Declines in some fish populations in the Upper Danube River, Germany, have been reported during the past decades despite extensive stocking efforts. Many theories exist for why such declines have occurred including habitat change, dams, invasive species, disease and pollution. One of the factors of concern in the Upper Danube River is pollution because a number of studies have shown that sediments collected from this area were acutely and/or chronically toxic to fish. Although it can be difficult to link bioassay results to direct effects on the population level, bioassays can give us insight into the potential of exposure of wildlife including fish to sediment. In combination with other researchers a large battery of sediment testing on the Upper Danube River is being performed. Testing includes sediment testing of estrogen receptor mediated processes, dioxin-like responses and genotoxic effects. In this study, four sediment extracts from the Upper Danube River in Germany were used with a novel fractionation technique to characterize the sediment extracts and fractions for their ability to disrupt steroidogenesis, for their mutagenic activities and their teratogenic effects. Fractionation of each of the four sediment samples was performed by separating compounds according to their polarity, planarity, and the size of the aromatic ring system in an on-line fractionation procedure on coupled high performance liquid chromatography columns.<p> Mutagenic activity was measured in the raw sediment extracts and all 18 fractions using the Ames fluctuation assay and the Danio rerio embryo assay was used to assess lethal endpoints. Furthermore, disruptions of steroidogenesis were assessed by first establishing methods and a proof of concept of the H295R assay by exposing H295R cells to 7 model chemicals and measuring changes from a control in estradiol, testosterone and aromatase activity. Once methods were established all sediments and their fractions were analyzed using the Assay.<p> Specifically, in the <i>Danio rerio</i> assay, two raw sediment extracts killed 100% of <i>Danio rerio</i> embryos at a concentration of 33.3 mg sediment equivalents (SEQ)/ml, but none of the 18 fractions of these samples produced any measured toxicity at a concentration of 100 mg SEQ/ml. In the Ames fluctuation assay, significant mutagenic activity was measured in raw sediment extracts and in the fractions. Fraction 10 produced a significant mutagenic response in all sediment samples measured only in S9 bio-activated samples. Furthermore, fraction 15 produced a significant mutagenic response in all sediment samples measured only in non bio-activated samples.<p> All raw extracts tested in the H295R assay caused an increase in estradiol production up to 4-fold from controls. Testosterone production increased slightly from controls in only two of the raw extract samples. Of the 18 fractions, fractions 7, 10 and 15 increased estradiol in at least three of the samples studied (Sigmaringen2006, Opfingen2006, Lauchert2006 and Lauchert2004). Furthermore, fraction 7 significantly decreased testosterone production compared to controls in three of the four sediment samples.<p> Taken as a whole, these results show the value of using multiple bioassays and fractionation to characterize sediments that covers a variety of different biological endpoints. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of the H295R assay when combined with a new fraction technique to assess endocrine disrupting chemicals in sediment samples.

This thesis aims to analyze the Black Sea environmental regime, which consists of three main parts. The first part of the study, after a general introduction to the environmental aspect of international politics, puts forward the regime formation in the field of environment and the development of global and regional environmental policy and law for the protection of coastal and marine environments. The second part firstly describes the peculiar characteristics and the environmental problems of the Black Sea. Secondly, it analyzes the disintegrative and integrative motives behind the establishment of the regime. Lastly, the legal, institutional and financial framework of the regime together with the role of international donors in the Region are put forward. The third part identifies the challenges affecting the functioning of the regime as well as the opportunities for the future of the Black Sea. The main concern of this study is to have an insight of the Black Sea environmental regime to see whether the regime has been functioning sustainably to enable the protection of the Black Sea and the recovery of its ecosystem.

Issued also as thesis, Munich 1964/65 under title: Grabfunde aus dem Donautal von Kelheim bis Vilshofen. / On spine: Donautal um Regensburg. Bibliography: v. 1, p. 242-244.

