Schmetterlinge im Pölinxer Grund bei Scherfede (Kreis Höxter)

Die Kleingewässeranlage Pölinxer Grund im südlichen Eggegebirge wurde 1984/85 angelegt. Mit ihrem Bau wollte man vor allen Dingen Amphibien Lebensraum schaffen. Die Stadt Warburg als Eigentümerin des Geländes erlaubte dem damaligen Bund für Vogelschutz, in den schlecht nutzbaren und vernäßten Wiesen ein solches Vorhaben durchzuführen. [Inwieweit durch die Anlage der Gewässer schützenswerte Vegetation vernichtet wurde, ist im vorliegenden Beitrag leider nicht überliefert.] Das Projekt erhielt auch Landeszuschüsse. Ab Frühjahr 1985 stellte sich eine artenreiche Vegetation ein. Eine Artenliste gibt LAUDAGE in seinem Bericht. Eine Pflanzaktion ermöglichte einen schönen Waldsaum entlang des Wegs im Osten des Tals. Das gesamte Gebiet wird regelmäßig gepflegt, wobei auch Erlenjungwuchs entfernt wird, denn es soll der Charakter eines Wiesentals erhalten bleiben. Disteln und Brennesseln bleiben in Maßen erhalten. An der Erfassung des Schmetterlingsbestands haben die beiden Autoren von 1991 bis 1996 und noch vereinzelt bis in das Frühjahr 1998 gearbeitet. Insgesamt kann man wohl sagen [nach Ansicht der Verfasser], daß die bisherige Art der Gestaltung und Pflege dieses Tals eine Bereicherung darstellt und vielen Arten einen Lebensraum sichert. Daß die Artenzahl mit 153 Arten nicht so hoch liegt wie etwa in den Trockenrasenbereichen, wo auch 360 Arten gezählt werden können, ist normal

Veränderungen im Bestand der Tagfalter und Zygaenen (Blutströpfchen, Widderchen) der Kalkmagerrasen bei Willebadessen

Die beiden Verfasser kennen die Kalkmagerrasen bei Willebadessen seit Ende der 70er Jahre und veröffentlichten 1986 einen Überblick über die Großschmetterlinge dieses interessanten Bereichs (BADTKE u. BIERMANN, 1986). Seither suchten sie das Gebiet mehrmals im Jahr auf und können mit den erhobenen Daten die Entwicklung des Bestands dokumentieren. Der Beginn der Pflege dieser Kalkmagerrasen ab Ende 2000 (NEW-Info 2001) und die damit zu erwartenden Verbesserungen in diesem Lebensraum geben Anlass zu einem Rückblick auf Artenzahl und Bestandsentwicklung der Tagfalter und Zygaenen bis zum Jahr 2000. Zugleich mag diese Zusammenstellung auch die Ausgangssituation zu Beginn der Pflege dieser Kalkmagerrasen darstellen

Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies

Dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies, with blue absolute magnitudes typically fainter than $M_B = -16$, are the most numerous type of galaxy in the nearby universe. Tremendous advances have been made over the past several years in delineating the properties of both Local Group satellite dE's and the large dE populations of nearby clusters. We review some of these advances, with particular attention to how well currently available data can constrain 1) models for the formation of dE's, 2) the physical and evolutionary connections between different types of galaxies (nucleated and nonnucleated dE's, compact E's, irregulars, and blue compact dwarfs) that overlap in the same portion of the mass-spectrum of galaxies, 3) the contribution of dE's to the galaxy luminosity functions in clusters and the field, 4) the star-forming histories of dE's and their possible contribution to faint galaxy counts, and 5) the clustering properties of dE's. In addressing these issues, we highlight the extent to which selection effects temper these constraints, and outline areas where new data would be particularly valuable.Comment: 63p, uuencoded compressed postscript, 2/8 figs included, A&A Review in press, request paper copies from [email protected], STScI 86

Widespread pesticide distribution in the European atmosphere questions their degradability in air

