Suchergebnisse

Human-induced afforestation has been one of the main policies for environmental management of farmland abandonment in Mediterranean areas. Over the last decades, several studies have reviewed the impact of afforestation activities on geomorphological and hydrological responses and soil properties, although few studies have evaluated the effects on water table dynamics. In parallel to human-induced afforestation activities, natural revegetation occurred in abandoned fields and in fields where the intensity of human activity declined, driving the expansion of shrubs. This research addresses the spatial and temporal variability of water table dynamics in a small afforested sub-catchment located in the Central Spanish Pyrenees. Differences between afforestation (Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris) and natural plant colonization (shrubs, mainly Genista scorpius, Buxus sempervirens, and Juniperus communis) and early abandoned meadows (G. scorpius), are analysed in terms of runoff generation and seasonal water table depth dynamics. Precipitation, runoff and water table datasets recorded for the 2014–2019 period are used. Results show a high temporal and spatial variability with large fluctuations in discharge and water table. Groundwater dynamics varied markedly over the year, identifying a wet and dry period with different responses suggesting different runoff generation processes (Hortonian flow during dry and wet periods, and saturation excess runoff during wet conditions). Furthermore, important differences are noted among the various land cover types: (i) in the natural revegetation area (shrubland and meadows) a marked seasonal cycle was observed with short saturation periods during winter and spring; and (ii) in the afforestation areas, the water table dynamics showed a seasonal cycle with a high variability, with fast responses and rapid oscillations. Likewise, the relationship between the depth of water table and hydrological variables was not straightforward, suggesting complex hydrological behaviour. ; This work was funded by the H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 programme (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions) of the European Union under REA grant agreement, number 834329-SEDILAND, and by the MANMOUNT project (PID2019-105983RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, funded by MICINN-FEDER). ; Peer reviewed

The article focuses on the problem of bribery and corruption in towns in the south of Ukraine between the end of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century. The main focus is on the activities of public officials and deputies of municipal self-government. It is noted that the flourishing state of corruption and bribery in the region began to form under the conditions of the new socio-cultural situation that resulted from the fast processes of incorporation, colonization, adaptation, and modernization. The distance from the centre weakened control on the part of the State, and therefore corruption and bribery acquired new forms in the south of Ukraine in comparison with other regions of the Russian Empire. Also regional features of the flourishing state of corruption and bribery have been noted. Conclusions are made that corruption and bribery became usual occurrences of local life against which municipal communities came out, permanently forming an interaction mechanism with civil society. It is also noted that the struggle of local communities with different cases of bribery had practical results: a lot of officials were punished, and eventually sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. ; Šiame straipsnyje aptariama kyšininkavimo ir korupcijos problema pietų Ukrainos miestuose XVIII a. pabaigoje – XIX a. pirmoje pusėje. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas valstybės tarnautojų ir savivaldybių įstaigų pavaduotojų veiklai. Pažymėtina, kad klestinti korupcijos ir kyšininkavimo padėtis regione pradėjo formuotis dėl naujos socialinės-kultūrinės situacijos, susijusios su greitais regiono įsitraukimo, kolonizacijos, adaptacijos ir modernizacijos procesais. Nuotolis nuo centro susilpnino valstybės kontrolę, dėl to pietų Ukrainoje korupcija ir kyšininkavimas įgavo naujas formas, lyginant su kitais Rusijos imperijos regionais. Be to, nemažas dėmesys kreipiamas į regionuose klestėjusią korupcijos ir kyšininkavimo būklę. Iš to galima daryti išvadą, kad korupcija ir kyšininkavimas tapo įprastais vietos gyvenimo įvykiais, dėl kurių vietinių savivaldybių bendruomenės nuolat kūrė bendradarbiavimo mechanizmą su pilietine visuomene. Taip pat pažymima, kad vietos bendruomenių kova su skirtingais kyšininkavimo atvejais buvo rezultatyvi: daugybė valstybės tarnautojų buvo nubausti ir nuteisti ilgomis laisvės atėmimo bausmėmis.

Este artículo contiene 9 páginas, 2 tablas, 1 figura ; Antarctic bottoms harbor stable, benthic communities, subjected to low temperatures. Environmental stability may promote the asexual (clonal) reproduction of sponges to maintain adapted genotypes to those particular conditions. Stylocordyla chupachups forms patchy populations across the Antarctic continental shelf. Individuals are mostly similar in size without distinct cohorts, which indicates fast growth of the new recruits. Settlement of incubated (clonal?) functional sponges may accelerate sponge growth and success at early colonization phases. To analyze the weight of clonal reproduction in the species, a genetic study was performed on three close populations using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci that were designed from massive sequencing. The three study populations showed a relatively low genetic diversity and low loci polymorphism (from 2 to 6 alleles). The estimators of genetic structure, the Analysis of the Molecular Variance (AMOVA), and the presence of private alleles indicated low but significant structure between the populations. A relatively high rate of asexual reproduction (ca. 25% of the individuals) was detected. The program MLGsim found five identical multilocus genotypes (MLGs) with an asexual origin. An excess of heterozygotes (in five out of the eight loci genotyped) was found, which suggests a positive selection mechanism for heterozygotes. The relatively high rates of asexual reproduction may be the result of adaptation to the environmental stability, while heterozygote selection would help maintain some genetic diversity in the populations. S. chupachups has been reported to be one of the first sponge species recolonizing bare areas resulting from iceberg scouring, which indicates a high species fitness and adaptation to Antarctic bottoms. Two out of the three study populations showed bottleneck, which may indicate a recent founder effect and supports the pioneer nature of this species. ; The study has been partially funded by MarSymBiomics project (Spanish FECYT agency grant ref. CTM2013-43286-P), Benthic Ecology Consolidate Award (Generalitat of Catalonian ref. 2017SGR-378), PopComics (CTM88080AEI/FEDER/VE) from the Spanish Government, and BluePharmTrain FP7 People-INT no: 607786 to MJU. ; Peer reviewed