This dissertation examines some of the strengths and weaknesses in basin level governance particularly as it relates to three current policy priorities: adaptive governance, international frameworks for response to natural and man-made disasters, and resilience in integrated water resources management. While these priorities are well-established in the academic and policy literature, in practice the ability to implement them at multiple levels has proven challenging. Though my dissertation highlights these challenges using case studies of European river basins, the observations and lessons for improving integrated management at multiple levels of governance, in multiple sectors, and among various actors are more broadly relevant to other natural resource governance settings. The first paper of this dissertation explores adaptive governance in the Tisza sub-basin, considering both constraints and policy options for strengthening adaptive governance at the sub-basin level. The Tisza is the largest sub-basin to the Danube River basin, and faces increasing pressures exacerbated by climate change. The Tisza countries have experienced challenges with managing climate change adaptation in a nested, consistent, and effective manner pursuant to the European Union Water Framework Directive. This is due, in part, to inefficiencies in climate change adaptation, such as weakened vertical coordination. This paper examines the conceptual domains relating to adaptation in international governance, and adaptation in transboundary water management in particular, with a focus on multilevel governance. International laws and policies governing transboundary waters in the Danube basin and Tisza sub-basin are reviewed. Using interviews and document analysis, the paper highlights challenges to adaptation in the Tisza sub-basin, including policy, fiscal, institutional, and capacity. The paper concludes with an exploration of possible policy options for sub-basin management, such as the development of a sub-basin commission, the establishment of a permanent Tisza expert group to be housed at and coordinated by the ICPDR, the use of new or existing bilateral treaties, and designing a framework for managing the Tisza. The second paper analyzes the transition in international frameworks of response to natural and man-made disasters as incorporated and integrated at multiple levels of governance. It begins with a discussion of the distinctions between so-called “natural” disasters and “man-made” accidents, how and why they are treated differently, and how recent developments in international law and practice are raising questions about the merits of these historic distinctions. Anthropogenic climate change drives more extreme and sometimes cascading disasters that require complex and overlapping types of response; it is argued that the distinctions in response to natural and man-made disasters are counterproductive, outdated, and ultimately flawed. The paper examines the policy and institutional frameworks governing response to natural disasters and man-made accidents in the Danube River basin and Tisza River sub-basin. Using expert interviews and legal and policy analysis, it then explores the differences in how natural disasters and man-made accidents are monitored and how they are responded to. The paper concludes with an analysis of the implications of transitioning policies toward a more holistic framework for response, regardless of whether the cause is natural, man-made, or (as is increasingly the case) some combination. The third paper advances the concept of a new approach – resilient IWRM – and how this approach can be applied to the management practices of the Danube and Rhine River basins and other river basins around the world. Using the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the leading framework for resilience, and supported by expert interviews, the paper analyzes what resilience measures have been addressed, and what gaps remain in the basin management frameworks of the Danube and Rhine River basins. The paper concludes with a discussion of the current constraints in the resilient IWRM framework of the Danube and Rhine River basins, in addition to options for overcoming these challenges. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of crosscutting dimensions of analysis, specifically the challenges faced in integrating climate change adaptation, response to natural and man-made disasters, and resilience into multiple levels of water governance. While these conceptual elements are well-established, the ability to operationalize these elements has proven difficult from multiple perspectives highlighted in this dissertation. The difficulties suggest a more nuanced and pragmatic approach to both their framing and their operationalization.

Acompanhamos, nas últimas décadas, a temática ambiental se transformar em um dos principais desafios para a humanidade. Sua dimensão transnacional, alcançada quando os limites naturais não coincidem com os limites políticos, potencializa a complexidade da problemática. Em conseqüência, temas como sustentabilidade e segurança ambiental passam a ocupar posições de destaque na agenda internacional, fato que demanda novas interpretações da concepção clássica de soberania. A questão das águas transfronteiriças superficiais - águas que escoam sobre bacias hidrográficas internacionais - representa uma materialização dos desafios mencionados acima, sobretudo porque esses recursos correspondem a maior parcela da água doce superficial e estão sujeitos a severas ameaças. Entre elas: o consumo excessivo de estoques hídricos limitados, que vem provocando uma crise de escassez; além dos antagonismos inerentes à necessidade de compartilhamento desses recursos, que motivam concorrências entre distintos interesses nacionais. Em função disso, surgem preocupações e questionamentos referentes à capacidade de a água gerar, ou acirrar, tensões internacionais. Partindo das intrínsecas relações entre território e política, essa dissertação identifica as variáveis ligadas ao potencial conflitivo/cooperativo das águas transfronteiriças superficiais. Em meio a essa tarefa, temos oportunidade de discutir como os novos temas da agenda internacional incidem nessa questão. A análise da bacia do rio Danúbio, como estudo de caso, comprova que as águas transfronteiriças superficiais podem deteriorar as relações entre países e que circunstâncias geográficas e políticas são cruciais na definição dos interesses dos Estados e, conseqüentemente, na qualidade do desfecho da questão. / In the last decades we have seen the environmental issues being transformed into one of the main challenges for humanity. Their transnational dimension is reached when natural limits do not coincide with political ones, enhancing, therefore, the complexity of the problem. Consequently, topics such as sustainability and environmental security start to acquire an outstanding position in the international agenda, which demands new interpretations of the classic concept of sovereignty. The concern related to superficial transboundary waters - waters that flow on international river basins - represents a materialization of the challenges mentioned above, mainly because these sources correspond to the greatest share of superficial fresh water and are submitted to severe threats. Among them we can mention: the excessive consumption of limited water supplies, which has been provoking a lack of water crisis; in addition to it there are the inherent antagonisms related to the necessity of sharing these sources, which motivates the competition between distinct national interests. On account of these interests, worries and questions appear referring to the capability the water has to generate or instigate international tensions. Taking as a starting point the intrinsic relationship between territory and politics, this dissertation identifies the variables linked to the conflictive/cooperative potential of the superficial transboundary waters. Whilst pursuing this task, we have the opportunity to discuss the way the new topics of the international agenda approach this matter. The analysis of the Danube river basin, as a case study, proves that superficial transboundary waters can spoil the relationships between countries and that geographic and political circumstances are crucial for the definition of the countries interests and, consequently, for the quality of the outcome of this matter.

