2VfQRa0xW6ONS3gEST6W0b. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bryn, Anders (2026). Norge har aldri hatt mer skog. [Journal]. Klassekampen. doi: https:/klassekampen.no/artikkel/2026-08-20/norge-har-aldri-hatt-mer-skog. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Yilmaz, Yeliz A.; Pirk, Norbert; Tallaksen, Lena M.; Stordal, Frode; Berntsen, Terje Koren & Bryn, Anders (2026). Cold region land-atmosphere interactions. doi: https:/www.gewexevents.org/meetings/glass2026/program/abstracts/#Y. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Environmental change in high latitudes is progressing faster and more intensely than in many other regions of the Earth. A warmer climate has already triggered unprecedented changes in the terrestrial cryosphere, hydrosphere and ecosphere, which feed back to the atmosphere and the hydrologic cycle. Yet, many studies still rely on one-way coupling between the atmosphere and the land surface, thereby neglecting important interactions and feedback mechanisms. To advance our knowledge on climate change in northern environments, LATICE (Land–ATmosphere Interactions in Cold Environments) was established as a strategic research initiative at the University of Oslo in 2015. Since then, it has developed into a collaborative network of researchers from atmospheric and terrestrial research groups. We combine novel observations, process-based model development, and integrated Earth observation frameworks to improve our understanding of high latitude environmental processes and their representation in Earth System Models - particularly the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM). The current LATICE infrastructure including flux towers, drone-based measurements, and a cold climate container contributes to expanding our observational data records in cold environments complemented by regionally calibrated satellite products tailored to boreal and Arctic conditions. These coordinated in-situ, airborne, and spaceborne datasets provide important constraints on surface fluxes, snow dynamics, and vegetation processes. On the modelling side, LATICE researchers have been contributing to land surface and hydrological models to better represent cold region processes by including process parameterizations, new plant functional types, and vegetation demography. The integration of observations and models through data assimilation methods, and further exploration of hybrid approaches with machine learning algorithms support improved understanding of land-atmosphere coupling and uncertainty quantification. This presentation highlights key activities and scientific advances within the LATICE community, presents example studies, and discusses future directions for scientific collaboration with the Pan-GLASS community.

• Jensenius, Alexander Refsum; Sandve, Geir Kjetil Ferkingstad; Boasson, Elin Lerum; Mjaaland, Marius Timmann; Skjelkvåle, Brit Lisa & Moen, Kåre [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). What can the Centre for Global Sustainability do for UiO – and the other way around? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bryn, Anders (2026). Mountain knowledge: monitoring of climate and nature in high mountains. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Fjellviten: overvåking av klima og natur i høgfjellet

• Skarpaas, Olav (2026). BioM: Methods for knowledge-based biodiversity monitoring and management under uncertainty. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Persson, Per; Sørensen, Rolf; Høeg, Helge Irgens; Gälman, Veronika; Moltsen, Annine S. A. & Henningsmoen, Kari Egede [Vis alle 19 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Vestfoldbaneprosjektet. Arkeologiske undersøkelser i forbindelse med ny jernbane mellom Larvik og Porsgrunn. Bind 3. Stone Age in Telemark. Archaeological results and scientific analysis from Vestfoldbaneprosjektet. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Brac, Mathieu Gabriel Faure; Doriath-Döhler, Aimie & Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). Résultats thermométaboliques et physiologiques paradoxaux chez les ichtyosaures. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Martiniussen, Erik & Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). #21 Lene Liebe Delsett om live…–Erik M – Apple Podcasts. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Podcast Episode · Erik M · 21 April · 1hr 20min

• Ramsfjell, Mali Hamre; Liow, Lee Hsiang; Kongshavn, Katrine; Kongsrud, Jon Anders; Bakken, Torkild & Buhaug, Maria Grankvist [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Documenting Norwegian Bryozoans - a NorDigBryo summary. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  En oversikt over Artdatabankprosjektet NorDigBryo sammen med noen av resultatene (med fokus på cheilostome mosdyr)

• Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). Dinosaurer og andre dyr. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). Forskning på livet i dinosaurtiden. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kjørstad, Elise; Miedema, Feiko & Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). Forskere har funnet mange fostre i magene til fiskeøgler. Nå har de forsket på dem. [Journal]. forskning.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  – Dette gir nye muligheter til å forstå reproduksjon hos dyr som for lengst er utdødd, sier forsker.

