Methodological scheme for designing the monitoring of genetically modified crops at the regional scale

According to EC regulations the deliberate release of genetically modified (GM) crops into the agro-environment needs to be accompanied by environmental monitoring to detect potential adverse effects, e.g.unacceptable levels of gene flow from GM to non-GM crops, or adverse effects on single species or species groups thus reducing biodiversity. There is, however, considerable scientific and public debate on how GM crops should be monitored with sufficient accuracy, discussing questions of potential adverse effects, agro-environmental variables or indicators to be monitored and respective detection methods; Another basic component, the appropriate number and location of monitoring sites, is hardly considered. Currently, no consistent GM crop monitoring approach combines these components systematically. This study focuses on and integrates spatial agro-environmental aspects at a landscape level in order to design monitoring networks. Based on examples of environmental variables associated with the cropping of Bt-Maize (Zea maize L.), herbicide-tolerant (HT) winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), HT sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), and starch-modified potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), we develop a transferable framework and assessment scheme that comprises anticipated adverse environmental effects, variables to be measured and monitoring methods.These we integrate with a rule-based GIS (geographic information system) analysis, applying widely available spatial area and point information from existing environmental networks. This is used todevelop scenarios with optimised regional GM crop monitoring networks.     

Silvicultural management in maintaining biodiversity and resistance of forests in Europe-temperate zone

In Europe temperate forests play a prominent role in timber production, nature protection, water conservation, erosion control and recreation. For centuries temperate forests in Europe have been affected by forest devastation and soil degradation. Applying great efforts to eliminate the severe wood shortage of those days, countermeasures were taken during the last 150 years by regenerating and tending highly productive forests. High growth rates and an increasing growing stock of these forests indicate that formerly stated goals have been successfully achieved. Coniferous species were often favoured because they were easy to establish and manage, and gave reason for high volume growth expectations. Today coniferous forests expand far beyond the limits of their natural ranges.These changes have been accompanied by a loss of biodiversity, a shift to nonsite adapted tree species and reduce the resistance against storms, snow, ice, droughts, insects and fungi. Some of these hazards were further intensified by the increasing average stand age, as well as in some areas by severe air pollution. Climatic fluctuations, especially changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme warm and dry climatic conditions and of heavy storms, had considerable impact on forest ecosystems.The changing demands of today require a widened scope of forest management. Society is asking for sustainable forestry emphasizing biodiversity and naturalistic forest management. It is of great economic and ecological relevance to know on which sites today's forests are most susceptible to climatic and other environmental changes and hazards. In those areas adjustments of management through a conversion the prevailing forests towards more site adapted mixed forests needs to be considered with priority. The high diversity in site conditions, ownership, economic and socio-cultural conditions require strategies adapted to the local and regional needs. Higher resistance of forests will increase economic and social benefits of forests and reduce the risks by maintaining sustainable forestry.     

The territoriality threshold: a model for mutual avoidance in dragonfly mating systems

Summary In anisopteran dragonflies a variety of mating systems occurs. Male strategies range from patrolling without site attachment to territorial behaviour with pronounced residentiality. Conceiving site attachment as a strategy of mutual avoidance that reduces the energy spent in intermale fights, we develop a model for the cost and benefit of territoriality. This model suggests that high male density, high inter-male aggressiveness, and short duration of female visits at the mating place will strongly favour localization of males at the mating place and may thus trigger the evolution of territoriality. The predictions of our model are supported by field observations of several dragonfly species.died July 27, 1986     

Soil microbial parameters and luminescent bacteria assays as indicators for in situ bioremediation of TNT-contaminated soils

In situ bioremediation is increasingly being discussed as a useful strategy for cleaning up contaminated soils. Compared to established ex situ procedures, meaningful and reliable approaches for monitoring the remediation processes and their efficiency are of special importance. The subject of this study was the significance of two bioassays for monitoring purposes. The work was performed within the scope of a research project on the in situ bioremediation of topsoil contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). To evaluate changes within different experimental fields during a 17-month remediation period, the results of soil microbial assays and luminescent bacteria assays were compared with chemical monitoring data. The luminescent bacteria assays showed a significant reduction of the water-soluble soil toxicants in the treated fields. This bioassay proved to be a sensitive screening indicator of toxicity and may effectively aid the ecotoxicological interpretation of chemical monitoring data. Microbial biomass (C(mic)), the metabolic quotient (qCO2), and the ratio of microbial to organic carbon (C(mic)/C(org)) showed a highly significant correlation with total concentrations of TNT in the soil. But, in contrast to luminescent bacteria assays, this approach did not reveal any recovery of the soil at the end of the remediation period. There is clear evidence for persistent adverse effects of chronic TNT contamination on the site-specific microbial community and the local carbon cycle in the soil. The study clearly exhibits the differences between, as well as the complementary value of both bioassay approaches for monitoring short-term and long-term effects of soil contamination and the efficiency of remediation.     

Relationship between different size classes of particulate matter and meteorology in three European cities

Evidence on the correlation between particle mass and (ultrafine) particle number concentrations is limited. Winter- and spring-time measurements of urban background air pollution were performed in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Erfurt (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland), within the framework of the EU funded ULTRA study. Daily average concentrations of ambient particulate matter with a 50% cut off of 2.5 microm (PM2.5), total particle number concentrations and particle number concentrations in different size classes were collected at fixed monitoring sites. The aim of this paper is to assess differences in particle concentrations in several size classes across cities, the correlation between different particle fractions and to assess the differential impact of meteorological factors on their concentrations. The medians of ultrafine particle number concentrations were similar across the three cities (range 15.1 x 10(3)-18.3 x 10(3) counts cm(-3)). Within the ultrafine particle fraction, the sub fraction (10-30 nm) made a higher contribution to particle number concentrations in Erfurt than in Helsinki and Amsterdam. Larger differences across the cities were found for PM2.5(range 11-17 microg m(-3)). PM2.5 and ultrafine particle concentrations were weakly (Amsterdam, Helsinki) to moderately (Erfurt) correlated. The inconsistent correlation for PM2.5 and ultrafine particle concentrations between the three cities was partly explained by the larger impact of more local sources from the city on ultrafine particle concentrations than on PM2.5, suggesting that the upwind or downwind location of the measuring site in regard to potential particle sources has to be considered. Also, relationship with wind direction and meteorological data differed, suggesting that particle number and particle mass are two separate indicators of airborne particulate matter. Both decreased with increasing wind speed, but ultrafine particle number counts consistently decreased with increasing relative humidity, whereas PM2.5 increased with increasing barometric pressure. Within the ultrafine particle mode, nucleation mode (10-30 nm) and Aitken mode (30-100 nm) had distinctly different relationships with accumulation mode particles and weather conditions. Since the composition of these particle fractions also differs, it is of interest to test in future epidemiological studies whether they have different health effects.