Knowledge status Norwegian biodiversity

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How many species are there in Norway?

There are 43 705 known species in Norway, 65 % of which belong to the animal kingdom. The largest group is insects, with more than 18 000 species. It is estimated that there are around 60 000 species in Norway, many of which are yet to be discovered.

Many undiscovered species in Norway

The number of undiscovered species in Norway is estimated to be 16131. This means that only 73 % of the biodiversity in Norway is known. The largest proportion of unknown species are in the species groups sawflies, wasps, ants and bees (Hymenoptera), true flies (Diptera) and the fungi (Ascomycota).

What do we know about the taxonomy, distribution and ecology of species?

An assessment of the knowledge status for species groups shows that knowledge of taxonomy, distribution and ecology is still inadequate for many of the assessed species groups. The knowledge of the distribution of species is particularly poor.

Inadequate knowledge for many species groups

The knowledge of taxonomy, distribution and ecology is inadequate for many large groups of insects and Ascomycota fungi, as well as for liverworts, and algae (especially Ochrophyta, Bacillariophyta, and Chlorophyta). There are also large knowledge gaps for most of the groups in the kingdoms of Alveolata, Amoebozoa and Protozoa.

Good level of knowledge for some species groups

The knowledge of taxonomy, distribution and ecology for birds, mammals, sharks, skates, jellyfish and echinoderms is good. Many lesser insect orders are also well known and we have good knowledge about vascular plants in general.

About the Knowledge Report

The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, in cooperation with a group of specialists, has carried out an assessment of the knowledge status of 1920 species groups. These species groups represent 97.5 % of the known biodiversity in Norway. The experts have assessed the knowledge status of taxonomy, distribution and ecology, as well as the number of described and undiscovered species in Norway.