Acacia species producing gum Arabic are of great (socio)-economic, and ecological importance in Sudan. Insect attacks are one of the main causal agents in the decline in the gum Arabic yielding trees. Infested trees are almost totally damaged if the infestation is left untreated. The beetle family Cerambycidae is one of the largest groups of insects. Commonly referred to as long-horned beetles, these pests destroy host trees, having a great affect during times of drought. Many studies have been completed about the effect of long-horned beetles in various global settings. However, in Sudan, there is limited information about the insects’ ecological, biological, and even basic, profile. Thus, in this dissertation I study the spectrum, relative abundance, and phenology of the long-horned beetle species that are infesting Acacia species in Kordofan region (Sudan). Seven species were recorded using interception traps. These included Anthracocentrus arabicus (Thomson, 1877), Crossotus strigifrons (Fairmaire, 1886), Crossotus subocellatus subocellatus (Fairmaire, 1886), Doesus telephoroides Pascoe, 1862, Gasponia gaurani Fairmaire, 1892, Titoceres jaspideus (Serville, 1835) and Tithoes sp.. Two species were recorded using ground - photoeclectors: Crossotus albicollis (Guérin, 1844) and Coelodon servum White, 1853. Most of the species are known from other Arabian and African countries. However Coelodon servum White, 1853, Doesus telephoroides Pascoe, 1862, and Gasponia gaurani Fairmaire, 1892 were recorded in this study for the first time in Sudan. Results from flight interception traps indicated peak activity density of long-horned beetles during the rainy season (June – September), with maximum occurrence in June and peak occurrence in August. All study sites showed infestations of long-horned beetles, but the level of infestation varied between sites and Acacia species. The El Demokeya reserve forest indicated the highest percentage of infestation out of all the sites surveyed in this study. The infestation ranged between 57.1% and 100.0% for Acacia senegal, between 5.9% and 26.7% for Acacia mellifera, and 0% to 23.1% for Acacia seyal study sites. Acacia species differed also with respect to the spatial infestation pattern. Results indicated the maximum (95.5%) presence of holes of infestation in the branches of A. senegal when compared to the trunk. Holes of infestation were recorded in all directions, with a minimal occurrence on the south side (18.2%). Opposite results were obtained for A. mellifera with the maximum number of holes in the trunks (46.2%), while branches were less affected. In addition results obtained showed no presence of holes in the branches of A. seyal. Moreover, this study focuses on the assessment of tree characteristics that may trigger the infestation. Logistic regression indicated that tree age was the only predictor for the infestation with long-horned beetles – at least for Acacia senegal. A significance difference was obtained for the stand height curve between non-infested and infested trees of Acacia species, except A. senegal stands at El Demokeya. The study was supplemented by qualitative data, produced from a survey of gum landowners. This questionnaire indicated the level of awareness that gum landowners had with regard to long-horned beetles and their infestations. The results of this survey denoted that 95.0% of gum farmers were aware of the long-horned beetles, while 49.2% indicated an awareness about infestations, mentioning the emergence holes as damage characteristics.

Acacia species producing gum Arabic are of great (socio)-economic, and ecological importance in Sudan. Insect attacks are one of the main causal agents in the decline in the gum Arabic yielding trees. Infested trees are almost totally damaged if the infestation is left untreated. The beetle family Cerambycidae is one of the largest groups of insects. Commonly referred to as long-horned beetles, these pests destroy host trees, having a great affect during times of drought. Many studies have been completed about the effect of long-horned beetles in various global settings. However, in Sudan, there is limited information about the insects’ ecological, biological, and even basic, profile. Thus, in this dissertation I study the spectrum, relative abundance, and phenology of the long-horned beetle species that are infesting Acacia species in Kordofan region (Sudan). Seven species were recorded using interception traps. These included Anthracocentrus arabicus (Thomson, 1877), Crossotus strigifrons (Fairmaire, 1886), Crossotus subocellatus subocellatus (Fairmaire, 1886), Doesus telephoroides Pascoe, 1862, Gasponia gaurani Fairmaire, 1892, Titoceres jaspideus (Serville, 1835) and Tithoes sp.. Two species were recorded using ground - photoeclectors: Crossotus albicollis (Guérin, 1844) and Coelodon servum White, 1853. Most of the species are known from other Arabian and African countries. However Coelodon servum White, 1853, Doesus telephoroides Pascoe, 1862, and Gasponia gaurani Fairmaire, 1892 were recorded in this study for the first time in Sudan. Results from flight interception traps indicated peak activity density of long-horned beetles during the rainy season (June – September), with maximum occurrence in June and peak occurrence in August. All study sites showed infestations of long-horned beetles, but the level of infestation varied between sites and Acacia species. The El Demokeya reserve forest indicated the highest percentage of infestation out of all the sites surveyed in this study. The infestation ranged between 57.1% and 100.0% for Acacia senegal, between 5.9% and 26.7% for Acacia mellifera, and 0% to 23.1% for Acacia seyal study sites. Acacia species differed also with respect to the spatial infestation pattern. Results indicated the maximum (95.5%) presence of holes of infestation in the branches of A. senegal when compared to the trunk. Holes of infestation were recorded in all directions, with a minimal occurrence on the south side (18.2%). Opposite results were obtained for A. mellifera with the maximum number of holes in the trunks (46.2%), while branches were less affected. In addition results obtained showed no presence of holes in the branches of A. seyal. Moreover, this study focuses on the assessment of tree characteristics that may trigger the infestation. Logistic regression indicated that tree age was the only predictor for the infestation with long-horned beetles – at least for Acacia senegal. A significance difference was obtained for the stand height curve between non-infested and infested trees of Acacia species, except A. senegal stands at El Demokeya. The study was supplemented by qualitative data, produced from a survey of gum landowners. This questionnaire indicated the level of awareness that gum landowners had with regard to long-horned beetles and their infestations. The results of this survey denoted that 95.0% of gum farmers were aware of the long-horned beetles, while 49.2% indicated an awareness about infestations, mentioning the emergence holes as damage characteristics.

