Host acceptance behaviour of the small ermine moth Yponomeuta cagnagellus: larvae and adults use different stimuli

Summary. The sugar alcohol dulcitol is a strong feeding stimulant for larvae of the small ermine moth Yponomeuta cagnagellus. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that dulcitol also acts as an oviposition stimulant for this species. We found that the sugar-alcohol dulcitol was present on the surface of the host Euonymus europaeus. We also showed that (as yet unidentified compounds) can be systemically transferred (i.e. by uptake and transport via the vascular system) from E. europaeus, to the non-host Crataegus monogyna and stimulate oviposition. However, no evidence was found that this stimulatory activity was due to dulcitol. Systemic enrichment of C. monogyna with dulcitol did not induce oviposition on this plant. Neither was the application of pure dulcitol on artificial twigs effective. In addition it was shown that when dulcitol was removed from host plant extracts, oviposition stimulatory activity was retained in the fraction without dulcitol. Synergism between dulcitol and other stimulants could not be demonstrated, however, high concentrations of dulcitol in combination with the main stimulant(s) showed a trend towards enhanced oviposition. It is concluded that the sugar alcohol dulcitol can only play a limited role in adult host acceptance behaviour. The hypothesis that a host shift in the genus Yponomeuta from Celastraceae to Rosaceae might have been facilitated by the presence of small amounts of dulcitol in Rosaceae therefore needs to be restricted to larval feeding behaviour. Received 20 August 1999; accepted 6 December 1999     

The evolution of food donation with respect to waste prevention

The donation of food which is still edible can be seen as a specific application of urban mining as food is recovered for its original purpose – human intake. There are several projects implemented worldwide but due to a lack of data, scientific literature about the topic is rare. This paper summarises briefly the evolution of food donation activities and gives information on the differences and similarities of current organisations distributing food to people in need as well as the political, legal, social and logistical barriers and incentives which occur with respect to this topic. A concept for a food donation network is presented and impact on ecology, economy and society is discussed.     

The last decade in ecological climate change impact research: where are we now?

Climate change is increasingly affecting organisms and ecosystems. The amount of research and the number of articles in this field is overwhelming. However, single studies necessarily consider limited aspects. Hence, there is an increasing need for structuring the research approaches and findings in climate change research in order to direct future action in an efficient way towards research gaps and areas of uncertainty. Here, we review the current state of knowledge accumulated over the last 10 years (2003–2012) about impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. Almost 1,200 articles of the scientific literature listed in the ISI Web of Science are analysed. We explore the geographical distribution of knowledge gain, the studied taxonomic groups, ecosystems and environmental parameters as well as the applied methods. Several knowledge gaps arise. Most of the first authors of the analysed articles are residents of North America, Australia or Europe. A similar pattern is found for the study areas. Vascular plants and therewith forests are the most studied taxonomic group and ecosystem. The use of models to estimate potential impacts of climate change is well established in climate change impact research and is continuously developing. However, there is a lack of empirical data derived from experimental climate change simulations. In a rapidly evolving research landscape, this review aims at providing an overview of the current patterns of knowledge distribution and research demands arising from knowledge gaps and biases. Our results should help to identify future research needs and priorities.     

Audits and root cause analysis

Many current audit programs are very good at determining the compliance issues at a site, but are less successful in developing long-term compliance solutions. One method for addressing these issues is the use of root cause analysis techniques. These techniques allow the facility to identify and focus on permanent solutions to compliance issues. The authors note the following: Conducting a root cause analysis is not a substantial burden on the audit team or the facility. Most information is already collected during the audit, but is not being used. Looking at the overview pattern of the root cause analysis can provide a picture of the maturity of your audit program. Pareto charts are excellent methods to convey the results of your analysis. They show both the trends of analysis and help highlight the most significant root causes.     

