Sprawl,Smart Growth and Sustainability

This paper examines the role of community-based management (CBM) in dealing with the problem of mine water pollution (MWP) in four ex-pit sites in northeast England. The outcomes of CBM can be divided into two categories: ecological (environmental improvement) and social (community improvement). The ecological outcomes range from problem recognition to investigation and remediation; the social outcomes range from community awareness to participation and enhanced cooperation. Both kinds of outcome were completely achieved in only one site (Quaking Houses). In the other three sites, varying degrees of success were achieved in each category. The main lessons learned are two-fold: first, even if CBM does not achieve its ecological aims, it may nonetheless be valuable in achieving social outcomes; second, its chances of achieving either ecological or social outcomes are linked to the resources (human, technical, financial, experiential, structural, legitimacy and network) that the community possesses.     

Sneak in or repel your enemy: Dufour's gland repellent as a strategy for successful usurpation in the slave-maker Polyergus rufescens

Summary. The dulotic queen ant, Polyergus rufescens, must first penetrate a host colony and kill the resident queen in order to successfully founding a new colony. Successful usurpation by a newly mated queen predictably depends on a dual strategy. Although, it can sneak in by being “chemically insignificant” with respect to cuticular hydrocarbons, it may also need to deter prospective host-worker aggressors. Chemical analysis of Dufour's gland secretion of P. rufescens queens and workers by GS/MS revealed that queen secretion is typified by esters of butanoic acid and acetic acid, of which decyl butanoate comprises over 80%. Butanoates and acetates are also present in the workers' secretion, but these are of higher molecular weight, and octadecyl butanoate represents the major compound. Using synthetic mixtures of queen and worker Dufour's gland, we tested the hypothesis that these secretions modify the aggressive behavior of the host species Formica cunicularia>. The queen-like synthetic mixture significantly reduced aggression of the host workers towards alien conspecifics, but neither pentane nor the worker-like synthetic mixture showed this effect. Although Dufour's gland content of >Polyergus queens was suggested to function as an appeasement pheromone (Topoff et al. 1988; Mori et al. 2000), we hypothesized that it may in fact act as a repellent. In order to test this hypothesis we exposed starved F. cunicularia workers to a droplet of honey on a glass slide applied with one of the following compounds: decyl butanoate (queen major compound), octadecyl butanoate (worker main compound), limonene (a reported ant repellent), and pentane (solvent control). Of these, the workers were repelled only by the decyl butanoate and did not approach the honey. We conclude that during usurpation the queen actively repels aggressive workers by emitting Dufour's gland repellent, comprising the alternative tactic in the usurpation dual strategy. This represents another chemical weapon in the diverse arsenal used by parasites to overcome the host's resistance. Received 7 April 2000; accepted 17 May 2000     

Variation in Pesticide Tolerance of Tadpoles among and within Species of Ranidae and Patterns of Amphibian Decline

Abstract: There is significant variation among and within amphibian species with respect to reports of population decline; declining species are often found in environments that are physiograpically similar to environments where the same species is thriving. Because variability exists among organisms in their sensitivity to environmental stressors, it is important to determine the degree of this variation when undertaking conservation efforts. We conducted both lethal (time-to-death) and sublethal (activity change) assays to determine the degree of variation in the sensitivity of tadpoles to a pesticide, carbaryl, at three hierarchical levels: among ranid species, among several populations of a single ranid species (   Rana sphenocephala ), and within populations of R. sphenocephala . We observed significant variation in time to death among the nine ranid species and among the 10 R. sphenocephala populations we tested. Four out of eight R. sphenocephala populations exhibited significantly different times to death among families. The magnitude of the activity change in response to exposure to sublethal carbaryl levels was significantly different among species and within R. sphenocephala populations. Chemical contamination, at lethal or sublethal levels, can alter natural regulatory processes such as juvenile recruitment in amphibian populations and should be considered a contributing cause of declines in amphibian populations.     

Prüfung und Bewertung der Auswirkungen von Pflanzenschutzmitteln auf terrestrische Organismen nach der EG-Richtlinie 91/414/EWG

EU Directive 91/414/EEC describes the authorization procedure for plant protection products. According to annex VI of this directive, the EU member states have to ensure that a plant protection product does not have unacceptable effects on the environment. The data requirements and the function of laboratory and field tests in the assessment procedure are discussed for the terrestrial compartment.     

The influence of anthropogenic and natural geochemical factors on urban soil quality variability: a comparison between Glasgow, UK and Aveiro, Portugal

As part of a harmonised assessment of urban soils (), we investigated the variability of metal content in soils from Aveiro (Portugal) and Glasgow (UK). Samples were collected from parks and other public open spaces in each city. Metal content (Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) and basic soil parameters (texture, CEC, pH, organic matter) were determined and data investigated using principal component analysis (PCA). The two cities differ in absolute levels of metal content reflecting industrial and historical development. Factors identified by PCA included anthropogenic (Cu, Pb, Zn), soil properties and geology, which explain variability when data were assessed based on metal content, soil properties and land use. This study highlights the contribution from geological background even in strongly urbanised environments.     

Temporal pessimism and spatial optimism in environmental assessments: An 18-nation study

The personal assessments of the current and expected future state of the environment by 3232 community respondents in 18 nations were investigated at the local, national, and global spatial levels. These assessments were compared to a ranking of each country's environmental quality by an expert panel. Temporal pessimism (“things will get worse”) was found in the assessments at all three spatial levels. Spatial optimism bias (“things are better here than there”) was found in the assessments of current environmental conditions in 15 of 18 countries, but not in the assessments of the future. All countries except one exhibited temporal pessimism, but significant differences between them were common. Evaluations of current environmental conditions also differed by country. Citizens' assessments of current conditions, and the degree of comparative optimism, were strongly correlated with the expert panel's assessments of national environmental quality. Aside from the value of understanding global trends in environmental assessments, the results have important implications for environmental policy and risk management strategies.