Die vorliegende Arbeit besteht aus drei Teilen Im Theorie-Teil (Kap. 1-6) wird ausgehend von einer Bestands- aufnahme des wissenschaftlichgen Umgangs mit der oekologischen Krise ein heuristisches Modell oekologischen Gewissens entwickelt, das auf den philosophischen Prinzipien der Angst (Anders), Hoffnung (Bloch) und Verantwortung (Jonas) basiert. Im Methoden-Teil (Kap. 7-10) werden Stichproben und Instrumente vorgestellt. Insgesamt wurden 600 Personen aus allen Kontinenten im Alter von 3 bis 87 Jahren in den Jahren 1994 bis 1996 befragt. Die Patchwork-Methodik bietet dabei die Moeglichkeit, qualitative und quantitative Daten miteinander zu kombinieren. Im Ergebnis-Teil (Kap. 11-20) werden Auswertungen zu folgenden Bereichen diskutiert: Lebensalter, Entwicklung, Geschlecht, Politik, Kultur, Zeitgeschichte und Biographie. Der abschliessende Appell eines umfassenden Paradigmenwechsels richtet sich an das Individuum, die scientific community und die ¨grosse¨ Politik. / Ecological Conscience--a Patchwork-Study of Children and Adolescents The dissertation has three parts: The theoretical part (Chapters 1-6) reviews scientific work from various fields of the social sciences and the humanities on the handling of the ecological crisis. A heuristic mode is model of an 'ecological conscience' is developed based on the philosophy of Guenther Anders (¨Prinzip Angst¨), Ernst Bloch (¨Prinzip Hoffnung¨, and Hans Jonas (¨Prinzip Verantwortung¨). The methods part (Chapters 7-10) documents sample properties and instruments used in an empirical study of some 600 individuals from all five continents. The age of participants ranged from 3 to 87. Data were collected in the years 1994 to 1996. An approach called a patchwork methodology combines quantitative and qualitative strategies of data collection and analysis. The results part (Chapters 11-20) reports findings related to age, individual development, gender, politics, culture, current history, and biography. At the end a call for a pro-ecological paradigmatic shift is voiced that is aimed towards every individual, the scientific community and politicians.

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Die vorliegende Arbeit besteht aus drei Teilen Im Theorie-Teil (Kap. 1-6) wird ausgehend von einer Bestands- aufnahme des wissenschaftlichgen Umgangs mit der oekologischen Krise ein heuristisches Modell oekologischen Gewissens entwickelt, das auf den philosophischen Prinzipien der Angst (Anders), Hoffnung (Bloch) und Verantwortung (Jonas) basiert. Im Methoden-Teil (Kap. 7-10) werden Stichproben und Instrumente vorgestellt. Insgesamt wurden 600 Personen aus allen Kontinenten im Alter von 3 bis 87 Jahren in den Jahren 1994 bis 1996 befragt. Die Patchwork-Methodik bietet dabei die Moeglichkeit, qualitative und quantitative Daten miteinander zu kombinieren. Im Ergebnis-Teil (Kap. 11-20) werden Auswertungen zu folgenden Bereichen diskutiert: Lebensalter, Entwicklung, Geschlecht, Politik, Kultur, Zeitgeschichte und Biographie. Der abschliessende Appell eines umfassenden Paradigmenwechsels richtet sich an das Individuum, die scientific community und die ¨grosse¨ Politik. / Ecological Conscience--a Patchwork-Study of Children and Adolescents The dissertation has three parts: The theoretical part (Chapters 1-6) reviews scientific work from various fields of the social sciences and the humanities on the handling of the ecological crisis. A heuristic mode is model of an 'ecological conscience' is developed based on the philosophy of Guenther Anders (¨Prinzip Angst¨), Ernst Bloch (¨Prinzip Hoffnung¨, and Hans Jonas (¨Prinzip Verantwortung¨). The methods part (Chapters 7-10) documents sample properties and instruments used in an empirical study of some 600 individuals from all five continents. The age of participants ranged from 3 to 87. Data were collected in the years 1994 to 1996. An approach called a patchwork methodology combines quantitative and qualitative strategies of data collection and analysis. The results part (Chapters 11-20) reports findings related to age, individual development, gender, politics, culture, current history, and biography. At the end a call for a pro-ecological paradigmatic shift is voiced that is aimed towards every individual, the scientific community and politicians.