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All organisms leave traces of their DNA in the environment they live in. This environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to detect and monitor single species as well as communities, and potentially be utilized in early warning systems to detect alien species. In this report, we give an overview of eDNA-based methods used to detect and monitor alien species, and give examples of speciesspecific assays designed to identify species that are alien to Norwegian nature or have the potential to establish viable populations in Norway (doorknockers). We emphasize the need for several stages of testing before species-specific assays can be operational, and discuss the importance of including models to assess detection probabilities. Going through standards for sampling and analyses, we suggest a number of minimum requirements for eDNA sampling, laboratory practice, bioinformatics and the use of reference libraries, as well as for reporting results from eDNA studies. The origin and fate of eDNA in different environments can influence its usefulness in detecting and monitoring alien species. We outline factors for terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems and provide examples from six case studies where eDNA has been used to detect and/or monitor alien invasive species: invertebrates and vascular plants in soil of imported ornamental plants, freshwater crayfish and crayfish plague, Gyrodactylus salaris, pink salmon, Canadian pondweed, and American lobster. We provide a decision diagram for detection and monitoring of invasive species starting with early considerations for implementation of a monitoring program, and ending with management decision points depending on detection outcomes at different stages. Finally, we provide some key recommendations for the use of eDNA in assessments of alien and doorknocker species. Bruk av miljø-DNA og DNA-baserte metoder for å vurdere og overvåke fremmede arter og dørstokkarter. The use of eDNA and DNA-based methods to assess and monitor alien and doorknocker species

We set sail from Longyearbyen on 30.6.2021 to collect surface sediments, long sediment archives, water and plankton samples. The study area is located north of Svalbard, within the seasonal and permanent sea ice covered Arctic Ocean. We took stations N of Svalbard, near Nordaustlandet, Sophia Basin, Yermak Plateau and on the shelf east of Svalbard. In total, we had 52 stations. We deployed the multicorer at least once at every station and sampled the core tops already onboard. These samples will be included in the Arctic Surface Sediment DNA Database, which we will use to establish new aDNA based sea ice proxies. We recovered gravity cores from 12 stations that can be used to reconstruct the Arctic sea ice history in the Holocene, last glacial and likely also Last Interglacial. We collected ice and water and filtered these for eDNA and biomarkers, and water for tracing the isotope signal of the different water masses in the region (Atlantic Water, Polar Water). publishedVersion

Despite their importance in shaping the structure and function of marine microbial food webs, little is known about factors regulating marine virus abundance. Previous work demonstrated clearance of laboratory-cultured Emiliania huxleyi virus by the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica; however, the applicability of this interaction to natural virus assemblages was not investigated. Here, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments using O. dioica and mesocosm water containing natural virus assemblages with high densities of virus, and measured removal of virus by O. dioica using both flow cytometry and molecular methods. Bayesian models based on flow cytometry quantification of virus particles demonstrated efficient removal of viruses (mean 90.3 mL ind−1 d−1), with a clearance efficiency of 42.6% relative to food algae. Molecular detection of virus removal by quantification of viral mcp gene copies revealed a mean clearance rate of 68.1 mL ind−1 d−1. Fecal pellets from these experiments demonstrated that viruses in fecal pellets retain infectivity despite passage through the O. dioica gut. Shotgun metavirome analysis demonstrated O. dioica removal of large virus groups, notably the Phycodnaviridae. The results demonstrate the removal of E. huxleyi virus from natural virus assemblages by O. dioica and the maintenance of viral infectivity when incorporated into fecal pellets, prompting further investigation on the fate of fecal-packaged viruses and their impact on host dynamics. Furthermore, our results indicate the generality of this interaction for other large algal viruses, raising questions about the implications of this mechanism of marine virus redistribution on the broader marine virus community. publishedVersion

MetaMon (2018-2021) was a project at the NORCE Molecular Ecology Research Group aimed at maturing eDNA for sediment offshore environmental monitoring. Findings include (i) guidelines for sampling and processing, (ii) a 97 station metabarcoding study showing metabarcoding de novo biotic indices performed comparable to the morpho-taxonomic NSI index and co-occurrence networks for impacted and non-impacted sites. Two ddPCR assays were developed and tested as a proof of concept. Finally, (iii) a gap analysis was done for online databases, (iv) several species were individually sequenced, and (v) COI metabarcoding of bulk animal tissue evaluated. With these deliverables together with an ambitious program for communication and outreach MetaMon has significantly advanced progress towards use of metabarcoding data in offshore environmental monitoring, yet findings need to be consolidated with further data and time series validation.

Source at https://www.miljodirektoratet.no/publikasjoner/2021/juni-2021/kunnskapsstatus-for-bruk-av-molekylare-verktoy-i-kartlegging-og-overvakning-av-biologisk-mangfold-i-marine-miljo/ Denne rapporten er bestilt av Miljødirektoratet fra NorBOL (Norwegian Barcode of Life), et nasjonalt nettverk av forskningsinstitusjoner som koordineres av NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. Universitetsmuseet i Bergen har hatt prosjektledelsen. Rapporten gir en oppsummering av dagens status på DNA-basert metodikk som verktøy i kartlegging og overvåking av biologisk mangfold i det marine miljø. Fokus har vært på innsamlingsmetodikk og protokoller for DNA-analyser av arter og artsgrupper. Metodikken er evaluert opp mot kartleggings- og overvåkingsaktivitet i regi av Miljødirektoratet, og kommer med anbefalinger for videre framdrift for å ta metodikken i bruk i nasjonal kartlegging og overvåking. Rapporten har også en gjennomgang og evaluering av eksisterende referansemateriale og referansesekvenser for relevante arter og artsgrupper som inngår i Miljødirektoratets kartleggings- og overvåkingsaktivitet.

