The Regional Advisory Councils: What is Their Potential to Incorporate Stakeholder Knowledge into Fisheries Governance?

The protection of the Baltic Sea ecosystem is exacerbated by the social, environmental and economic complexities of governing European fisheries. Increased stakeholder participation and knowledge integration are suggested to improve the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), suffering from legitimacy, credibility and compliance problems. As a result, the CFP was revised in 2002 to involve fisheries representatives, NGOs and other stakeholders through so called Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) in the policy process. We address the RAC’s task to incorporate stakeholder knowledge into the EU’s fisheries governance system in empirical and theoretical perspectives. Drawing on a four-stage governance concept we subsequently suggest that a basic problem is a mismatch between participation purpose (knowledge inclusion) and the governance stage at which RACs are formally positioned (evaluation of management proposals). We conclude that, if the aim is to broaden the knowledge base of fisheries management, stakeholders need to be included earlier in the governance process.     

Scrutinizing compost properties and their impact on methane oxidation efficiency

Methane emissions from active or closed landfills can be reduced by means of microbial methane oxidation enhanced by properly designed landfill covers and engineered biocovers. Composts produced using different waste materials have already been proven to support methane oxidation, and may represent a low-cost alternative to other suitable substrates such as sandy or humic-rich soils, which are frequently not available in sufficient amounts or are too costly. In the present study a data set of 30 different compost materials (different age and input materials) and mixtures, as well as seven soils and mineral substrates were tested to assess methane oxidation rate under similar conditions in a laboratory column set-up. Multivariate data analysis (discriminant analysis) was applied to predict the influence of 21 different parameters (chemical, maturation and physical) on methane oxidation rate in a PLS-DA model. The results show that bulk density, total nutrient content (nitrogen and phosphorus), as well as the quantity and quality (with respect to maturity) of organic matter determined methane oxidation rate in this data set. The model explained 50% of the data variation, indicating how characterisation of oxidation rate by single, even diverse conventional parameters was limited. Thus for the first time, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to a series of samples to better determine the characteristics of methane-oxidising materials. The initial data obtained in this study appear to be most promising. The prediction of specific methane oxidation rate of a potential biocover material from FTIR spectra and multivariate data analyses is a target to be focused on in the future.     

The hygroscopic behaviour of individual aerosol particles in nickel refineries as investigated by environmental scanning electron microscopy

The hygroscopic properties of individual aerosol particles (1-35 microm equivalent projected area diameter) from the Roasting, Anode Casting and Electrorefining Departments of two Ni refineries were studied by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) at a relative humidity of 96-98% (at a temperature of 5 degrees C). In the Roasting and Anode Casting Departments, most particles (60-85% by number) showed no visible change in size or surface morphology when exposed to high relative humidity. Approximately 15-30% of the particles developed a thin water film (growth factors between 1.006 and 1.06) indicating the presence of thin surface coatings of sulfates. About 10% of the particles in the Roasting Department formed droplets (growth factors between 1.1 and 2.6) which always contained a large portion of insoluble material. In the Electrorefining Department, most particles (approximately 60%) were residues from the electrolysis bath solution. At a relative humidity of 96-98% these particles formed a solution which contained only small insoluble inclusions. About 30% of the particles in the Electrorefining Department developed thin water films. As only a small fraction of the particles increased substantially in size when exposed to high relative humidity, the deposition pattern of the total aerosol mass fraction will not be changed substantially by hygroscopic growth. The frequent occurrence of thin surface coatings of soluble material on insoluble Ni compounds has to be considered for health assessment purposes.     

An integrated approach to mangrove dynamics and management

The main objective of the MADAM project (Mangrove Dynamics and Management) is to generate the scientific basis enabling the sustainable stewardship of the resources of the Caeté mangrove estuary in Northeast Brazil in the sense of integrated coastal (zone) management. To achieve this, it is necessary to acquire in-depth knowledge of natural processes as well as of the relevant institutional, cultural, economic, social and political dynamics. Causal linkages within the ecosystem, as well as between ecosystem, economy and society, are analysed and explained via dynamic and trophic modelling. Scenario construction is intended to forecast the effects of acute or chronic interference on utilized resources, and to answer wider, management-related questions (e.g. restoration of destroyed areas, utilization potential for aquaculture). This paper describes the project strategy as developed and modified in the context of research results from the initial 2-yr project phase. It is argued that a continuous discussion process is essential to assess the validity of the strategies formulated at the beginning of a medium-time project, particularly if the project is of interdisciplinary nature.     