• Kjørstad, Elise & Delsett, Lene Liebe (2026). Beistet fra kritt-tiden kan være den største blekkspruten som er oppdaget. [Journal]. forskning.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  For 80 millioner år siden fantes det blekkspruter i havet som kunne bli opp til 19 meter lange, ifølge en ny studie.

• Boon, Annique van der; Boer, Rosa de; Groot, Bertwin de; Nakrem, Hans Arne; Ruggiu, Lisa Krämer & Goderis, Steven [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). A promising novel recorder of Earth's ancient magnetic field: fossil micrometeorites as paleomagnetic archives. doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18433. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The paleomagnetic record from sedimentary rocks is often ambiguous, limiting the recovery of reliable paleomagnetic data, particularly when compared to paleomagnetic data obtained from igneous rocks. We explore the potential of a novel type of paleomagnetic recorder in sedimentary rocks: fossil micrometeorites. Micrometeorites (MM) are small cosmic particles (50 μm-2mm) which account for a significant portion of the approximately 40,000 tons of extraterrestrial material that arrives on Earth annually. Many MMs melt during atmospheric entry, at altitudes of 80-90 km and transform into cosmic spherules (CS). CS have long been recognised as magnetic and can be extracted from sedimentary rocks. During melting and formation of CS, MM oxidise and form new minerals, particularly wüstite and magnetite. Subsequently, the cosmic spherules quench within a few seconds. This rapid cooling through the Curie temperature leads to the formation of thermoremanent magnetisations within CS. Diagnostic features such as metal beads and vesicles inside a proportion of CS make it possible to determine their flight trajectory, which can be combined with the magnetisation to reconstruct the polarity of EMF. While modern CS from Antarctica have already been shown to be good recorders of the geomagnetic field1, the deep-time paleomagnetic records of CS remain unexplored. We present the results of a paleomagnetic study of anthropogenic magnetite spherules that resemble iron-type (I-type) CS, as well as several Paleozoic I-type CS. We demonstrate that individual spherules are measurable using existing paleomagnetic methods and equipment, while computed tomography (NanoCT) scanning enabled reliable reconstruction of the fall trajectory of a Paleozoic CS. We show that fossil CS with sizes of 50-300 μm are a promising, novel class of paleomagnetic recorder, accessible with existing techniques and capable of opening a new window on the ancient geomagnetic field. 1Suavet, C., Gattacceca, J., Rochette, P. & Folco, L. Constraining the terrestrial age of micrometeorites using their record of the Earth’s magnetic field polarity. Geology 39, 123–126 (2011).

• Bryn, Anders; Horvath, Peter & Dervo, Børre Kind (2026). Limnisk test-kartlegging i verna vassdrag - 2026. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Presentasjon av et metodisk kartleggingseksperiment for limnisk NiN-kartlegging

• Delsett, Lene Liebe & Reiersen, Håkon (2026). Fra jura til vikingtid: Forskning på museums­samlinger endret vår tidsoppfatning. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  KRONIKK: Svært mye av kunnskapen om livets lange historie kommer fra forskning på naturhistoriske og kulturhistoriske museumssamlinger. I dag er samlingene viktigere enn noensinne, og fortjener økt prioritet.

