Research topic

Biodiversity

Erik Framstad

Main scientific experience covers population and habitat ecology of small mammals in boreal forests and mountain ecosystems. Applied research and consultancy work includes studies and assessments of boreal forest ecology, protected areas, ecological effects of agriculture and forestry on species and ecosystems, environmental impact assessments of infrastructure development projects, as well as assessments, indicators and monitoring of terrestrial biodiversity.

Main administrative experience covers management of NINA's research department in Oslo over > 25 yrs, as well as coordination of terrestrial ecosystem monitoring and major research projects and programmes on boreal forests or cultural landscapes.


Show full profile of Erik Framstad

Ann Kristin Schartau

Major practical experiences cover project management concerning research and monitoring in freshwater (rivers and lakes) and in marine environments (estuarine and coastal waters). Specialization on freshwater biodiversity and water quality. Project leader for several national projects on implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive in Norway: Design of a National Monitoring Network for Reference Sites, Design of a National Network for Surveillance monitoring in freshwaters, Evaluation of methods for monitoring and assessment of freshwaters c.f. the WFD. Experience from international work on standardization of biological methods, and different aspects related to the implementation of the ECC’s Water Framework Directive.


Show full profile of Ann Kristin Schartau

Thomas Correll Jensen

Freshwater ecology, freshwater invertebrates, zooplankton, growth and respiration of zooplankton, arctic ecology, freshwater monitoring, Water Framework Directive, biological indicators, invasive species,


Show full profile of Thomas Correll Jensen

Odd Egil Stabbetorp

Research Ecologist Field of work: Vegetation ecology, botany, population ecology, population genetics, conservation biology, species and area management, agricultural landscapes, environmental impact assessments, landscape analysis, geographic information systems (GIS).


Show full profile of Odd Egil Stabbetorp

Graciela Monica Rusch

Wide research interests on plant sciences, specifically on functional ecology, ecosystem function and ecological processes related to land-use, herbivory and the maintenance and management of biological diversity. Extensive international experience including research and consultancy projects in Europe, North America, South and Central America, and East Africa. Experience of project coordination including a number of international projects (Research Council of Norway and EU). A number of these projects are cross-disciplinary with components of ecology/biology and social/economic sciences. The work related to the projects have comprised own research, supervision of MSc and PhD students, consultancy and project coordination activities.


Show full profile of Graciela Monica Rusch

Jens Åström


Show full profile of Jens Åström

Bjørn Walseng

Senior Technician Field of work: Freshwater ecology, freshwater invertebrates (especially crustaceans), biodiversity, conservation plans, pollution ecology, environmental monitoring, enviromental impact assessments.


Show full profile of Bjørn Walseng

Kari Elsa Ellingsen


The main part of my research activities is focused on biodiversity, including functional diversity. This involves the measurement and modelling of biodiversity, issues of spatial and temporal scales, drivers of change, such as, the impact of different types of human activities and climate change, as well as the impact of top predators on other ecosystem components, i.e. cumulative impacts. I am also interested in the potential for reversibility of changes. Much of the research done involves the use of large-scale and/or long-term datasets already collected in scientific surveys or environmental monitoring surveys. I have studied marine biodiversity in different parts of the world in shallow waters, on the continental shelf and in the deep-sea using data on benthos and fish assemblages, including a focus on the High North. Most of my research has been on marine ecosystems, but I am also involved in research related to other ecosystems. I am also focusing on environmental monitoring and study/sampling design. The work implies many national and international collaborations, e.g. with scientists from Europe, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.


Show full profile of Kari Elsa Ellingsen

Ola Håvard Diserud

Applied statistical modelling, multivariate analysis, interactions between aquaculture and wild salmonids, biodiversity, population and community dynamics.


Show full profile of Ola Håvard Diserud

Marianne Evju

plant ecology, monitoring of biodiversity, nature types, demography and population dynamics, plant-herbivore interactions


Show full profile of Marianne Evju

Signe Nybø

  • Project management
  • Ecosystem condition and ecosystem accounting
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Nature Index of Norway http://www.naturindeks.no/
  • Radioecology
  • Restoring nature
  • Sustainable development with the focus on biodiversity
  • Synthesis

Show full profile of Signe Nybø

John Durrus Linnell

Ecology, behaviour, population dynamics and conservation of carnivores and wild ungulates. Conservation of species that cause conflicts with humans. Ecology – social science interdisciplinarity.


