Norsk Pattedyratlas
Det norske EMMA-prosjektet

The Norwegian Mammal Atlas

The distribution of mammal fauna coincide, to a larger extent, with the vegetation zones and climatic zones of Norway. Norway covers an area of 323,895 square kilometers and stretches 1,752 kilometers from Lindesnes (57°59'N) in the south to Kinnarodden (71°08'N) in the north (Gjessing and Ouren 1983, Anonymous 1990, Anonymous 1991). Within this area there are low strandflats, extensive fjords, high mountains (highest 2469 meters), hill lands, valleys and lowlands (Wallen 1970). Five of Köppen's climatic types occur within this area. A small area along the south coast belongs to the Nemoral zonobiome. Larger parts of South Norway, east of the north-south mountain chain, belong to the Boreal zonobiome and Boreonemoral zonoecotone. An interzonal orobiome covers a larger part of South Norway, while the tundra zonobiome is present in the North of Norway. The west coast of Norway has high precipitation with mild winters and cool summers (Oceanic and suboceanic section). Svalbard has basically a costal tundra climate and glaciers cover large areas of the islands. Svalbard covers an area of 62,700 square kilometers.

Below follows a short overview of the project and the mammal fauna of Norway.

METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Endemic species
Extinct species
Introduced species
Reintroduced species
Appeared and reappeared species
DIFFICULTIES

Since NØBI started collecting data in 1990, it has seen no need to inform the general public regarding the project. This, because information has been obtained from reports and personal communications with selected information, usually from professional zoologists. Nevertheless, a four page pamphlet has been published to spread general information on the project with an open request for observations on Insectivora, Chiroptera and Rodentia to be sent to the nearest natural history museum.

The Norwegian EMMA Project collects available information through regional and national databanks. All literature is being checked. Also included are personal notes, archives and unpublished reports. Data from all eight Norwegian natural history museums is also being checked. However, though only collecting available data, an atlas on bats (Chiroptera) was initiated by NØBI during the summer of 1992. This project has been running for several years, but observations from 1994 and prior will be included in the EMMA project.

Negotiations are taking place to make a Norwegian publication possible. How this publication will appear is yet to be decided, but a 150 page booklet in the A5 format is most likely.

There are some species which have their Western Palearctic distribution limited to the Barent Sea, without being endemic to the area. These are the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774, Walrus Odobenus rosmarus (L., 1758), Ringed Seal Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775), Harp Seal Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777), Hooded Seal Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777), and Musk Ox Ovibos moschatus (Zimmermann, 1780).

Furthermore, the Norway Lemming Lemmus lemmus (L., 1758) is endemic to Fennoscandia. Subspecies that are specific to Norway (or Svalbard) are the Reindeer subspecies Rangifer tarandus tarandus L., 1758 and R. tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik, 1829, and the Red Deer subspecies Cervus elaphus atlanticus Lønneberg, 1906. The latter is described from Hitra, an island along the Norwegian northwest coast.

In North Norway the Reindeer R. t. tarandus became extinct before World War II. The Reindeer populations still remaining in this part of Norway are domestic. They are hybrids of R. tarandus tarandus and R. tarandus fennicus Lønnberg, 1909. The Reindeer of South Norway is to a larger extent a hybrid of the domestic Reindeer and R. t. tarandus. The Reindeer population in South Norway was around 33,000 animals in 1988, covering a range of 40,000 square kilometers. Only Reindeer from the Dovrefjell population remain more or less genetically clean and are the only remaining "pure" R. t. tarandus in the world. This population numbered 9,000 animals in 1988. Unfortunatly this population is still under threat (Røed 1986).

The Reindeer R. t. plathyrhynchus of Svalbard was first described by Vrolik (1829) and later by Andersén (1863). The subspecies is believed to have originated from the North American continent. New research shows that this subspecies is more related to the Peary's Caribou R. t. pearyi rather than the Eurasian subspecies (Hakala et al. 1985, Røed 1985, Røed et al. 1986). These animals are believed to have arrived Svalbard by natural causes. The population on Svalbard during the summers of 1980 through 1983 numbered 11.000.

Only one species can, with certainty, be said to have recently become extinct. This is the Black Rat Rattus rattus (L., 1758). It is believed to have arrived in our country during the 1200's. As the Brown Rat R. norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) dispersed, the Black Rat started to disappear from one locality after the other. The last known population was recorded at Kongsberg in the 1870's. At this time the Kongsberg population was quite abundant, but the last known observation is from 1899 when an individual was killed. The disappearance is probably a result of competition with the Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus. Since then the Black Rat has, on several occasions, reappeared at harbours along our coast, but only for short periods of time (Mysterud 1980).

The distribution of the Western Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L., 1758 follows the coastline as far north as Lofoten (Iuell 1985). Its population seems to have fluctuated considerably due to climatic conditions. Keep in mind that Østlandet is the extreme of its natural range. Outside this area, it has been introduced as an effort to remove pests like snails, insects, snakes, mice and rats. It seems the population in general is declining due to the absence of human aid (introduction) which is believed to have maintained its distributional range.

