Bewertungsverfahren Verfahren zur Bewertung von immissionsbedingten Stoffanreicherungen in standardisierten Graskulturen

Standardized grass cultures are routinely used to evaluate the accumulation of air pollutants. For the assessment of air pollutant accumulation in grass cultures, it is particularly important to distinguish between “normal” concentrations and the significantly increased accumulation caused by air pollution. This article presents a method to determine “normal” element concentrations (background levels) and define threshold values for the significantly elevated accumulation of pollutants for individual series of grass cultures. By applying the same method for the data from six regional air quality measuring programs, it was possible to derive universally applicable “normal” concentrations and threshold values for grass cultures. The described method is not limited to the evaluation of data from grass cultures but is also suitable for other biological or ecological data. It allows to distinguish between “normal” element concentrations and unusually high or low concentrations.     

Cellular metabolism of arsenic studied in mammalian cellsin vitro

The cytotoxicity of trivalent and pentavalent inorganic arsenic was studied in cultured mouse fibroblasts. Concentrations of As(III) in the M range and approximately 10-fold higher concentrations of As(V) led to a reduction of cellular proliferation and viability with a concomitant increase of LDH release and stimulation of lactate production. Cells pretreated with a low As(III) concentration were less sensitive to toxic doses of As(III) or As(V).Uptake of As(III) by the cells was greater than that of As(V). Both forms of inorganic arsenic were converted intracellularly to monomethylarsonic (MMA) and dimethylarsinic (DMA) acids, which were subsequently released into the culture medium. In As-pretreated cells, which proved more resistant to As toxicity, biotransformation of inorganic to MMA and DMA was increased.     

Field Deaths in Plant Agriculture

We know that animals are harmed in plant production. Unfortunately, though, we know very little about the scale of the problem. This matters for two reasons. First, we can’t decide how many resources to devote to the problem without a better sense of its scope. Second, this information shortage throws a wrench in arguments for veganism, since it’s always possible that a diet that contains animal products is complicit in fewer deaths than a diet that avoids them. In this paper, then, we have two aims: first, we want to collect and analyze all the available information about animal death associated with plant agriculture; second, we try to show just how difficult it’s to come up with a plausible estimate of how many animals are killed by plant agriculture, and not just because of a lack of empirical information. Additionally, we show that there are significant philosophical questions associated with interpreting the available data—questions such that different answers generate dramatically different estimates of the scope of the problem. Finally, we document current trends in plant agriculture that cause little or no collateral harm to animals, trends which suggest that field animal deaths are a historically contingent problem that in future may be reduced or eliminated altogether.     

An approach to environmental assessment within the land‐use planning process: Northern Spanish experiences

The problems involved in environmental assessment of land‐use plans are discussed. A methodology is proposed for incorporating into the assessment of a plan the modifications that the physical environment would experience as a result of the plan's implementation. Thus, EIA can be integrated into the planning process. Impact assessment and comparison between alternative plans can be made using quantitative and qualitative indicators, some of which are proposed. Several case studies in northern Spain are used as the basis for the suggestions made.     

Pheromonal regulation of starvation resistance in honey bee workers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>)

Most animals can modulate nutrient storage pathways according to changing environmental conditions, but in honey bees nutrient storage is also modulated according to changing behavioral tasks within a colony. Specifically, bees involved in brood care (nurses) have higher lipid stores in their abdominal fat bodies than forager bees. Pheromone communication plays an important role in regulating honey bee behavior and physiology. In particular, queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) slows the transition from nursing to foraging. We tested the effects of QMP exposure on starvation resistance, lipid storage, and gene expression in the fat bodies of worker bees. We found that indeed QMP-treated bees survived much longer compared to control bees when starved and also had higher lipid levels. Expression of vitellogenin RNA, which encodes a yolk protein that is found at higher levels in nurses than foragers, was also higher in the fat bodies of QMP-treated bees. No differences were observed in expression of genes involved in insulin signaling pathways, which are associated with nutrient storage and metabolism in a variety of species; thus, other mechanisms may be involved in increasing the lipid stores. These studies demonstrate that pheromone exposure can modify nutrient storage pathways and fat body gene expression in honey bees and suggest that chemical communication and social interactions play an important role in altering metabolic pathways.     

Improved degradation of azo dyes by lignin peroxidase following mutagenesis at two sites near the catalytic pocket and the application of peroxidase-coated yeast cell walls

• Mutations in Lignin peroxidase Trp171 environment improved azo dyes degradation. • Expression on yeast cell surface and cell lysis allowed reusability of biocatalyst. • Aga2-LiP chimeric variants were characterized. The enzymatic degradation of azo dyes is a promising alternative to ineffective chemical and physical remediation methods. Lignin peroxidase (LiP) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a heme-containing lignin-degrading oxidoreductase that catalyzes the peroxide-dependent oxidation of diverse molecules, including industrial dyes. This enzyme is therefore ideal as a starting point for protein engineering. Accordingly, we subjected two positions (165 and 264) in the environment of the catalytic Trp171 residue to saturation mutagenesis, and the resulting library of 10⁴ independent clones was expressed on the surface of yeast cells. This yeast display library was used for the selection of variants with the ability to break down structurally-distinct azo dyes more efficiently. We identified mutants with up to 10-fold greater affinity than wild-type LiP for three diverse azo dyes (Evans blue, amido black 10B and Guinea green) and up to 13-fold higher catalytic activity. Additionally, cell wall fragments displaying mutant LiP enzymes were prepared by toluene-induced cell lysis, achieving significant increases in both enzyme activity and stability compared to a whole-cell biocatalyst. LiP-coated cell wall fragments retained their initial dye degradation activity after 10 reaction cycles each lasting 8 h. The best-performing mutants removed up to 2.5-fold more of each dye than the wild-type LiP in multiple reaction cycles.     

Participatory scenario planning to facilitate human–wildlife coexistence

Fostering human–wildlife coexistence requires transdisciplinary approaches that integrate multiple sectors, account for complexity and uncertainty, and ensure stakeholder participation. One such approach is participatory scenario planning, but to date, this approach has not been used in human–wildlife contexts. We devised a template for how participatory scenario planning can be applied to identify potential avenues for improving human–wildlife coexistence. We drew on 3 conceptual building blocks, namely the SEEDS framework, the notion of critical uncertainties, and the three-horizons technique. To illustrate the application of the proposed template, we conducted a case study in the Zambezi region of Namibia. We held 5 multistakeholder workshops that involved local people as well as numerous nongovernment and government stakeholders. We identified 14 important wildlife species that generated multiple services and disservices. The subsequent benefits and burdens, in turn, were inequitably distributed among stakeholders. Government actors played particularly influential roles in shaping social-ecological outcomes. We identified 2 critical uncertainties for the future: the nature of governance (fragmented vs. collaborative) and the type of wildlife economy (hunting vs. photography based). Considering these uncertainties resulted in 4 plausible scenarios describing future human–wildlife coexistence. Stakeholders did not agree on a single preferred scenario, but nevertheless agreed on several high-priority strategies. Bridging the remaining gaps among actors will require ongoing deliberation among stakeholders. Navigating the complex challenges posed by living with wildlife requires moving beyond disciplinary approaches. To that end, our template could prove useful in many landscapes around the world.