570 Biowissenschaften, Biologie
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Pollution through anthropogenic activities is a major threat for freshwater ecosystems. Metals are a relevant group of contaminants that affect aquatic organisms, communities, and ecosystems. This thesis aims at examining the effects of metal pollution across different levels of biological organisation in the anthropogenically degraded environment of the German River Rhine system and at discussing the role of the freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis as an indicator organism. A field investigation to detect the effects of metal pollution at the macroinvertebrate community level in the River Rhine system shows that the measured metals are less relevant than geogenic originated factors at the sampling sites (paper 1). Additionally, the community structure is strongly characterised by a separation of non-native taxa in the River Rhine and native taxa in its tributaries. This indicates that the occurrence of invasive species could possibly be a factor structuring the macroinvertebrate community to such a high extent that the effects of other stressors are masked. Regarding the effects of metal pollution on the population, organism, and physiological level of the Danubian form of T. fluviatilis in the River Rhine, only the metal chromium affects the snail specimens negatively (paper 2). As the Danubian T. fluviatilis seems to be able to cope with the partly high concentrations of copper and zinc at the sampling sites, its suitability as an indicator for metal pollution is questionable. However, in the practice of Rhine monitoring, a distinction between the two occurring, phylogenetically different forms of T. fluviatilis is not made, though the original, native indicator has been replaced by the presumably more tolerant non-native Danubian form. An intraspecific variability in T. fluviatilis is assumed, for what first indications are found regarding differences in the infection of the two forms with parasitic trematodes (paper 3). The investigations about a possible intraspecific variability have to be complemented by comparative laboratory analyses, for which purpose an experiment with the two forms of T. fluviatilis is developed (paper 4). The results of this thesis show that investigations about the effects of pollutants in ecosystems should encompass a variety of responses across different levels of biological organisation, as well as the co-occurrence and interaction of various abiotic and biological stressors. Further, a possible intraspecific variability in the indicator organism T. fluviatilis has to be included in the monitoring strategies and ecological assessment of the anthropogenically degraded River Rhine system.
This thesis is concerned with the current situation and future developments of environmental education in Kosovo. Ecological problems in Kosovo have accumulated over decades as a consequence of the uncontrolled use of natural resources, a growing industrial production with a high level of pollution, and a lack of appropriate policies, laws, and institutions which could treat the problems. Air, water and soil pollution, waste problems and a severe loss of biodiversity are the main environmental threats. The integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) into all levels of education is one of the key priorities in Kosovo’s environmental action plan. However, at present it is not even known how environmental education (EE) is integrated in the country’s educational system. In a first step, all official textbooks and the national curriculum of Kosovo were thus scrutinized to identify how many and which environmental topics were included, in which subjects and grades they were taught, and which teaching approaches were used. In a second step, a written questionnaire was sent to a representative sample of biology, geography, chemistry and civic education teachers (overall 244 persons) to investigate the integration of EE in high schools (optional upper secondary education) in Kosovo. In a third step, in-depth interviews with 18 of these high school teachers were carried out to extend and deepen the discussion of their responses in the questionnaire. In a fourth step, a toolkit on EE / ESD was developed and introduced to nine high school teachers during a one-day inservice workshop. In a fifth step, structured observations were used to investigate the impact of the workshop on high school teachers’ performance in the classroom. Only 15 out of 130 books, most of them for biology teaching, included environmental topics. Environmental topics were most prominent in textbooks for grade 8, 10 and 12, whereas they were almost lacking at the primary-school level. Most environmental teaching units provided pupils with mere environmental / ecological information (91%). The other units aimed to raise pupils’ awareness of environmental values, critically reflected links between the natural, social and cultural environment, and demonstrated the importance of a healthy environment for human health, quality of life and sustainable development. They were most prominent in books for civic education. However, no environmental unit promoted pupils’ action competence. High school teachers were found to focus on various kinds of pollution and hazards of pollutants. Teachers’ choice of topics was highly relevant, place-based and linked to the experiences of pupils, but excluded sustainability issues such as the loss of biodiversity. EE was approached in three ways. The first approach critically reflected links between the natural, social and cultural environment, while the second approach was characterized by knowledge submission of environmental facts. The third approach aimed at capacity-building and, in the sense of ESD, understood learning as process-oriented, participatory and action-oriented. However, this approach was rather uncommon, most likely due to insufficient teacher preparation, classes that were too large (up to 50 pupils), and lack of little time (just one hour per week for EE). These constraints also restricted outdoor activities. Nevertheless, in view of the interviewees ideal EE would mean outdoor education, field work and other place-based, capacity-building practical experiences, and the development of critical thinking skills. Teachers were rather satisfied with the one-day inservice workshop and stated that they had learned something new. Moreover, they liked the new toolkit and thought it practicable for use in school. However, one year later it was obvious that without support from head teachers and colleagues the toolkit was not used in schools. The study found that before the workshop teacher talk accounted for more than 90% of all lesson time and pupil-initiated talk constituted less than 10% within a typical 45-minute lesson. After the workshop, teacher talk significantly decreased and pupil talk significantly increased. Moreover, pupils were found to be engaged in small activities suitable for ESD. In conclusion, there is a strong need for new textbooks on EE / ESD in Kosovo. However, without providing teachers with skills suitable for ESD, they will most likely continue to lecture and pupils will continue to only memorize the material. Moreover, novel teaching and learning approaches need engagement from credible leaders within the institutions. Especially head teachers should thus be incorporated in the implementation of new teaching material and approaches, and training courses on EE and ESD for school principles, administrators, and of course teachers, should be offered.