Acompanhamos, nas últimas décadas, a temática ambiental se transformar em um dos principais desafios para a humanidade. Sua dimensão transnacional, alcançada quando os limites naturais não coincidem com os limites políticos, potencializa a complexidade da problemática. Em conseqüência, temas como sustentabilidade e segurança ambiental passam a ocupar posições de destaque na agenda internacional, fato que demanda novas interpretações da concepção clássica de soberania. A questão das águas transfronteiriças superficiais - águas que escoam sobre bacias hidrográficas internacionais - representa uma materialização dos desafios mencionados acima, sobretudo porque esses recursos correspondem a maior parcela da água doce superficial e estão sujeitos a severas ameaças. Entre elas: o consumo excessivo de estoques hídricos limitados, que vem provocando uma crise de escassez; além dos antagonismos inerentes à necessidade de compartilhamento desses recursos, que motivam concorrências entre distintos interesses nacionais. Em função disso, surgem preocupações e questionamentos referentes à capacidade de a água gerar, ou acirrar, tensões internacionais. Partindo das intrínsecas relações entre território e política, essa dissertação identifica as variáveis ligadas ao potencial conflitivo/cooperativo das águas transfronteiriças superficiais. Em meio a essa tarefa, temos oportunidade de discutir como os novos temas da agenda internacional incidem nessa questão. A análise da bacia do rio Danúbio, como estudo de caso, comprova que as águas transfronteiriças superficiais podem deteriorar as relações entre países e que circunstâncias geográficas e políticas são cruciais na definição dos interesses dos Estados e, conseqüentemente, na qualidade do desfecho da questão. / In the last decades we have seen the environmental issues being transformed into one of the main challenges for humanity. Their transnational dimension is reached when natural limits do not coincide with political ones, enhancing, therefore, the complexity of the problem. Consequently, topics such as sustainability and environmental security start to acquire an outstanding position in the international agenda, which demands new interpretations of the classic concept of sovereignty. The concern related to superficial transboundary waters - waters that flow on international river basins - represents a materialization of the challenges mentioned above, mainly because these sources correspond to the greatest share of superficial fresh water and are submitted to severe threats. Among them we can mention: the excessive consumption of limited water supplies, which has been provoking a lack of water crisis; in addition to it there are the inherent antagonisms related to the necessity of sharing these sources, which motivates the competition between distinct national interests. On account of these interests, worries and questions appear referring to the capability the water has to generate or instigate international tensions. Taking as a starting point the intrinsic relationship between territory and politics, this dissertation identifies the variables linked to the conflictive/cooperative potential of the superficial transboundary waters. Whilst pursuing this task, we have the opportunity to discuss the way the new topics of the international agenda approach this matter. The analysis of the Danube river basin, as a case study, proves that superficial transboundary waters can spoil the relationships between countries and that geographic and political circumstances are crucial for the definition of the countries interests and, consequently, for the quality of the outcome of this matter.

Univ., Diss.--Iaşi, 1995.