Changing climate will impact species' ranges only when environmental variability directly impacts the demography of local populations. However, measurement of demographic responses to climate change has largely been limited to single species and locations. Here we show that amphibian communities are responsive to climatic variability, using >500,000 time-series observations for 81 species across 86 North American study areas. The effect of climate on local colonization and persistence probabilities varies among eco-regions and depends on local climate, species life-histories, and taxonomic classification. We found that local species richness is most sensitive to changes in water availability during breeding and changes in winter conditions. Based on the relationships we measure, recent changes in climate cannot explain why local species richness of North American amphibians has rapidly declined. However, changing climate does explain why some populations are declining faster than others. Our results provide important insights into how amphibians respond to climate and a general framework for measuring climate impacts on species richness. ; John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis - US Geological Survey ; U.S. Geological Survey-Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) ; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ; National Park Service ; U.S. Forest Service ; National Science Foundation [DEB-0841758, DEB-1149308] ; National Institutes of Health [R01GM109499] ; National Geographic Society ; Morris Animal Foundation ; David and Lucille Packard Foundation ; This work was conducted as part of the Amphibian Decline Working Group supported by the John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, funded by the US Geological Survey. Funding and logistical support for field data collection came from a range of sources including the U.S. Geological Survey-Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Science Foundation (DEB-0841758, DEB-1149308), National Institutes of Health (R01GM109499), National Geographic Society, Morris Animal Foundation, and David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Data are deposited at the U.S. Geological Survey's John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis. This manuscript is contribution 654 of USGS ARMI. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

China ha demostrado una creciente asertividad a medida que afianza su presencia en la arena internacional como un actor de primer nivel. Sin embargo, este ascenso ha diferido de aquel experimentado por otras grandes potencias del pasado, que se valieron de la colonización y explotación como una vía rápida para su propio desarrollo. China ha optado por caminos de cooperación y beneficio mutuo aún con aquellos regímenes que son objeto del rechazo de la comunidad internacional. Por otra parte la fuerza militar, convencional o no, ha sido el recurso favorito de potencias extracontinentales para facilitar su dominio en las regiones con gobiernos e instituciones débiles que usualmente son objeto de explotación. Este trabajo busca narrar la historia de dichas interacciones de sometimiento y explotación, haciendo énfasis en África y en cómo las relaciones entre China y éste continente obedecen a una dinámica única, guiada por la conveniencia y alejada de la ideología y la política tradicionales de Occidente. Finalmente, se busca ilustrar este marco de interacciones dentro del fenómeno del mercenarismo y de su vertiente institucionalizada, los contratistas militares privados y la forma en que estas organizaciones se ven condicionadas en parte por los países de los que provienen. ; China has shown an ever-increasing assertiveness as it strengthens its presence in the international arena as a top player. However, its rise has differed from that experienced by other Great Powers of the past, who used colonization and exploitation as a fast track for their own development. China has chosen paths of cooperation and mutual benefit even with those regimes considered as pariahs by the international community. Moreover, the military force, conventional or not, has been a favorite resort of foreign powers to ease domain and exploitation relations in regions with weak governments and institutions. This paper seeks to tell the story of these interactions of subjugation and exploitation, with an emphasis on Africa and how the relations between China and this continent obey a unique dynamic, guided by convenience and away from the traditional Western ideology and foreign policy. Finally, it seeks to illustrate these interactions within the mercenary phenomenon and its institutionalized variant, Private Military Contractors and how these organizations are partially conditioned by the countries from which they come.

Bacteria found in diverse ecosystems grow in a community of aggregated cells that favors their survival and colonization. Different extracellular polymeric substances are used to entrap this multispecies community forming a biofilm, which can be associated to biotic and abiotic surfaces. This widespread and successful way of bacterial life, however, can lead to negative effects for human activity since many pathogen and spoiling bacteria form biofilms which are not easy to eradicate. Therefore, the search for novel anti-biofilm bio-active molecules is a very active research area for which simple, reliable, and fast screening methods are demanded. In this work we have successfully validated an impedance-based method, initially developed for the study of adherent eukaryotic cells, to monitor the formation of singlespecies biofilms of three model bacteria in real time. The xCelligence real time cell analyzer (RTCA) equipment uses specific microtiter E-plates coated with gold-microelectrodes that detect the attachment of adherent cells, thus modifying the impedance signal. In the current study, this technology allowed the distinction between biofilm-producers and non-producers of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, as well as the formation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms only when sucrose was present in the culture medium. Besides, different impedance values permitted discrimination among the biofilm-producing strains tested regardless of the nature of the polymeric biofilm matrix. Finally, we have continuously monitored the inhibition of staphylococcal biofilm formation by the bacteriophage phi-IPLA7 and the bacteriophage-encoded endolysin LysH5, as well as the removal of a preformed biofilm by this last antimicrobial treatment. Results observed with the impedance-based method showed high correlation with those obtained with standard approaches, such as crystal violet staining and bacteria enumeration, as well as with those obtained upon other abiotic surfaces (polystyrene and stainless steel). Therefore, this RTCA technology opens new opportunities in the biofilm research arena and its application could be further explored for other bacterial genera as well as for different bio-active molecules. ; This work was financed by the FEDER European Union funds through the projects AGL2015-64901-R and AGL201565673-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MINECO) and through the grants EQUIP11 and GRUPIN14-139 (Program of Science, Technology and Innovation, Principado de Asturias). DG and CH-C hold FPI-scholarships of MINECO. ; Peer Reviewed