Show full profile of John Durrus Linnell

Inga Elise Bruteig

  • Research management
  • Organizational work
  • Biodiversity
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Climate and the environment
  • International cooperation on environmental issues
  • Invasive alien species (IAS), threatened species
  • Epiphytic lichens

Show full profile of Inga Elise Bruteig

Frode Fossøy


Show full profile of Frode Fossøy

Jenni Nordén

Community ecology, ecosystem ecology, spatial ecology, fungal ecology, dispersal ecology, population dynamics, conservation biology, trait ecology, functional ecology, forest ecology, soil ecology, evolutionary biology, decomposer fungi, environmental DNA, climate change, land use change, forest management.


Show full profile of Jenni Nordén

Siri Lie Olsen

Plant ecology, population dynamics, community ecology, biotic interactions, climate change, alien species, land-use change, biodiversity, mountains, forest, semi-natural grasslands


Show full profile of Siri Lie Olsen

Rannveig Margrete Jacobsen

Forests, ecological entomology, species interactions, decomposition, dead wood, alien species


Show full profile of Rannveig Margrete Jacobsen

Egil Bendiksen

Botany, mycology, forest ecology, environmental gradients in forest, species and area management, threatened and vulnerable species


Show full profile of Egil Bendiksen

Tor Erik Brandrud

Mycology (Taxonomy and Ecology of Mycorrhizal Fungi), Ecology of Aquatic macrophytes (Higer Plants and Mosses, including Aquatic Weeds; Effect Studies and Management), Vegetation ecology, Acidification Research, Nature conservancy and management (freshwater and terrestrial anvironments), Biodiversity


Show full profile of Tor Erik Brandrud

Anders Endrestøl

- Insects, with special expertise in Hemiptera.
- Alien species (insects)
- Red-listed species (Hemiptera
- Monitoring and mapping of biological diversity)

Show full profile of Anders Endrestøl

Björn Nordén

I am a forest ecologist and conservation scientist, and an expert in the biodiversity of temperate deciduous forest (edelløvskog), the worlds’ most degraded biome. Since there is so little left of the temperate deciduous forest, restoration is necessary, and I have led several projects on experimental evaluation of restoration measures at various scales, from creation of microhabitats to release cutting and landscape effects.

There is a strong tendency of taxonomic bias within conservation, meaning that nearly all interest is focused on a few taxa such as large animals and vascular plants, while hyper-diverse taxa such as fungi and insects are often neglected. I therefore engage in both basic exploration of biodiversity within hyper-diverse taxa, and study the effects of habitat loss, management et c on multiple taxa, including plants, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, and various insect groups. As a trained mycologist, I have over 30 years professional experience and a long list of publications on the biodiversity, ecology, taxonomy and conservation of Ascomycota, including lichenized species. Knowledge on species identification and taxonomy of hyper-diverse taxa are essential for such studies, but highly threatened and decreasing skills worldwide. My own taxonomic expertise is within pyrenomycetoid ascomycetes, especially those associated with living trees and dead wood, and I have described several species new to science from the Nordic countries.

Starting with my PhD, I have also published several papers on dispersal ecology, effects of habitat continuity, and the use of Indicator species, especially concerning cryptogams.


Show full profile of Björn Nordén

Dagmar Hagen

Ecosystem restoration, restoration ecology, planning, management, plant ecology, seedbank, arctic and alpine vegetation, monitoring, vegetation disturbance and recovery.


Show full profile of Dagmar Hagen

Markus A.K. Sydenham


Show full profile of Markus A.K. Sydenham

Zander Venter

Remote sensing (satellite and aerial), vegetation ecology, ecosystem services, pollution, GIS


Show full profile of Zander Venter

Knut Andreas Eikland

  • Macro invertebrate collection
  • Macro invertebrate taxonomy
  • Echo sounding
  • Pelagic trawling
  • Gill nets (Multimesh and series)
  • Electrofishing
  • PIT tags
  • Drift diving surveys

Show full profile of Knut Andreas Eikland

Anders Lyngstad


Show full profile of Anders Lyngstad

Katarzyna Anna Ostapowicz


Show full profile of Katarzyna Anna Ostapowicz

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About NINA

The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) is Norway’s leading institution for applied ecological research.

