Megafauna Can Control the Quality of Organic Matter in Marine Sediments

 On the highly productive Oman Margin of the Arabian Sea, where an intense permanent oxygen minimum impinges on the continental slope, there is no relationship between oxygen concentration and sedimentary organic-carbon content. However, we provide photographic and molecular evidence that benthic invertebrates play a significant role in the redistribution of organic matter. High densities of spider crabs and brittle stars characterize a narrow band near the base of the oxygen minimum zone, where sediments have depleted organic carbon contents and a remarkable lipid composition that is indicative of metabolic alteration of phytoplankton-derived sterols by invertebrate detritivores. The distributions of sedimentary sterols and the high abundances of epifaunal crabs and brittle stars suggest that the metabolism of the megabenthos profoundly influences the quality of organic matter in underlying sediments. Received: 12 June 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 26 January 1999     

Testing implementation conditions for in-vehicle information systems

In the European 6th Framework Programme, fundamental research in the field of technology assessment regarding behavioural effects was conducted in the HASTE (Human machine interface And the Safety of Traffic in Europe) project. Methods, metrics and scenarios for the exploration of safety problems related to IVIS (in-vehicle information systems) were defined and applied to the evaluation of surrogate systems in the laboratory originally and real systems subsequently, in laboratories and field studies. The results of the laboratory and field studies led to the formulation of guidelines for a standardized test regime regarding existing and newly developed IVIS. In this way the HASTE project has succeeded in the development of a valid, reliable and efficient tool that may aid testing authorities in their safety evaluation of IVIS.     

Effects and success factors of sustainable consumption policy instruments: a comparative assessment across Europe

Important knowledge gaps exist regarding the effects of policy instruments for sustainable consumption (SC) and success factors of such instruments. This article compares and summarizes the results of six case studies on the effects and success factors of SC instruments in the need areas of housing and food. While analysing different instrument types from four different European countries, all case studies were guided by the same analytical framework and mixed-methods approach. This synthesis article particularly emphasizes factors fostering the generation of instrument effects (outcomes and impacts) or hampering the creation of such effects, respectively. These factors include instrument goals and design, the accommodation of consumer needs, and the simultaneous addressing of framework conditions, as well as market context, policy interaction, and stakeholder involvement. The findings and conclusions can contribute to a better understanding of the conditions under which policy instruments can steer consumer behaviour towards sustainability.