• Bryn, Anders (2026). Klimavirkninger av å holde dyr på beite. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Foredrag som oppdaterer dagens kunnskapsgrunnlag om klimavirkninger av å holde husdyr på beite i Norge

• Tjessem, Ingrid Vesterdal (2026). Naturregnskap med biologiske briller. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Haugen, Marianne Nilsen; Struck, Torsten H; Gusarov, Vladimir & Sikes, Derek (2026). Species diversity, geographic ranges and genetic connectivity in organisms with limited dispersal capacity. A case study of the flightless intertidal beetle genus Aegialites Mannerheim, 1853. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Flightless organisms are generally expected to have limited dispersal, yet some occupy remarkably large geographic ranges. This thesis investigates this apparent paradox in Aegialites, a genus of small, flightless beetles specialized to rocky intertidal habitats and distributed across much of the North Pacific. By combining molecular, genomic and population genomic approaches, the thesis establishes the first comprehensive evolutionary framework for Aegialites. The results support substantially fewer species than previously proposed based on morphology, while also revealing previously unrecognized diversity. The first mitochondrial and high-quality nuclear genomes for the genus were generated. The genomes were relatively compact, and comparisons with other beetles revealed no evidence that adaptation to the intertidal environment involved extensive changes in genome organization or gene content. Population genomic analyses revealed strong geographic structure, but striking differences in connectivity among regions. California populations were strongly genetically differentiated across relatively short distances, whereas populations from Russia and Japan retained evidence of connectivity across more than 1,500 kilometers. Together, these findings show that limited active dispersal can generate strong population structure locally without preventing broad geographic distributions over evolutionary timescales. Historical demographic processes and occasional long-distance dispersal may therefore both contribute to the distribution of these flightless beetles.

• Skarpaas, Olav; Bratli, Harald; Roos, Ruben Erik; Løkken, Jørn Olav & Rennemo, Martin (2026). Prevalence of Phedimus spurius in open shallow calcareous ground An investigation of an invasive plant species in biodiverse-rich areas, and measures of removal for ecosystem restoration. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Saltveit, Svein Jakob; Brabrand, Åge & Heggenes, Jan (2026). Overvåking av ungfiskbestanden av ørret i Tokkeåi, Telemark. Årsrapport 2025. Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA). ISSN 9788242656346. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det ble gjennomført elektrofiske og tetthetsberegninger av ørretunger i 2011-2025 med unntak av 2014 og 2015 på 7 stasjoner i Tokkeåi og 2 stasjoner i Dalåi ved metoden «gjentatte uttak». De 7 stasjonene i Tokkeåi ligger alle nedenfor utløpet av Lio kraftverk og er tilgjengelige gyte- og oppvekstområder for ørret fra Bandak. I 2020-2024 ble en stasjon ovenfor Helvetefossen, men nedenfor Ravnejuvet, inkludert i undersøkelsen. I Dalåi ligger det en stasjon ovenfor og en nedenfor det som anses som et sannsynlig vandringshinder for ørret fra Bandak. Basert på de årene som foreligger på tetthetsberegninger i Tokkeåi (2011-2025, med unntak av 2014 og 2015) ble gjennomsnittlig tetthet på st. 2-7 beregnet til 27,1 årsunger per 100 m2 (standardavvik = 22,0) og 13,6 eldre ørretunger per 100 m2 (standardavvik = 7,9). Statistiske analyser viste ingen signifikante forskjeller i tettheter for årsunger (0+) over tid. Tettheter av eldre ørretunger varierte typisk mindre. Analysene viste at det nå er en svak tendens til nedgang i tettheter av eldre ørretunger. På stasjonen ovenfor Helvetesfossen ble årsunger og eldre ørretunger påvist, men tettheten var svært lav. Ingen endring over tid i tetthet for 0+, og en svak tendens til lavere tetthet for eldre ørretunger, tyder samlet sett på relativt stabil rekruttering. Dette er forventet siden det ikke var noen tidstrend i antall gytegroper som er registrert i samme tidsperiode. Hvorvidt stabil rekruttering bare henger sammen med antall gytegroper eller om overlevelsen av unger, spesielt fra 0+ til eldre unger og derved tettheten av utvandringsklar ørret kan økes, er ikke avklart. Vassdraget er næringsfattig, og med få andre arter til stede. Mye kan tyde på at tettheten er nær bæreevnen.

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