The House Mouse Mus musculus L., 1758 is believed to have been introduced unintentionally. The origin of this species is unknown (Myrberget 1987a).

The Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus was first mentioned in 1762. It was brought ashore from ships (Collett 1912, Myrberget 1987a).

The Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (L., 1758) was introduced to three islands. First to the islands of Fedje in Hordaland in 1875. It was introduced to Mølen in the Oslofjord in 1899 and Edøy in Nordmøre in 1902 (Wildhagen 1949). It has since become extinct from Mølen. Populations still exist at Fedje and Edøy (Myrberget 1984).

The Brown Hare Lepus capensis L., 1758 was introduced to several localities in Norway around 1900. There are most likely no remaining animals from these introductions, though two island populations near Oslo survived for many years (Wildhagen 1949). On Svalbard the Artcic Hare Lepus timidis arcticus was released twice, in 1931 and 1936. In all, twenty-two animals were released (Lønø 1960). A population was then established. The last certain observation was in 1963 (Heintz 1963). The Mountain Hare have also been released on Svalbard. In 1930 and 1931, 23 individuals were released (Lønø 1960, Myrberget 1972).

The first minkfarm in Norway was established during the fall of 1927. In 1969, the number of domestic American Mink Mustela vision Schreber, 1777 passed three million (Anonymous 1971). The first wild American Mink was recorded in the early 1930's. Around 1950 most of Østlandet was colonized. By the 1960's, the last part of northern Norway was colonized. However, the population has changed little since the 1970's. Today, larger parts of Finnmark and Troms are Mink-free, or contain small populations (Bevanger 1990).

In 1674 the first documented introduction of the Fallow Deer Cervus dama L., 1758 took place near Larvik. (Wildhagen 1949, Lund 1980). The introduction to Hankø island (6.75 km²) in 1901/02 was the most successfull (Collett 1912). The population numbered 50 in 1911 (Wildhagen 1949), and 300 in 1936 (Lund 1980). Several domestic populations exist today, and are found wild in the Hankø area in Østfold County. Some of the animals in Østfold are believed to have originated from Sweden. Strays are occasionally found outside these areas (Myrberget 1987a, Gjerde pers. comm.).

In 1960, members of a Finnish expedition collected the first specimen of the genus Microtus from Longyearbyen on Svalbard (Nyholm 1966). It is especially numerous in the vicinity of Isfjorden (Alendal 1977, Myrberget 1987a). During 1964 and 1965 the species was abundant and several individuals were collected for identification. It was then identified as Microtus arvalis arvalis (Pallas). A population still existed during the mid 1970's (Alendal 1977). During the summer of 1988 Nils A. Øritsland (Yoccoz et al. 1990) made further observations still confirming the species presence. A number of individuals were collected from Svalbard and the Netherlands during August 1989 for growth and reproduction studies under laboratory conditions (Yoccoz et al. 1990). When specimens were sent to the University of Uppsala for chromosome analyses, it was discovered that in reality, it was another species. The results clearly showed that the species in question was Microtus epiroticus (Ondrias, 1966) (Fredga et al. 1990). It is believed the Svalbard population was brought from Russia by ship (Yoccoz et al. 1990).

Several introductions of the Musk Ox Ovibos moschatus (Zimmermann, 1780) have been attempted. The first introduction was carried out on Gurskøy, an island southwest of Ålesund, in 1925 and 1926. Nine calves were released, but none were spotted only three years later. In the fall of 1929, 17 animals were released in Advent Fjord on West-Spitsbergen, Svalbard (Alendal 1976). The population seemed to prosper and reached its peak of approximately 50 animals in 1959 (Lønø 1960). In the 1970's the population was declining rapidly. In 1979 only one cow remained from the original introduced population (Alendal 1980, Klein & Staaland 1984). This individual was still alive in 1986 (Myrberget 1987a). In 1948 eight calves were introduced to Bardu in Troms. The animals were seen on both the Norwegian and Swedish side of the border, but reproduction seemed not to take place. The last indviduals were spotted in 1959 (Lønø 1960, Barth 1980).

In 1932 ten young were introduced to Dovre. An additional two were released in 1938. None of these, or their descendants, survived World War II (Olstad 1943, Lønø 1960, Barth 1980). New releases were carried out between 1947 and 1953. In all, 21 calves were released on Dovre during this period. The population consisted of only 10-12 animals in 1953 when the first calf was born (Alendal 1980). From then on the population has increased slowly, until its peak in 1989. During that september, 54 animals were spotted, the largest number ever to have been reached since the introduction in 1932.

During the summer of 1971, a group of five animals wandered from their range at Dovrefjell to Härjedalen, Sweden, where they have remained. By the summer of 1978 this population had increased to 16 animals (Lundh 1979).

