Across their entire Atlantic breeding range, Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica have experienced decreases in food availability, often leading to population declines. The species is one of the most numerous seabirds in F & oslash;royar (the Faroe Islands, in English) but has faced apparent, unquantified population declines. To better understand the underlying processes of this decline in F & oslash;royar, we studied the change in the average, estimated age of puffins (i.e. the population age structure) harvested over a 20-year period (1989-2008). We assessed how the population age structure changed over time and in relation to food availability indices (i.e. phytoplankton primary production, juvenile fish). We showed that the average age of the birds in the population increased over time during the studied period, as the contribution of younger age classes declined, and cohort sizes decreased. Further, we showed that population age structure was significantly affected by food availability in the hatch year and the years preceding the hatch year, but only one of the relationships with food availability in the harvest year was significant. Our study thus suggests that reduced reproductive success driven by variability in foraging conditions is an important factor in the Atlantic puffin population decline in F & oslash;royar.

The mammalian gut microbiota is a complex microbial community with diverse impacts on host biology. House mice (Mus musculus) are the major model organism for research on mammals, but laboratory domestication has altered their gut microbiota from that of their wild counterparts. Knowledge about how and why the gut microbiota of this species varies between lab and wild settings and among natural populations could improve its utility as a model organism. Here, we use a large dataset comprising over 800 house mouse samples from multiple laboratory facilities and strains and wild mice from mainland and island populations to investigate gut microbiota variation in this species across contrasting genetic and environmental settings. Across geographically disparate populations, we find that wild mice possess a gut microbiota that is compositionally distinct, displays a higher relative abundance and richness of aerotolerant taxa, and is taxonomically and functionally more diverse than that of lab mice. Longitudinally sampled wild mice also display markedly higher temporal turnover in microbiota composition than lab mice. Wild mice from oceanic islands harboured microbiotas that differed subtly from those of mainland wild mice and were more divergent from lab mouse microbiotas. These findings highlight much greater spatial and temporal turnover of gut microbes in wild compared to laboratory mice.

Populations that colonize islands provide unique insights into demography, adaptation, and the spread of invasive species. House mice on the Faroe Islands evolved exceptionally large bodies after colonization, generating longstanding interest from biologists. To reconstruct the evolutionary history of these mice, we sequenced genomes of population samples from three Faroe Islands (Sandoy, Nólsoy, and Mykines) and Norway as a mainland comparison. Mice from the Faroe Islands are hybrids between the subspecies Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus, with ancestry alternating along the genome. Analyses based on the site frequency spectrum of single nucleotide polymorphisms and the ancestral recombination graph (ARG) indicate that mice arrived on the Faroe Islands on a timescale consistent with transport by Norwegian Vikings, with colonization of Sandoy likely preceding colonization of Nólsoy. Substantial reductions in nucleotide diversity and effective population size associated with colonization suggest that mice on the Faroe Islands evolved large body size during periods of heightened genetic drift. Genomic scans for positive selection uncover windows with unusual site frequency spectra, but this pattern is mostly generated by clusters of singletons in individual mice. Three genomic regions show evidence for selection on islands based on the ARG, including variants located in transcription factor binding sites. Our findings reveal a dynamic evolutionary history for the enigmatic mice from Faroe Island and emphasize the challenges that accompany population genomic inferences in island populations.

Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non‐native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation.

The supplementary botanical list features 64 species of vascular plants which are new, rare or forgotten records from the Faroe Islands. They are the cumulative notes produced from numerous excursions over the two last decades. The new species are described with notes of who discovered them, and literature references are given where appropriate. Some plants are not new discoveries for the Faroes but have been found in new localities or have been missed in most recent botanical lists. The plants are also categorized to relevant land management practice such as infield or outfield, altitude, and whether they show spreading potential, in the hope that this may guide future management and conservation of the rare and extinction prone species found in the Faroes. Fifteen non‐native taxa in the list have been categorized as showing ‘spreading potential' and may become invasive, e.g. Schedonorus arundinaceus , Alchemilla mollis , Epilobium komarovianum , Fuchsia magellanica , Reynoutria japonica and Mimulus/Erythranthe spp.