The ability to quantify vital aquatic organisms in the 2–50 µm size range was compared between five different flow cytometers and several different microscopes. Counts of calibration beads, algal monocultures of different sizes as well as organisms in a Wadden Sea sample were compared. Flow cytometers and microscopes delivered different bead concentrations. These differences between the instruments became larger for algal monocultures and were even higher for the Wadden Sea sample. It was observed that the concentration differences were significant between flow cytometer and microscope counts, and that this difference increased with the size of the objects counted. Microscope counts were more accurate for larger (50 µm) objects because cytometers struggled with bigger particles that clogged the instruments. Contrary to microscopy, the flow cytometers were capable of accurately enumerating cultured cells in the 2–10 µm size range and cells in the lower size range of the 10–50 µm size class. Flow cytometers were also well-suited to assess low abundance samples due to their ability to process larger volumes than microscopes. The results were used to indicate which tools are suitable for ballast water monitoring: flow cytometry is a suitable technology for an indicative and real time analysis of ballast water samples whilst only microscopy would be robust enough for detailed taxonomical analyses.

Appendicularians are planktonic marine tunicates with elaborate filter-feeding houses that can efficiently trap particles as small as 0.2 lm. While marine viruses are seldom considered outside their role in disease transmission, we conducted a controlled laboratory experiment to determine if the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica can trap and ingest the Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV; 160–180 nm diameter). Removal and retention of EhV during 2.5 h and overnight incubations at 158C were measured using flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction specific for the mcp gene of EhV. The fate of retained EhV was tested by quantifying EhV DNA in three biological compartments: house-trapping, ingestion/digestion, and defecation. Clearance rates for EhV varied from approximately 2 mL ind21 d21 to 50 mL ind21 d21, with highest rates for 4–5 d-old animals. EhV particles were cleared by O. dioica at rates similar to those reported for larger food particles, with mean clearance rates in the 2.5 h incubations ranging from approximately 2 mL ind21 d21 to 50 mL ind21 d21. This demonstrates efficient virus removal by O. dioica and a previously overlooked link between the microbial loop and the classical marine food web. EhV DNA was readily detectable above background levels in O. dioica houses, gut contents, and faecal pellets, suggesting that appendicularian houses and faecal pellets may contribute to the dispersal of viruses. Furthermore, clearance of EhV and presumably other viruses by O. dioica may be a significant sink for viruses and thus an important factor in regulating the population dynamics of viruses and their hosts.

Bacheloroppgave i barnehagelærerutdanning, Høgskolen i Innlandet, 2017. Norsk: Hvordan kan arbeid med leseaktiviteter i barnehagen bidra til å støtte barns språkutvikling? Det er problemstillingen jeg valgte å arbeide med. Hensikten med oppgaven var å øke mine kunnskaper innen leseaktiviteter og språkutvikling. Gjennom årene på barnehagelærerutdanningen og gjennom praksis, har jeg sett og blitt fortalt at det er store forskjeller på hvordan barnehagene jobber med språkutvikling. Rammeplan for barnehagens innhold og oppgaver legger føringer for hvordan man skal jobbe med språk, tekst og kommunikasjon. Selve oppgaven bygger på empiri ved at jeg innhentet datamateriell fra praksisfeltet. Kvalitativ metode ble brukt for å innhente dataene jeg trengte. Jeg har intervjuet tre pedagogiske ledere i tre barnehager og observert tre pedagogiske ledere og tre assistenter. Konklusjon er at barnehagens arbeid med leseaktiviteter bidrar til at språkforståelsen videreutvikles med ordforråd utover hverdagsspråket, og barna vil med barnehagens hjelp gradvis mestre tekst og styrke sin fortellerkompetanse. English: How can work with reading activities in kindergartens help to support children language development? That`s the problem I chose to work with. The purpose of the assignment was to increase my knowledge of reading activities and language development. Through the years of kindergarten teacher education and through practice, I have seen and been told that there are big differences in how kindergartens work with language development. The framework for the kindergarten's content and assignments sets the guidelines for how to work with language, text and communication. The assignment itself is based on empirical data, as I gather data from the field of practice. Qualitative method was used to retrieve the data I needed. I have interviewed three pedagogical leaders in three kindergartens and observed three educational leaders and three assistants. The conclusion is that the kindergarten's work on reading activities helps to develop language understanding with vocabulary beyond the everyday language, and the children will gradually master the text and strengthen their narrative skills.

The Arctic marine environment experiences dramatic seasonal changes in light and nutrient availability. To investigate the influence of seasonality on Arctic marine virus communities, five research cruises to the west and north of Svalbard were conducted across one calendar year, collecting water from the surface to 1000 m in depth. We employed metabarcoding analysis of major capsid protein g23 and mcp genes in order to investigate T4-like myoviruses and large dsDNA viruses infecting prokaryotic and eukaryotic picophytoplankton, respectively. Microbial abundances were assessed using flow cytometry. Metabarcoding results demonstrated that seasonality was the key mediator shaping virus communities, whereas depth exerted a diversifying effect within seasonal virus assemblages. Viral diversity and virus-to-prokaryote ratios (VPRs) dropped sharply at the commencement of the spring bloom but increased across the season, ultimately achieving the highest levels during the winter season. These findings suggest that viral lysis may be an important process during the polar winter, when productivity is low. Furthermore, winter viral communities consisted of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) distinct from those present during the spring-summer season. Our data provided a first insight into the diversity of viruses in a hitherto undescribed marine habitat characterized by extremes in light and productivity.