Behavioural inertia places a top marine predator at risk from environmental change in the Benguela upwelling system

In variable environments, organisms are bound to track environmental changes if they are to survive. Most marine mammals and seabirds are colonial, central-place foragers with long-term breeding-site fidelity. When confronted with environmental change, such species are potentially constrained in their ability to respond to these changes. For example, if environmental conditions deteriorate within their limited foraging range, long-lived species favour adult survival and abandon their current breeding effort, which ultimately influences population dynamics. Should poor conditions persist over several seasons, breeding-site fidelity may force animals to continue breeding in low-quality habitats instead of emigrating towards more profitable grounds. We assessed the behavioural response of a site-faithful central-place forager, the Cape gannet Morus capensis, endemic to the Benguela upwelling system, to a rapid shift in the distribution and abundance of its preferred prey, small pelagic shoaling fish. We studied the distribution and the abundance of prey species, and the diet, foraging distribution, foraging effort, energy requirements, and breeding success of gannets at Malgas Island (South Africa) over four consecutive breeding seasons. Facing a rapid depletion of preferred food within their foraging range, Cape gannets initially increased their foraging effort in search of their natural prey. However, as pelagic fish became progressively scarcer, breeding birds resorted to scavenging readily available discards from a nearby demersal fishery. Their chicks cannot survive on such a diet, and during our 4-year study, numbers of breeding birds at the colony decreased by 40% and breeding success of the remaining birds was very low. Such behavioural inflexibility caused numbers of Cape gannets breeding in Namibia to crash by 95% following over-fishing of pelagic fish in the 1970s. In the context of rapid environmental changes, breeding-site fidelity of long-lived species may increase the risk of local or even global extinction, rendering these species particularly vulnerable to global change.     

Different proxies for the reactivity of aquatic sediments towards oxygen: A model assessment

Information on benthic carbon mineralization rates is often derived from the analysis of oxygen microprofiles in sediments. To enable a direct comparison of different sediment environments, it is often desirable to characterize sediments by a single proxy that expresses their “reactivity” towards oxygen. For this, there are three commonly used proxies: the oxygen penetration depth (OPD), the oxygen flux at the sediment-water interface (DOU), and the maximum volumetric oxygen consumption rate (R_max). The OPD can be directly determined from the oxygen depth profile, while the DOU is usually obtained by a linear fit to the oxygen gradient either in diffusive boundary layer. The oxygen consumption rate R_max requires the fitting of a reactive-transport model to the data profile. This article shows that the OPD alone is a suboptimal proxy, because it shows a strong dependence on the half-saturation constant K_s, and secondly, because it is sensitive to the particular re-oxidation conditions right above the oxic-anoxic interface. Similarly, the volumetric oxygen consumption rate R_max is rather strongly dependent on the kinetic model formulation employed. To show this we fitted three different (Bouldin, Blackman and Monod) kinetics to the same oxygen data profiles. When fitting these models, the R_max values obtained differed by 20% for exactly the same oxygen profile. Accordingly, if one reports R_max values, it is crucial to specify the kinetic model alongside. Overall, DOU emerges as sediment reactivity proxy which is the least model dependent.     

Monitoring of Bt-Maize pollen exposure in the vicinity of the nature reserve Ruhlsdorfer Bruch in northeast Germany 2007 to 2008

