Spatial factors affecting statistical power in testing marine fauna displacement

Impacts of offshore wind farms on marine fauna are largely unknown. Therefore, one commonly adheres to the precautionary principle, which states that one shall take action to avoid potentially damaging impacts on marine ecosystems, even when full scientific certainty is lacking. We implement this principle by means of a statistical power analysis including spatial factors. Implementation is based on geostatistical simulations, accommodating for zero-inflation in species data. We investigate scenarios in which an impact assessment still has to be carried out. Our results show that the environmental conditions at the time of the survey is the most influential factor on power. This is followed by survey effort and species abundance in the reference situation. Spatial dependence in species numbers at local scales affects power, but its effect is smaller for the scenarios investigated. Our findings can be used to improve effectiveness of the economical investment for monitoring surveys. In addition, unnecessary extra survey effort, and related costs, can be avoided when spatial dependence in species abundance is present and no improvement on power is achieved.     

The booklet “Genetically modified crops”, published from the German Research Foundation, does not meet the given claim - Discussion article

In December 2009 the German Research Foundation published the booklet "Grüne Gentechnik" (Genetically modified crops) claiming to give a scientifically well balanced information about GMO's in agriculture. In this paper we analyse this approach resulting in a critical review regarding the intention of the booklet. We conclude that the evaluation of GMO's in agriculture primarily from a crop breeding perspective is lacking crucial positions in terms of ecology, socio-economy, agronomy, nutritional sciences and finally ethics in life science.     

How effective has the Clean Water Act been at reducing pollutant mass emissions to the Southern California Bight over the past 35 years?

The Clean Water Act (CWA) has regulated discharges of contaminants since 1972. However, evaluations of the CWA's effectiveness at improving regional water quality are lacking, primarily because integration of monitoring data from multiple dischargers to assess cumulative effects is not required. A rare opportunity exists to assess CWA effectiveness by integrating mass emissions data from all major sources of contaminants to the Southern California Bight from 1971 to 2000. While the coastal population grew by 56% and total effluent volume increased 31% since 1971, mass emissions of nearly all constituents decreased since passage of the CWA, most by greater than 65%. Publicly owned treatment works were the dominant point source of many contaminants, but also accounted for the greatest reductions in pollutant discharge since 1971. As point source treatment has improved, the relative contribution of non-point sources, such as storm water runoff has increased. Despite the increased importance of storm water discharges, regional monitoring and data compilation of this source is lacking, making it difficult to accurately assess trends in non-point source discharge.     

Uran in Wässern

The study presents 172 measurements of the uranium²³⁸U and²³⁴U isotopes in ground water and 21 measurements of these substances in the rivers of Eastern Germany. The uranium concentration in the ground water ranged from under 0.1 mBq/l to over 1000 mBg/l with a mean of 12 mBq/l. The respective activity relationships of²³⁴U/²³⁸U ranged from 0.85 to 12.6 with a mean of 1.66. A comparison of these values with those in the literature demonstrates an agreement with more recent measurements obtained from water in Thuringia and Saxony which were seen to have a mean value of 19 mBq/l. The activity relationships of²³⁴U/²³⁸U which were seen to be substantially over the equilibrial value of 1.0 and which were found in a quite high proportion of the samples must be taken into consideration when evaluating these. The measurements of river water demonstrated values for the Elbe river which are related to the periods of extensive uranium mining in Saxony and Thuringia. Measurements performed in the catchment regions going into the Baltic Sea revealed substantially higher values than would be expected from the distribution of uranium in these areas. A number of reasons are discussed here in an attempt to explain these findings.     

A statistical methodology for the evaluation of long-range dispersion models: an application to the ETEX exercise

This paper describes the statistical methodology applied to evaluate the performance of the long-range dispersion models that were used in the modelling activities of ETEX (European Tracer EXperiment). The availability of a large number of models makes this exercise rather unique. These models are used for the practical purpose to quantify the contamination effects over a vast area, following a hypothetical accidental release of harmful material. This makes the quality judgement that could be attributed to the results of each model particularly important.The statistical indicators considered to be the most effective for the evaluation of long-range dispersion models are introduced and commented, with specific examples in the frame of ETEX simulations. The importance of using several indices and critically interpreting the results is discussed.     

Minerals and the Common Fund for Commodities

This paper reviews the role of minerals in the Integrated Programme for Commodities and the objectives and problems of the Second Account of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). It focuses on the least developed countries in Africa, providing specific suggestions for R&D to improve mineral exploration techniques in rain forest and savanna regions; to reduce mine exploration costs; to design equipment suitable for mining narrow veins; to improve concentrating methods for certain ores and to optimize byproduct recovery; to reduce environmental impacts; and to use the waste products of mining. It also discusses demand oriented CFC projects and their policy implications.     

On the function of warning coloration: a black and yellow pattern inhibits prey-attack by naive domestic chicks

Summary Young chicks were offered a choice of warningly coloured black and yellow and non-warningly coloured green (or olive) prey. Unfed chicks were given palatable painted mealworms on their first day. They directed their first peck at both colour types at the same probability; however, they ate the warningly coloured ones at a much lower rate. This is due to an inhibition of attack which becomes effective after pecking. Chicks which were a few days old showed the same behaviour. Since the control prey was in this case painted with an olive mixture containing the same colours as the warningly coloured mealworms, it can be concluded that the inhibition is caused by the black and yellow coloration. With accumulating positive experience of the chicks, the inhibition decreased. For permanent avoidance it must therefore be supplemented by unpleasant experience. Accordingly, chicks handled the unpalatable black and yellow ringed caterpillars of Tyria jacobaeae only a few times and always for a short period when offered repeatedly. The inhibition caused by the black and yellow pattern is attributed to a genetically fixed predisposition to avoid warningly coloured black and yellow prey which is the result of evolutionary adaptation.