16 páginas, 4 figuras, 4 tablas. ; Following the introduction to a new area (preborder dispersal), post-border processes determine the success in the establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). However, little is known on how these post-border processes shape the genetic composition of NIS at regional scales. Here, we analyse genetic variation in introduced populations along impacted coastlines to infer demographic and kinship dynamics at the post-border stage. We used as a model system the ascidian species Microcosmus squamiger that has been introduced worldwide. This species can colonize and grow fast on man-made artificial structures, impacting activities such as mariculture. However, it can also establish itself on natural substrates, thus altering natural communities and becoming an ecological problem. We genotyped 302 individuals from eight populations established on natural and artificial substrates in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, using six microsatellite loci. We then compared the resulting genotypes with those found within the native range of the species. We found high levels of genetic diversity and allelic richness in all populations, with an overall deficit of heterozygotes. Autocorrelation analyses showed that there was no withinpopulation genetic structure (at a scale of tens of metres); likewise, no significant differentiation in pairwise comparisons between populations (tens of kilometres apart) and no isolation-by-distance pattern was found. The results suggest that M. squamiger has a natural capacity for high dispersal from one patch of hard substrate to another and no differences whatsoever could be substantiated between natural and artificial substrates. Interestingly, two groups of genetically differentiated individuals were detected that were associated with the two ancestral source areas of the worldwide expansion of the species. Individual assignment tests showed the coexistence of individuals of these two clusters in all populations but with little interbreeding among them as the frequency of admixed individuals was only 15 %. The mechanism responsible for maintaining these genetic pools unmixed is unknown, but it does not appear to compromise post-border colonization of introduced populations. ; This research was funded by projects CTM2010-22218 of the Spanish Government, BIOCON08-187 of the FBBVA and PIE 200730I026 of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). Funding to M. R. came from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no PIOF-GA-2009- 254634. V. O. was supported by a FPU PhD scholarship (AP2008/ 04209) from the Spanish Ministerio de Educacio´n. The authors are part of the research groups 2009SGR-636 and 2009SGR-484 of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Spain). ; Peer reviewed

The publication of the Law 10,267 of 08/28/2001 changed the paradigm of rural registration in Brazil, because this law known as the Law of Georeferencing has created the National Registration of Rural Property, that unifies in a common basis different registrations present in several government agencies, such as the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), the Secretariat of Federal Revenue, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Indian Foundation. Also, this new registration system has a graphical component which has not existed until such date, where the boundaries of rural property are georeferenced to the Brazilian Geodetic System. This new paradigm has resulted in a standardization of the survey and its representation of rural properties according to the Technical Standard for Georeferencing of Rural Properties, published by INCRA in compliance with the new legislation. Due to the georeferencing, the creation of a public GIS of free access on the Internet was possible. Among the difficulties found it may be observed the great Brazilian territory, the need for specialized professionals, and especially the certification process that INCRA has to perform for each georeferenced property. It is hoped that this last difficulty is solved with the implementation of the Land Management System that will allow automated and online certification, making the process more transparent, agile and fast. ; A publicação da Lei 10.267, de 28-08-2001, alterou o paradigma do cadastro rural brasileiro, pois essa lei, conhecida como Lei do Georreferenciamento, criou o Cadastro Nacional de Imóveis Rurais, que unifica, em uma base comum, diferentes cadastros presentes em vários órgãos governamentais, como do Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (INCRA), da Secretaria da Receita Federal, do Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais e da Fundação Nacional do Índio. Também, esse novo sistema cadastral tem uma componente gráfica até então inexistente, em que os limites do imóvel rural são georreferenciados ao Sistema Geodésico Brasileiro. Esse novo paradigma teve como consequência uma padronização no levantamento de campo e respectiva representação dos imóveis rurais, conforme a Norma Técnica para Georreferenciamento de Imóveis Rurais, publicada pelo INCRA, em atendimento à nova legislação. Graças ao georreferenciamento, possibilitou-se a criação de um SIG público de acesso gratuito via Internet. Como dificuldades, temos a grande extensão territorial brasileira, necessidade de profissionais especializados e, principalmente, o processo de certificação que o INCRA tem de realizar para cada imóvel georreferenciado. Espera-se que essa última dificuldade seja sanada com a implantação do Sistema de Gestão Fundiária, que permitirá a certificação automatizada e online, tornando o processo mais transparente, ágil e rápido.

Indigenous peoples are "peoples … regarded as indigenous, on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, or a geographical region to which the country belongs, at the time of conquest or colonisation or the establishment of present state boundaries and who, irrespective of their legal status, retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions" (ILO, 1990). At least 370 million people worldwide considered indigenous, live in remote areas of the world. There are at least 5000 Indigenous peoples ranging from the forest peoples of the Amazon to the tribal peoples of India and from the Inuit of the Arctic to the Aborigines in Australia. Indigenous peoples do not necessarily claim to be the only people native to their countries, but in many cases indigenous peoples are indeed "aboriginal" or "native" to the lands they live in, being descendants of those peoples that inhabited a territory prior to colonization or formation of the present state. Indigenous peoples have their own distinct languages, cultures, and social and political institutions that are very different from those of mainstream society. While indigenous peoples face the same experience of discrimination and marginalization as other ethnic minorities, there are very important differences in terms of their rights and identity. This is compared and contrasted with Indian and Australian experiences through this paper. There are numerous challenges posed to indigenous people. A common feature is the attempts by federal/ central authorities to suppress their cultures for the purpose of mainstreaming, by way of long-term assimilation policies, e.g. the Norwegian Sámi population. In India, Adivasi women refuse to deliver their babies in health centers because they "don't think it necessary"; this the health providers perceive to be on account of 'ignorance'. But then, a few and some social workers perceive this as women exercising their choice. Further, they simply refuse to go to a health facility where they are treated badly and their customs are disrespected. The present paper attempts to explore and document the unique challenges posed to the Kanikkar Tribe habiting the Forests of Southern Kerala, India. The study will be a case study dwelling deep into the experiences of the Kannikar as they negotiate with the fast catching pace of globalization as a moderator on their socio-demographic status, culture, and subsequently their health seeking behaviour. The paper is a clarion call for inclusion, aimed ultimately to give an alternate perception of "social inclusiveness" as both a concept and practice in generating a better understanding as to why the Kannikar are reconciled to submitting themselves to their "fate."