Background, aim, and scope Basically, technological innovations are associated with benefits and risks. This is also true for the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMO) into agriculture. In Germany, precautionary regulations currently demand isolation distances (i.?e. buffer zones) for the cultivation of genetically modified maize (Bt-maize) in the vicinity of conventional (150?m) and organic maize fields (300?m). The Bt-toxin may harm non-target organisms (NTO) such as Lepidoptera. Despite this, corresponding regulations for the protection of nature reserves are lacking to date. Conventional and Bt-maize have been grown in the vicinity of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat (FFH) Ruhlsdorfer Bruch in Brandenburg, Germany. The aim of this study was to investigate whether exposure of maize pollen from surrounding Bt-maize fields to NTOs in the nature protection area could be excluded or not. Two types of exposure were investigated: Firstly, whether maize pollen was dispersed by wind into the nature reserve area exposing resident NTOs. Secondly, foraging NTOs from the nature reserve are exposed by roaming the surrounding fields and collecting maize pollen. In order to fulfil the precautionary principle defined by law, the study should help to determine appropriate isolation distances for the cultivation of Bt-maize with regard to sustainable protection of NTOs in the FFH Ruhlsdorfer Bruch. In 2007, the local authorities issued an isolation distance between Bt-maize fields and nature reserves of 100?m and in 2008, this became 250?m in the northern and 500?m in the westerly direction, respectively. Materials and methods Standardised methods for biological and technical pollen sampling issued by the Association of German Engineers (VDI 4330 Part 3, 2007 and VDI 4330 Part 4, 2006) were applied providing a quality controlled and methodologically harmonised database which does not only serve the needs to be fulfilled by the present case-specific monitoring study but can also be used as a reference database for further investigations. Maize pollen exposure was measured within the FFH Ruhlsdorfer Bruch and its immediate vicinity in July and August 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the sampling was performed at three sites using 12 technical samplers (Sigma-2/PMF) placed at five measuring points at distances from 5?m to 120?m from the maize field edges. Additionally, for biological pollen sampling six bee colonies were situated at these three sites (two colonies at each site). The technical sampler Sigma-2/PMF enables point sampling which is primarily influenced by wind and topography providing information on effective maize pollen input (flow and deposition) at the measuring sites. Honey-bees roaming in the surrounding area with typical foraging distances of several kilometres may act as planar collectors. They may serve as indicators for the exposure to pollen-collecting NTOs. Furthermore, biological sampling is more selective due to the organism’s preferences, whereas the technical sampling is neutral. Hence, both the technical and the biological sampling complement each other in their scope of application. The pollen samples of both matrices were analysed microscopically and the maize pollen loads were quantified. Pollen-DNA was analysed by means of the quantitative PCR-method (qPCR) identifying conventional and Bt-maize pollen by two independent laboratories. In 2008, the monitoring was repeated with additional sites. Eighteen technical samplers were exposed at five sites with eight measuring points at distances from 5?m to 250?m from the maize field edges. Two honey-bee colonies for biological sampling were placed at one site for control purposes. PCR-analyses were performed to measure the amounts of Bt-maize pollen in the samples. Results The results of pollen monitoring at the Ruhlsdorfer Bruch revealed maize pollen exposure for all monitoring sites in both surveys. In 2007, up to 1.75 million maize pollen/m² were deposited at sites closest to the maize field. At 120?m from field edge in the middle of the FFH-reserve, 99,000 maize pollen/m² were detected. In 2008, similar results were found, at distances up to 250?m from the field edges deposition of 164,000 maize pollen/m² was detected. Data on maize pollen deposition show a clear distance relationship and are in accordance with results of further comprehensive surveys based on the same methodology (Hofmann 2007). The results of the microscopic analysis of the pollen pellets demonstrated that bees collected maize pollen at all sites, in 2007 and 2008. Although maize pollen is not the main food source (2007:0.1–0.3?