Britain’s exit from the EU will benefit the South and weaken Germany

For the European Union, the exit of the United Kingdom will not only have major economic consequences, also the political fallout will be substantial. Although some observers now fear that Europe will be more dominated by Germany, such fears might be exaggerated. Steffen Hurka writes that when we examine its voting power in the European institutions the opposite may be true. Germany will lose the UK as one of its most important allies, and it may also have to face a stronger group of MEPs from the Southern member states

High-Temperature Anyon Superconductivity

The screening of an applied magnetic field in the charged anyon fluid at finite density and temperature is investigated. For densities typical of high-temperature superconducting materials we find that the anyon fluid exhibits a superconducting behavior at any temperature. The total Meissner screening is characterized by two penetration lengths corresponding to two short-range eigenmodes of propagation within the anyon fluid.Comment: 10 pages Latex 2

Curved Herbig-Haro Jets: Simulations and Experiments

Herbig-Haro jets often show some degree of curvature along their path, in many cases produced by the ram pressure of a side-wind. We present simulations of both laboratory and astrophysical curved jets and experimental results from laboratory experiments. We discuss the properties and similarities of the laboratory and astrophysical flow, which show the formation of internal shocks and working surfaces. In particular the results illustrate how the break-up of the bow-shock and clumps in the flow are produced without invoking jet variability; we also discuss how jet rotation reduces the growth of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in curved jets.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure, accepted to be published in The Astrophysical Journa

Verbreitung und Ökologie von Nasturtium x sterile (Airy Shaw) Oef. (Brassicaceae) in Mitteleuropa

Anhand der Ergebnisse von Chromosomenzählungen wird die Verbreitung der Nasturtium- Taxa (Brassicaceae) in Mitteleuropa diskutiert. Nasturtium officina/e R. Br. (2n = 32) und Nasturtium microphyllum (Boenn.) Rchb. (2n = 64) sind primär geographisch isoliert, wobei N. officinale seinen Verbreitungsschwerpunkt im südlichen Mitteleuropa hat, während N. microphyllum im nördlichen Mitteleuropa vorkommt. Die natürlichen Areale der Taxa sind durch den ehemaligen Anbau von Nasturtium als Salatpflanze (Brunnenkresse) überlagert. Die hybridogene Nesturtium x sterile (Airy Shaw) Oef. (2n = 48) ist in Mitteleuropa wesentlich weiter verbreitet als bislang angenommen. Die Ergebnisse von Vegetationsaufnahmen und Untersuchungen zum Diasporen-Potential in N. x sterile-Habitaten werden vorgestellt. N. x sterile besiedelt im südwestlichen Niedersachsen vorwiegend regelmäßig ausgeräumte Wiesengräben mit zumindest zeitweise fließendem Wasser. Dieses Taxon verfügt über eine gute vegetative Regenerationsfähigkeit und kann offene Standorte aus dem Diasporen-Potential besiedeln. Eine eventuelle ökologische Differenzierung der Nasturtium- Taxa nach dem Basengehalt des Gewässers wird kritisch diskutiert.Based on chromosome counts the distribution of the Nasturtium- Taxa (Brassicaceae) in Central Europe is discussed. N. officinale is widely distributed in southern Europe whereas N. microphyllum occurs in the northern parts of Central Europe. It is argued that Nasturtium officina/ e R. Br. (2n = 32) and Nasturtium microphyllum (Boenn.) Rchb. (2n = 64) are primarily geographically isolated. The natural distribution of the taxa is blured by human activities, namely by the former cultivation of Nasturtium as a crop plant (watercress). The hybrid Nasturtium x sterile (Airy Shaw) Oef. (2n = 48) is more widely distributed in Central Europe than thought before. Phytocoenological and seed bank data of the natural hybrid are presented. In southwestern parts of Lower Saxony (Germany) N. x sterile mainly occurs in ditches or small brooks with floating water subject to frequent biotope management. This taxon shows quick vegetative regeneration after management and is also capable of recolonizing open habitats dried out during the summer by seeds. An ecological differenziation of the Nasturtium-Taxa based on the calcium contents of the water as stated in the literature is dicussed criticaily