У поданій науковій розвідці здійснено спробу дослідження особливостей соціально-економічного розвитку Південної України дореформеного періоду через призму досліджень М. Слабченка. Розглянуто витоки іноземної колонізації на Півдні та оцінку цього процесу в працях М. Слабченка. Дослідник вважав урядову політику по залученню іноземних переселенців невірною й економічно необґрунтованою.Показано, що вагомою ознакою соціально-економічного піднесення Південної України стало заснування та швидкий розвиток міст. На основі опрацьованих джерел М. Слабченко доводив, що процес урбанізації на землях Півдня здійснювався досить стрімко. Це знайшло своє підтвердження в статистичних даних 1851 р.Розглядаючи формування міського населення М. Слабченко дотримувався тези про провідну роль купецтва, яке змінило міщанський вигляд міст на буржуазний. У контексті досліджуваної проблематики науковий інтерес становлять опубліковані та архівні документи, які дають можливість розглянути деякі аспекти поданої для розгляду теми.Проаналізовано концепцію Михайла Єлисейовича про вирішальну роль торгового капіталу в розвитку суспільства та причорноморських портів у економічній історії України. ; В представленной научной статье сделана попытка исследования особенностей социально-экономического развития Южной Украины в дореформенный период в контексте исследований М. Слабченко. Рассмотрены истоки иностранной колонизации на Юге и оценка этого процесса в работах М. Слабченко. Исследователь считал политику правительства по привлечению иностранных переселенцев неправильной и экономически необоснованной.Показано, что характерной особенностью социально-экономического развития Южной Украины было основание и быстрое развития городов. На основании обработанных источников М. Слабченко утверждал, что процесс урбанизации на землях Юга осуществлялся достаточно быстро. Это подтверждается статистическими данными 1851 г.Рассматривая формирование городского населения М. Слабченко приоритетную роль отводил купечеству, которое изменило мещанский облик городов на буржуазный. В контексте исследуемой темы научный интерес представляют опубликованные и архивные документы, которые дают возможность рас-смотреть некоторые аспекты представленной темы.Проанализирована концепция Михаила Елисеевича о решающей роли торгового капитала в развитии общества и причерноморских портов в экономической истории Украины. ; In the submitted scientific article the attempt of a research of features of social and economic development of the Southern Ukraine of the prereform period in the context of M. Slabchenko's researches is made. Sources of foreign colonization in the south and assessment of this process in M. Slabchenko's works are considered. The researcher considered policy of the government on in volvement of foreign immigrants wrong and economically unreasonable.It is shown that the basis and fast development of the cities was characteristicof social and economic development of the Southern Ukraine. On the basis of theprocessed sources M. Slabchenko claimed that process of the urbanization on lands of the South was carried out quickly enough. It is confirmed by statistical data of 1851.Considering formation of urban population of M. Slabchenko a priority part assigned to merchants which have changed a petty-bourgeois image of the cities to bourgeois. In the context of the studied subject scientific interest submit thepublished and archival documents which give the chance to consider some aspects of the presented subject.Mikhail Eliseevich's concept about a crucial role of the trade capital in development of society and the Black Sea ports in economic history of Ukraine is analyzed.

У поданій науковій розвідці здійснено спробу дослідження особливостей соціально-економічного розвитку Південної України дореформеного періоду через призму досліджень М. Слабченка. Розглянуто витоки іноземної колонізації на Півдні та оцінку цього процесу в працях М. Слабченка. Дослідник вважав урядову політику по залученню іноземних переселенців невірною й економічно необґрунтованою.Показано, що вагомою ознакою соціально-економічного піднесення Південної України стало заснування та швидкий розвиток міст. На основі опрацьованих джерел М. Слабченко доводив, що процес урбанізації на землях Півдня здійснювався досить стрімко. Це знайшло своє підтвердження в статистичних даних 1851 р.Розглядаючи формування міського населення М. Слабченко дотримувався тези про провідну роль купецтва, яке змінило міщанський вигляд міст на буржуазний. У контексті досліджуваної проблематики науковий інтерес становлять опубліковані та архівні документи, які дають можливість розглянути деякі аспекти поданої для розгляду теми.Проаналізовано концепцію Михайла Єлисейовича про вирішальну роль торгового капіталу в розвитку суспільства та причорноморських портів у економічній історії України. ; В представленной научной статье сделана попытка исследования особенностей социально-экономического развития Южной Украины в дореформенный период в контексте исследований М. Слабченко. Рассмотрены истоки иностранной колонизации на Юге и оценка этого процесса в работах М. Слабченко. Исследователь считал политику правительства по привлечению иностранных переселенцев неправильной и экономически необоснованной.Показано, что характерной особенностью социально-экономического развития Южной Украины было основание и быстрое развития городов. На основании обработанных источников М. Слабченко утверждал, что процесс урбанизации на землях Юга осуществлялся достаточно быстро. Это подтверждается статистическими данными 1851 г.Рассматривая формирование городского населения М. Слабченко приоритетную роль отводил купечеству, которое изменило мещанский облик городов на буржуазный. В контексте исследуемой темы научный интерес представляют опубликованные и архивные документы, которые дают возможность рас-смотреть некоторые аспекты представленной темы.Проанализирована концепция Михаила Елисеевича о решающей роли торгового капитала в развитии общества и причерноморских портов в экономической истории Украины. ; In the submitted scientific article the attempt of a research of features of social and economic development of the Southern Ukraine of the prereform period in the context of M. Slabchenko's researches is made. Sources of foreign colonization in the south and assessment of this process in M. Slabchenko's works are considered. The researcher considered policy of the government on in volvement of foreign immigrants wrong and economically unreasonable.It is shown that the basis and fast development of the cities was characteristicof social and economic development of the Southern Ukraine. On the basis of theprocessed sources M. Slabchenko claimed that process of the urbanization on lands of the South was carried out quickly enough. It is confirmed by statistical data of 1851.Considering formation of urban population of M. Slabchenko a priority part assigned to merchants which have changed a petty-bourgeois image of the cities to bourgeois. In the context of the studied subject scientific interest submit thepublished and archival documents which give the chance to consider some aspects of the presented subject.Mikhail Eliseevich's concept about a crucial role of the trade capital in development of society and the Black Sea ports in economic history of Ukraine is analyzed.