%; 2008:2–3?%) the collection efficiency of the bee colonies resulted in high amounts of sampled maize pollen with 4 to 11 million per site in 2007 and up to 467 million in 2008. Molecular-biological analysis of maize pollen DNA by qPCR demonstrated that transgenic Bt-MON810 DNA was present in all technical and biological samples, corroborated by two independent laboratories. In 2007, the GMO-content in the samples ranged up to 44?% in the bioaerosols and 49?% in the pollen pellets. In 2008, GMO-proportions of up to 18?% were detected. Discussion The results of this study provide evidence that NTOs in the Ruhlsdorfer Bruch were exposed to Bt-maize pollen under the cultivation conditions in 2007 with a buffer zone of 100?m. The GMO-content reached up to 48?%. The results of the monitoring in 2008 confirmed these findings. Even though the exposure could be reduced by increasing the isolation distances to 250?m and 500?m respectively, the results still show percentages of up to 18?% Bt-MON810 in the pollen samples. The results on maize pollen deposition at the Ruhlsdorfer Bruch in 2007 and 2008 correspond to the results of an investigation which was conducted over several years applying the same standardised method, but covering a wider range of distances. The correlation between maize pollen deposition (n/m²) and distance to the source field (m) fitted best to a power function of the type y = 1.2086 · 10⁶ · x ^–0.548. Despite the same trend, the pollen deposition in the Ruhlsdorfer Bruch revealed above-average findings. Also the analysis of the pollen pellets collected by the bees showed an exposure in 2007 with values for the GMO-content of up to 49?%. For both methods, the exposure decreased in 2008 due to the greater buffer zones up to 500?m. Whereas the GMO-content for the biological sampling were reduced to values below 10?%, the values for the technical sampling were still higher indicating that greater buffer zones would be necessary for safety reasons under the precautionary principle. Conclusions The results of this investigation proved that maize pollen were dispersed by wind to distances farther than 250?m from field edge leading to maize pollen exposure in the centre of the nature reserve. The results also demonstrated that foraging NTOs living in the nature reserve were exposed to maize pollen from surrounding fields. Considering the cultivation of Bt-maize MON810, the assumption of the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) that there will be no relevant exposure beyond the Bt-maize fields, cannot be confirmed. Considering the results of this and related studies and with respect to the precautionary principle, one can state that buffer zones between Bt-maize fields and protected areas are an effective measure to minimise the exposure of Bt-maize pollen to NTOs and, thus, to prevent from adverse effects. Recommendations and perspectives Because of still insufficient ecotoxicological data for the risk assessment of Bt-maize MON810 considering butterflies and other protected NTOs, protection standards assuring the precautionary principle have to be implemented to avoid Bt-maize pollen exposure to NTOs. This applies for the case Ruhlsdorfer Bruch and for nature reserve areas in general. In order to exclude risks to protected NTOs occurring in nature reserves, sufficient buffer zones for Bt-maize cultivation should be considered. The statistical analysis revealed that distances of more than 500?m are necessary to decisively reduce exposure to foraging insects. In fact, distances of more than 1,000?m are necessary to prevent maize pollen deposition from values above 100,000 pollen/m² with a certainty of 90?%. An adequate risk assessment can only be attained if based on field measurements accounting for the high variation of pollen deposition due to local environmental site conditions and field management. The monitoring should be based on standardised methods. It should include locations with the highest expected deposition rates, the boundaries of the protected areas and sites of interest within those boundaries, e.?g., specific habitats of sensitive species.     