Projects in NINA

Contact us

 P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden,
     NO-7485 Trondheim

 Phone +47 73 80 14 00
 E-mail: firmapost@nina.no

Biodiversity

Erik Framstad

Main scientific experience covers population and habitat ecology of small mammals in boreal forests and mountain ecosystems. Applied research and consultancy work includes studies and assessments of boreal forest ecology, protected areas, ecological effects of agriculture and forestry on species and ecosystems, environmental impact assessments of infrastructure development projects, as well as assessments, indicators and monitoring of terrestrial biodiversity.

Main administrative experience covers management of NINA's research department in Oslo over > 25 yrs, as well as coordination of terrestrial ecosystem monitoring and major research projects and programmes on boreal forests or cultural landscapes.


Show full profile of Erik Framstad

Ann Kristin Schartau

Major practical experiences cover project management concerning research and monitoring in freshwater (rivers and lakes) and in marine environments (estuarine and coastal waters). Specialization on freshwater biodiversity and water quality. Project leader for several national projects on implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive in Norway: Design of a National Monitoring Network for Reference Sites, Design of a National Network for Surveillance monitoring in freshwaters, Evaluation of methods for monitoring and assessment of freshwaters c.f. the WFD. Experience from international work on standardization of biological methods, and different aspects related to the implementation of the ECC’s Water Framework Directive.


Show full profile of Ann Kristin Schartau

Thomas Correll Jensen

Freshwater ecology, freshwater invertebrates, zooplankton, growth and respiration of zooplankton, arctic ecology, freshwater monitoring, Water Framework Directive, biological indicators, invasive species,


Show full profile of Thomas Correll Jensen

Odd Egil Stabbetorp

Research Ecologist Field of work: Vegetation ecology, botany, population ecology, population genetics, conservation biology, species and area management, agricultural landscapes, environmental impact assessments, landscape analysis, geographic information systems (GIS).


Show full profile of Odd Egil Stabbetorp

Graciela Monica Rusch

Wide research interests on plant sciences, specifically on functional ecology, ecosystem function and ecological processes related to land-use, herbivory and the maintenance and management of biological diversity. Extensive international experience including research and consultancy projects in Europe, North America, South and Central America, and East Africa. Experience of project coordination including a number of international projects (Research Council of Norway and EU). A number of these projects are cross-disciplinary with components of ecology/biology and social/economic sciences. The work related to the projects have comprised own research, supervision of MSc and PhD students, consultancy and project coordination activities.


Show full profile of Graciela Monica Rusch

Jens Åström


Show full profile of Jens Åström

Bjørn Walseng

Senior Technician Field of work: Freshwater ecology, freshwater invertebrates (especially crustaceans), biodiversity, conservation plans, pollution ecology, environmental monitoring, enviromental impact assessments.


Show full profile of Bjørn Walseng

Kari Elsa Ellingsen


The main part of my research activities is focused on biodiversity, including functional diversity. This involves the measurement and modelling of biodiversity, issues of spatial and temporal scales, drivers of change, such as, the impact of different types of human activities and climate change, as well as the impact of top predators on other ecosystem components, i.e. cumulative impacts. I am also interested in the potential for reversibility of changes. Much of the research done involves the use of large-scale and/or long-term datasets already collected in scientific surveys or environmental monitoring surveys. I have studied marine biodiversity in different parts of the world in shallow waters, on the continental shelf and in the deep-sea using data on benthos and fish assemblages, including a focus on the High North. Most of my research has been on marine ecosystems, but I am also involved in research related to other ecosystems. I am also focusing on environmental monitoring and study/sampling design. The work implies many national and international collaborations, e.g. with scientists from Europe, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.


Show full profile of Kari Elsa Ellingsen

Ola Håvard Diserud

Applied statistical modelling, multivariate analysis, interactions between aquaculture and wild salmonids, biodiversity, population and community dynamics.


Show full profile of Ola Håvard Diserud

Marianne Evju

plant ecology, monitoring of biodiversity, nature types, demography and population dynamics, plant-herbivore interactions


Show full profile of Marianne Evju

Signe Nybø

  • Project management
  • Ecosystem condition and ecosystem accounting
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Nature Index of Norway http://www.naturindeks.no/
  • Radioecology
  • Restoring nature
  • Sustainable development with the focus on biodiversity
  • Synthesis

Show full profile of Signe Nybø

John Durrus Linnell

Ecology, behaviour, population dynamics and conservation of carnivores and wild ungulates. Conservation of species that cause conflicts with humans. Ecology – social science interdisciplinarity.