A sample of 145 stomachs from fulmars hunted 100 km offshore east Greenland 64° 30′ N in early June 2015 was analysed for abundance of plastic litter. Overall, 86% of the stomachs contained plastics with an average of 13.5 particles, and 0.14 g per stomach. A proportion of 42% of the stomachs exceeded the level of 0.1 g plastic, whereas the international policy target aims at a reduction to less than 10%. The observed quantity of ingested plastic fits a pattern of reduced plastic abundance at higher latitudes, at greater distance from densely populated and industrialised areas. A subsample of 20 fulmars of known age and sex indicated that young birds contained more plastic than adults, and females more than males. Indirect evidence from age and sex composition in the full sample supported these findings. Further confirmation was found in literature and by re-analysis of earlier datasets. Differences in colony attendance could explain the combined effects of age, sex, and possibly season on plastic abundance in the stomachs. With a consistent monitoring sampling regime, such variations do not impair the results, but for evaluation of regional patterns from incidental observations or the planning of new monitoring schemes they are important.

Ants have historically not been recorded on the Faroe Islands. We report ants on the Fame Islands for the first time, with all detections assumed to be recent accidental arrivals with human commerce. We detail thirteen detections of six ant species. The black garden ant Lasius niger has been found seven times since 1996, five times as established colonies. The red wood ant Formica rufa, Camponotus fallax and two detections of black garden ant Lasius niger were discovered in low numbers (1-4 individuals), and independent of any source of origin. No colonies of these species were ever found and the incursions are presumed to have died naturally. Pharaoh ant Monomorium pharaonis was discovered on a seafaring vessel and once in a private home. The incursion in the private home was eradicated but it is unknown what action was taken on the ship. Ghost ant Tapinoma melanocephalum was discovered on a fishing vessel and eradicated. Tapinoma ibericum was found in a pack of purchased fruits. We anticipate that ant incursions to the Faroe Islands will increase with increasing human commerce, and that the ability for some species to establish viable colonies will also increase.

ResuméSnarefangsten på Færøerne kom fra Island i 1920’erne og fortsatte til 1979, hvor snarefangst blev forbudt. På Nordøerne brugte man snarerammer, samt på Fugloy T-snaren,begge typer lå fortøjet. Syd for 62°N brugte man tømmerflåder (flager), som drev frit på vandet. Omkring 1956 skiftede man hestehårsløkkerne ud med nylonløkker.På Nordøerne dækkede hver løkke i gennemsnit 60 cm2 på hver snare, og syd for 62°N dækkede hver løkke i gennemsnit 114 cm2.ÚrtakSnaruveiðan í Føroyum kom úr Íslandi í 1920’unum og helt fram til 1979, tá snaruveiða varð bannað. Í Norðuroyggjum vóru snarurammur nýttar, í Fugloy eisini T-snaran, bæði sløgini lógu fyri teymi. Sunnanfyri 62°N vóru timburflakar nýttir, sum róku frítt á sjónum. Umleið 1956 vóru lykkjur av hestahári skiftar út við nylonlykkjur. Í Norðuroyggjum fevndi hvør lykkja í miðal 60 cm2 á hvørjari snaru, og sunnanfyri 62°N fevndi hvør lykkja í miðal um 114 cm2.

ÚrtakÍ hesi grein verða seks sløg av súgkjaftum: Eurydema oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758), Eurydema ornata (Linnaeus, 1758), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758), Coreus marginatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann,1910 og Phyllaphis fagi (Linnaeus, 1761) lýst fyri fyrstu ferð í Føroyum. Eitt fullfíggjað yvirlit er gjørt yvir hesi sløg og øll hini sløgini av Hemiptera, sum higartil eru skrásett í Føroyum. Harumframt eru føroysk nøvn sett á úrvald sløg og onnur flokkingarstig í hópinum Hemiptera. AbstractSix species of Hemiptera are recorded in the Faroe Islands for the first time: Eurydema oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758), Eurydema ornata (Linnaeus, 1758), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758), Coreus marginatus (Linnaeus, 1758),Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 and Phyllaphis fagi (Linnaeus, 1761). A complete overview is given of all species of Hemiptera recorded from the Faroe Islands. In addition selected species and taxa are given Faroese names.

A psittacosis epidemic linked to fulmar hunting occurred on the Faroe Islands in the 1930s. This study investigates a plausible explanation to the 20% human mortality in this outbreak. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Chlamydia psittaci isolated from fulmars were closely related to the highly virulent 6BC strains from psittacines and are compatible with an acquisition by fulmars of an ancestor of the 6BC clade in the 1930s. This supports the hypothesis that the outbreak on the Faroe Islands started after naïve fulmars acquired C. psittaci from infected dead parrots thrown overboard when shipped to Europe in the 1930s.