Klima-Biomonitoring: Nachweis des Klimawandels und dessen Folgen für die belebte Umwelt

Hintergrund und ZielEs wird vorgeschlagen, Biomonitoring-Verfahren zu verwenden, um Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die belebte Umwelt zu erkennen, zu bewerten und zu dokumentieren, weil ? es mit dieser Methode gelingt, klimainduzierte Veränderungen in besonders empfindlichen Gebieten in Deutschland mit ihren Lebensräumen, Lebensgemeinschaften und Arten darzustellen, ? es bezüglich Zuwanderung und Ausbreitung neuer Schädlinge und Krankheitserreger für Mensch, Tier und Pflanze nach bzw. in Deutschland relevante Informationen liefern kann, ? damit der Politik zur Bewertung der Auswirkungen des Klimawandels wichtige Informationen, Handreichungen und Entscheidungsgrundlagen zur Verfügung gestellt werden können und ? auf dieser Grundlage geeignete Anpassungsmaßnahmen eingeleitet und auf ihre Wirksamkeit geprüft werden können, wie beispielsweise in der Deutschen Anpassungsstrategie (BMU 2009) beschrieben. Für Biomonitoring-Verfahren, die geeignet sind, Auswirkungen des Klimawandels anzuzeigen, wird der Begriff Klima-Biomonitoring vorgeschlagen Diese Verfahren sollten aus verschiedenen Gründen (u.?a. abgestimmte Methodik und gleiche Datenbasis, Kostenersparnis) unter Beteiligung aller Bundesländer umgesetzt werden. Bioindikation ist bereits heute ein unverzichtbares Verfahren, frühzeitig Veränderungen in der belebten Umwelt zu erkennen und somit Hinweise auf besondere Gefahren zu liefern (Frühwarnsystem). Für das Klima-Biomonitoring werden vorzugsweise bestehende Monitoringsysteme mit ihren bereits erhobenen Daten ausgewertet und mitgenutzt. Material und Methoden Das Klima-Biomonitoring greift auf bereits eingeführte und bewährte Methoden der Bioindikation von Umweltveränderungen zurück. Bestehende Methoden werden im Hinblick auf die besonderen, durch den Klimawandel bedingten Anforderungen ergänzt, angepasst und weiterentwickelt. Auf der Grundlage einer Auswertung relevanter laufender Bundes- und Länderprogramme werden wesentliche Wirkungen des Klimawandels identifiziert, die datenliefernden Programme zugeordnet und Auswertungen vorgeschlagen. Zusätzlich werden Datenquellen beschrieben, deren Nutzung weitergehende Betrachtungen ermöglichen. ErgebnisseIn einer Übersichtstabelle werden Monitoring-Programme auf Bundes- und Länderebene systematisiert und hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für die Bewertung von Klimafolgen auf die belebte Umwelt dargestellt. Eine Übersicht über Datenquellen sowie eine Darstellung erster Erkenntnisse aus der Auswertung vorliegender Daten belegen die Relevanz des vorgeschlagenen Verfahrens. Der erkennbare Forschungs- und Entwicklungsbedarf wird umrissen und Vorschläge für eine Optimierung des Daten- und Methodenaustausches benannt. Beispiele zur Anwendung und Vertiefung der Thematik sowie Anregungen zur Weiterentwicklung der Methodik und zum Schließen von Kenntnislücken werden in Folgepublikationen aufgezeigt. DiskussionAuf der Basis des Klima-Biomonitorings kann das Ausmaß der durch den Klimawandel bereits eingetretenen Veränderungen beschrieben sowie Szenarien und Prognosen zu den Auswirkungen von Klimaveränderungen erstellt werden. Weiterhin ist es möglich, die sekundären Wirkungen des Klimawandels, insbesondere die Auswirkungen der Maßnahmen zur Anpassung an den Wandel, mithilfe der Bioindikation auf ihre Wirksamkeit zu prüfen. Für einige Klima-Bioindikatoren ist der kausale Zusammenhang zwischen Klimawandel und Reaktion bereits belegt (zum Beispiel die Frühjahrsphasen in der Pflanzenphänologie), in anderen Fällen müssen noch Methoden zur Unterscheidung zwischen Klimawirkungen und anderen Wirkfaktoren entwickelt werden. Die Erkenntnisse aus dem Klima-Biomonitoring sollen Grundlage für entsprechende Handlungen sein, sodass geeignete Anpassungsstrategien und gleichzeitig Maßnahmen zur Vermeidung oder zur Verminderung der Effekte eingeleitet werden können. Zugleich sollen eine angemessene Politikberatung, eine Information der Öffentlichkeit und die Erfüllung entsprechender Berichtspflichten erfolgen. Schlussfolgerungen:Klima-Biomonitoring ist eine geeignete Methode, um klimainduzierte Veränderungen in besonders empfindlichen Gebieten in Deutschland mit ihren Lebensräumen, Lebensgemeinschaften und Arten darzustellen. Erste Auswertungen zeigen, dass bereits Wirkungen des Klimawandels auf die belebte Umwelt nachweisbar sind. Hierbei liefert die Pflanzenphänologie seit vielen Jahren wertvolle Hintergrunddaten. Eine Verschneidung dieser Hintergrunddaten mit Daten aus anderen geeigneten Monitoring-Programmen und weiteren Informationen (zum Beispiel Geobasisdaten) ermöglicht es, diese Erkenntnisse zu ergänzen. Damit ist die Ermittlung und Bewertung von klimainduzierten Wirkungen auch im Bereich der Ausbreitung von Krankheitsüberträgern und -erregern und anderer Phänomene sowie der Bewertung von Maßnahmen möglich. Empfehlungen und PerspektivenEine abgestimmte Anwendung der Methodik in allen Bundesländern und beim Bund, eine Verbesserung des Daten- und Methodenaustausches, die Identifikation, Erschließung und Nutzung weiterer Datenquellen, die Weiterentwicklung der Methodik und eine Publikation weiterer Erkenntnisse werden empfohlen. Es ist davon auszugehen, dass sich das Klima-Biomonitoring wegen seiner Vorteile als Methode zur Erhebung von Klimafolgen für die belebte Umwelt auch international etablieren wird.     

