Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes.

8 páginas, 4 tablas, 8 figuras.The effect of salinity level and extended exposure to different salinity and flooding conditions on germination patterns of three saltmarsh clonal growth plants (Juncus subulatus, Scirpus litoralis, and S. maritimus) was studied. Seed exposure to extended flooding and saline conditions significantly affected the outcome of the germination process in a different, though predictable, way for each species, after favorable conditions for germination were restored. Tolerance of the germination process was related to the average salinity level measured during the growth/germination season at sites where established individuals of each species dominated the species cover. No relationship was found between salinity tolerance of the germination process and seed response to extended exposure to flooding and salinity conditions. The salinity response was significantly related to the conditions prevailing in the habitats of the respective species during the unfavorable (nongrowth/nongermination) season. Our results indicate that changes in salinity and hydrology while seeds are dormant affect the outcome of the seed-bank response, even when conditions at germination are identical. Because these environmental-history-dependent responses differentially affect seed germination, seedling density, and probably sexual recruitment in the studied and related species, these influences should be considered for wetland restoration and managementFinancial support from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (MMA, project 05/99) and the Junta de Andalucía (research group 4086)enabled us to carry out the present work.Peer reviewe

2016 Global Opportunity Index

Cross-border capital flows play a key role in supporting investment, and ultimately, economic growth. Until recently, regulators tended to favor foreign direct investment (FDI) because direct investment in the country’s productive assets has traditionally been viewed as more stable than portfolio flows. Yet recent strengthening of portfolio flows to emerging markets and an investment gap in many countries are forcing a reassessment: Market-based investment cannot be ignored and could help in developing public-private partnerships to facilitate a more diversified and even allocation of international financial resources. With a special focus on Asia, the report first assesses the attractiveness of Asian countries based on the 2016 Global Opportunity Index (GOI) and provides a closer look at the composition of Asia’s capital inflows—focused on FDI and portfolio investment

2016 Global Opportunity Index

Cross-border capital flows play a key role in supporting investment, and ultimately, economic growth. Until recently, regulators tended to favor foreign direct investment (FDI) because direct investment in the country’s productive assets has traditionally been viewed as more stable than portfolio flows. Yet recent strengthening of portfolio flows to emerging markets and an investment gap in many countries are forcing a reassessment: Market-based investment cannot be ignored and could help in developing public-private partnerships to facilitate a more diversified and even allocation of international financial resources. With a special focus on Asia, the report first assesses the attractiveness of Asian countries based on the 2016 Global Opportunity Index (GOI) and provides a closer look at the composition of Asia’s capital inflows—focused on FDI and portfolio investment

Cross-Border Investment in Europe: From Macro to Financial Data

International capital flows and cross-border financial integration remain omnipresent in the European political debate as countries struggle with low and divergent GDP growth, new European financial regulation and the anticipation of Brexit. In such a shifting environment, this report first identifies some of the more recent patterns in the landscape of European gross cross-border investment followed by a closer look at banking and portfolio investments

Cross-Border Investment in Europe: From Macro to Financial Data

International capital flows and cross-border financial integration remain omnipresent in the European political debate as countries struggle with low and divergent GDP growth, new European financial regulation and the anticipation of Brexit. In such a shifting environment, this report first identifies some of the more recent patterns in the landscape of European gross cross-border investment followed by a closer look at banking and portfolio investments

Cross-Border Investment in Europe: From Macro to Financial Data

International capital flows and cross-border financial integration remain omnipresent in the European political debate as countries struggle with low and divergent GDP growth, new European financial regulation and the anticipation of Brexit. In such a shifting environment, this report first identifies some of the more recent patterns in the landscape of European gross cross-border investment followed by a closer look at banking and portfolio investments

Trade Finance: A Catalyst for Asian Growth

This report first assesses the state of trade finance market in Asia, then it identifies the latest trend. Finally it provides a synopsis of the necessary steps that will help sustain trade growth in emerging Asia and insure its impact on GDP growth. The key points are as follows: (i) the impact of trade liberalization on countries ‘growth is very short lives in absence of financial deregulations, (ii) trade in Asian countries relies heavily on letters of credit (L/Cs) which leaves a lot of unmet credit needs, especially for SMEs, (iii) several alternatives are slowly emerging, from banks (factoring, supply chain finance), but also from non- banks (Global and Regional Value chains and inter-firm trade credit), (iv) on the investors’ side, trade receivable assets (via securitization or direct investment) is considered as an possibly attractive alternative due to new financial regulation and low interest rate, (v) trade receivable assets offer attractive alpha yield opportunities, consistent returns, low volatility, “real Economy” investment and lower defaults rates than any other interest based asset class, and a behavior uncorrelated to the market. Policy recommendations to help expanding lenders and investors/capital pool: streamlining the trade finance process, uniformisation of international regulations, strengthening of the institutions helping to mitigate risk, dematerialization of the process (use of technology