Two species of social wasps have established in the Faroe Islands in 1999 - common wasp Vespula vulgaris and German wasp Vespula germanica. The population growth, and dispersal in the Faroes has been followed in detail through correspondence and contact with local residents and authorities throughout the Faroes. Collected wasps have been identified, and nest eradication data from the local municipalities is also presented. In total there have been 1.222 nests located and destroyed. mostly in Torshavn, where they were first introduced, but nests have also been found on neighbouring islands. Both the introduction and the spread within the Faroes suggest a strong relationship with human settlements and travel. Social wasps have established on four out of 18 islands - all of which are connected by land, suggesting that their spread within the islands is also human aided. With no active biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species to the Faroes, we predict that the introduction of more species of social wasps to be very likely, and wasps already present will likely invade new islands. Although social wasps represent a public nuisance in the Faroes, the potential ecosystem impacts are grossly underappreciated and understudied.

Capsule: Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica from Scottish and Norwegian populations were significantly heavier in winter than when rearing chicks.Aims: To compare body masses of Atlantic Puffins on their wintering grounds off the Faroe Islands with those of birds rearing chicks at colonies in Scotland and Norway.Methods: We took standardized measurements of wing length and body mass of Atlantic Puffins during the summer chick-rearing period and on the wintering grounds near the Faroe Islands. These measurements were used to estimate seasonal changes in body mass for the two breeding populations. In three cases data were available for individuals weighed both at the colony and on the wintering grounds.Results: On average, Atlantic Puffins breeding in Scotland and Norway increased their body mass by 20-30% between the chick-rearing period and winter. The very limited individual level data accorded well with the population level estimates.Conclusions: Our results provide the first estimates of the order of magnitude in mass change between two key life history stages in this species. They indicate that gains in body mass between chick-rearing and winter are at least double the decline in mass previously recorded between incubation and chick-rearing. Given the Atlantic Puffin's deteriorating conservation status, improved information on seasonal changes in body condition should help determine the underlying causes of die-offs in major wreck incidents such as those reported in recent years.

Úrtak: Gráspurvurin (Passer domesticus) má metast at vera ein tann støðufastasti búfuglurin í Føroyum. Síðan 1963 eru tilsamans 2.167 gráspurvar ringmerktir í 12 ymiskum føroyskum bygdum, spjaddar kring landið. 17% vórðu merkt í reiðrinum, 39% vóru ungfuglar og 39% vaksnir fuglar. 225 (10%) av teimum merktu gráspurvunum vórðu fingnir ella sæddir aftur; allir í Føroyum, og einans tveir í aðrari bygd enn henni, har teir upprunaliga vórðu merktir. Helvtin av fráboðanunum komu tær fyrstu 8 vikurnar eftir merkingina, 25% fyrstu 3 vikurnar. Í flestum førum (68%) doyðu fuglarnir av ókendum ávum, men har deyðaatvoldin var kend, var ketta vanligasta atvoldin. Miðallívstíðin hjá føroyska gráspurvinum er 1,3 ár. Helvtin av spurvunum, sum vórðu merktir í reiðrinum ella sum ungfuglar, doyðu eftir 4,1 mánaðum. Tann elsti gráspurvurin, vit vita um í Føroyum, varð fingin aftur næstan tíggju ár eftir, at hann varð merktur í reiðrinum.Abstract: The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is one of the most sedentary species of wild birds in the Faroe Islands. Since 1963, 2,167 house sparrows (17% nestlings, 39% juveniles and 39% adults) have been ringed at 12 places, scattered over the Faroe Islands. 225 (10%) have been recovered, dead or resighted/ recaptured, all within the Faroe Islands, and only two outside the villages where they were ringed. Half of the recoveries were reported within 8 weeks, 25% already within 3 weeks. In most cases (68%), the cause of death was unknown. However, “killed by cat” was the most common known cause. The median life-span for the Faroese house sparrows is 4.1 months, and average age at death is 1.3 years. The oldest house sparrow recorded in the Faroe Islands was found dead almost ten years after it was ringed as nestling.