Show full profile of John Durrus Linnell

Inga Elise Bruteig

  • Research management
  • Organizational work
  • Biodiversity
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Climate and the environment
  • International cooperation on environmental issues
  • Invasive alien species (IAS), threatened species
  • Epiphytic lichens

Show full profile of Inga Elise Bruteig

Frode Fossøy


Show full profile of Frode Fossøy

Jenni Nordén

Community ecology, ecosystem ecology, spatial ecology, fungal ecology, dispersal ecology, population dynamics, conservation biology, trait ecology, functional ecology, forest ecology, soil ecology, evolutionary biology, decomposer fungi, environmental DNA, climate change, land use change, forest management.


Show full profile of Jenni Nordén

Siri Lie Olsen

Plant ecology, population dynamics, community ecology, biotic interactions, climate change, alien species, land-use change, biodiversity, mountains, forest, semi-natural grasslands


Show full profile of Siri Lie Olsen

Rannveig Margrete Jacobsen

Forests, ecological entomology, species interactions, decomposition, dead wood, alien species


Show full profile of Rannveig Margrete Jacobsen

Egil Bendiksen

Botany, mycology, forest ecology, environmental gradients in forest, species and area management, threatened and vulnerable species


Show full profile of Egil Bendiksen

Tor Erik Brandrud

Mycology (Taxonomy and Ecology of Mycorrhizal Fungi), Ecology of Aquatic macrophytes (Higer Plants and Mosses, including Aquatic Weeds; Effect Studies and Management), Vegetation ecology, Acidification Research, Nature conservancy and management (freshwater and terrestrial anvironments), Biodiversity


Show full profile of Tor Erik Brandrud

Anders Endrestøl

- Insects, with special expertise in Hemiptera.
- Alien species (insects)
- Red-listed species (Hemiptera
- Monitoring and mapping of biological diversity)

Show full profile of Anders Endrestøl

Björn Nordén

I am a forest ecologist and conservation scientist, and an expert in the biodiversity of temperate deciduous forest (edelløvskog), the worlds’ most degraded biome. Since there is so little left of the temperate deciduous forest, restoration is necessary, and I have led several projects on experimental evaluation of restoration measures at various scales, from creation of microhabitats to release cutting and landscape effects.

There is a strong tendency of taxonomic bias within conservation, meaning that nearly all interest is focused on a few taxa such as large animals and vascular plants, while hyper-diverse taxa such as fungi and insects are often neglected. I therefore engage in both basic exploration of biodiversity within hyper-diverse taxa, and study the effects of habitat loss, management et c on multiple taxa, including plants, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, and various insect groups. As a trained mycologist, I have over 30 years professional experience and a long list of publications on the biodiversity, ecology, taxonomy and conservation of Ascomycota, including lichenized species. Knowledge on species identification and taxonomy of hyper-diverse taxa are essential for such studies, but highly threatened and decreasing skills worldwide. My own taxonomic expertise is within pyrenomycetoid ascomycetes, especially those associated with living trees and dead wood, and I have described several species new to science from the Nordic countries.

Starting with my PhD, I have also published several papers on dispersal ecology, effects of habitat continuity, and the use of Indicator species, especially concerning cryptogams.


Show full profile of Björn Nordén

Dagmar Hagen

Ecosystem restoration, restoration ecology, planning, management, plant ecology, seedbank, arctic and alpine vegetation, monitoring, vegetation disturbance and recovery.


Show full profile of Dagmar Hagen

Markus A.K. Sydenham


Show full profile of Markus A.K. Sydenham

Zander Venter

Remote sensing (satellite and aerial), vegetation ecology, ecosystem services, pollution, GIS


Show full profile of Zander Venter

Knut Andreas Eikland

  • Macro invertebrate collection
  • Macro invertebrate taxonomy
  • Echo sounding
  • Pelagic trawling
  • Gill nets (Multimesh and series)
  • Electrofishing
  • PIT tags
  • Drift diving surveys

Show full profile of Knut Andreas Eikland

Anders Lyngstad


Show full profile of Anders Lyngstad

Katarzyna Anna Ostapowicz


Show full profile of Katarzyna Anna Ostapowicz

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research

NINA is an independent foundation for nature research and research on the interaction between human society, natural resources and biodiversity.
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