Multisource emission retrieval within a biogas plant based on inverse dispersion calculations—a real-life example

Open digestate storage tanks were identified as one of the main methane (CH₄) emitters of a biogas plant. The main purpose of this paper is to determine these emission rates using an inverse dispersion technique in conjunction with open-path tunable diode laser spectroscopy (OP-TDLS) concentration measurements for multisource reconstruction. Since the condition number, a measure of “ill-conditioned” matrices, strongly influences the accuracy of source reconstruction, it is used as a diagnostic of error sensitivity. The investigations demonstrate that the condition number for a given source-sensor configuration in the highly disturbed flow field within the plant significantly depends on the meteorological conditions (e.g., wind speed, stratification, wind direction, etc.). The CH₄ emissions are retrieved by removing unrepresentative periods with high condition numbers, which indicate uncertainty in recovering the individual sources. In a final step, the CH₄ emissions are compared with the maximum biological methane potential (BMP) in the digestate analyzed under laboratory conditions. The retrieved methane emission rates represent an average of 50 % of the maximum BMP of the stored digestate in the winter months, while they comprised an average of 85 % during the measurement campaigns in the summer months. The results indicate that the open tanks have the potential to represent a substantial emission source even during colder periods.     

S-metolachlor pulse exposure on the alga Scenedesmus vacuolatus: effects during exposure and the subsequent recovery

In streams and creeks, the aquatic flora is exposed to fluctuating concentrations of herbicides during and following their application. Peak concentrations of herbicides, like the chloroacetanilide S-metolachlor, are usually detected following rain events. In this study, we assessed the effect of S-metolachlor pulse exposure on the algae Scenedesmus vacuolatus. We measured the time-dependency of effects during exposure on algae population and identified the algae development stage most sensitive to S-metolachlor. Furthermore, we assessed the time-to-recovery of the algae following exposure. A 6h pulse exposure at 598mugl(-1) was sufficient to inhibit cell reproduction by 50%. However, the exposure period had to coincide with the cell development stage specifically inhibited by S-metolachlor, which is the end of the cell growth phase. In algae populations composed of cells at all development stages, we initially observed an increase in the size of some algal cells, ultimately leading to an inhibition of the growth rate. In these experimental conditions, effects were observed after 18h of exposure and greatly increased with time. The recovery of algae following exposure to strongly inhibiting S-metolachlor concentrations was delayed and only occurred after 29h. These findings suggest that peak exposure to S-metolachlor may affect the growth of sensitive alga in surface waters, considering that the effects extend beyond the period of exposure.     

A systematic review of biodiversity and demographic change: A misinterpreted relationship?

Demographic change is supposed to be the most important indirect driver for changing biodiversity. In this article, a systematic review of 148 studies was conducted to examine the scientific evidence for this relationship and to identify potential gaps in research. We explored the spatial distribution of studies, the categories addressed with respect to biodiversity and demographic change, and the ways in which their relationships were conceptualised (spatially and temporally) and valued. The majority of studies were carried out in Africa, Europe and North America. Our analysis confirms the trend that demographic phenomena were mostly found to negatively influence biodiversity. However, a considerable number of studies also point towards impacts that were context dependent, either positive or negative under certain circumstances. In addition to that we identified significant gaps in research. In particular, there is a lack of addressing (1) other demographic aspects such as population decline, age structure or gender differences, (2) spatial variability of, e.g. human population growth, (3) long-term effects of demographic processes, and (4) the context dependency (e.g. regulations/law enforcement, type of human activities, and choice of scale or proxy). We conclude there is evidence that the relationship between biodiversity and demographic change is much more complex than expected and so far represented in research. Thus, we call for a social–ecological biodiversity research that particularly focusses on the functional relation between biodiversity and human activities, namely the different types, context, and interdependent dynamics (spatial and temporal) of this complex relation.

     

Exposure assessment of the pharmaceutical diclofenac based on long-term measurements of the aquatic input

Although various single-concentration measurements of the pharmaceutical diclofenac are available in literature, detailed information on the mass flux in the aquatic environment is often missing. Therefore, the overall load of diclofenac was obtained by recording each concentration in nine effluents of sewage treatment plants (STP) and at three river sites located in the area of the river Main (Germany) over a time period of six weeks.In STP effluents, concentrations of up to 2200 ng/L were obtained. In combination with flow rates and connected population an average specific load per capita and day of 0.28 mg (+/? 0.11 mg) diclofenac reaches the receiving water course. This average specific load per capita is an expressive parameter to assess main diclofenac exposure to the aquatic environment avoiding uncertainties of estimated data commonly used in exposure assessment. Accordingly, predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) of 140 ng/L for a realistic worst case scenario and 2 to 52 ng/L based on water quality modeling were derived. Since concentrations of up to 140 ng/L were observed in surface water, the obtained PEC is in perfect agreement with measured concentrations. Hence, comparing the PEC with published predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC), chronic adverse effects in fish populations may occur.