Introduction

Publication within the project “The V4 towards migration challenges in Europe. An analysis and recommendations” is financed by Visegrad Fund

PROSPECTS AND LIMITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF UNRECOGNIZED STATES: BETWEEN ORGANIZED HYPOCRACY AND PRIVATE INTERESTS

Following text deals with prospects and limits of economic growth of contemporary unrecognized states, which represent a group of specific political-geographic entities within the post-1945 political space. The aim of the contribution is to analyse the impact of non-recognition on potential and restrains of unrecognized states. Despite of the generally accepted conventional wisdom, I do argue that unrecognized states are prevalently heterogeneous entities, not only considering their internal effectiveness but also their position within the world order. It is also reflected in their ability to reach political (recognition) as well as economic goals (prosperity). I do base my approach on questioning the argument that unrecognized states constitute effective entities which do lack international recognition only. I argue that geopolitical situation and economic performance of unrecognized states is mainly determined by their geographical location outside of the global gap

Taxonomy and ecology of South African reef corals

Bibliography: p. 492-494.This thesis provides a complete taxonomic review of South African hermatypic Scleractinian reef corals, a description of coral communities on northern Natal coral reefs, experiments isolating the influence of the most important abiotic factors forcing these communities and finally management suggestions for the marine reserves within which these reefs are situated, based on the results of the ecological investigation. The taxonomic part reviews the entire hermatypic scleractinian coral fauna of South Africa and Southern Mozambique, including also material from the Atoll Bassas da India in the Mozambique channel. The study of coral communities on Northern Natal coral reefs revealed major differences in the nature of the reefs and the community structure of the reef corals from typical coral reefs in the Inda-Pacific. The study lead to the assumption that wave-action and sedimentation are the most important abiotic factors influencing these coral communities. These hypotheses were experimentally tested in the field and in the laboratory, using indicator species for specific community types, as identified in the community study. Testing fragment survival of the hard coral Acropora austera confirmed the assumption that wave action is an important factor shaping coral communities by only allowing this species to dominate in depths greater than 18m. Four hard- and five soft coral species were used to quantify the effects of sedimentation on the coral communities. It was demonstrated that long-term sedimentation had greater influence on soft corals than on hard corals, leading to tissue necroses and local bleaching. These experiments confirmed the assumption that sedimentation is a major forcing factor on South African coral communities. The final part of thesis provides management options for the St. Lucia and Maputaland Marine Reserves focussing on conservation of the coral communities. The findings obtained in the ecological investigation allowed to identify which activities in the reserves have to be controlled in order to minimize damage to the coral communities by park visitors

Degradation of Reef Structure, Coral and Fish Communities in the Red Sea by Ship Groundings and Dynamite Fisheries

Reef degradation was investigated on 66 Egyptian Red Sea reefs—60 reefs for dynamite damage (using line transects) and six ship grounding sites (using 1 m sample squares). Ship groundings and dynamite fishing caused similar damage, reduction of the reef to rubble (65% of reefs were dynamited, mostly leeward, 58%). Changes in coral (line transect study) and fish communities (point count study) in impacted sites were documented. On impacted reefs, coral cover decreased, bare substratum and rubble increased, and fish dominance shifted away from Pomacentridae. Oceanographic conditions result in a stable pattern of coral communities (windward Acropora, leeward Porites). Most dynamite damage was on leeward, near-climax Porites reef slopes or Porites carpets. Most ship groundings were on windward Acropora reefs with regeneration periods calculated to be between 100 and 160 yrs. Regeneration time of dynamite damage is expected to be similar because of similar damage. Rehabilitation could speed up recovery but has to be consistent with natural community patterns. Coral transplants should mimic previously existing community structure in order to avoid space preemption by introduced superior competitors. Particularly if Acropora were introduced on a large scale into normally Porites dominated reef areas, re-establishment of the original community within the desired time-frame could be delayed