Although there are few species of mammals in Norway and on Svalbard, most funds deligated by the Norwegian authorities have been used on the larger mammals like Carnivora and Artiodactyla. We remain unsure of the existence or status of many species. This is especially true for Insectivora, Chiroptera and Rodentia. Many of these species have been discovered accidentally, and the observations indicate there is still much to be learned about our smaller mammals. As late as 1987 a new species was discovered in Norway (see below).

Of Insectivora three species have appeared after 1900. The Least Shrew Sorex minutissimus Zimmermann, 1780 was recorded first in 1926. Only seven observations have been recorded, all in Central Norway (Pedersen 1968, Aune 1970, Wiger et al. 1972, Refseth et al. 1974, Østbye et al. 1974). The Masked Shrew S. caecutiens Laxmann, 1788 was first recorded in 1904 (Pedersen 1968). All observations are from North Norway, at least eight in all (Lloyd & High 1964, Siivonen 1965, Clough 1967, Pedersen 1968, Sulkava 1990 and Frafjord et al. 1993). Only one recording exist of the Dusky Shrew S. isodon Turov, 1924. It was found near the Swedish border in Hedmark during 1968.

There are now 11 species recorded of bats (Chiroptera) from Norway. The Natterer's Bat Myotis nattereri (Kuhl, 1818) was recorded in Oslo, or nearby, in 1874 (Wollebæk 1957), 1961 (Barth 1962) and 1968 (Emanuelsen 1968), all from different localities. It is difficult to give any interpetation of this data, but the species has probably reappeared at intervals, or, a small population might have survived in the Oslo area.

Only three observations are recorded of the Brandt's Bat Myotis brandtii Eversmann, 1845. (Baagøe 1973, Gjerde 1993b). The latest was captured in an insect trap in Sunnfjord during the fall of 1990 (Gjerde 1993b). This species is, however, believed to be much more common, as is the case in Sweden.

The Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber, 1774) is believed to be in the same situation as the Natterer's Bat Myotis nattererii, though it has only been recorded three times; in 1896, 1913 and 1949 (Hafslund 1949) from Oslo and Drammen .

At the VI European Bat Research Symposium it was confirmed that the Nathusius' Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii (Keyserling & Blasius, 1839) was recorded in Norway (Syvertsen et al. in press., Stormark pers. com.). This is yet to be published. The Noctule Nyctalus noctula (Schreber, 1774) was first recorded in Norway in 1987. One specimen was caught and photographed on Finnøy in Rogaland (South-West Norway) by Halvard Helgø. Later, this species was confirmed in six localities east of the Oslo Fjord (Gjerde, in prep. a,b,c.)

A small population of the Brown Hare Lepus capensis L., 1758 exists near the Swedish border in the district of Halden (Pedersen 1982). These are believed to come from the Swedish population. Strays are observed elsewhere in Østfold County (e.g. Wergeland Krog 1993).

The Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonides Gray, 1834 was first recorded in Sør-Varanger in Finnmark during 1983 (Bakken 1983, Wikan 1983). One individual was found in Øvre Pasvik during the spring of 1988 (Henriksen 1989, Wikan 1990). Later the same spring, two animals were observed crossing the river Pasvikelva (Wikan & Henriksen 1991). During the fall of 1992, two separate individuals were observed in Elvenes and Svanvik. No animals were seen during the summer of 1993. (Steinar Wikan pers. com.). The species was originally introduced to the former Soviet Union approximately 50 years ago.

The Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766) was first recorded in Tana in 1969 and Sør-Varanger in 1970 (Pedersen 1970). In addition, two separate individuals were recorded during 1971 and 1972 (Myrberget 1987b, Steinar Wikan pers. com.). It seemed to have disappeared from Northern Finland and Finnmark during the end of the 1970's and beginning of the 1980's. It was not until 1987/1988 that new reports were recorded. Sør-Varanger Museum received 7-8 specimens during that winter. In 1988/89 the species had dispersed to many areas and increased its population size dramatically. It is now (1991-1993) abundant with numbers estimated in the thousands. In Sør- Varanger the species now exist in all waterways containing some water plants. It is also reported from Tana and Karasjokk. (Steinar Wikan pers. comm.).

Though the Norwegian EMMA Project was initiated in 1990 by the Nordre Øyeren Biological Station (NØBI), it has had difficulty being acknowledged. The reasons for this may be several. However, problems have arisen due to two simultaneous atlas projects on mammals from 1993. Even though NØBI was first with such a project in Norway, it is not a national organization. NØBI's main work is of local and in part regional character. This is also indicated in our name, as Øyeren is the name of a 85 square kilometer lake 20 kilometers east of Oslo.

Due to these encountered problems we have published a newsletter to inform the public of the EMMA project and hopefully establish a better understanding and cooperation with scientists, organizations and governmental officials. This newsletter, Norwegian EMMA Project Update, is published occasionally and includes some prelimenary results of our project. The newsletter is published in English.

Last updated 21 October 2001