Insects bring huge benefits to humanity but information on the status and trends of insect populations is largely lacking, especially in the northern parts of the Nordic countries. Given their importance, the need for monitoring methods adapted to the specific conditions in the North is obvious. As insects are also ideal indicators of biodiversity and climate change due to their rapid responses to environmental changes, the need for increased knowledge is clear.
The aim of the Interreg Aurora funded project Insects of the North is to develop harmonized and efficient monitoring methods adapted for the programme area. This will be accomplished by the following main activities:
1) Develop a method for broad monitoring of insects using Malaise traps, including development of harmonized methodologies regarding field sampling and species identification using modern DNA methods. Field work will be carried out in tundra, wetlands and boreal forest. The project will compare laboratory workflow between the countries to standardize the protocol.
2) Develop an efficient and reliable method to monitor and model populations of blood-feeding insects. This includes sampling with mosquito traps and analyzing samples using modern DNA-based techniques. The project will also perform interviews with local community members to obtain traditional knowledge of blood-feeding insects and their correlation with environmental parameters. By combining results from the empirical studies with data collected on traditional knowledge, we aim to develop a model explaining and forecasting population dynamics of blood-feeding insects.
3) Mapping the insect community that pollinates cloudberry flowers in the programme area. When identified, these species may in the future be monitored based on the Malaise monitoring scheme.
The communication and dissemination of activities and results will increase the interest and awareness of insects in the Interreg Aurora programme area both among stakeholders and the general public.
Contact Jörgen Naalisvaara, project manager, Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län, jorgen.naalisvaara@lansstyrelsen.se
