Stable carbon isotope ratios of POPs--a tracer that can lead to the origins of pollution

An elemental analyzer in combination with stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS) was used to demonstrate that two samples of the chloropesticide Melipax discovered in two countries varied only by 0.1 per thousand in their delta 13C values. Gas chromatography interfaced to a stable isotope mass spectrometer (GC-IRMS) was used to study the delta 13C values of individual congeners in two technical polybrominated diphenyl ether products, i. e. DE-71 and DE-79, at three different concentration levels. Injections of 4 microg and 5.2 microg of DE-71 and DE-79 were most suited for the determinations. In both products, the delta 13C values were usually the more negative the higher the degree of bromination was. The delta 13C values of three hexabromo isomers BDE 138, BDE 153, and BDE 154 could be determined in both products. In all cases the delta 13C values of the three hexaBDEs were more depleted in delta 13C in the higher brominated technical octabromo diphenyl ether DE-79.     

Regionale Klimatrends mit Hilfe der phänologischen Uhr, dargestellt am Beispiel Rheinland-Pfalz

Aims and Scope

Over recent decades, the climate has changed. Up to now this statement has been made predominantly for the global and/or continental area. What, however, is the situation regarding the climatic trend at the regional scale? Is it already possible to show effects of a climate change in small-scale landscape structures? These questions were addressed looking at the example of the situation in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany).

Methods

Phenological data of plants of the last 50 years from a total of 386 stations of the German Weather Service (DWD) were evaluated. The timing of the different plant phases, beginning of the foliation and plant senescence in autumn, flowering and the first ripening of the fruits had to be registered for different agricultural crops, wild plants, ornamental woods as well as fruit trees. The analysed data material was used to develop the threefold phenological clock (DPU).

Results

Summarising the findings of the DPU for the 15 evaluated nature districts of Rhineland-Palatinate according to individual seasons, which were defined in generic terms as spring, summer, autumn and winter, a tendency of a prematuring of the spring, a prolongation of the autumn as well as a shortening of the winter is evident. From a regional point of view, on the other hand, in individual nature districts such as the ‘Westerwald’ and the ‘Bergisch-Sauerländische Gebirge’, winter seasons are getting longer. Thus the effects of a climate change can differ considerably from region to region.

Outlook

The regionally quite different changes of the climatic situation in Rhineland-Palatinate will not remain without an effect on the ecosystems of this federal state. The currently existing biocoenosis will therefore change. The consequences for forestry, agriculture and nature conservation are of special interest in this context.     

Brood defence in the great tit (Parus major): the influence of life-history and habitat

Summary We examined the extent to which parental investment, as measured by brood defence, is determined by life-historical selection in a shortlived bird, the great tit (Parus major). Pairs tending first (n=20) and second (n=21) broods in the same Scots pine woods in 1983 were used to test predictions of a cost/benefit model of brood defence based on the species' average demography in coniferous forest. Furthermore, the differences in demography between pine and deciduous forest permitted us to test whether habitat-specific life-history would affect the seasonal pattern of defence. In the model, benefit was defined as the brood's potential contribution to a parent's fitness, and the cost as the potential loss if the defender dies in the act of defence. Univariate and multivariate procedures were applied to six measures of defence response to a live owl (Glaucidium perlatum) plus a taped mobbing chorus. Results proved three of the model's predictions to be false. In coniferous forest, neither the overall strength nor the individual variance of defence behaviour differed among first and second broods, nor was there any consistent difference in defence strength between pairs living in coniferous (n=54) or deciduous (n=84) forest as revealed by comparisons within each brood. These failures could be reconciled with the model by assuming that selection in the past had acted via the average demography of both types of habitat. The model received direct support from defence strength increasing with age of young and, more forcefully, becoming more influenced by brood size in second broods, regardless of habitat.A difference in the strength of defence by the male and female suggests two more functions of behaviour: In first broods, the male risks more than the female as measured by five of six variables. This suggests that defence is facultatively linked to the need for territorial protection from predators all the year round. In the female's presence, the male, taking an additional risk, approaches the owl to half the distance of that of a single, though paired, male, suggesting an additional, social role of defence behaviour.Taken together, anti-predator defence in the great tit serves to protect the brood, the home range and, in the male, the female mate. The magnitude of the benefits envisaged varies among the sexes.     

WATER AND HEALTH - ARE WE CONCERNED ENOUGH?1

From a historical point of view, man's concern about the health and protection of water supply is the history of the dramatic reduction in acute communicable diseases due to water-borne micro-organisms. Now that these have been essentially eliminated, there has been a great reduction in concern by scientists and the medical profession with the health aspects of contaminated water. This, in spite of the fact that many concerned people and national advisory groups have reminded us that an increasing number of possible chemical and other hazards find their way into our water supplies and expose human populations to contaminants at low concentration levels without reliable knowledge as to their health effects. Too little research is being done on the health effects of chemicals, pesticides, and viruses. The fact that large populations are being exposed to these possible hazards raises legal and public policy questions. Persons who are largely ignorant of the possible harm of these substances are being exposed to them without consent. Often low level exposure to environmental contaminants is not known or not discovered until considerable time has passed. This raises the question concerning the burden which should be imposed on industry and others who introduce new substances in the environment. The best approach in solving this problem is to prohibit the new substance from being introduced into the environment until it has been shown by reliable studies that even low level exposure is not likely to harm human health.     

Fostering coastal resilience to climate change vulnerability in Bangladesh,Brazil, Cameroon and Uruguay: a cross-country comparison

This paper describes a comparative study of four different cases on vulnerability, hazards and adaptive capacity to climate threats in coastal areas and communities in four developing countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon and Uruguay. Coastal areas are vulnerable to sea-level rise (SLR), storm surges and flooding due to their (i) exposure, (ii) concentration of settlements, many of which occupied by less advantaged groups and (iii) the concentration of assets and services seen in these areas. The objective of the paper is twofold: (i) to evaluate current evidence of coastal vulnerability and adaptive capacity and (ii) to compare adaptation strategies being implemented in a sample of developing countries, focusing on successful ones. The followed approach for the case evaluation is based on (i) documenting observed threats and damages, (ii) using indicators of physical and socioeconomic vulnerability and adaptive capacity status and (iii) selecting examples of successful responses. Major conclusions based on cross-case comparison are (a) the studied countries show different vulnerability, adaptive capacity and implementation of responses, (b) innovative community-based (CBA) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and (c) early warning systems are key approaches and tools to foster climate resilience. A recommendation to foster the resilience of coastal communities and services is that efforts in innovative adaptation strategies to sea-level rise should be intensified and integrated with climate risk management within the national adaption plans (NAPAs) in order to reduce the impacts of hazards.