Food waste in municipal mixed waste produced at household level: empirical evidence from the Czech Republic

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The problem of food waste is broadly discussed, but empirical data are still missing. The importance of this topic increases as the reporting of...     

Physical Effects of New Devices for Bricklayers

Bricklaying is a physically demanding job. Bricklayers frequently flex their trunk to pick up bricks and mortar and position these in a wall. The experienced workload is highest working with bricks at 0 to 50 cm from the floor. In this study the effects of 2 devices that have proven to be feasible in practice are evaluated.

The 50 cm raise due to the 2 devices is experienced as comfortable, the estimated lumbar compression force was reduced, and observations indicate likewise. It is discussed that the field experiments have many drawbacks. Nevertheless, based on this study in combination with other literature the improvements could be recommended.     

Contrasting stories on overcoming governance challenges: the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in the Netherlands

The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) has provided the European Member States with a range of interacting governance challenges. This article studies three of these (the need for new administrative arrangements, public participation, and the enforced strict time frame). It questions how these interacting governance challenges were addressed in implementing the WFD in the Netherlands – a particularly interesting country since the European Commission assesses its implementation process in relatively positive terms, while an in-depth study reported on in this article tells a contrasting story. Based on this study, the article concludes that especially the interaction effects between the governance challenges may help us to better understand the outcome of the WFD-implementation process, and to provide more suitable advice as to how to improve the implementation process in future rounds.     

New consumer roles in waste water management

Network‐bound systems such as water and energy systems are increasingly confronted with environmental problems that cannot be solved without changing their modes of provision. More than any other flow provided through a network‐bound system, the waste water flow comes very close to intimate personal and social life, complicating the introduction of environmental innovations in this sector. Using the concepts of trust and identity, questions concerning changing consumer roles in two cases of Decentralised Sanitation and Reuse Systems in the Netherlands are addressed. In both cases the building of trust within provider networks and between consumers and providers, as well as the possibility for consumers and providers to identify themselves with the aims of the project were key factors determining the success or failure of environmental innovations in waste water flows.     

Sustainable development and participatory practices in community forestry: the case of FUNDECOR in Costa Rica

This paper studies the emergence of one particular ‘new’ environmental policy instrument: disclosure of emission and pollution data. Disclosure is part of a relatively new sub‐set of regulatory measures, based on monitoring, transparency, citizen‐empowerment and accountability. It originated in the United States but has recently attracted international attention. The attractiveness of disclosure is obvious; it promises environmental improvement combined with strengthened environmental democracy and community empowerment. By analysing the experiences in the US, and the developments in the Netherlands, this paper seeks to assess the functioning and effectiveness of disclosure. The available empirical evidence suggests that disclosure has a positive impact on the environmental performance of industrial facilities as well as a democratising effect. It is argued that Dutch policy makers wrongfully assume that disclosure cannot work in the Netherlands. The consequence is that citizens are provided with little specific information that cannot be used to put pressure on polluters.