Monitoring and evaluation are crucial components of informed decision making, but there is still a general lack of evaluation of the effectiveness of different conservation policies and practices. Also, many existing monitoring schemes can be inefficient use of resources. We have studied the effects and side-effects of legal protection of the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans in Finland, and re-evaluated the methods and results of the monitoring scheme for the species. This presentation combines the results of four different studies. Protection of the so called 'breeding sites or resting places' for the species has faced resistance. We explored reasons for negative attitudes by comparing the responses of persons with and without direct experience on protection. Forest owners have been mostly satisfied with the logging restrictions, but about half of the area occupied by the species in Finland could be owned by persons who would prefer not to have it on their lands. The issue is politicized: the species has become an example of top-down protection, resisted by forest owners out of principle. We estimated the proportion of 'breeding sites or resting places' that have been considered in forest management and found that only 3% of all the potential sites that would have been located on logging areas could have been recognized (1). This, and negative attitudes toward the species, indicate severe problems with compliance of legislation. We also studied 100 sites delimited by environmental authority. Our results show that the narrow definition of the prohibition to 'deteriorate or destruct' the sites does not safeguard the ecological functionality of them (1). The national monitoring scheme reported 22.7% decline of occupancy during 2006-2015. If the proportional change in occupancy would correspond 1:1 with the proportional change in population size, the decline in population size would have been <30%. Based on this assumption the status of the species was down-listed from 'Vulnerable' to 'Near Threatened'. We estimated a) the relationship between observed decline in occupancy and the true changes in the population size, and b) the possible causes of the change by: i) evaluating the sampling method, building both ii) a survival/colonization model with relevant habitat data, and iii) an individual-based simulator to test the relation between observed occupancy and actual number of individuals. Our simulation shows that population can decline faster than occupancy. We should rethink the way the species is protected and how its status is evaluated. Protection of only known nest sites will not be effective in Finland. The raw occupancy data should be interpreted according to more realistic occupancy-abundance relationship. 1. Jokinen, M., Mäkeläinen, S. & Ovaskainen, O., 2015. 'Strict' yet ineffective: legal protection of breeding sites and resting places fails with the Siberian flying squirrel. Anim Cons 18: 167-175. ; peerReviewed

A crise socioambiental configurou-se mundialmente em meados do século XX devido à consolidação da sociedade urbano-industrial e dos avanços da ciência moderna, pautada pela racionalidade técnico-científica instrumentalizada aplicada para atender o modelo antropocêntrico de dominação da natureza para expansão capitalista. Essa crise global manifesta-se localmente no território centro-norte no estado de Mato Grosso a partir da expansão do capitalismo, a qual tomou forma, em especial na década de 1970, por meio das políticas desenvolvimentistas de integração nacional à Amazônia. A ocupação do espaço – por meio da colonização público-privada que atraiu o interesse de grandes grupos nacionais e internacionais –modificou a dinâmica territorial, movimentação de fauna e flora e também das populações seja das preexistentes no território, seja das populações migrantes em suas diferentes situações. Tal processo ocorreu de modo rápido e intenso, gerando desequilíbrios socioambientais na terra, na água, no ar, na biodiversidade e nas culturas preexistentes no território devido à inserção da Amazônia Legal – como região funcional – no contexto do capitalismo globalmente estruturado, perpetuando localmente os efeitos da crise socioambiental global. Dessa forma, o artigo em questão objetiva compreender como a Educação Ambiental no encontro com o diálogo de saberes e culturas pode produzir uma racionalidade socioambiental na região centro-norte mato-grossense. Por meio de revisão bibliográfica, o estudo revelou que, embora exista uma fragilidade das práticas de Educação Ambiental e/ou adoção de atividades pontuais e não contextualizadas – o que não explicita as relações mercantilizadoras e insustentáveis existentes no modelo de sociedade vigente – quando trabalhado de forma crítica e dialógica, tal modelo promove a compreensão ampliada das relações complexas entre sociedade e natureza. Ademais, a Educação Ambiental no encontro com o diálogo de saberes científicos com os saberes culturalmente construídos por populações tradicionais (indígenas e não indígenas), os quais coevoluem com a natureza, possibilita a construção da racionalidade socioambiental que subsidia uma compreensão que aproxima as ciências da vida, da natureza e da sociedade e é pautada em princípios éticos, democráticos, justos e ecologicamente sustentáveis. ; The socio-environmental crisis had its structure established worldwide in the middle of twentieth century due to the consolidation of urban-industrial society and the advances of modern science, which is ruled by applied technical-scientific rationality applied in order to correspond to the the anthropocentric model of domination of nature for capitalist expansion. This global crisis has its local manifestation in the north central territory in the state of Mato Grosso since the expansion of capitalism, which took shape, especially in the 70's, through the development policies of national integration to the Amazon. The occupation of this space – through public-private colonization that attracted the interest of large national and international groups – changed the territorial dynamics, movement of fauna and flora and also of populations either the ones pre-existing in the territory or the migrant populations in their different situations. This process occurred in a fast and intense way, generating social and environmental imbalances in the land, water, air, biodiversity and preexisting cultures in the territory due to the deep insertion of the Legal Amazon ― as functional region ― in the context of globally structured capitalism, locally perpetuating the effects of the global socio-environmental crisis. This way, this article aims to understand how Environmental Education in the encounter with the dialogue between knowledges and cultures can produce a social-environmental rationality in the north central region of Mato Grosso. Through a bibliographic review, the study revealed that, although there is a fragility of the practices of Environmental Education and/or adoption of punctual and non-contextualized activities ― that does not explain the mercantile and unsustainable relations existing in the current model of society ― when worked in a critical and dialogic way, such a model promotes an expanded understanding of the complex relationships between society and nature. In addition, the Environmental Education in the encounter with the dialogue of scientific knowledges with the knowledges culturally constructed by traditional populations (indigenous and non-indigenous), that are in co-evolution with nature, enables the construction of socio-environmental rationality that subsidizes a science bringing sciences of life, nature and society closer together and has as it basis ethical, democratic, just and ecologically sustainable principles.

