Klimawandel und Risikomanagement im norddeutschen Küstenschutz: eine Diskursanalyse

'Im Umgang mit den lokalen Konsequenzen des Klimawandels durch einen erhöhten Meeresspiegel spielt das politisch-administrative System eine zentrale Rolle. Der folgende Beitrag basiert auf Ergebnissen einer Diskursanalyse des politisch-administrativen Küstenschutzsystems an der deutschen Nordseeküste und untersucht den Bedarf langfristiger Vorsorgemaßnahmen. Als Teil des interdisziplinären Forschungsverbundes KRIM analysieren die Forscher sowohl natürliche wie soziale Adaptionsmöglichkeiten auf Extremereignisse (formuliert als lokale Klimaszenarien für das Jahr 2050). Besonderes Augenmerk gilt dabei dem methodischen Zugang. So werden unterschiedliche Aspekte der politisch-administrativen Risikobewertung (die Möglichkeit des Deichversagens, die Rolle der Klimaforschung für den Küstenschutz sowie die Bedeutung diskursiver und institutioneller Grenzziehungen) mit Blick auf die methodische Ausrichtung der Diskursanalyse untersucht. Ein zentrales Ergebnis dabei ist, dass die gegenwärtigen Unsicherheiten der Klima(wirkungs)forschung im Rahmen von Sicherheitsdiskursen interpretiert und absorbiert werden, welche sowohl auf lokalem Erfahrungswissen wie auf historisch gewachsenen administrativen Küstenschutzkompetenzen gründen.' (Autorenreferat)'Dealing with the local consequences of climate change and an accelerated sea-level rise, the political-administrative system plays a central role. The following article focuses on results of a discourse analysis of the political-administrative coastal protection system at the German North Sea coast and assesses the demands for long-term precautionary action. As part of the interdisciplinary research project KRIM we analyse both natural and social adaption options to extreme incidents (formulated as climate scenarios for the year 2050). Along with a summary of the discourse analysis, special attention is given to our methodological approach. Different aspects of the political-administrative risk assessment (the possibility of dike failure, the role of climate change research for coastal protection, the importance of discursive and institutional boundary work) are brought up and wrapped to the methodological issues of our discourse analysis. The core thesis here is that the uncertainties of climate impact research get interpreted and absorbed within safety-discourses that draw on local know-how as well as on historical growing competences in coastal protection.' (author's abstract

Sub-lethal effects of pesticide residues in brood comb on worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) development and longevity

Numerous surveys reveal high levels of pesticide residue contamination in honey bee comb. We conducted studies to examine possible direct and indirect effects of pesticide exposure from contaminated brood comb on developing worker bees and adult worker lifespan. Worker bees were reared in brood comb containing high levels of known pesticide residues (treatment) or in relatively uncontaminated brood comb (control). Delayed development was observed in bees reared in treatment combs containing high levels of pesticides particularly in the early stages (day 4 and 8) of worker bee development. Adult longevity was reduced by 4 days in bees exposed to pesticide residues in contaminated brood comb during development. Pesticide residue migration from comb containing high pesticide residues caused contamination of control comb after multiple brood cycles and provided insight on how quickly residues move through wax. Higher brood mortality and delayed adult emergence occurred after multiple brood cycles in contaminated control combs. In contrast, survivability increased in bees reared in treatment comb after multiple brood cycles when pesticide residues had been reduced in treatment combs due to residue migration into uncontaminated control combs, supporting comb replacement efforts. Chemical analysis after the experiment confirmed the migration of pesticide residues from treatment combs into previously uncontaminated control comb. This study is the first to demonstrate sub-lethal effects on worker honey bees from pesticide residue exposure from contaminated brood comb. Sub-lethal effects, including delayed larval development and adult emergence or shortened adult longevity, can have indirect effects on the colony such as premature shifts in hive roles and foraging activity. In addition, longer development time for bees may provide a reproductive advantage for parasitic Varroa destructor mites. The impact of delayed development in bees on Varroa mite fecundity should be examined further

Potentiation effect of the AMPK activator A-769662 on cardiac myocytes metabolism and survival

Abstract 286 van Poster session 2 Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology, London 30th March – 1st April 2012 Second Congress of the ESC Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science