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The article describes the experiences of a person who participated in a volunteer service at a turtle breeding station on the Galápagos Islands. The person had a long-standing interest in reptiles and wanted to contribute to the reintroduction of endangered turtle species. They found the project through the website volunteerworld.com and successfully applied for the program "Assistant in a Giant Tortoise Breeding Center" run by the organization IOI. The journey to the main island of Santa Cruz was made via Amsterdam and Guayaquil, and the person spent two weeks at the turtle breeding station, where they discovered many Galápagos giant tortoises. The island of Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the archipelago and is home to the city of Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The Galápagos Islands are known for their unique wildlife, especially the turtles, whose species diversity was threatened by extinction. The article describes the importance of giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands and the efforts to protect endangered species. The Charles Darwin Research Station breeds various species of turtles, including the species C. porteri and C. donfaustoi found on Santa Cruz, as well as the already extinct species C. abingdonii from the island of Pinta. The station is also dedicated to other animal protection projects. In the highlands of Santa Cruz, there is a reserve where wild giant tortoises can be observed. There are also private ranches like "El Chato" that can be visited to see the animals in their natural habitat. The article describes the visit to the ranches "El Chato" and "Terramar" on the island of Isabela in the Galapagos Archipelago. Visitors can see various species of turtles at the ranches, including larger specimens at "Terramar". The ranches are privately owned but border the national park, allowing the animals to freely roam between the ranch and the national park. The island of Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago and is home to five main volcanoes. Each volcano has its own species of tortoise. There are various ways to travel between the islands, either by plane or ferry. During the project period, volunteers can work at the "Centro de Crianza Tortugas Gigantes Arnaldo Tupiza Chamaidan", where two species of turtles are kept and bred. The work of the volunteers is closely monitored and documented. The article focuses on the tasks of the volunteers at a turtle station on the Galapagos Islands. These tasks include feeding and providing water for the animals, monitoring the enclosures, searching for and counting turtle nests, as well as transferring and incubating the eggs. The volunteers also have the opportunity to experience the native turtle species in the wild, for example, during a hike to the "Wall of Tears". The author describes their experiences on the Galapagos Islands as a unique and unforgettable experience and emphasizes the importance of local species conservation. [Extracted from the article]

Elmar and Ingrid Meier were awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for their contribution to the conservation of endangered turtle species through the establishment of the International Center for Turtle Conservation (IZS) at the Allwetterzoo Münster. A subspecies of the Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle was named in honor of Elmar Meier. The IZS is a collaboration between private animal husbandry, a zoo, and the conservation organization Zoological Society for Species and Population Conservation (ZGAP). The "Meier Symposium for Endangered Turtles" took place at the Allwetterzoo Münster and included lectures on various turtle species and their conservation. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Nachhaltigkeitsrecht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nachhaltigkeitsrecht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift fur Wirtschaftspolitik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article reports on the death of Prof. Dr. Günther Peters, a renowned researcher who made significant contributions to the study of lacertids, particularly emerald lizards. Peters was born on July 10, 1932, in Stralendorf, Mecklenburg, and completed his studies in Leningrad, where he also wrote his thesis on western and eastern fence lizards. He obtained his doctorate at Humboldt University Berlin and continued his research on fence lizards, discovering three new subspecies. Peters' work on emerald lizards remains an important foundation for the study and conservation of this species. The article describes the life and research of herpetological scientist Günther Peters. Peters was known for his work with reptiles, particularly agamas and other reptile species. However, over the course of his career, he increasingly focused on the study of bumblebees and dragonflies, becoming a world-leading expert on noble dragonflies. Peters also served as the deputy director of the Museum of Natural History and later was elected as the director of the Institute of Special Zoology and Zoological Museum. The article acknowledges Peters' achievements and expresses gratitude for his support. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Verwaltung und Management: Zeitschrift für Moderne Verwaltung (VM) is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The publication "On the knowledge of the Japanese leaf turtle, Geoemyda japonica Fan, 1932" provides an overview of the taxonomy, natural history, ecology, habitat, threats, and conservation of the species Geoemyda japonica. The species inhabits the Ryukyu Archipelago in southern Japan and prefers moist primary and older secondary forests as its habitat. The reproductive habits of the turtles have been observed, including the hatching of the juveniles. The species is endangered and is threatened by poaching and habitat loss. There is currently no serious conservation or research program for this turtle, but a non-profit organization called Okinawa Kame Center has been established to study and protect the turtles. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the keeping and breeding of the rare turtle species Cuora mouhotii. In 2009, the author acquired two females and one male of this species and kept them in terrariums with coconut humus, beech leaves, and moss. The animals were fed with various foods, and after some time, the females started laying eggs. The author observed the reproductive cycle and reports on various methods of rearing the offspring. In conclusion, he appeals for the protection and conservation of this species. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Reptiles in Saxony" deals with the reptile fauna in the Free State of Saxony. Various aspects such as the study area, the staff and supporters, the historical research history, data collection and processing, data analysis, reptile species in Saxony, their way of life, endangerment and protection, as well as the requirements of reptile protection for land use are discussed. It is emphasized that the release of turtles and snakes from private holdings violates species protection laws. Agriculture is mentioned as an area with the greatest deficits in habitat structures and food supply for reptiles. The article describes various factors that influence the colonization of reptiles in Saxony. It is recommended to design and graze pasture areas in a small-scale and extensive manner in order to create retreat areas and sunspots for reptiles. Well-structured gardens with meadows and flowering areas also promote the settlement of reptiles. Raw material extraction can promote the colonization of reptiles if it takes place in calm parts of quarries or gravel pits. Traffic routes can be both a blessing and a curse for reptiles, as they are attractive as heat islands but can also lead to crossings. The article also includes case studies on reptile protection in Saxony and provides detailed descriptions of the various reptile species in Saxony. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a comprehensive list of species found so far within the framework of the "Lebensraum Nürnberger Kaiserburg" project. The project was launched in 2010 and involves the mapping of plants, birds, bats, and insect fauna in the region. The Nürnberger Entomologists Association supports the project on a voluntary basis and publishes the annual results in the scientific journal Galathea. The complete list of species can be viewed on the website of the government of Middle Franconia. The list includes various insect species found in the vicinity of the Kaiserburg and the moat in Nuremberg. The species were identified by different individuals and collected at various locations and dates of discovery. The list also provides information on the conservation status of the species in Bavaria. [Extracted from the article]

New studies by the Institute for Biodiversity Information e.V. (IfBI) on the biogas flowering fields with Veitshöchheim hemp mix show the outstanding importance of perennial flowering structures. They provide a clear answer to the role of the agricultural landscape for species conservation ("Can the agricultural landscape be a habitat for wild bees?", Mandery & Müller 2019). During flowering, 408 species of pollinators from the species groups of stinging flies, hoverflies and butterflies were found in these fields used as a substitute for corn, including the highly endangered "subterranean bumblebee" Bombus subterraneus, which is rarely found elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Records of 108 species of rove beetles in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV) from 2005 to 2022 are documented. The findings focus on the south-eastern part of the state, the Löcknitz-Pekun district, which has only been marginally studied so far. Myrmecophilous species as well as Phyllodrepa melis Hansen, 1940, which is bound to badger's burrows, are described in more detail. Furthermore, the following species are reported for the first time to occur in MV and are treated in more detail: Tychus normandi Jeanell, 1950, Bledius spectabilis Kraatz, 1857, Paederus balcanicus Koch, 1938 and Erichsonius subopacus (Hochhuth, 1851). Especially nutrient-poor sandy pioneer sites in MV need to be comprehensively protected. Regardless of whether the sites are dry (heath, gravel pit, steep banks) or moist to wet (lakeshore, gravel pit, seashore), they harbour a number of rare species or species worthy of protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Berichte aus dem Julius Kühn-Institut is the property of Julius Kuehn Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of GWP: Gesellschaft Wirtschaft Politik is the property of Verlag Barbara Budrich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recent studies suggest insect declines in parts of Europe; however, the generality of these trends across different taxa and regions remains unclear. Standardized data are not available to assess large-scale, long-term changes for most insect groups but opportunistic citizen science data is widespread for some. Here, we took advantage of ‘citizen science’ data to investigate distributional changes of Odonata. We compiled over 1 million occurrence records from different regional databases. We used occupancy detection models to account for imperfect detection and estimate annual distributions for each species during 1980–2016 within 5 x 5 km quadrants. We also compiled data on species attributes that were hypothesized to affect species’ sensitivity to different drivers and related them to the changes in species’ distributions. We further developed a novel approach to cluster groups of species with similar patterns of distributional change to represent multi-species indicators. More species increased (45%) than decreased (29%) or remained stable (26%) in their distribution (i.e., number of occupied quadrants). Species showing increases were generally warm-adapted species and/or running water species, while species showing decreases were cold-adapted species using standing water habitats such as bogs. Time-series clustering defined five main patterns of change – each associated with a specific combination of species attributes, and confirming the key roles of species’ temperature and habitat preferences. Trends in Odonata provide mixed news – improved water quality, coupled with positive impacts of