The Norwegian National Pollinator Strategy calls for the establishment of new pollinator habitats, in addition to protecting existing habitats like hay meadows. In the FlowerMeds project, NINA focuses on the creation of flower meadows. Specifically, we want to know what is the best way to do this. These are not the ordinary "sow some seeds from your garden shop" flower meadows. We are creating flower meadows from a hyper-local seed source that aims to conserve both pollinators and the critically endangered hay meadows that the seeds come from. How is that for a win-win nature-based solution!

Contact: Megan Nowell.

See project page in Norwegian

Through MetaComNet (2020-2022) we aim to develop a modelling framework that can predict the structure of interaction networks and the sustenance of associated ecosystem functions. In this project we use a combination of simulated data, data from digital repositories, and data from our own ecological surveys. We will use ecological networks consisting of floral visitations by wild bees as a model system because bee-plant interactions can lead to pollination. We will conduct pollen limitation experiments to test if the predicted structure of bee-plant networks corresponds to the actual pollen limitation within plant communities. We will collaborate with researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark, Oslo University (UiO), The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO). MetaComNet: Linking metacommunity dynamics to the structure of ecological networks and ecosystem functioning is financed by the Research Council Norway (Young Research Talents – FRIPRO).

In this research line we assess how habitat management practices affect the quality of wild bee habitats and model the distribution of these habitats. We study commonly managed, restored and endangered habitats, and the extent to which they are a resource for wild bees and how their importance varies with habitat quality and its location in the landscape. This research supports decisions about where to allocate conservation efforts in the landscape by identifying where management practices will render most bee biodiversity conservation gains (POLLILAND).

This research stream aims at mapping pollinator potential, capacity and use. One applied aim of this research is to provided recommendations on spatial stocking density of honey beehives in different landscapes

• Pollinator habitat potential (ESTIMAP). Read more about mapping of urban green structures.
• Regional pollinator diversity mapping (POLLILAND)
• Honey-bees flight probability maps based on waggle dance

The city of Oslo has an active and dedicated bee keeping community at the same time that the area of the city and its surroundings is a hot-spot of wild bee diversity in Norway. We use field surveys, molecular techniques, citizen science to increase the knowledge and provide guidance about how wild bees and domestic bees can be managed to avoid negative impacts on native bees. The research places emphasis on co-production of research with beekeepers. Our research aims to support decisions about beehive stocking densities that enable the coexistence of honey bees and wild bees.

Flower meadows, wild bees and honey bees are used in the discourse as representations of urban biodiversity. Urban beekeeping is a recreational outdoor activity and an activity embodying local landscape knowledge and apicultural practices. As such it represents a mix of cultural ecosystem services with plural values/motivations. The research focuses on understanding the links between local knowledge of wild and domestic bees, attitudes and land use and beekeeping management actions. The research places emphasis on co-production of research with beekeepers. Read more about this on the pages of our URBAN SIS-project (in Norwegian).

Pollination of plants by wild pollinators is the fundamental mechanism by which a large majority of flowering plants can maintain genetic and trait diversity and reproduce successfully. In CLIMATE ECOTONES, we study the preference of bumblebees species for different mountain flowering plants, and their importance for the reproduction of a keystone species in the Norwegian mountains, bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) along climatic gradients.

We assess the condition of Norwegian ecosystems and their capacity to generate ecosystem services. Read more about the pollination services project.

Bumblebees and butterflies play important roles in the ecosystem, and are also vulnerable for environmental changes. Thus, they can function as warning signs. Read more about NINAs monitoring of bumblebees and butterflies (in Norwegian).

Graciela M. Rusch (contact person)

• David N. Barton
• Joseph Chipperfield
• Sondre Dahle
• Jane Jepsen
• Erik Stange
• Markus Sydenham
• Arnstein Staverløkk
• Jens Åström
• Sandra Åström
• Megan Nowell
• Marie Davey