Risk assessment of pesticide impacts on remote ecosystems makes use of model-estimated degradation in air. Recent studies suggest these degradation rates to be overestimated, questioning current pesticide regulation. Here, we investigated the concentrations of 76 pesticides in Europe at 29 rural, coastal, mountain, and polar sites during the agricultural application season. Overall, 58 pesticides were observed in the European atmosphere. Low spatial variation of 7 pesticides suggests continental-scale atmospheric dispersal. Based on concentrations in free tropospheric air and at Arctic sites, 22 pesticides were identified to be prone to long-range atmospheric transport, which included 15 substances approved for agricultural use in Europe and 7 banned ones. Comparison between concentrations at remote sites and those found at pesticide source areas suggests long atmospheric lifetimes of atrazine, cyprodinil, spiroxamine, tebuconazole, terbuthylazine, and thiacloprid. In general, our findings suggest that atmospheric transport and persistence of pesticides have been underestimated and that their risk assessment needs to be improved

Widespread pesticide distribution in the European atmosphere questions their degradability in air

Risk assessment of pesticide impacts on remote ecosystems makes use of model-estimated degradation in air. Recent studies suggest these degradation rates to be overestimated, questioning current pesticide regulation. Here, we investigated the concentrations of 76 pesticides in Europe at 29 rural, coastal, mountain, and polar sites during the agricultural application season. Overall, 58 pesticides were observed in the European atmosphere. Low spatial variation of 7 pesticides suggests continental-scale atmospheric dispersal. Based on concentrations in free tropospheric air and at Arctic sites, 22 pesticides were identified to be prone to long-range atmospheric transport, which included 15 substances approved for agricultural use in Europe and 7 banned ones. Comparison between concentrations at remote sites and those found at pesticide source areas suggests long atmospheric lifetimes of atrazine, cyprodinil, spiroxamine, tebuconazole, terbuthylazine, and thiacloprid. In general, our findings suggest that atmospheric transport and persistence of pesticides have been underestimated and that their risk assessment needs to be improved

JASMINE: Near-infrared astrometry and time-series photometry science

The Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for INfrared Exploration (JASMINE) is a planned M-class science space mission by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. JASMINE has two main science goals. One is Galactic archaeology with a Galactic Center survey, which aims to reveal the Milky Way’s central core structure and formation history from Gaia-level (∼25 ${\mu}$as) astrometry in the near-infrared (NIR) Hw band (1.0–1.6 ${\mu}$m). The other is an exoplanet survey, which aims to discover transiting Earth-like exoplanets in the habitable zone from NIR time-series photometry of M dwarfs when the Galactic Center is not accessible. We introduce the mission, review many science objectives, and present the instrument concept. JASMINE will be the first dedicated NIR astrometry space mission and provide precise astrometric information on the stars in the Galactic Center, taking advantage of the significantly lower extinction in the NIR. The precise astrometry is obtained by taking many short-exposure images. Hence, the JASMINE Galactic Center survey data will be valuable for studies of exoplanet transits, asteroseismology, variable stars, and microlensing studies, including discovery of (intermediate-mass) black holes. We highlight a swath of such potential science, and also describe synergies with other missions

Chemical reactivity and long-range transport potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – a review

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of considerable concern due to their well-recognised toxicity and especially due to the carcinogenic hazard which they present. PAHs are semi-volatile and therefore partition between vapour and condensed phases in the atmosphere and both the vapour and particulate forms undergo chemical reactions. This article briefly reviews the current understanding of vapour-particle partitioning of PAHs and the PAH deposition processes, and in greater detail, their chemical reactions. PAHs are reactive towards a number of atmospheric oxidants, most notably the hydroxyl radical, ozone, the nitrate radical (NO3) and nitrogen dioxide. Rate coefficient data are reviewed for reactions of lower molecular weight PAH vapour with these species as well as for heterogeneous reactions of higher molecular weight compounds. Whereas the data for reactions of the 2-3-ring PAH vapour are quite extensive and generally consistent, such data are mostly lacking for the 4-ring PAHs and the heterogeneous rate data (5 and more rings), which are dependent on the substrate type and reaction conditions, are less comprehensive. The atmospheric reactions of PAH lead to the formation of oxy and nitro derivatives, reviewed here, too. Finally, the capacity of PAHs for long range transport and the results of numerical model studies are described. Research needs are identified

Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Biographischer Index der Mitglieder.

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