28 April 2010
Tinder fungus (Formes formentarius) has
invaded an old beech tree at the chalk cliffs
on the island of Møn, weakening the
tree. The canopy
of the tree collapses and leaves the trunk
as a ruin. The tree may still produce viable
side branches from the lower part, but the
tinder fungus and other fungi as well as
various species of forest-inhabiting insects
decompose the tree ruin and the collapsed
canopy. The bracket of the tinder fungus
itself is habitat for specialised insects,
among others species of fungus beetles.
Photo: NERI/Peter Wind.
Jens C. Pedersen and Peter
Wind
The revision of the
Danish Red List, which was initiated in
2003, has now been completed. The status
for the species examined shows that approx.
every four of the species on which adequate
data exists is categorised as threatened
to a higher or lesser degree or has become
extinct in Denmark. The largest group, i.e.
every five of all species, are forest inhabitants.
In the Danish forests every third species
is categorised as threatened or regionally
extinct. The status also shows that specialised
species living in forests and on grassland
constitute the most threatened species groups.
On the Danish Red List
is shown which species of Danish animals,
fungi, and plants have become regionally
extinct, which species are threatened to
a greater or lesser degree, and which are
not. The revision of the Danish Red List
was initiated in 2003. With the launching
of the 2009-status, NERI can present a complete
status of the species examined. Since 2003
9,494 species have been examined. Of these
287 seem to be regionally extinct in Denmark
since 1850. Of the remaining 6,746 species
on which data are adequate for an assessment,
1,835 species are threatened to a higher
or lesser degree, corresponding to 27%.
2,461 species have not
been assessed by the criteria of the Red
List system. For three out of four species
this is due to the fact that in Denmark
the species are either introduced, under
immigration, vagrants or casuals. As to
the last fourth the available data is too
poor to allow an assessment. As the species
are native and possibly threatened they
are included the category ‘Data Deficient’
to ensure that in future an initiative may
be made to acquire new and improved data
to permit an evaluation.
Status for the 9,494
species examined during the period 2003-2009.
Species in old growth
forest and grassland are the most threatened
When the assessed species are distributed
on habitat classes a clear pattern emerges.
In Denmark many species inhabit woodland
or grassland, i.e. more than 40% of all
Danish species, and of these particularly
the species inhabiting old growth forests
are confronted with difficulties – for the
simple reason that old growth forest is
a limited habitat in Denmark. Also non-forested
habitats such as raised bogs and grassland
host many threatened species.
Other species are those
living in farmland and cities with settlements,
parks, gardens etc. Here the threatened
species are least represented, only a few
per cent. Senior biologist Peter Wind explains
the difference: “Particularly specialised
species are experiencing difficulties with
finding adequate habitats. The existence
of non-forested grassland, which has been
grazed continuously for several hundred
years without use of fertilizers and pesticides,
or the presence of wood under decomposition
are of particular importance to many of
the specialists. In contrast, species with
good ability to adapt to a changing environment
generally perform better. They have been
able to inhabit the new habitats appearing
in the cities.”
The Danish Red List updated
with 2,702 species of plants and animals
(news article)
Scientific elaboration
(in Danish)
The Danish Red List
(in Danish)
Daubenton’s bat (Myotis
daubentoni) in a limestone cave in Jutland.
Bats constitute 29% of all mammals breeding
in Denmark. 53% of the native species of
bats are threatened to a higher or lesser
degree, either because the colonies are
very few or concentrated at a limited number
of sites, e.g. the limestone caves in Jutland.
Daubenton’s bats are relatively common and
presumably also hibernate in considerable
numbers at other habitats than limestone
caves. Photo: NERI/Morten Elmeros.
+ More
Atmospheric dispersal
of the Icelandic volcano plume over Europe
19 April 2010
This news will no longer be updated.
See how the plume is dispersed on this new
page that is automaticly updated.
The plume with polluted
air from the volcano underneath the Icelandic
glacier Eyjafjallajökull will spread
over Europe during the weekend according
to a new prognosis from NERI. We have not
(Monday afternoon) seen any increase in
the level of air pollutants monitored in
Denmark.
The result of the calculations
for the first 5 days after the outbreak
can be seen on the animation below. It shows
that the meteorological conditions will
make the plume spread over Europe during
the weekend.
NERI’s calculations
also show that minor parts of the plume
will reach ground level, but not in concentrations
of concern to human health.
Which pollutants can
be found in the plume?
Nobody knows the exact composition of the
Icelandic volcano plume, but the pollutants
of greatest concern to human health in plumes
from volcanoes are normally mineral particulates,
sulphur dioxide (SO2), fluoridic acids and
hydrochloric acid.
NERI will also follow
the development through its regular air
quality monitoring network. The results
can be followed on-line at our website.
If parts of the plume
reach ground level, it will most likely
be registered at first in Aalborg and then
in Copenhagen and most likely as an increase
in the concentration of SO2. Until Monday
afternoon 4 p.m. no increases had been observed.