Schutz und Erhalt pflanzengenetischer Vielfalt : In situ- und Ex situ-Maßnahmen

Die ökologische, ökonomische und kulturelle Bedeutung von Wildpflanzenarten und deren Potential an genetischen Ressourcen werden immer offensichtlicher. Aber unsere Biosphäre verändert sich zunehmend drastischer, wodurch die natürliche Artenvielfalt stark bedroht ist. Die „Convention on Biological Diversity“ (CBD) hat sich ein Aufhalten des Biodiversitätsverlustes zum Ziel gesetzt. In situ- Maßnahmen wird dabei eine hohe Priorität zugesprochen, aber Ex situ-Maßnahmen werden immer dringender und dies insbesondere hinsichtlich des Erhalts genetischer Variabilität auf Populationsebene. Botanische Gärten sind durch ihre traditionell großen Sammlungen und Ausstellungen als Standardinstitutionen für eine Ex situ-Erhaltung prädestiniert. Aber der Wert und die Bedeutung dieser Sammlungen für den Erhalt der natürlichen genetischen Variabilität bleibt de facto beschränkt. Wir plädieren daher mit Nachdruck für Saatgutgenbanken für Wildpflanzen. Diese Vorgehensweise wird in mehreren Ländern bereits herangezogen - in Deutschland aber nicht. Saatgutgenbanken sind die einfachste und preisgünstigste Ex situ-Strategie zum Erhalt der pflanzengenetischen Vielfalt. Saatgutgenbanken für Wildpflanzen haben das Ziel, natürliche pflanzengenetische Ressourcen zu schützen und zu erhalten. In Kombination mit In situ-Maßnahmen haben sie große Bedeutung für den Naturschutz, z.B. im Rahmen von Wiederbesiedlungsmaßnahmen.The world is facing a dramatic change of the biosphere. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and biological invasions are regarded as greatest threat for biodiversity. To stop the current loss of biodiversity is a matter of worldwide concern, and is the goal of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992). Priority is given to in situ measures against species decline, however should be supported by ex situ conservation, and in the light of the ever increasing loss of biodiversity, ex situ measures are becoming more and more urgent, especially when protecting genetic variation at the population level. There is growing awareness of the ecological, economic and cultural significance of wild plant species and their potential as genetic resources. Botanic gardens are the standard institutions for ex situ conservation. With their huge collections on display botanical gardens are the most effective multipliers for increasing public awareness of the value of biodiversity and conservation needs. However, there are limitations which reduce the value of the collections of the botanical gardens for conservation of genetic variability. We therefore strongly argue for seed gene banks of wild plants, a strategy which has been already adopted in several countries but not in Germany. Seed gene banks are the easiest and least expensive way for preserving plant genetic variability. The aim of seed gene banks for indigenous wild plants are protection and conservation of natural plant genetic resources and promoting integrated ex situ and in situ conservation efforts e.g. for reintroduction strategies

New member states are structurally underrepresented in important rapporteur positions in the European Parliament

In the European Parliament, a ‘rapporteur’ is an MEP appointed to oversee the drafting and presentation of reports. This role is highly important in the Parliament, with rapporteurs being elected to the position by their fellow MEPs. But does the distribution of these appointments favour certain states over others? Steffen Hurka, Michael Kaeding and Lukas Obholzer present findings from a study of the allocation of rapporteurs in the 2009-14 parliament. They find that new member states that joined in the 2004 and 2007 enlargements were underrepresented among rapporteurs and were therefore less able to influence EU legislation than older member states

Dispersal of individuals of the flightless grassland ground beetle, Carabus hungaricus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), in three populations and what they tell us about mobility estimates based on mark-recapture

