Correlates of boldness in three-spined sticklebacks (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gasterosteus aculeatus</Emphasis>)

Behavioural variation is known to occur between individuals of the same population competing for resources. Individuals also vary with respect to their boldness or shyness. An individuals position along the shy-bold axis may be defined as the extent to which it is willing to trade off potentially increased predation risks for possible gains in resources. Similarly, group living may be interpreted as a trade-off between anti-predatory tactics and foraging efficiency. The responses of three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) were tested across four social contexts to assess relative boldness or shyness and to further examine whether their behaviour would be consistent within and between contexts. Individuals displayed consistent responses within and between the first two contexts: those individuals which resumed foraging rapidly after a simulated aerial predator attack also displayed low shoaling tendencies. Such fish were deemed to be bold, whilst those which displayed the converse behaviour, slow resumption of foraging and a high shoaling tendency, were deemed to be shy. In a third context, bold individuals out-competed shy conspecifics for food. Boldness was also positively correlated with growth over a 6-week period. The position adopted by an individual within a group is usually interpreted as a trade-off between predation risk and foraging efficiency—both are greater at the front of a mobile group. Bold individuals showed significantly stronger tendencies towards front positions than shy conspecifics. The results suggest that, contrary to some previous studies on other animals, bold or shy behaviour in sticklebacks is consistent between contexts.Communicated by T. Czeschlik     

Combined sclerochronologic and oxygen isotope analysis of gastropod shells (Gibbula cineraria, North Sea): life-history traits and utility as a high-resolution environmental archive for kelp forests

The grey top-shell, Gibbula cineraria is a common member of temperate to cold water kelp forest communities, but its longevity and the age structure of its populations remains unresolved. Combined measurements of shell growth rates (sclerochronology) and oxygen isotope composition allow analysis of rate and timing of shell growth. Eight specimens were analyzed from the southern North Sea (near Helgoland, German Bight). Three age groups were identified but external measurements (width, height, ornamentation patterns and number of whorls) and shell weight are not adequate for ontogenetic age discrimination. Stable oxygen isotope data is consistent with shell growth during the interval from April to December in isotopic equilibrium with seawater, and growth increments exhibit strong tidal controls with fortnightly bundles well preserved. Reliable environmental proxy data (water temperature) can be extracted from the shell aragonite using conventional stable oxygen isotope analyses, with a temporal resolution of days attainable during intervals of maximum growth, but annual extremes are not always recorded in the shell. While demonstrating the utility of G. cineraria as a environmental and potential paleoenvironmental proxy for kelp forest habitats, its longevity has been significantly overestimated.     

Learning in participatory environmental governance – its antecedents and effects. Findings from a case survey meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Theory on participatory and collaborative governance maintains that learning is essential to achieve good environmental outcomes. Empirical research has mostly produced individual case studies, and reliable evidence on both antecedents and environmental outcomes of learning remains sparse. Given conceptual ambiguities in the literature, we define governance-related learning in a threefold way: learning as deliberation; as knowledge- and capacity-building; and as informing environmental outputs. We develop nine propositions that explain learning through factors characterizing governance process and context, and three propositions explaining environmental outcomes of learning. We test these propositions drawing on the ‘SCAPE’ database of 307 published case studies of environmental decision-making, using multiple regression models. Results show that learning in all three modes is explained to some extent by a combination of process- and context-related factors. Most factors matter for learning, but with stark differences across the three modes of learning, thus demonstrating the relevance of this differentiated approach. Learning modes build on one another: Deliberation is seen to explain both capacity building and informed outputs, while informed outputs are also explained by capacity building. Contrary to our expectations, none of the learning variables was found to significantly affect environmental outcomes when considered alongside the process- and context-related variables.     

Do microsporidian parasites affect courtship in two-spotted gobies?

Courtship and body condition of male two-spotted gobies (Gobiusculus flavescens) harbouring naturally acquired microsporidian infections were compared with those of microsporidian-free males under standardized conditions in the lab. Although parasite infection had no apparent effect on individual condition, it significantly affected male courtship intensity. This effect, however, was affected by the intensity of the female courtship. Our study is one of the first to demonstrate a sub-lethal behavioural effect of a microsporidian parasite that could negatively affect the reproductive success of infected individuals. Our results also suggest that secondary sexual traits like courtship may be more sensitive to moderately detrimental effects of parasite infection than classical condition indices.     

Changes in indoor climate after tightening of apartments

The effect of reduced air infiltration rate caused by energy-saving measures has been studied by comparing the indoor climate in 25 sealed apartments with the conditions in 25 unsealed apartments in four seasonal periods. The indoor temperature in bedrooms during February and March was 19.3 °C in sealed apartments and 17.8 °C in unsealed apartments, and the occupants in the sealed apartments correspondingly complained less frequently of draught problems during the winter. When the frequency of window opening was at its minimum (February–March), there was a higher indoor humidity in sealed compared with unsealed apartments, and this probably accounts for an increased occurrence of house-dust mites in dust from the sealed apartments during the winter. Also in February–March there was a slight increase in the concentration of suspended particulate matter in sealed apartments. Considering health effects of a reduced air infiltration rate, it can be predicted that the increased indoor air humidity will indirectly increase the frequency and severity of house-dust mite allergy in the population.     

Effects of starvation,season, and diet on the free amino acid and protein content of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Calanus finmarchicus</Emphasis> females

Effects of food availability and season on the free amino acid (FAA) and total protein content of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus females were investigated in two mesocosm experiments on the Norwegian west coast in spring and autumn. Starved C. finmarchicus females showed no change in total FAA content, but the FAA pool composition changed drastically. During the first 10 days of starvation the protein content showed a moderate decline (<2 µg ind ^-1); however, during the following 21 days the total content was drastically reduced, from 63 to 9 µg ind ^-1. This supports the notion of a sequential catabolism of endogenous nutrients during starvation. In females at high food concentrations, the body protein content increased during spring, but decreased during autumn. The FAA pool composition of females differed between spring and autumn in 14 of the 18 FAA investigated. Reduced body protein content and increased proportion of essential free amino acid were observed during starvation. Similar changes were observed in females sampled at the end of the mesocosm experiments in the autumn. The results suggest that mature C. finmarchicus females are in a negative protein balance during autumn, despite high food concentrations, contributing to a lower fitness than in females maturing during the spring.     

Nutrients and heavy metals distribution in thermally treated pig manure.

Ash from pig manure treated by combustion and thermal gasification was characterized and compared in terms of nutrient, i.e., potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and heavy metal, i.e., cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) contents. Total nutrient and metal concentrations were measured using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. Acid (HNO3, H2SO4) and water-extractable concentrations were also measured both in non-classified ash and in selected ash particle size fractions using flame atomic absorption spectrometry and colorimetric spectrometry. Results indicate that ash from gasified manure contained more water-extractable K in comparison with combusted manure whereas the opposite was the case with respect to P. Heavy metals Ni, Cr and Cd were present in higher concentrations in the fine particle size fractions (< 30 microm of particle diameter), whereas K, P, Zn and Cu exhibited higher concentrations in the coarser particle size fractions (> 30 microm).     

德国公司环境报告评估

1994年进行了德国公司环境报告的第一次排名.1995年和1998年又进行了两次排名,以确定环境报告和陈述的数目已增加的程度,及其质量是否有所改善.基于所使用的基准,已经显示公司报告的质量有颇大差异.虽然总体质量有了改善,但大多数报告都有许多重要不足.