A bstract : The breeding biology of the Faroese house sparrow ( Passer domesticus ) is described based on the results from nestlings that were ringed just before they were fledging. By means of dates and numbers, the beginning and duration of the breeding seasons are determined and the reproductive output is estimated. Our study has shown that Faroese house sparrows produce two, occasionally three, broods annually. Overall, eggs of the first, second and third clutch are normally laid in the beginning of May, in the middle of June and in the beginning of July, respectively. In a season, a female produced 6.3 nestlings, on average. For the whole period, the average brood size was 3.5 nestlings. During the first part of the time series (1985­1989), the breeding season became earlier each year, but then to be later again in the years 1990 to 1992. The first clutch was laid more than five weeks earlier in 1989 than in 1985 and the second clutch almost seven weeks earlier. Urtak : Arini fra 1985 til 1992 voru tilsamans 347 graspurvaungar ( Passer domesticus )  merktir i bygdini Nolsoy, beint aðrenn teir voru floygdir. Við at nýta dagfestingina ta ungarnir vorðu merktir og talið av ungum er asett, naer og hvussu ofta graspurvurin verpur og hvussu nogvar ungar hann faer hvorja ferð. Kanningarnar visa, at foroyski graspurvurin verpur tvaer ferðir um arið, viðhvort to triggjar ferðir: Fyrstu urptin er i byrjanini av mai manað, tann naesta er um miðjan juni og triðja urptin i byrjanini av juli manað. Hvor boga faer i miðal 6,3 ungar um arið. I miðal voru 3,5 ungar i hvorjari urpt. Urslit okkara visa, at tey fyrstu arini varp graspurvurin fyrr og fyrr, fyri hvort arið. Hetta broyttist to tey seinru arini sum kanningin vardi: I 1989 vorðu fyrstu eggini vorpin meira enn fimm vikur fyrri enn i 1985, og naestu urptin naestan sjey vikur fyrr.

The current investigation specifies the occurrence of four flea species living in the Faroe Islands: Ceratophyllus garei (Rothschild, 1902), Dasypsyllus gallinulae gallinulae (Dale, 1878), Leptopsylla segnis (Schönherr, 1811) and Ctenophthalmus nobilis (Rothschild, 1902). One of these species, C. garei, has never been reported in the Faroe Islands before. In addition, the flea species that have been reported in the Faroe Islands during the years 1929 to 2016 are listed. In total eleven species have been found. However, one of them, Pulex irritans (Linnaeus, 1758), has probably disappeared again.

Ixodes ricinus ticks are expanding their geographic range in Europe, both latitudinally in Scandinavia, and altitudinally in the European Alps. This paper details the findings of both passive and active surveillance on the Faroe Islands. Active field surveillance, using tick dragging, was conducted at 38 sites across the main seven inhabited islands of the Faroes during June-August 2015. Field sampling was conducted at all wooded sites on the islands of Vágar, Streymoy, Eysturoy, Borðoy, Kunoy and Suðuroy as well as in urban parks in the capital Tórshavn, among seabird colonies and at a bird observatory on Nólsoy, at moorland sites on Vágar and Borðoy, and a coastal headland on Suðuroy. In addition, as part of the promotion of a new passive surveillance scheme for the Faroes, new tick records were submitted during summer 2015 and early spring 2016. During tick dragging, only three questing I. ricinus ticks (two nymphs, one male) were found at two separate sampling locations in the village of Tvøroyri on the southernmost island of Suðuroy. No questing ticks were found at any other field site. The passive surveillance of ticks identified an additional 33 records of I. ricinus collected during the last 10 years on the Faroes, with almost half of these records from 2015. Although this represents the first finding of questing I. ricinus and overwintering I. ricinus on the Faroe Islands, there appears to be little evidence so far to suggest that Ixodes ricinus are established on the Faroe Islands. Additional reports of ticks through the passive surveillance scheme are reported from seven inhabited islands. Reports of ticks on both companion animals and humans suggest that ticks are being acquired locally, and the records of ticks on migratory birds highlight a possible route of importation. This paper details the likely ecological constraints on I. ricinus establishment and density on Faroe and makes recommendations for future surveillance and research.

Most mortality of Atlantic Puffins occurs outside the breeding season but little is known about the species' diet at that time. The stomach contents of 176 Puffins shot legally for food around the Faroe Islands between October and January in three winters were examined. The remains of 20 species of fish, six species of crustacea and single species of polychaete, chaetognathid and squid were identified. The most frequently recorded prey in terms of frequency of occurrence were 0 group (<1 year old) Lesser Sandeel Ammodytes marinus (82% of stomachs), followed by mesopelagic fish (52%), nereid worms (41%), Silver Rockling Gaidropsarus argentatus (36%), crustacea (35%), large sandeel (32%) and other large fish (32%). In terms of calculated biomass, nereids (41%), large sandeel (23%) and other large fish (17%) made up the bulk of the diet but the latter two prey types were most important in energetic terms (46% despite accounting for only 9% of items). Stomach contents collected on the same day and location were significantly more similar than those collected on different dates and locations, suggesting that during the winter, Puffins are generalists, taking any prey they encounter.