Ecology

This is a reprint appearing in the ES&P Special Issue "Into the Fray. Strategic Perspectives on Biodiversity Sciences and Politics" edited by Aleksandar Rankovic, Audrey Coreau, Yann Laurans, Laurent Mermet, Sébastien Treyer. The rest of the article collection is thought-provoking and exciting! https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/environmental-science-and-policy/vol/113/suppl/C

What does a science of environmental conservation look like? Though we often see it as a contemporary problem, engineering the interface of science and decision-making bodies has been a question since the founding of ecology. This study traces the creation of new conservation initiatives via the repeated splintering of the Ecological Society of America since the early 1900s and compares these against the results of a network analysis of contemporary scientists and their affiliations. Notwithstanding the new terminology of science-policy interfaces,
brokers, and gaps, these questions often hinge on the same dilemmas as they did at the beginning of 20th century. The history of these groups shows how divisive distinctions between ecology and conservation, pure
and applied research, science and politics, and facts versus values can quickly become integrated into the structure of organizations—even those that are created specifically to bridge gaps in what today would be called the science-policy interface. Meanwhile, a social network analysis of present-day scientists suggests that individual researchers are finding ways to informally “jump” across science-policy gaps at a sub-organizational level. Remarkably, these science-policy conflicts can pose major problems for organizations, even when the actual activities of members traverse these boundaries on an individual basis. When designing science policy interfaces, formal bridging mechanisms between organizations remain important but these should also support
the ongoing, if under-the-radar, ways that individuals negotiate gaps between conservation research and policy advocacy.

As European countries strive to meet their targets in support of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN member states in 2015, the importance of integrating all knowledge communities in coordinated responses to sustainability challenges becomes an increasing priority. The creativity and depth of knowledge within philosophical, cultural, aesthetic and historical disciplines of the humanities has been underutilized in coordinated international assessment initiatives that aim to inform policy and facilitate solutions of sustainability governance. The environmental humanities (EH) is a field of growing significance internationally. While it can no longer be called an emerging field, EH still holds only the promise of bringing knowledge of social and cultural systems to coordinated international efforts to address the human dimensions of global environmental change. The significant knowledge and expertise on the human dimensions of environmental change available within the EH field should be regarded as an indispensable resource to policymakers and to those on the ground who work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This essay makes a case for actionable, policy-engaged environmental humanities, an ambition that should certainly extend to the domain of the humanities more generally.

Keywords:
Sustainable Development Goals, Science-policy-society interface, Knowledge assessment, Global environmental change, Integrated environmental humanities

Article forthcoming in Ecozon@ vol. 11, no. 2, 2020.

1Conservation International, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador, 2Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador, 3Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-49, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia, ...

ABSTRACT A methanolic extract of bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides, Asteraceae) was evaluated sensorially. A High Temperature Liquid Chromatography (HTLC)-coupled sensory-guided analysis was performed on bush tea extract to identify potential taste modulating compounds. One fraction showed bitter enhancing effects on caffeine. Fractionation using Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (FCPC) and preparative HPLC followed by structure elucidation using NMR and LC NMR led to the identification of three polymethoxylated flavones, quercetin-3′-O-glucoside (1), as well as a methoxylated derivative (2). In addition, two dicaffeoyl quinic acids and one coumaric acid ester (3) were isolated. Sensory evaluation of isolated compounds led to the identification of quercetin-3′-O-glucoside as bitterness enhancing principle.

Temporal variation in the population abundance of the deep-water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) (Decapoda, Penaeidae), and the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Decapoda, Nephropidae), in the Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean), were evaluated using time-series data (1994–2008) from experimental trawl surveys and commercial landings. The influence of several environmental variables (sea surface temperature, wind-mixing index and NAO index) and fishing effort indices (number of days at sea per month and mean engine power of the trawl fleet) were investigated. The time series were analysed by means of min/max auto-correlation factor analysis (MAFA) and dynamic factor analysis (DFA). The abundance of P. longirostris showed a clear increasing trend, significantly correlated with the fishing effort index (number of days at sea per month), the sea surface temperature and the wind-mixing index. The temporal variations in the stock of P. longirostris, ...

Pedicularis denudata Hooker is rediscovered from Arunachal Pradesh after a lapse of about 135 years confirming the second locality for India. This species is known to India and Nepal, represented only by a few herbarium specimens. Extended taxonomical description, habitat, phenology and color plates with the first available live photographs are provided.

La crisi del Covid-19 è stata annunciata da scienziati lungimiranti. Molto prima di loro, la Bibbia ha dato un avvertimento che deve essere ascoltato di nuovo. In Gen 1,28, il Dio creatore stabilisce Adamo come custode delle specie animali e lo rende garante della loro distinzione. Lungi dall’essere un’antologia di oscurantismi, la Bibbia è il precipitato di una saggezza al tempo stesso immemorabile e profetica; sa che il rapporto tra l’uomo e le specie animali è un luogo temibile, dove è in gioco qualcosa di divino.

In the framework of “TransformAfrica” program, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Rabat  (HBS) organized a debate about the “Participative Urban Development” from 8 to 9 November 2019. In collaboration with Le Toit En Vert association and L’Uzine Foundation, the aim was to discuss and share the experience of civil society actors in developing a participative approach.

About the way in which birders perceive and evaluate birdsong and how they behave towards it, including in certain rituals in which birdsong contests play an important part. The tradition of songbird competitions as a living cultural heritage is well exemplified by the long tradition of the Finkerei in the Harz region, Germany.