Knowledge of the dispersal ability of endangered species is crucial for developing effective, evidence-based conservation policies. Due to their limited dispersal abilities and specific habitat requirements, insects are among the animals most threatened by habitat fragmentation. We studied three populations of the highly endangered species of ground beetle, Carabus hungaricus, at three sites in Central Europe (Hungary and Czech Republic) using mark-release-recapture (MRR). The total catch of 574 pitfall traps set at the three sites was 6255 individuals. Depending on the site, the percentage recaptured was 13–32%. average and maximum distance moved by individuals of both sexes at each of the sites ranged between 47–132 and 207–1104 m, respectively. The probability of the movements following an inverse power function (IPF) for the two sexes did not differ, but did differ among sites. Probability of dispers- ing for distances >100 m differed by an order of magnitude between sites, most likely because of differences in how the samples were collected. Despite the fact that individual beetles are able to move over distances in the order of kilometres, the high fragmentation of their habitats is likely to prevent them from colonizing most uninhabited habitat patches. Therefore, the conservation of this threatened ground beetle could be improved by adopting and implementing a policy of assisted dispersal. Our results from three study sites also provide an interesting illustration of the variability in the estimates of the probability of dispersal obtained using MRR

Loki Schmidt-Genbank für Wildpflanzen am Botanischen Garten der Universität Osnabrück

Zur Erhaltung genetischer Ressourcen, wissenschaftlicher Forschung und im Rahmen zentraler Informationsdatenbanken sind Ex situ-Sammlungen in Form von Genbanken notwendig. Die Botanischen Gärten sollten Saatgutgenbanken von Wildpflanzen zukünftig aufbauen bzw. etablieren, um die Erhaltungsmaßnahmen und den Schutz der natürlichen pflanzengenetischen Ressourcen weiter voranzubringen. Am Botanischen Garten der Universität Osnabrück ist eine Genbank für Wildpflanzen eingerichtet worden, die insbesondere Saatgut gefährdeter Gefäßpflanzenarten Nordwestdeutschlands beherbergt und unter trockenen Bedingungen bei minus 20°C in speziellen Alu-Polyethylenfolien aufbewahrt. Gegenwärtig befinden sich 1800 Saatgutproben von 620 Wildpflanzenarten aus 65 Pflanzenfamilien in der Genbank. In einer Access basierten Datenbank ist jeder Beleg auch online abrufbar (www.wildpflanzen-genbank.de) und im Herbarium “OSBU“ der AG Botanik als Belegexemplar hinterlegt. Wir planen die Integration der Loki Schmidt-Genbank und das dezentrale Netzwerk von regionalen Saatgut-Genbanken für Wildpflanzen in die Organisation „Nationales Inventar Pflanzengenetischer Ressourcen Deutschlands“ (PGRDEU) und hier in das untergeordnete Netzwerk „Deutsche Genbank für Crop Wild Relatives” (CWR), dessen Koordination dem Botanischen Garten Osnabrück obliegen würde. Botanische Gärten können als Institutionen die Nachhaltigkeit der Einrichtung solcher Systeme gewährleisten und sind deshalb die richtigen Ansprechpartner für diese Kooperation.There is a growing awareness for the significance of seed gene banks as an ex situ-strategy for the maintenance of plant genetic resources. At the Botanical Garden of the University of Osnabrueck we established a seed gene bank for wild plants of Northwest Germany. We have already collected material of 1800 accessions from 620 species and 65 families. The seeds are dried and stored in special plastic bags in minus 20°C. Information about each accession is listed in an access database which is online available (www.wildpflanzen-genbank.de). Voucher material is documented in the herbarium OSBU of the AG Botany at the University of Osnabrueck. We plan to integrate the Loki Schmidt Gene Bank and the decentralised network of seed gene banks for wild plants into the organisation “National Inventory of Plant Genetic Resources Germany” (PGRDEU) and here in the subordinated network “German Gene Bank for Crop Wild Relatives” which shall be coordinated in the Botanical Garden in Osnabrueck. Institutions like Botanical Gardens are able to guarantee for the sustainability of such systems and are the most probable partners in the cooperation

Asymmetries in the Value of Existence

According to asymmetric comparativism, it is worse for a person to exist with a miserable life than not to exist, but it is not better for a person to exist with a happy life than not to exist. My aim in this paper is to explain how asymmetric comparativism could possibly be true. My account of asymmetric comparativism begins with a different asymmetry, regarding the (dis)value of early death. I offer an account of this early death asymmetry, appealing to the idea of conditional goods, and generalize it to explain how asymmetric comparativism could possibly be true. I also address the objection that asymmetric comparativism has unacceptably antinatalist implications