Linking National Sustainable Development Strategy and Local Implementation: a case study in Sweden

Sweden has led the way in Europe in environmental protection, ecologically based technological innovation and social democracy. As new economic and ethnographic realities impact upon it, it faces challenges to its policies and practices long familiar elsewhere in Europe. We report on a study for the Swedish Research Councils in which we examined the national framework and political strategy for sustainable development, and how the strategy is being implemented in Sweden's three major cities and two case-study municipalities. History and tradition, cultural homogeneity and a strong and shared sense between sectors of 'the public good', emerged as very important. Until recently, these have obviated the need for formal links between the environmental, social and economic agendas. They now appear inadequately developed at all levels of governance. Tensions in policy are being played out at the level of the municipality, to which power is highly devolved, and Local Agenda 21, interpreted as project rather than process, seems unequal to the task of integration. We suggest what lessons may be drawn from the Swedish experience if issues of power and trust, leadership and participatory vs representative democracy are to be resolved.     

Sustainability in Practice

Sweden has led the way in Europe in environmental protection, ecologically based technological innovation and social democracy. As new economic and ethnographic realities impact upon it, it faces challenges to its policies and practices long familiar elsewhere in Europe. We report on a study for the Swedish Research Councils in which we examined the national framework and political strategy for sustainable development, and how the strategy is being implemented in Sweden's three major cities and two case-study municipalities. History and tradition, cultural homogeneity and a strong and shared sense between sectors of 'the public good', emerged as very important. Until recently, these have obviated the need for formal links between the environmental, social and economic agendas. They now appear inadequately developed at all levels of governance. Tensions in policy are being played out at the level of the municipality, to which power is highly devolved, and Local Agenda 21, interpreted as project rather than process, seems unequal to the task of integration. We suggest what lessons may be drawn from the Swedish experience if issues of power and trust, leadership and participatory vs representative democracy are to be resolved.     

Aversive and avoidance responses of female mice to the odors of males infected with an ectoparasite and the effects of prior familiarity

The detection and avoidance of parasitized males is a component of female mate choice. Here we show that female mice can distinguish between the odors of individual males infected with an ectoparasite, the murine louse, Polyplax serrata, and uninfected males. Female mice displayed aversive responses to, and avoided the odors of, parasitized males. A 15 min exposure to the urinary odors of infected males induced an endogenous opioid-peptide-mediated reduction in pain sensitivity or analgesia, while a brief 1 min exposure to the odors elicited a non-opioid-mediated analgesic response. These neuromodulatory mechanisms facilitate the expression of a variety of anxiety and stress associated responses of which pain inhibition is one component. Females further distinguished between novel and familiar infected males. Prior exposure to the odors of an infected males reduced the degree of analgesia expressed and the associated levels of anxiety and stress and their concomitant costs. In a Y-maze odor preference test females also displayed a marked overall preference for, and initial choice of, the odors of clean, uninfected males and an active discrimination against, and avoidance of, the odors of both familiar and novel infected males. These findings indicate that female mice can distinguish between males infected with an ectoparasite and clean uninfected males and display aversive and avoidance responses to infected males. They also show that females can discriminate between individual infected males and modulate their aversive responses to the odors of infected males on the basis of prior familiarity. This is likely part of the mechanisms whereby females can both reduce the transmission of ectoparasites, such as lice, to themselves and select for parasite-free males.     

The “red tides” of Malta

A 5 year survey of Marsamxetto Harbour, Malta, was carried out to investigate some factors contributing to red tides and to identify the causative organisms. Red tides occurred usually in May but, less predictably, also during June – August. Causative organisms included the diatom Chaetoceros sp., and the dinoflagellate genera Prorocentrum, Peridinium, Ptychodiscus, Gonyaulax, Ceratium and Cochlodinium. Early summer red tides occurred at a time of increasing insolation, and water temperature, prevailing onshore winds and salinities in the range 34.4 to 36.6 A consistent feature was a quick rise in sea temperature of more than 2 C^o during the week preceding red water. Red tides later in the year coincided with higher temperatures and salinities and calm weather.     

Effects of environmental and maternally derived methylmercury on the embryonic and larval stages of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum)

The effects of environmental and maternally derived methylmercury (MeHg) on the embryonic and larval stages of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) were investigated using eggs collected during two successive spawning seasons. Eggs were collected from fish in a mercury (Hg)-polluted environment (Clay Lake, Ontario, Canada), and from fish in two relatively pristine lakes (Lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg, in the province of Manitoba). Both bioaccumulation of Hg into muscle and its mobilization into eggs was significantly higher in Clay Lake females. Maternal muscle MeHg concentration was positively correlated with female length and egg MeHg was positively correlated with muscle MeHg concentration in all three populations. Hatching success of eggs from all three stocks declined significantly with increasing waterborne MeHg (0.1-7.8 ng l-1). Hatching success was not significantly affected by egg MeHg concentration. Embryonic heart rate declined with increasing waterborne MeHg concentration, but larval growth was not affected. Occurrence of larval deformities was negatively correlated with size of female, but was not significantly correlated with MeHg in either eggs or water. Larval MeHg was positively correlated with the concentrations of MeHg in eggs demonstrating transmission of MeHg from females. Uptake of ambient MeHg was higher in larvae exposed to higher waterborne MeHg concentrations.