climate change, could explain the positive trends of many species. At the same time, declining species point to conservation challenges associated with habitat loss and degradation. Our study demonstrates the great value of ‘citizen science’ and the work of natural history societies for assessing large-scale distributional change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik is the property of Waxmann Verlag GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The concept of ecosystem services has great potential to anchor nature conservation and species protection more firmly in a broader social debate. As an assessment framework, it illustrates the benefits of natural services in the broadest sense and is the subject of intense debate with regard to its scope and the operationalization required for spatial planning. In the sense of an integration into the social debate about the sustainable use of natural resources, the concept should be included in the canon of educational offers - beyond the 'classical' offers and topics of environmental education. This paper exemplifies how the concept is taught in school education (using the example of the Federal State of Saxony, Germany), and in higher education in selected subject areas in Germany as well as in the further education landscape for planning practitioners (in Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The paper shows approaches and deficits for a future goal-oriented operationalization of the concept. The focus is explicitly on environmental education and the provision of educational offers for actors in spatial planning, and reflects the current landscape of educational offers in the mentioned fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinctive association of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) of the greater tussock-sedge reed (Caricetum paniculatae) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV) consists of at least 121, mostly small, hygrophilous species. Explicitly from the tussocks of the greater tussock-sedge Carex paniculata L., an average of 28 and a maximum of 52 species were extracted predominantly in winter/spring between 2015 and 2020. The majority of the detected species are ubiquists (69.2 %), and 37 species are associated with the tussocks. Of these, the following 18 species are faunistically remarkable for MV: Bibloplectus tenebrosus (Reitter, 1880), Bryaxis clavicornis (Panzer, 1809), Acrotona troglodytes (Motschulsky, 1856), Atheta terminalis (Gravenhorst, 1806), Dochmonota clancula (Erichson, 1837), Schistoglossa curtipennis (Sharp, 1869), S. drusilloides (Sahlberg, 1837), S. gemina (Erichson, 1837), S. pseudogemina Benick, 1981, S. viduata (Erichson, 1837), Zyras collaris (Paykull, 1800), Calodera uliginosa Erichson, 1837, Oxypoda lentula Erichson, 1837, Stenus argus Gravenhorst, 1806, S. glabellus Thomson, 1870, Euconnus denticornis (Müller & Kunze, 1822), E. rutilipennis (Müller & Kunze, 1822) and Stenichnus bicolor (Denny, 1825). Different habitat conditions at the sampling sites (slopy spring areas, former peat bogs, reed beds with interspersed large sedges) are considered the reason for comparatively low similarity between the individual beetle communities of the Carex tussocks. The open spatial structure of the sedge represents an adequate habitat for predominantly small (3.5±0.4 mm) beetles. Restoration of fens through rewetting with promoting reintroduction of peat-forming plants, such as the greater tussock-sedge, is an important contribution to habitat and species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, around half a million waterbirds spend the winter on Swiss lakes and rivers. Since 1967, their populations have been recorded as part of the international waterbird census. This database gives us a detailed picture of the distribution and population trends of the various winter visitors in Switzerland and allows comparisons with the large-scale trends of these species. The most important water bodies, Lake Constance (including foreign parts), Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Geneva (including foreign parts), together host about 70% of all wintering waterbirds in Switzerland. The development of the January total population can be divided into three phases: A steep increase between the start of counting in 1967 and the early 1980s, a phase with fluctuating but high numbers in the 1980s and 1990s, followed by a gradual decline since then. The increase at the beginning coincides with colonization of the waters by the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha. Furthermore, a recovery after the extremely cold winter 1962/63, and also a general recovery of the unsustainably used waterbird populations may have contributed to the development. The declining populations since the 1990s can be explained by the shift of the wintering grounds of some common species closer to their northern or eastern European breeding grounds, made possible by climate change. Climate change also impacts the distribution of waterbirds in Switzerland. Lake Geneva, to which many waterfowl used to migrate during severe cold, has seen disproportionately strong population declines in recent years. Apart from the species that shift their wintering area towards the northeast, many species show a positive population trend. For most of these, the international population trend is also positive, and they may have benefited from improved protection of species and areas throughout Europe. A major challenge for the future is to protect wintering waterbirds from disturbance due to the year-round increase in recreational activities on our lakes. If this fails, many waterbird species will no longer be able to exploit the potential of the Swiss lakes as wintering grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Julius-Kühn-Archiv is the property of Julius Kuehn Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Julius-Kühn-Archiv is the property of Julius Kuehn Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Julius-Kühn-Archiv is the property of Julius Kuehn Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Julius-Kühn-Archiv is the property of Julius Kuehn Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)