Das Besondere des Parabeldünenkomplexes am Nordrand des Mittleren Baruther Urstromtal, unmittelbar nördlich von Horstwalde (Süd-Brandenburg, Deutschland), ist die Tatsache, daß mehr als 17 Parabeldünenreihen ineinandergeschachtelt zusammen vorkommen und Höhen von bis zu 25 Metern über dem Urstromtalniveau erreichen. Auffällig ist, daß die Öffnungen der Parabeläste immer an der Westseite liegen und die steileren Hänge immer an der Ostseite. Die großen nach Westen offenen Bögen und die Böschungsverhältnisse sprechen für eine Entstehung durch Westwinde und setzen zur Zeit der Ablagerung dieser sog. 'Altdünensande' eine vegetationslose oder -arme Umwelt voraus, wie sie in den Kaltphasen des Weichselspätlazials (Älteste-, Ältere- und Jüngere Dryas) existiert hat. Die Binnendünensande bestehen hinsichtlich ihres Materials immer aus fast reinem Quarzsand und weisen in ihrer Korngrößenverteilung vorwiegend Fein- bis Mittelsande auf. Die Sortierung der Dünensande ist gut bis sehr gut zu nennen. Begrabene Böden kommen häufig vor. In und unter den Dünen wurden Podsole und Ranker festgestellt. Braunerden wurden bisher nicht angetroffen. Auch Sandlöß-Ablagerungen wurden nicht gefunden. Außerdem wurden unmittelbar westlich von Horstwalde Wiesenkalkbildungen unter den meist südlich gelegenen Horstwalder Dünen angetroffen. Das Alter der Wiesenkalkbildungen ist umstritten. Die Parabeldünen wurden schon im Pleistozän von Menschen besiedelt, was sich ergbit aus der Tatsache, dass Feuersteingeräte und Feuersteinabschläge in und auf den Dünen gefunden wurden. Am Ende des Weichselspätglazials wurden die Dünen durch die Vegetation festgelegt. Danach, im Holozän, entblößt der Mensch die Altdünen in verschiedenen Rodungsphasen - so vor allem in der Jungstein-, Bronze- und Slawenzeit sowie während der deutschen Ostkolonisation und nach dem Dreißigjährigen Krieg bis zur Mitte des 19. Jh. - wodurch eine Auswehung der Altdünensande möglich wird und sog. 'Jungdünen' entstanden. In dem Dünengelände sind zwar einige Sand- und Kiesgruben anzutreffen, aber im Großen und Ganzen ist das Gebiet verschont geblieben von Abbau- und Planierungseingriffen. Maßnahmen, wie das vorgesehene Vorhaben Fahrbahn-, Kraftfahrzeug-, Verkehrs-, Versuchsanlage (FKVV), beeinträchtigen sowohl die Geomorphologie als das Bodenarchiv erheblich. Das Horstwalder Dünengebiet sollte aus zwei Gründen als Internationales Geotop geschützt werden: 1. Geomorphologisch stellt es ein besonders gut erhaltenes Dünengebiet dar; die Dünen bei Horstwalde gehören zu den schönsten Parabeldünen Deutschlands. Sie sind musterhaft für die Entstehung der Parabeldünen am Ende der letzten Vereisung in Mitteleuropa. 2. Das Parabeldünengebiet bei Horstwalde enthält ein sehr gut erhaltenes, aber weithin unerforschtes, Bodenarchiv und ist erst in Anfangen geowissenschaftlich erforscht und dokumentiert worden. ; Remarkable about the parabolic dune complex near Horstwalde (southern Brandenburg, Germany) is the fact that it exceeds 17 bow-shaped rows, arranged en echelon, reaching heights of 25 m above the level of the ice-marginal valley. Openings of the arms of the parabolic dunes always lie on the west side and the steeper slopes always on the east side. These observations indicate the parabolic dunes to be formed by westerly winds and presume a poor or lacking vegetation cover, like there was during the cold spells of the Weichselian Pleni- to Late Glacial (Oldest, Older and Younger Dryas). The dunes consist of almost pure quartz sands, mainly between 0.063 and 0.630 mm in diameter. The dune sands are well to very-well sorted. Buried soils are common. In and beneath the dunes Podsols and Ranker soils were found. To date, no brown earths have been found in the dune area of Horstwalde. Equally, no 'sandy loess deposits' have been found. Lime deposits (so-called 'Wiesenkalkbildungen') have formed beneath the southernmost dunes immediate west of Horstwalde. The age of the lime deposits is controversial. Many of the Pleistocene dunes were occupied by man, as exemplified by flints and artefacts on and in the dunes. By the end of the Weichselian Late Glacial the dunes were stabilized by vegetation. This was followed in the Holocene by a growing human impact on the environment due to the agricultural revolution. This resulted in a remobilization of surficial sands on some dunes. Considerable deflations are especially typical for clearing phases in the Bronze Age, the Slavonic Time, the German East Colonization Time and from the 16th up to the middle of the 19th century. In the dune area near Horstwalde a few sand- and gravel pits are to be found, but as a whole this area is exempted from degradation and planing. Projects, such as the planned facility for testing roads and motor vehicles (FKVV) threaten to affect the geomorphology as well as the soil archive. In the opinion of the author the parabolic dune area near Horstwalde should be protected as an international geotope for the following two reasons: 1. The dune field is very well preserved from a geomorphological and landscape perspective; the dunes near Horstwalde count to the most beautiful parabolic dunes in Germany. They are exemplary for the genesis of the parabolic dunes at the end of the last glaciation in Middle Europe. 2. Only preliminary research and documentation has been carried out to date. This area contains a very well preserved, but largely unresearched soil archive. The palaeosols in the dunes are potentially valuable for research in the fields of geology, geomorphology, stratigraphy, soil science, archaeology and cultural history. ; Peer Reviewed