Success in negotiating environmental regulations

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently completed two regulatory negotiation demonstrations. These demonstrations suggest that the current EPA rule-making process could be improved through the introduction of face-to-face negotiation at the earliest stages of rulemaking. In the demonstrations, EPA (1) relied on a consensus building process to forestall litigation after the promulgation of the final rule; (2) Used a nonpartisan facilitator to convene the negotiations; (3) Defined criteria to determine which parties should be represented in the negotiation. From the perspective of participants, the negotiating consensus version of a draft regulation is a successful alternative to the traditional rulemaking process. It is still too soon to say negotiated rulemaking significantly reduces the likelihood of ligitation. The results of the demonstration indicate that it is possible for either an agency employee or a neutral outsider to facilitate the sessions. A successful negotiation also requires top level agency support as well as the confidence of the environmental community. The single most important outcome of the negotiations was that the participants developed a greater understanding of the interests of the other parties. The demonstrations also suggest possible changes in future regulatory negotiations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sargassum</Emphasis> on Santa Rosa Island,Florida: faunal use and beachgoer perception

The yearly influx of Sargassum onto the beaches of northwest Florida is considered a nuisance to some and a necessity to others. In Pensacola Beach, the Santa Rosa Island Authority rakes the wrack with mechanical beach cleaners to improve the aesthetic quality for beachgoers. The purpose of this study was three-fold: to evaluate the local faunal use of Sargassum wrack, to gauge public perception of Sargassum on the beach, and to test whether public perception of the beauty of the beach, the necessity of raking, and the likelihood of visiting could be influenced by a simple educational sign. A two-part methodology consisted of 1) systematic observation of faunal use, and 2) interviews of 200 beachgoers via a detailed pre-post/post only public use survey. Results showed that 11 of the 22 species of shorebirds documented, including two uncommon migrants, were observed using Sargassum wrack to forage, rest, and hide. Public survey results demonstrated that although beachgoers generally considered themselves to be “ecofriendly”, their perceptions of Sargassum wrack can be positively influenced through environmental education such as informative signage on the beach. In conclusion, Sargassum wrack provides valuable additional habitat to shorebirds and other critters, and that leaving the beach wrack to naturally become part of the ecosystem would not deter most beachgoers (70%) from visiting Pensacola Beach. This research contributes valuable information to coastal managers and other stakeholders for improved ecosystem protection and management.     

Predictive statistical modelling of cadmium content in durum wheat grain based on soil parameters

Regulatory limits on cadmium (Cd) content in food products are tending to become stricter, especially in cereals, which are a major contributor to dietary intake of Cd by humans. This is of particular importance for durum wheat, which accumulates more Cd than bread wheat. The contamination of durum wheat grain by Cd depends not only on the genotype but also to a large extent on soil Cd availability. Assessing the phytoavailability of Cd for durum wheat is thus crucial, and appropriate methods are required. For this purpose, we propose a statistical model to predict Cd accumulation in durum wheat grain based on soil geochemical properties related to Cd availability in French agricultural soils with low Cd contents and neutral to alkaline pH (soils commonly used to grow durum wheat). The best model is based on the concentration of total Cd in the soil solution, the pH of a soil CaCl₂ extract, the cation exchange capacity (CEC), and the content of manganese oxides (Tamm’s extraction) in the soil. The model variables suggest a major influence of cadmium buffering power of the soil and of Cd speciation in solution. The model successfully explains 88% of Cd variability in grains with, generally, below 0.02 mg Cd kg^?1 prediction error in wheat grain. Monte Carlo cross-validation indicated that model accuracy will suffice for the European Community project to reduce the regulatory limit from 0.2 to 0.15 mg Cd kg^?1 grain, but not for the intermediate step at 0.175 mg Cd kg^?1. The model will help farmers assess the risk that the Cd content of their durum wheat grain will exceed regulatory limits, and help food safety authorities test different regulatory thresholds to find a trade-off between food safety and the negative impact a too strict regulation could have on farmers.

     

Coupled human and natural systems

Humans have continuously interacted with natural systems, resulting in the formation and development of coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). Recent studies reveal the complexity of organizational, spatial, and temporal couplings of CHANS. These couplings have evolved from direct to more indirect interactions, from adjacent to more distant linkages, from local to global scales, and from simple to complex patterns and processes. Untangling complexities, such as reciprocal effects and emergent properties, can lead to novel scientific discoveries and is essential to developing effective policies for ecological and socioeconomic sustainability. Opportunities for truly integrating various disciplines are emerging to address fundamental questions about CHANS and meet society's unprecedented challenges.