Inhaltsangabe: Academics, students, the media and the public have been increasingly drawn to China and India in recent years. Both countries were considered sleeping giants and are now turning into the motors of global economic growth. China and India are both ancient civilizations with a rich history and were among the largest economic powers until European colonization in the 19th century. After Indian independence in 1947 and the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 both countries shared the view that economic development should be achieved through a self-sustaining economy led and controlled by the government. In the following decades the share of Chinese and Indian global trade decreased significantly. Economic reform in China and India in 1978 and 1991 respectively resulted in an increasing integration into global markets and triggered large economic growth. However China and India differ in many ways. On the one hand China started its reforms 13 years earlier than India. Due to early establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), strong connections with oversea Chinese in Taiwan and the abundance of cheap labor China was able to position itself as the manufacturing center of the world. India on the other side still lacks the degree of integration in global markets, and the structure of labor and bankruptcy laws, red-tape and poor infrastructure are just some obstacles for further Indian development. In addition, India and China are built on different approaches of governance. India is a democracy which makes it more difficult to introduce pragmatic laws, yet easier to absorb exogenous shocks. China on the other side is solely ruled by the Communist Party of China. As a result it is easier to adopt new policies, but on the other side legitimization to govern is limited and connected to economic growth. A closer analysis of China reveals the existence of several influential interest groups and lobbyists which makes governing China a balancing act in itself yet this will not be subject of this study. China and India both face serious principal-agent problems when it comes to enforcing laws and due to large heterogeneous populations, governing each country is a complex challenge. Today, according to GDP in PPP data China and India rank 2nd and 4th respectively globally. Their share is likely to improve and they are expected to become the world's biggest energy importers and CO2 emitters. The rise of the two nations can be interpreted as a shift of power from the Western Hemisphere towards Asia resulting in major challenges for the international community but also in a regional Asian context. It is very important to note that although China and India are both rising at the same point of time, they are rising in a different pace. China outperforms India in almost every indicator of economic development. It is the key aim of this study to point out this asymmetry between China and India. Another question is, if India is capable of catching up with China in the future and its effects to Sino-Indian relations. In that context noting the mutual perception of India and China is important. To some extent, China dealt with India only as a regional issue, having delegates of provincial governments meet with Indian federal counterparts. On the other side India and China cooperated in international forums, most recently during the Copenhagen summit in 2009, which is an indicator for equal perception. On the other side signs for future tensions can be derived from military modernization programs and competition over natural resources. Analyzing the bilateral trade between China and India serves to increase the understanding of the nature of Sino-Indian relations. It is important to note that the economic structure of India and China differs significantly. Economic aspects are also just one facet of Sino-Indian relations. However heterogeneity is always a common element in every study and although abstraction leads to a loss of information it is a necessary tool to understand Sino-Indian relations. Analyzing bilateral commodity trade provides insight in the intensity of bilateral trade, and intra-industry indices and relative comparative advantage indices provide insight in the complementary and competitive element of bilateral trade relations. Another important aspect is the role of China and India in third markets. India and China are major trade nations, yet the latter outperforms the former significantly. Nevertheless third-market trade reveals possible areas of competition and cooperation. Matching trade baskets are indicators for competitive third-market trade. A dynamic analysis provides insight if the possibility of competition in third markets is increasing and predictions can be derived from it. However it is important to note that commodity trade data are imperfect and the presented results must be regarded critically since they are only an approximation of real international trade. The share of informal economic activities is very high, and differences between international databases are also remarkable. It is important to note that databases receive their information from the very country, and regarding India and China it is particularly in question if they are able or willing to generate and provide accurate data. In addition remittances and triangular trade is not captured by commodity trade databases which are particularly high in the case of India. Hongkong also appears as a separate unit in the trade data. Although it is legally part of China and serves as a major trade hub it will not be recognized in this study. Although China regards Taiwan as a Chinese province it will be analyzed as an independent country. Due to poor availability of bilateral service data, it will not be recognized to the extent as desired. The hypothesis of this study is that there exists a substantial asymmetric component in Sino-Indian relations favoring China. In the long run more symmetric relations are possible to emerge, and India is already catching up yet policy changes could increase this process significantly. Defining India and China as competitors or partners presupposes equality to a certain extend. The last section of this study discusses this question and provides a brief outlook of possible areas of competition and partnership. However it has to be kept in mind that Indian-Chinese relations are a complex matter and providing a simple yes or no answer is not aim of this study.Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: I.Introduction II.Historical Overview II.Comparing India and China IV.Chinese-Indian Bilateral Trade Relations V.China and India in Third Markets VI.ConclusionTextprobe:Text Sample: Latin America: Chinese and Indian trade with Brazil reveals that Chinese exports were 6.8 times larger than India's in 2004. However the gap decreased to a ratio of 5.7:1 in 2008. Both countries have shown large growth rates in their exports in this time period accounting 49.2%(China) and 53.5%(India) respectively. Brazil is not a major import partner for India. Chinas imports from Brazil increased significantly faster than India's. In 2004 Chinese imports were 13 times larger than Indian but the ratio increased to 25.7 in 2008. Chinas average import growth rate (32.9%) also exceeded India's (10.2%). With respect to possible areas of competition, 28 (Metalliferous Ore, Scarp) and 67 (Iron and Steel) are both major import goods for the two countries.28 (Metalliferous Ore, Scarp) accounts for 47.7 % of Chinese and 20.1% of India's imports from Brazil. On the export side, India and China are likely to face competition in the area of 65 (Textile Yarn, Fabric,ect). However China was able sign major deals with Brazil in 2010 and is expected to continue its relative dominance in Brazil. India's main export good to Brazil is 33 (Petroleum, Petrol.Product) accounting 49.1% of total exports. Chinas main export good to Brazil is 76 (Telecomm. Sound Equip ect), accounting 16.7%. Chinas exports to Argentina exceeded India's by the factor 8.1 in 2004 and increased further to 13.2 in 2008. On the import side China also gained relatively to India, increasing the China-India ratio from 6.5 in 2004 to 15.8 in 2008. Regarding import trends it is noteworthy that India's imports from Argentina have been decreasing between 18-25% during 2006-2008 while Chinas imports increased ranging from 48% to 78%. Analyzing the trade baskets reveals that competition in 42 (Fixed Veg. Fats and Oils) and 61 (Leather, Leather Goods) is likely to occur regarding imports. On the export side 51 (Organic Chemicals), which is the main export article for both countries accounting 15.3% of Chinas exports and 16% of India's exports is a potential area of competition. Chinas exports to Chile were 16.1 times larger than India's in 2004 and 14.9 times larger in 2008. China's imports exceeded India's by the factor of 11.9 in 2004 and by 6.4 in 2008. Regarding imports, China increased its imports from Chile by 24% annually on average, while India's imports were quite volatile. Between 2005 and 2006 India's imports increased by 300%. This can be traced back to trade agreements between India and Chile, since imports stayed on the level. However growth rates slowed down to 22% the following year and decreased by 7% between 2007 and 2008. Analyzing the trade baskets of China and India reveals 68 (Non-Ferrous Metals), 28 (Metalliferous Ore, Scarp) and 52 (Inorganic Chemicals) as possible fields of import competition. On the export side, 84 (Clothing and Assessories) and 65 (Textile Yarn, Fabric,ect ) are possible areas of competition. Therefore in Latin America, there is also a large gap between the involvement of India and China. Only in Chile indicators reveal relative increases of Indian importance as a trade partner. On the other side several areas of possible competition can be identified including 28 (Metalliferous Ore, Scarp), 52 (Inorganic Chemicals), 67 (Iron and Steel), 68 (Non-Ferrous Metals), 74 (General Industl. Mach. Nes), 79 (Other Transport Equipment) and 87 (Scientific Equipment nes) on the import side and 51 (Organic Chemicals), 65 (Textile Yarn, Fabric,ect), 84 (Clothing and Assessories ) and 89 (Misc Manufactured Goods, nes ) on the export side . EU27: The European Union is the largest trade partner of China and also one of the largest partners of India.Chinas exports to EU27 were 7.9 times larger than India's in 2004. The gap increased slightly to 8.4 in 2008. Chinese imports outperformed India's by the factor of 2.8 in 2004 and decreased the factor 2.5 in 2008. Analyzing the trade baskets reveals that both countries list 74(General Industl. Mach. Nes), 77 (Elec Mch Appar,Parts, nes), 72(Special. Indust. Machinery) and 79 (Other Transport Equipment) as their major import goods from Europe. On the export side, 84 (Clothing and Assessories) is a possible area of competition, since it is India's first and China's third largest export commodity to Europe. Africa: Chinas exports to Nigeria exceeds India's by the factor of 3.18 in 2004 and by 4.9 in 2008. Regarding imports a major shift occurred during the time of analyzis. In 2004 Chinese imports exceeded India's by the factor 8.7. However since 2006 Indian imports started to surge (increased by 900% in one year, because of a major contract regarding oil drilling rights) and in 2008 Indian imports from Nigeria were 19.1 times larger than China's. The import trade baskets reveal that India and China import mostly 33 (Petroleum, Petrol. Product) from Nigeria. Petroleum and petroleum products account for 96.4% and 81.8% of exports respectively. However given the large demand of oil by China this indicates, that Nigeria is not a major supplier of 33 (Petroleum, Petrol. Product) to China. Regarding exports both countries are likely to engage in competition in 78 (Roads Vehicles). Regarding Sudan, the picture is quite different. In Sudan, Chinas exports exceeded India's by the factor 3.3 in 2004 and by 4.6 in 2008. Chinese imports from Sudan were 74,7 times larger than India's in 2004 and the ratio dropped to 11.6 in 2008. Both countries increased their exports to Sudan on a double digit percentage level while data from 2008 shows India's increase (31.1%) ahead of China's (20.5%). Regarding import growth, China's largest increase occurred in 2007. It is noteworthy that China is a major investor in order to obtain Sudanese oil. India's imports from Sudan increased significantly in 2006 (+253%).